1st Step Alternative Housing inc
Board Members
Charles Hardy/ Founder-CEO
Mr. Hardy serves as the founder and CEO of the organization. His unwavering commitment and dedication to the community surpasses that of anyone else. His contributions have been acknowledged through the receipt of numerous prestigious awards.
Mr. Hardy, a native of Athens, Georgia, has made a groundbreaking achievement by being the first to establish a legal homeless encampment for the homeless population in Athens. His initiative has set a new standard for addressing homelessness in the community.
Dr. Debbie Green/ Vice President
Dr. Debbie Green is the founder of R.I.S.E. (Reaching Inward for Spiritual Empowerment), a business training individuals on conflict resolution in the workplace to prevent workplace violence. She is also the CEO of Keys for Freedom. Inc., which is a community program focused on individuals and families affected by domestic family violence and emotional/mental illnesses. The vision is to provide services to populations affected by crisis, abuse, or any life-altering situation, restoring faith and love to a hurting world. Dr. Green has 15 years of experience in life coaching and mental health. Dr. Green is an affiliate of the Women on Fire Entrepreneurs Global movement out of Toronto, Canada. Dr . Green facilitates a podcast entitled Soulful Solutions with Dr. Debbie Green with The Female Solution that broadcasts on Facebook, YouTube, and Blog Talk radio. Dr. Green holds a B.A. in Psychology and a Masters in Community Counseling. She also holds a certification in Paracletos Counseling, a form of holistic therapy acknowledged by the State of Georgia. Dr. Green has also completed a Doctorate in Divinity with Aaron Beard International Biblical College and a minor in biblical studies and chaplaincy. Dr. Green is a certified Anger Management and Grief Specialist in Counseling. Dr. Green also specializes in Geriatric mental care. Dr. Green is also a Certified End of Life Specialist, which is an individual who specializes in end-of-life issues. Her vision is to empower others to seek their destiny and live a fulfilled life of peace.
Tabitha Lopez
Lanier College
2001 - 2003
Early Childhood Education
Gwinnett College
2010 - 2012
Nursing Core Classes
Phlebotomy Supervisor and Operations Manager
Remotely monitor activities of all phlebotomy staff, scheduling hours,
organize and order inventory supplies and equipment.
Onboarding and training of new staff.
Perform site inspections
Medical Ministry of Georgia
Homeless community advocate/ community whistleblower
2021-Present
Volunteering, Ministering, and Servicing the needs of the homeless
community in the Hall County area.
Feeding, offering supplies, assisting with immediate needs
Shanice Harris
Therapist/ Case Manager /Discharge Specialist
Lakeview Behavioral Health Hospital-Norcross, GA
Present
• Assess the patient’s state and extent of chemical use or psychotic state
• Conduct psychosocial assessments to document patient history and identify preliminary issues for
treatment focus.
• Providing individual, group, and family solutions-focused interventions.
• Facilitating process and didactic groups.
• Created and implemented recreational and activity groups.
• Developing an individualized discharge plan utilizing information obtained from the patient, treatment
team, and family to determine patient needs.
• Identifying family or community resources such as group homes, halfway houses, or treatment
providers.
Therapist /Addiction Counselor/Group Leader
Gravity Treatment Centers-Hot Springs, CA
2020 to 2022
• Assess the patient’s mental status, and conduct a psychosocial assessment, create a treatment plan with
patient
• Conduct individual, family, and group therapy sessions to ensure cohesion amongst family and educate
both the individual and the family.
• Develop a discharge plan with the patient to ensure their continued recovery (housing, employment,
community providers etc.…)
• Developed and maintained positive relationships with community providers to ensure patients
continue to have the best experience with a continuum of care.
• Craft a crisis management plan to aid unforeseen obstacles to long-term recovery.
Licensing Specialist / IMPACT Trainer/ Home Study Writer
Wellroot Family Services-Tucker, GA
January 2018 to December 2020
• Training of foster parents and subsequent tracking of their training as part of the licensure process.
• Develop processes to ensure assigned foster homes are in licensure compliance with applicable
licensing standards at all times.
Angela Q. McAllister
CLARKE COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE, Athens, GA
Deputy Sheriff, Lieutenant
1993-Current
Manage the day-to-day operations of the Jail division of the Sheriff’s Office. Duties and responsibilities include management/supervision, obtaining search warrants, interviewing subjects, testifying in court, extraditing and transporting inmates, coordinating arrests and shakedowns, investigations, training personnel, and ensuring the safety of inmates. Supervises and evaluates assigned staff, handling all employee concerns, directing work assignments, receiving and investigating complaints about subordinates, counseling and disciplining employees when necessary, and completing employee performance appraisals. Assists, directs, and monitors all ongoing activity, providing for the safety and security of all persons within the facility during shift, particularly in high-risk situations. Recommends and assists in the formulation of policies and procedures; plans assigns, and directs daily work performed by assigned personnel; supervises and organizes shakedowns. Conducts initial investigations into altercations, thefts, vandalism, and other inmate violations; observes inmate climate and identifies suspicious activity that might indicate unrest.
Reserve Deputy – Train new recruits within the jail and its daily operations. Post-certified general instructor, inmate medical and in-custody transports, courthouse security, jail security, and other duties as required.
OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, Athens, GA 1987-1993
Clerk
Worked for the Cooperative Extension Environmental Sciences Photographic and Art department. Responsible for performing daily office tasks such as filing, recording, maintaining records, copying, posting, and other similar duties using a computer terminal, typewriter, and other word processors. Followed organizational and departmental procedures to complete tasks such as preparing purchase orders, ordering supplies, and coordinating with the mailroom to ensure orders were received and shipped to departments within the University system promptly.
WESTCLOX, Athens, GA1984-1987
End station packer
Worked on an assembly line end station. Packaged various clocks and performed basic quality control checks, including measuring, weighing, strength testing, package counts, and evaluating product or package appearance. Folded and taped boxes labeled for shipping and stacked boxes on pallets according to directions. Worked under the immediate supervision of a line leader. The job required speed and accuracy due to incentives of earning extra money with overage called production.
CERTIFICATIONS
Georgia Basic Peace Officer # PBLE960384S
Georgia Police General Instructor #PS08020249S
Georgia Basic Jailer #PRJA990762S
Leadership in Police Organizations (International Association of Chiefs of Police)
Management Level I, II, III
Supervision Level I, II, III
ODETTA RODRIGUEZ-OLIVER
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Millennial Virtual Services, Virtual Assistant/Owner/Independent Contractor
Remote Customer Service Specialist // December 2022 to Current
Goodwill of North Georgia
Employment Specialist//Athens, GA//March 2023 to August 2023
Lanier Technical College
Adult Educator // Gainesville, GA // July 2022 to March 2023
Contra Costa County Office of Education (Merced County Parole Office – Ex-Offenders)
Adult Educator and Vocational Trainer // Pleasant Hill, CA // May 2015 to April 2019
Gwinnett Technical College, Lawrenceville, GA Adult Education Instructor (GED and ESL)
August 2019 to March 2020
EDUCATION
Post Master’s Certificate – Adult Learning – Major
Walden University // Minneapolis, MN // 2013
GPA: 4.00
Master's Degree- Human Resources Management – Major
Post Master’s Certificate - Organizational Leadership-Minor
Chapman University // Orange, CA // 2011
GPA: 3.73, Cum Laude Graduate
Bachelor’s Degree – Business Management – Major
Saint Mary’s College of California, Moraga, CA // 2004
GPA: 3.70
AFFILIATIONS
California Commission on Teacher Credentialing –
Clear Adult Teaching Credential, California
Karen B Amaya
Clarke County Sheriff Office March 2021 to 2022
Clarke County Police Department January 2020 to 2021
Clarke County Board of Elections October 2019
United States Postal Service 10/15 to 6/19
Pilgrim’s Pride
Computer Operator 4/13 to 5/15
Latin Labor Staffing, Gainesville, GA 2/12 to 02/13 Account executive
Interactive Technical College, Gainesville, GA, 2010 to 2012
Admissions Associate
Marquez Trucking Inc. Gainesville, GA 2006 to 2008
Administrative Assistant
EDUCATION
National University of El Salvador 3 Semesters of Pre-Law
HS Francisco Morazán Vocational Clerical Administration
Kathy Norrington
Notary Public State of Georgia | GA, Athens Notary | 07/2023 - Present
Notary for the state of Georgia
Minister | GA, Athens
AST minister, Chestnut Grove Baptist Church | 04/2010 - Present Encouraging people to follow their heart and soul.
Clarke County School District | GA, Athens Transportation Driver | 08/2021 - 08/2023 Route driver
Atlanta Public Schools | GA, Atlanta Transportation Driver | 08/2001 - 08/2014 Route driver
Delta Air Lines | GA, College Park
Supervisor, Customer Service | 06/1995 - 08/2002 Cabin service supervisor
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Our Programs
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Our Impact
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