Executive Board
Kellie D. Morgantini - Board Chair
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.
Frederica Jones - Board Vice Chair
Frederica retired in 2017, after having accomplished an over 30 year career as a Probation Officer. Her last assignment as Probation Service Manager was assigned to the Monterey County Superior Court Investigations Unit.
During 2019/2020, Frederica served as Campaign Manager for Del Rey Oaks Mayor. She has been appointed one of City of Del Rey Oaks Administrative Hearing Officer and has held that appointment since 2020.
During her adult life, public service has been a huge part of Frederica’s life. She enjoys being able to be a contributable member of society and making the
most of opportunities to serve others to better promote and enrich our community.
Since retirement, Frederica serves on community based organizations including serving on the Executive Board of Monterey Bay (CA) Chapter of The Links Incorporated since 2019, serving in the capacity of 2nd Vice President. Frederica joined the Democratic Women of Monterey County in 2022 and
volunteered with the Programs Committee. In 2023, she joined the Salvation Army Executive Board and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Red Kettle Kickoff Committee. In 2023, she also joined the Housing Resource Center Board and serves as Vice President and serves on the Development Committee.
Frederica has lived in Monterey since 2007. During her free time, she enjoys spending family time with her husband and traveling throughout the world.
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.
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
Monica Andrade
Monica was born and raised in Salinas, CA. She is the eldest of 5 children and first generation of immigrant parents originally from Guanajuato, Mexico.
Monica proudly served in the US Army and completed one tour in Iraq. It was through her military service she understood the impact and importance of being involved in current political affairs and social justice issues.
She is married with 3 children and although it is not easy to be a full-time student, working mom, and in the forefront of advocacy for social justice and equality, she makes it work through her passion and dedication to serve.
Monica has found purpose in creating safe environments not only for her children but for the families she represents. Education, social issues, advocacy for equality, and family are at the forefront of her daily work. Monica is a Parent Educator for Door to Hope, a non-profit organization centered on providing direct services to underserved communities. In her time off, Monica is actively working directly to serve and represent the Salinas and South Monterey County communities.
Monica is always ready to continue the work to bring social equity from the lens and perspective of the underserved communities she grew up in.
Dr. Kim Brown-Barber
Kim Brown Barber, Ph.D. is a successful businesswoman, city councilwoman and a longtime educational leader with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. As an advocate for university students and women leadership, her passion and commitment over the last 17 years has focused on several areas to include: increasing diversity and inclusion, closing the achievement gap, women empowerment and leadership. Additionally, she has published a chapter in “Teaching through Challenges for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.” Additionally, she has authored, " Unlock Your Power," a women's empowerment support book. Her constant perseverance and dedication led her to be appointed by the former Governor Steve Beshear to the Diversity Committee for The Council for Postsecondary Education and the Strategic Planning Committee for The Council for Postsecondary Education for the state of Kentucky.
As the former Director of Pre-College and Early Outreach Support Programs at California State University Monterey Bay, Dr. Brown Barber continues to enhance diversity and inclusion for underrepresented students and afford them the opportunity to achieve success at every academic level. Additionally, as the first minority woman as city councilwoman for the beautiful city of Monterey, California, she continues to strive for inclusive voices, affordable housing, business and residential collaborations and continued sustainability.
She received a Bachelor’s degree from Hampton University, a Master’s degree from the University of Maryland in International Business, and a Doctorate degree with a focus on Public Policy and Social Change from Union Institute and University.
As the CEO of her company and brand, Dr. Kim, Dr. Brown Barber strives to inspire women of all ages, races, cultures, identities, and religions on a global scale to live lives of their fully unlocked POWER.
Impacting Change Speaker Series:
- Keynote at National Campfire Organization, 2023
- Speaker at Boost Conference, Palm Springs, 2022
- Speaker at All in for Equity, Monterey County of Education, 2019
- Speaker at American Association for Hispanics in Higher Education 2018
- Speaker at Kentucky Women’s Forum, 2018
- Guest on The Good Radio Network, 2018
- Speaker at The American Association for Blacks in Higher Education, 2017
- Speaker at Purdue University at Indianapolis, 2016
- Assisted the coordination of the White House Hispanic Initiative Visit for
- Hispanic Awareness and Advancement, 2015
- Speaker at Kentucky L.E.A.D. at the University of Louisville, 2014
Lisa Berkley PhD
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.
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.