Charity Navigator
Co-Chief Executive Officer – Mary Kay Sweeney, PhD
Mary Kay works passionately to end homelessness as co-leader for Homeward Bound of Marin. She has served Homeward Bound for more than two decades and previously held leadership positions at Seva Foundation and Canal Community Alliance. Over the years, Mary Kay has received honors for her work in several arenas. She received a Nonprofit Leadership Award from the North Bay Business Journal and the Heart of Marin Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership. In 2017, she received the “North Bay Woman of the Year Award” from the California State Assembly. Mary Kay also has been inducted into the Marin County Women’s Hall of Fame.
Co-Chief Executive Officer – Paul Fordham
Paul accepted a position as co-leader of Homeward Bound in 2022 after serving as the agency’s deputy director since 2010. He also served six previous years as Development Director, helping launch new fundraising strategies and build the agency’s social enterprises. Fueled by a belief in the power and possibility of change, Paul helped Homeward Bound launch nationally replicated programs such as the first Nonprofit IPO. In 2020, he received a Nonprofit Leadership Award from the North Bay Business Journal. As a leader in Homeward Bound’s social enterprise ventures, he serves as a member of the national Catalyst Kitchens Advisory Council.
Chief Operating Officer – LaSaunda Tate
LaSaunda has more than 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience and previously served as director of SparkPoint Marin, which helps low- and moderate-income clients achieve financial self-sufficiency. She joined Homeward Bound as Director of Housing and Operations and has expanded her role to include wider oversight of human resources, compliance and office systems. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Graduate Certificate in Non-Profit Management and Leadership from Golden Gate University.
Chief Program Officer – Anna Hurtado
Anna has 15 years of experience working closely with vulnerable populations and leading multi-disciplinary teams. As Chief Program Officer, she oversees services, program effectiveness and staff development. She previously served in deputy director positions with both Equal Rights Advocates, Inc., and Raphael House. Anna holds a B.A. in English from Dominican University along with an M.A. in Political Science and a Master’s in Public Administration from Sonoma State University.
Chief Equity Officer – Shikira Porter
Shikira joined Homeward Bound in 2008 as Program Coordinator for the agency’s Next Key and Fourth Street Center housing programs, later becoming Family Programs Director. Recently named Homeward Bound’s inaugural Chief Equity Officer, Shikira leads staff and board trainings focused on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and ensures these principles are embedded in the organization’s practices, policies, decision-making, and work culture. She is the co-founder of Neighbors for Racial Justice, an Oakland-based group that examines racial equity and justice, addressing internalized racism, anti-blackness, and white supremacy throughout her hometown of Oakland.
Board of Directors
Robert D. Puett, President
Dianne Snedaker, Vice President
Elvira Echevarria, Treasurer
Sonia Seeman, Secretary
Nicole Bartolini
Nancy Culhane
Lynes Downing
Nicole Gardner
Sheri Joseph
Sister Carla Kovack
Anita Jones Roehrick
Liz Saint John
Jim Snipes
Marion Weinreb
Cynthia Williams
Homeward Bound is committed to equal opportunity and equal consideration without regard to race, religion, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, color, creed, gender, age, disability or any other protected class.
