Community development expert, licensed real estate agent and professional coach are just a few of the titles that Joan Straussman Brandon has in her arsenal of skills.

“I believe that the work we do at NeighborWorks America helps to make the world just a little bit better for the individuals, families, and communities our resources reach,” says Straussman Brandon. “Our network organizations are some of the best and the brightest at what they do.”

Joseph Wilson brings to NeighborWorks America 22 years of community-based, nonprofit professional experience. Twelve of those years were spent at The Success for All Foundation, where he automated all aspects of procurement as it relates to federal grants, developing and delivering procurement training, and providing subject matter expertise in all matters related to supply chain and logistics.

Kate Titford is responsible for the conduct of the organization's legal affairs, providing advice and counsel to colleagues and initiatives throughout the organization. She previously managed the legal assistance component of the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program, a $30 million federally-funded grant program that assisted families facing foreclosure. Titford joined the Office of General Counsel in 2011 and became deputy general counsel in 2019. 

Katie Watts has been involved with community development and affordable housing for most of her career. After college, she worked as an AmeriCorps Vista in her hometown of Kansas City. "It was my first exposure to learning about housing, and the way that housing could have a stabilizing effect on individuals and families as well as neighborhoods."

Kirsten Johnson-Obey has more than 30 years of public policy and government relations experience with an emphasis on affordable housing and housing finance. She joined NeighborWorks America in 2013. 
 

Lisa Hasegawa has more than 20 years of community development, housing and public health experience. Most recently, she served as the executive director of the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD), the first national advocacy organization dedicated to meeting the housing and community development needs of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.

As senior vice president of Financial Planning and Analysis, Matt Newsome leads the team responsible for NeighborWorks America's corporate budgeting, grant and contract compliance, and development of reporting and analysis for NeighborWorks financial operations. 

As vice president of strategy management, Maymie Beers is responsible for managing NeighborWorks America's corporate strategic planning, performance measurement and program and process evaluation activities to optimize organizational impact. Her team of planning and evaluation experts work with internal partners on initiatives to identify opportunities for improving organizational performance, effectiveness and accountability.