Barry Nicholas has served as the Co-chair of HOMES Inc. for the past three years.  He has used his hospitality experience to develop a unique fund raising event – the Annual Wine Dinner.  He also served for many years on the Mental Health Golf Classic Planning Committee.  His interest in real estate has supported the organization in developing aggressive growth plans.  Barry joined Deutsche Bank Mortgage Department after leaving Pacific Southwest Realty. He was previously employed in the Capital Markets Division of Burnham Real Estate Services' Orange County Office. His experience prior to joining Burnham included several years in the Hospitality Sector with both Marriott Hotels and Interstate Hotels.

Mr. Nicholas graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. He has completed courses in Real Estate and Commercial Property Appraisal from Saddleback College, where he is a past member of the Advisory Committee for the Real Estate Department.

Sandra Denisac joined John Burnham Insurance Services, Inc. (now BB&T Insurance Services of California) in 1997 as a senior associate/broker. She brings 30 years of insurance industry experience, as both a broker and an agency owner. Denisac possesses strengths in the manufacturing/distribution, metalworking/machine shop industries and environmental risks. Her environmental clients include consultants, engineers and construction management. Her special expertise in manufacturing was further realized in having owned and managed Universal Motor Machine in Stanton California for eight years. From a business owner’s perspective, she is uniquely qualified to understand the needs and challenges of the entrepreneur.

Denisac’s commitment to excellence and integrity, in all that she does, is apparent. While holding a professional designation of Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), insurance is not her only interest. She also attends Grace Community Church in Seal Beach, Calif., and has won many awards for past and present philanthropic endeavors. She is a classically trained singer, regularly performing with local community and professional groups in Orange County.

Gil has been on the HOMES board since mid 2003. He is the treasurer of HOMES, chairs the Finance Committee and is a member of the housing committee and the ad hoc committee for new board member acquisition. He holds an engineering degree, a MBA and a management certification from UCLA. He has participated in other non-profit organizations as a board member including the Orange County Chamber Orchestra. Currently with Computer Sciences Corp (CSC), he provides consulting services to several of their high profile accounts. Previously he was actively involved in the CSC acquisition of multiple technical support contracts in the Aerospace industry and subsequently acted as the CSC program manager for major corporate and government contracts. He has 20 years experience with his daughter’s mental illness and has facilitated her return to an independent lifestyle. His wife Susan was previously a HOMES board member.

Before joining RBF’s Urban Design Studio, Susan volunteered with the Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa and with the AmeriCorps National Service Program in Kansas City. Additionally, she led several neighborhood-based planning projects for a Kansas City-based not-for-profit environmental organization involved in local sustainable development, transportation, and environmental justice. Susan has also worked with the State of Arizona as a community planning specialist, providing technical planning support and assistance to Arizona’s rural and tribal communities. With RBF’s Urban Design Studio, Susan is primarily involved in developing innovative public participation programs and working on downtown and neighborhood revitalization projects.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in both Architectural Studies and Environmental Studies from the University of Kansas, and a Master of Environmental Planning from Arizona State University. She is a registered planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), a Certified Main Street Manager (CMSM) through the National Main Street Center, and has a Professional Certificate in Neighborhood Revitalization through the NeighborWorks America. Susan is also on the faculty of the Neighborworks Institute, a national training institute through NeighborWorks America.

Since joining LPA in 1983, Chris has advanced with the firm to his current position of Principal, and Design Studio Leader. An experienced professional, he is responsible for client contact, and assembling and supervising project teams while guiding their efforts from initial design to construction administration. Employing his skills in architecture since 1972, Chris is a California-licensed architect with a strong detail sensitive design philosophy. In addition to receiving numerous architectural achievement awards, Chris has served on the Board of the American Institute of Architects (OCAIA) and is also a LEED Accredited Professional.

Marc is Senior Vice President of wealth management with the Sackler Ackerman Group of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. A graduate of University of California, Santa Barbara, Marc had a successful career with both Merrill Lynch and Wells Fargo before joining Smith Barney in 2007. He holds several professional designations and licenses, including: Securities Licenses 7 and 66 and the California Insurance License. In addition to serving on the HOMES Board of Directors, Marc is also a Vice President of the Los Angeles Music Center’s Fraternity of Friends as well as a volunteer and board member of Impacting Hearts Foundation.

Mr. Rivin is a partner in Rutan & Tucker’s Trial Department. His practice focuses on business and commercial litigation, with particular emphasis on real estate and business association disputes, secured transactions, corporate governance, trade secret, unfair competition, and other business torts. Mr. Rivin defends and prosecutes actions in federal and state courts, as well as in ADR forums. His clients vary from prominent public companies to start-up Southern California entrepreneurs. He also represents defrauded investors in lawsuits arising out of investment scams.

Mr. Rivin obtained his law degree from U.C. Berkeley (Boalt Hall) in 1974 and a bachelor’s degree in economics from UCLA – where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa. He has served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Orange County Chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers and as a member of the Orange County Bar Association’s Judiciary Committee. Mr. Rivin also participates on the boards of various charitable organizations and is the former chair of Rutan & Tucker’s Financial Practices Group.

One of the original founders of HOMES, Mrs. Miller has served on the Board of Directors since 1985, participating as a “house mother, the organization’s first treasurer, and an active proponent of the program. Ms. Miller has a degree in mathematics from DePaul University and a masters in social work from Loyola Marymount and has both worked an volunteered in the mental health field. Her wealth of experience includes the Los Angeles County Psychiatric Unit, the Orange County Mental Health Advisory Board, and the Orange County Mental Health Association. She has also served as a volunteer for the YWCA, FISH of Fullerton, and the Northern Orange County League of Women Voters.

A licensed family therapist since 1985, Ms. Powell has worked as a health information officer, psychiatric technician, patient rights advocate, and therapist with a number of different Orange County clinics and continuing care facilities. Ms. Powell received her formal training from California State University at Fullerton and is an active member of a number of different medical and mental health organizations, including the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, the Mental Health Association of Orange County, and the Orange County Chapter of the National Alliance for Mentally Ill (NAMI).

Kimberly Kam is a branch manager with Wells Fargo. She started her career with Wells Fargo in 2001 and had held various positions before she became branch manager. Kimberly has been recognized for many different sales and service recognitions within Wells Fargo. Prior to joining Wells Fargo she worked for John Hancock Financial Services as a Financial Advisor. She graduated from University of Southern California with bachelor of art in International Relations in 1998. Kimberly is passionate about giving back to the community she serves in and is involved with different local non-profit organizations, teaching financial literacy to children, high school students and small business owners. She is also on board for a team member resource group within Wells Fargo.

Joanne Senefsky is the owner of the consulting firm, Affordable Housing Resources.  The company was started in June 2003 to provide services to governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, and developers in the creation of affordable housing, primarily in the Inland Empire.  She develops relationships by assisting her clients, agencies, non-profits and developers.  She assists the agencies to leverage any funds they have in projects.  The non-profits she assists in capacity building and by providing technical assistance.  The developers are provided with project financial analysis, accessing funding resources, and grant writing services  She has participated in nearly every AHP Round since its inception in 1990.

She is a graduate of Western Michigan University. She brings nearly 30 years of real estate lending experience, specializing in community lending the last 25 years.  She previously worked in the Community Lending Departments of both Washington Mutual and Bank of America.