Staff Directory
Leadership Team
Marc Craig, CHN President & CEO
Mr. Craig has over twenty years of experience in developing and managing housing for people with disabilities...
Dawn Pischel, JD, CHN Vice President of Operations
While serving as the Staff Attorney/Advocacy Coordinator for the Arc of Oakland County, Inc., Ms. Pischel assisted people with disabilities and their families in accessing available benefits and addressing estate-planning concerns...
Kirsten Elliott, Vice President of Development
Committed to helping the homeless, Ms. Elliott serves on the executive committee of the Oakland County Taskforce for Homelessness and assists with the annual submission of the Continuum of Care grant to HUD...
CHN Staff A-Z
Bratton, Chuck, Housing Resource Center Specialist
Brinkmann, Shelley, Property Resource Manager
Chambers, Karla, Asset Manager and Contract Services
Craig, Marc, CHN President & CEO
Daoust, Nicole, Administrative & Human Resource Manager
Elliott, Kirsten, Vice President of Development
Garrett, Barbara, MSW, LMSW, Equity Development Specialist
Greene, Cynthia, MSA, BA Macomb County HUD LAP Supportive Services Specialist
Heyer, Cristen, MSW, LMSW, HUD LAP Supportive Services Specialist
Madsen, Tanya, Shelter Plus Care Program Manager
Messina, Michelle, MSW, LMSW, HUD LAP Supportive Service Specialist
Mumma, Jessica, MSW, LMSW, Macomb County HUD LAP Supportive Housing Navigator
Pilla, Dorothy, Macomb Peer Housing Trainer
Pischel, Dawn, JD, CHN Vice President of Operations
Pluger, Karen, Contract Services and Springhill Accountant
Powell, Taka, Administrative Support Professional
Rehbine, Morene, Accounting Manager
Shoemaker, Jill, HUD Program Director and HMIS Coordinator
Shull-Sweeney, Kay, Resource Manager
Velandra, Linda, Housing Resource Center Specialist
Webster, Karen L., Peer Housing Specialist
White, Audrey, MSW, LLMSW, HUD LAP Assistant
Wiegand, Kathy, MSW, HUD Supportive Services Specialist
Williams, Jennifer, MSW, LMSW, HUD LAP Supportive Housing Navigator
Chuck Bratton, Housing Resource Center Specialist
Chuck Bratton is one of the Housing Resource Specialists at CHN for people with disabilities served by Oakland County Community Mental Health. He has a Social Worker License and a Real Estate License. Chuck provides information and referrals for your housing needs. Chuck also pursues and coordinates creative cutting edge possibilities for affordable housing in Oakland County. Chuck worked as CHN’s Resource Manager/Property Manager for the people in licensed group homes for two years. Chuck has over 25 years of experience working in the mental health field, including direct care, home management and Social Work. Chuck’s hobby’s are bible study, exercise, and home improvement projects. Chuck has been on building mission trips to Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Jamaica.
Shelley Brinkmann, Property Resource Manager
Ms. Brinkmann has been with CHN, Inc since October 2001. She has strong experience in property management and in contractor and lease negotiations. Shelley previously served as a Support Coordinator for Macomb Oakland Regional Center for three years. She is a Licensed Social Worker and Real Estate Agent in the State of Michigan, and has her HQS certificate.
Karla Chambers, Asset Manager and Contract Services
Ms. Chambers has a degree in accounting and brings to Community Housing Network, Inc. over seven years of experience in office administration. Ms. Chambers is looking forward to adding her support and input to help further build the organization.
Marc Craig, CHN President & CEO
Mr. Craig has been involved with housing development for the homeless and people with disabilities for over 25 years. He was the founder of Springhill Housing Corp., a certified CHDO receiving HOME funds, recipient of several HUD 811 grants, FNMA programs, and others. Springhill Housing Corp. is responsible for developing more than eight million dollars in rental housing for people with disabilities, many of them homeless. He is a Licensed Real Estate Broker, a residential builder, and a qualified HQS Inspector.
Nicole Daoust, Administrative Manager & Human Resource Manager
Ms. Daoust has over ten years of experience in Administrative Management and office support. At CHN she manages the administrative department operations and staff, the network administration, and the company's Human Resource functions, while providing support to the President & CEO.
Kirsten Elliott, Vice President of Development
Ms. Elliott coordinates project and program development and oversees development and operation of the Housing Resource Center. She has extensive experience working with the homeless and service providers in Oakland and Macomb Counties. She serves on the Executive Committee for Oakland County Taskforce on Homelessness and Affordable Housing and currently is the Chair of the Continuum of Care Committee. She is also a member of the Macomb County Homeless Coalition and serves as Co-Chair for the Permanent Supportive Housing Committee. Ms. Elliott developed and served as Program Director for 10 CHN sponsored HUD SHP Leasing Assistance programs in Oakland County and Macomb County. In addition, Ms. Elliott has led the effort on developing and implementing the HMIS in Oakland County. Ms. Elliott is a certified homebuyer counselor and a NCHM certified occupancy specialist. She created the CHN Affordable Housing database, and has daily contact with consumers, families members and mental health professionals in the homeless and mental health system through the Housing Resource Center. She has extensive knowledge of various affordable housing programs.
Barbara Garrett, MSW, LMSW, Equity Development Specialist
Ms. Garrett has her Master's Degree in Social Work. For the past ten years, her focus has been in the healthcare industry advocating for patients and their families who were coping with life-threatening illnesses. Ms. Garrett served in an administrative capacity for the past four years at a hospice agency. Since arriving at Community Housing Network, Barbara has focused on equity development and acquisition of properties to maintain affordable housing options. She has pursued several training opportunities to increase her knowledge base including obtaining a real estate license and successfully completing the Certified Occupancy Specialist training. Barbara is currently enrolled in a project development training program and remains focused on exploring and creating new affordable housing opportunities.
Cynthia Greene, MSA, BA, HUD LAP Supportive Services Specialist
Cynthia Greene graduated with a Masters of Science Degree in General Administration from Central Michigan University and Bachelors of Arts Degree in Public Service Administration from Siena Heights University. Mrs. Greene has over ten years experience working with chronically homeless, disenfranchised and disabled consumers in Wayne County. Mrs. Greene's work experience includes Counseling as a Certified Addictions Counselor; a Social Worker Technician and Case Manager for a Community Mental Health and HUD Supportive Housing Program; and a Contractual Housing Agent, Home Inspector and Small Business Owner for the State of Michigan's Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. Mrs. Greene is grateful to be a part of the CHN Team, providing human services throughout the Macomb County area.
Cristen, Heyer, MSW, LMSW, HUD LAP Supportive Services Specialist
Cristen Heyer has been working in the field of social work since 1997. Cristen obtained both her Masters Degree in Social Work and her Bachelors Degree in Social Work from Wayne State University. Cristen has utilized her training to work in a variety of social work settings. Cristen’s background includes working in psychiatric case management, medical case management, and most recently on an inpatient psychiatric unit providing group, individual and family therapy to consumers. Cristen looks forward to assisting the consumers of Community Housing Network maintain stable housing in the community.
Tanya R. Madsen, Shelter Plus Care Program Manager
Ms. Madsen has several years experience working with persons who have both mental and physical disabilities. She has worked in education, both with troubled teens and post-secondary students. She also has a strong accounting/accounts receivable background. Currently, she is project manager for the Housing Resource Center and is managing the Shelter Plus Care Leasing Assistance Program.
Michelle Messina, MSW, LMSW, HUD LAP Supportive Service Specialist
Michelle Messina graduated with her MSW from Eastern Michigan University and her BSW from Madonna University. Michelle has been providing case management services for several years to residents of Oakland County. Michelle participated in the first International Learning Experience in Mexico where she better learned to serve people with disabilities. Michelle looks forward to utilizing her Realtors license with her Social Work license to better serve the consumers of Community Housing Network.
Jessica Mumma, MSW, LMSW, Macomb County HUD LAP Supportive Housing Navigator
Jessica Mumma has a Masters Degree in Social Work and a Bachelors of Arts from the University of Michigan. For the past 5 years Ms. Mumma has been working in the supportive housing field on behalf of people with disabilities. Her social work background includes direct care, case management, community organizing, program development, and evaluation. Ms. Mumma feels honored to have been given the opportunity to provide housing assistance and supportive services to individuals in Macomb County who are homeless and who have disabilities.
Dorothy Pilla, Macomb Peer Housing Trainer
Ms. Pilla's experience in the human service field includes working with the Developmentally Disabled population and their families as well as coordinating staffing for respite services. She has also has extensive experience working as a Supported Housing Coordinator for people with Mental Disabilities in the specialized program of Shelter Plus Care. The Shelter Plus Care program is where she learned hands on housing case management, HUD, MHSDA, Fair Housing, and how to teach Consumers about affordable and safe housing. Dorothy has also worked for Oakland County Community Mental Health as a case manager for adults with mental illness, including the ACT program and a Housing Specialist with Easter Seals. At Easter Seals she provided comprehensive housing services for people who were homeless and had a mental disability. The position consisted of training consumers and case managers how to secure and maintain safe and affordable housing and the importance of treatment compliance in regards to housing. Moreover, she provided consultation and services for the Hispanic (El Centro) and forensic (Collaborative Solutions) population.
Dawn Pischel, J.D., CHN Vice President of Operations
Ms. Dawn Pischel is an attorney who has more than nine years experience in assisting families of people with disabilities in planning to meet their housing and support needs. She is involved in the planning for and managing community assets and resources for people with disabilities. Through the Housing Resource Center, Dawn provides information and technical asistance to people who are homeless and have disabilities, their family members, and support coordinators. In addition, Ms. Pischel acts as the Compliance Manager for CHN's current HUD programs.
Karen Pluger, Contract Services and Springhill Accountant
Karen Pluger has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Toledo & brings to Community Housing Network over 12 years of accounting and bookkeeping experience with property management corporations and multi-company environments. She is currently overseeing the compliance and financial reporting for multiple funding sources. Ms. Pluger is enthusiastic about the opportunity to assist in providing financial support for the various programs at Community Housing Network.
Taka Powell, Administrative Support Professional
Ms. Powell has a certificate in Microsoft Office Programs and brings to Community Housing Network over 8 years of Office Administration. Ms. Powell is looking forward to adding her support to all Departments and events.
Morene Rehbine, Accounting Manager
Mrs. Morene Rehbine has a bachelor's degree in accounting from
Jill Shoemaker, HUD Program Director and HMIS Coordinator
Ms. Shoemaker has a diverse business background that includes Project Management and Database Management. As the HMIS (Homeless Management Information Systems) Coordinator for Oakland County, she is coordinating the implementation of the ServicePoint software with local agencies mandated by HUD to participate as well as other interested human service agencies.
Kay Shull-Sweeney, Resource Manager
Kay has a bachelors degree from MSU. She recently retired from the State of Michigan, Department of Community Health, after thirty six years of service. Kay has strong experience in property management, contractor negotiations, and in initiating supportive housing arrangements for persons with disabilities.
Linda Velandra, Housing Resource Center Specialist
Ms. Velandra brings to Community Housing Network, Inc. over 14 years of experience in the field of Social Work. She has worked with a variety of populations including individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illness, teen parents and families involved with the foster care system. Prior to joining the CHN team, she worked as a Supports Coordinator at Saginaw County Community Mental Health Authority. Linda runs the Home Buying Program which includes home buyer counseling, acquisition, development and rehab. She also provides information and referral services for a vast array of housing needs. Linda enjoys helping families reach their dream of home ownership. In 2005 she received her Michigan Real Estate License.
Karen L. Webster, Peer Housing Specialist
Ms. Webster is currently a board member of the CAC and CEC and has received Recepient Rights certification. Before coming to CHN, her career experience has included working in community outreach for a transportation company and as a legal secretary specializing in estate planning and probate, protecting the rights of the elderly and disabled. She attended the University of Michigan, Cleary University and Oakland Communcity College, where she graduated with honors, with an Associates of Liberal Arts.
Audrey White, MSW, LLMSW HUD LAP Assistant
Ms. Audrey White has a Bachelor's degree in Sociology, an MSW in Administration from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Wayne State University. Audrey has worked primarily as a Network Administrator and Teacher/Trainer in computers, customer service and career readiness for the past 20 years. She has worked in the corporate setting and in non-profits throughout her career. She is currently the HUD LAP Assistant and holds a limited Master's of Social Work License in the Macro Field.
Kathy Wiegand, MSW, HUD LAP Supportive Services Specialist
Kathy Wiegand has a Bachelors of Science Degree from Eastern Michigan University and a Masters Degree in Social Work from Wayne State University. She is also a Certified Addictions Counselor Level II. She has worked as a District Court Probation Officer in Macomb County. She believes she benefits from working with persons with disabilities who have been homeless. In assisting the Supportive Housing Navigator, she enjoys providing services for individuals and accomplishing new goals.
Jennifer Williams, MSW, LMSW, HUD LAP Supportive Housing Navigator
Jennifer Williams has a background in social work; both clinical and community focused. She was awarded her BSW in 2002 and MSW degree in 2003 from Wayne State University. Her experience includes case management and job placement of adults with mental illnesses, community outreach and organizing, program development, and in-home family therapy with a diverse population. In addition, she has worked as a Research Technician for Wayne State University's Denver Housing Study. Jennifer is the Supportive Housing Navigator for the Leasing Assistance Program.