Our Teams - Bucks County Housing Group

Our agency has a dedicated and energetic team of staff and board members which oversee all aspects of daily operations of the organization, ranging from intensive case management with clients to maintaining Housing Group properties. Like the client families, each member of our team is reminded that the future is an opportunity which we need to be ready to meet.

Staff

Erik Clare

Executive Director

Laura Ferreri MSW LSW

Director of Social Services

Lindsay Troyer

Food Pantry Manager

Sherry Pace

Housing Counseling Program Manager/HUD Certified Housing Counselor

David Marino

Pantry assistant/Janitor

Denise Waite

HUD Certified Housing Counselor

Beth Ann Rinkus

Controller

Diana Marciniak

Homeless Prevention Case Manager

Heather Wagner

SOAR Benefits Specialist

Jane Burke

Lead Case Manager

Kathy Schoepfer

Housing Counseling Intake Coordinator

Roseann Winans

Senior Accountant

Susan O’Neil

Rental and Maintenance Manager

LaShana Thompson

Case Manager Supervisor

La’Kisha Gray

Community Builder

Amanda McGill

Development and Marketing Manager

Steven Keller

Food Pantry Coordinator

Executive Director

Erik Clare

Erik has a passion for helping people to reach their true potential by providing them with opportunities and help. He brought that passion to Bucks County Housing Group in April of 2015 as Director of Development and was named Executive Director in February of 2018. He joined Bucks County Housing Group with extensive experience in the private, non-profit, and public sectors specializing all aspects of fundraising. Mr. Clare has previously worked for two Congressmen, a State Representative, various academic and non-profit organizations, and the President of the United States. As Executive Director he functions as the Chief Executive Officer responsible for daily operations and implementation of polices set by the Board of Directors. Mr. Clare provides program, fiscal, strategic planning, human resources, development and other oversight. He holds a BA in Political Science from Norwich University – The Military College of Vermont and an MS in Nonprofit Leadership from LaSalle University.

Director of Social Services

Laura Ferreri MSW LSW

Laura has been with BCHG since 2015, and has been Director of Social Services since 2019. Laura attended Temple University where she obtained a BA in Political Science, and she earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California. Laura’s nearly 20 years of experience in homeless services includes work in urban areas such as Philadelphia and Los Angeles, as well as suburban Bucks County. Laura has worked in nonprofit and government sectors, including several years working in homeless services with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Food Pantry Manager

Lindsay Troyer

Lindsay has always found herself in the intersections of food, agriculture, and advocacy. She joins us as our Food Pantry Manager while finishing her graduate degree in Food and Agriculture Policy, focusing on inequitable access to food and farmland, and running a small organization where she grows vegetables to donate to community fridges. She’s spent almost two decades in various roles within the food industry, from owning a locally sourced, health-driven café, to working as a project-based consultant for multiple start-ups in the region. Her favorite work has been in advocacy, serving as the NE Policy Committee Representative for the National Young Farmers Association, influencing federal policy and teaching folks of all ages about how to grow their own food. She hopes to keep building our community food program and is deeply committed and passionate about fighting hunger here in Bucks County.

Housing Counseling Program Manager/HUD Certified Housing Counselor

Sherry Pace

Ms. Pace is the housing counseling program manager, providing pre-purchase housing counseling through webinars, workshops, and face-to-face counseling. She joined Bucks County Housing Group in March of 1999. Ms. Pace has received certification(s) from the NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education and Counseling (NCHEC) in Homeownership Counseling for Program Mangers and Executive Directors, Foreclosure Intervention and Default Counseling, Homeownership Counseling, Pre-purchase Homeownership Education, and Post-Purchase Education. She is also a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Certified Housing Counselor and a Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) Housing Counseling Specialist. Ms. Pace holds an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Montgomery County Community College. Her extensive industry training and high performance standards allowed Bucks County Housing Group to be officially recognized as an Adopter of the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling since 2010.

Pantry assistant/Janitor

David Marino

Why Hello there! I, that is the narrator would like to say that David Marino works primarily in Penndel at one of our own food pantries, In which I facilitate multiple ‘in the moment requests’ which also include a variety of food drive pick ups, Philabundance food transportation, etc. It has been a good 7 years so far relating and doing my best to help our clients!

HUD Certified Housing Counselor

Denise Waite

Denise comes to us with over 30 years of experience in the residential lending industry. This work experience has been a valuable resource while counseling perspective homebuyers on the path to becoming successful homeowners.

Controller

Beth Ann Rinkus

Beth Ann Rinkus is the Controller at Bucks County Housing Group, overseeing the day to day functions of the Finance Department.

Prior to joining BCHG, Beth Ann worked as VP of Operations at the Bucks County Historical Society for 5-years. She had a 30-year career in accounting in various roles, retiring as CFO at Abbott & Cobb, Inc., an international vegetable seed company. She has a BS in Accounting from Bloomsburg University and an MBA from Delaware Valley University in Doylestown. She serves as the treasurer for Sacred Paths Community, a spiritual congregation for the past 14-years.

Beth Ann and her husband Bob are lifelong residents of Bucks County and enjoy sharing their property in Buckingham with horses, cats, and a dog.

Homeless Prevention Case Manager

Diana Marciniak

Diana graduated from Rutgers University-Douglass College in 2010 where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. She has worked with BCHG since October 2020. She works with clients of BCHG in providing homeless prevention strategies, researching and providing resources to families and individuals, and assisting clients in participating with rental assistance relief programs to prevent homelessness. Diana brings nearly 9 years of social service experience to BCHG, specializing in family and children protective services.

SOAR Benefits Specialist

Heather Wagner

Heather joined BCHG in July 2020 as the SOAR Benefits Specialist. She completed the SOAR certification course and assists SOAR applicants in obtaining Social Security benefits. Heather holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Studies and has over 15 years’ experience working as a Caseworker and Case Manager primarily in the nonprofit sector. Heather is also a licensed real estate agent. Heather loves a challenge and is dedicated to giving everyone the choices and resources necessary to live their best life

Lead Case Manager

Jane Burke

Jane has worked with BCHG for 8 years as a Case Manager with the Supported Housing program. She works with clients to assist them in being self sufficient and locating permanent housing. Jane previously worked with other non profits including supporting individuals with disabilities and their families. She also led a parent group emphasizing opportunities for community and school inclusion for children with disabilities.

Housing Counseling Intake Coordinator

Kathy Schoepfer

Kathy is the Intake Coordinator for the Housing Counseling Department. She brings with her over 20 years of experience working in both the private and non-profit sector. She’s held several positions at the Housing Group, which givings her a unique background and enables her to maximize positive impact on our clients. She has a B.S. in Business Administration from Kutztown University.

Senior Accountant

Roseann Winans

Roseann has been with the BCHG Finance Department for 5 years. She has a BS degree from Philadelphia University and has over 20 years experience working in the public and nonprofit sectors. Previous work experience include museums, churches, service organizations and magicians.

Rental and Maintenance Manager

Susan O’Neil

Susan graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Secondary Education. She began working for BCHG in 2002 and has held three other positions within BCHG which has given her a good background on how all the various programs within the organization work. As Rental and Maintenance Manager she handles all phases of moving new tenants in and facilitating their move-outs. While she does none of the maintenance herself, she works closely with the maintenance staff so that the daily maintenance, special projects, and needed upgrades occur safely and smoothly for all BCHG tenants and clients.

Case Manager Supervisor

LaShana Thompson

LaShana Thompson is the Case Manager Supervisor at Bucks County Housing Group. LaShana resides in New Jersey with her husband, son, and daughter and holds the belief that all people deserve the right to adequate housing and food. LaShana has worked in the social service industry for the past 15 years with a passion for the homeless population. LaShana serves on many community auxiliary boards and also works as a Behavior Therapist for children diagnosed with ASD.

Community Builder

La’Kisha Gray

My name is La’Kisha Gray, I am the Community Builder at Robert Morris Apartments. Trying to help build the community one family at a time. I love helping people while having fun doing it! I try to make each tenant feel comfortable enough to come to me with any issue so that I can do my best possible with helping them cope with everyday life. I live in Broomall, PA. I have one daughter, two “Suns”, and one grand daughter, they are my life. Before coming to Bucks County Housing Group, I worked for Presby’s Inspired Life Senior Homes for 19 years. While working there I developed a lot of skills. I was the Van Driver, Activities Coordinator, Administrative Assistant and Computer Facilitator. As you can see I don’t mind helping and I believe team work is very important. You will never hear me say “That not in my job description” .Helping people is a part of my Soul.

Development and Marketing Manager

Amanda McGill

Nice to meet you! I’m Amanda, the Development and Marketing Manager at BCHG. My role here encompasses a range of tasks from grant writing, multimedia communication, donor outreach, branding strategy, and more. I bring a passion for excellence and creative approach to any task at hand. I’m energized to make BCHG the best organization it can be!

Food Pantry Coordinator

Steven Keller

Mr. Keller started as a volunteer at the Penndel location before recently coming aboard as Pantry Coordinator. Steven’s volunteer experience provided him with a firm foundation in the importance of BCHG’s food pantries. As Pantry Coordinator, he strives to understand the needs of clients, and strengthen both new and old relationships. Steven holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Miami.

Board

Donna McQuillen

Board President

Tom Steel

Board Vice President

Jessica Finnell

Board Secretary

Jack Morrash

Board Treasurer

Joseph Szafran

Board Member

Board President

Donna McQuillen

Donna M. McQuillen recently retired from her role as Senior Consultant and Client Leader at Marsh McLennan Agency in Conshohocken, Pa. Donna has spent the last 41 years in the Employee Health & Benefits industry. In addition to her responsibilities as Client Leader, Donna also serves as Chair of GROW (Growth in Relationships & Opportunities for Women), a companywide initiative that supports woman in the workplace.

Donna lives in Furlong, Pa with her husband Kevin. She has two children, Paige, who resides in Doylestown and Ryan who resides in MD. Donna’s passion for making positive impact to those in need in her community started over two decades ago when she worked with her place of worship as Director of the H.O.P.E. committee where she and her team went door to door helping members of their community in need. It was through her work with H.O.P.E. that Donna connected with the BCHG. In 1995 Donna and the H.O.P.E. committee extended their reach and became Apartment Partner volunteers where they assisted families residing in Apt. 4 at the Doylestown Shelter. Donna joined the board of directors in 2005 and subsequently moved into the role of Board President in June 2015, which she continues to serve as today.

Board Vice President

Tom Steel

Board Secretary

Jessica Finnell

Jessica Finnell is a REALTOR® at Century 21 Montague and a staunch advocate for Veterans and military families. She lives in Southampton, where her two daughters attend Centennial Schools. Before her career in real estate, Jessica served as a 911 dispatcher for Bucks County for over a decade, giving her a strong familiarity with the large County, a unique set of resources, and an unwavering sense of community. Jessica joined the Board of Directors in 2018. She brings an energy to any task at hand.

Board Treasurer

Jack Morrash

Jack Morrash is a retired financial professional with over 40 years of diversified experience. He has served in the capacity of Chief Financial Officer at several manufacturing companies; most recently as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of PennEngineering & Manufacturing Corp., Danboro, PA. Jack also serves on the board at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Waymart PA. Jack lives in Pipersville, PA with his wife Lisa. He is an avid tennis player and co-owner of the Doylestown Tennis Club. Jack grew up in Wilkes-Barre, PA and graduated from the University of Scranton.

Board Member

Joseph Szafran

Joe has close to 20 years of experience in communications and public relations. He is currently the External Communications Manager for American Water. In this role, he is responsible for developing and implementing the external affairs strategy for the company.

Previously, he has worked in internal and external communications for several Fortune 500 companies including DuPont, United Technologies, and Exelon. He also served as a legislative aide for United States Congressman James Greenwood and Pennsylvania State Senator Robert “Tommy” Tomlinson advising on policy issues that included transportation and infrastructure. He holds a B.A. in Business Management from Virginia Wesleyan College and M.A. in Political Science from Villanova University.

He resides in Bucks County, PA and has three kids 16, 12, and 10 who keep him busy.