Executive Board
Lisa Berkley PhD - Chair
Lisa A. Berkley, PhD is faculty and Director of University of California’s Crown College, Resiliency Program as well as the Founding Executive Director of the Center for Global and Community Resiliency and Well-Being. In addition to her academic work, she is the Founding Director of the Institute for Inner Economy™ where she consults in the governmental, nonprofit, and private sectors and is internationally recognized as a visionary leader and innovative problem solver. Dr. Berkley is a former Marina City Council Member and former Vice-Chair of the City of Marina Planning Commission where she also served as a member of the Marina City Council Ad-Hoc Committee for Downtown Vitalization.
Dr. Berkley serves on a number of boards and organizations including Women In International Security’s U.S. West Coast Chapter (WIISWest), the Democratic Women of Monterey County, and Monterey County Renters United (MCRU).
Her unique background as a peace facilitator and activist stems from more than 25 years of experience in Alternative Medicine and Education, Massage Therapy and Healing, Stress Management, Mediation, and Interpersonal Conflict Resolution. Dedicated to furthering well-being, peace and security in the world, she integrates psychological understanding, emotional, spiritual, somatic, cultural, and creative intelligences into the public, private and not-for-profit sectors of society. Dr. Berkley is a strong advocate for housing—it is her conviction that housing and safe shelter is a human right.
She is honored to serve as HRC’s Board Chair.
Kathy Anderson - Vice-Chair
Kathy Anderson is an Assistant Vice President of Sales and Special Projects at Chicago Title. She is a native resident of the Monterey Peninsula and has been in the title industry for over forty years. She is well known for cultivating long lasting client relationships. Her dedication and focus on the commercial growth and development of all local municipalities is recognized by all members of the title community. She is an active committee member of WCR (Women’s Council of Realtors), and Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, (Governmental Affairs). A board member and past president of MCOPA (Monterey Commercial Property Owners Association). With addition to serving many years on the board of HRC (Housing Resource). Dating back when it was names MoCHA. Kathy has a passion for our County to do well with smart growth and providing adequate housing for our homeless. With so many years of interacting in our community, she has earned respect from many collages.
Joe Servi - Treasurer
Joe Servi has worked in the field of Banking since 1986. He is the Senior Vice President at Pinnacle Bank. He is a Senior Business Banker and Commercial Loan Officer specializing in Business Lending and Commercial Real Estate Lending including Multi-Family Properties. In his spare time, he has volunteered as a both a baseball and softball coach and served on a number of Boards including the Friends of California School of the Deaf in Riverside, CA and Friends of the Corona Public Library. He currently serves on the Parks and Youth Committee in Del Rey Oaks, the Monterey Commercial Property Owners Association and the Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) Foundation.
Jess Gutierrez - HRC Director of Finance
Jess has supported non-profit organizations as a senior executive, Chairman of the Board, and non-board member advisor. He obtained a Master’s Degree from Pepperdine University and a Bachelor’s of Science in Commerce from Santa Clara University. His work with non-profit organizations during the last twenty five years includes supporting foundations, research institutions, land trusts, and children’s support agencies. He works with management teams and Boards on the development of financial reporting systems, policies and procedures, strategic planning, forecasts and budgets, and recruiting and training personnel.
Alexa Johnson - HRC Executive Director
Alexa Johnson has been working with HRC since June 2017. She obtained a Master's degree in Applied Anthropology from San Jose State University and a Bachelor's of Arts at California State University, Monterey Bay. During her five years at HRC, Alexa has focused on transforming the agency to accurately reflect the needs of the community, making it one of the leading rapid re-housing agencies in the county.
Board at large
Jim Andrews
Jim is a proud resident of Marina, CA. He is a CPA and has a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. After spending about 25 years in international business, he became a community college professor. Jim is passionate about helping HRC effectively provide services to our community.
Esther Malkin
In an effort to prevent adding to the existing homelessness crisis in the region, Esther Malkin founded, and currently directs, Monterey Peninsula Renters United—MPRU—a group created to advocate for both the aggressive addition of affordable housing and for the rights of renters. She is often asked to advise & support a variety of housing issues. Examples of this are supporting the construction of affordable housing projects, encouraging cities to create 100% affordable housing projects by analyzing their own underused properties for conversion, creating city renter protection guidelines & most recently consulting with a number of local cities on the creation & implementation of COVID Emergency Renter Assistance Programs. She holds a BA in business & marketing from Florida State University & has directed her lifelong career in corporate sales, marketing, training & public relations to shine a spotlight on social issues that are important to her. Esther is open minded, is constantly learning from those around her and approaches challenges with creativity and passion. HRC is a representation of Esther’s advocacy mission and her values which is why she humbly sits on their board of directors.
Kellie D. Morgantini
Kellie has served Monterey County’s non-profit community for more than 25 years. A licensed attorney, Kellie recently retired after 25 years legal service for Legal Services for Seniors (a non-profit law firm providing legal assistance to Monterey County seniors 60+ years of age). Kellie served 12 years as Legal Services for Seniors Executive Director. Kellie now uses her legal background as a pro bono attorney for Legal Services for Seniors as well as serving on other local non-profit organizations. Housing is, and will continue to be, one of the most pressing issues for our low-income community members as well as those of us striving to help them.
Anna Velazquez - Mayor of the City of Soledad
Anna has over 20 years of experience in local government—including four years as a City Council member and many more in her current position as District Director for a State Senator. Anna is well versed in the areas of economic development, affordable housing, administration and implementation of federal grants, project management and community organizing. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminology from California State University, Fresno. She was previously employed with the City of Salinas where she held a position as Community Development Analyst. During her 17 year, professional career at the City of Salinas she also held the position as Neighborhood Services Coordinator where she served as a resource and liaison for neighborhoods by facilitating and building civic partnerships. Anna and her husband Felipe Melchor are very excited to be raising their children in Soledad, in the town they were both raised.
Lisa Ziska-Marchand
Lisa Ziska-Marchand, Ed.D. is a civically engaged, social justice professional. She is employed as the Executive Director for Advancement Operations and Analytics at Scripps College in Claremont, CA. Lisa has nearly 20 years of experience in fundraising for organizations that foster education, social support and upward mobility.
Prior to fundraising, Lisa worked as a social worker in community mental health. Working in the field, carrying out social service policy, she saw first hand how social supports make all the difference for our most vulnerable citizens as well as the dramatic inequities in our society. She continues to believe that it is the responsibility of every citizen to monitor the activity of our elected representatives to ensure that safety net services we need are not stripped away in the name of fiscal responsibility and that inequity and the status quo are regularly challenged.