Our Founders
Alicia Simmons
Founder
When Alicia was in high school, she was a member of Future Business Leaders of America, and she was a member of the Girl Scouts. After post-graduate school, she was a member of the American Society of Public Administration. These organizations gave Alicia the initial experience and the foundation to become a public servant in New York City.
Having a background in social services, Alicia developed a curious mind with regard to public policy, coupled with new public management. For this reason, Alicia decided to pursue a course that was related to preparing service providers for working in nonprofit organizations.
In 2002, Alicia received a master’s degree in Public Administration and Public Affairs from Metropolitan College of New York. After graduation, she spent the next two decades working as a public servant leader within the human service field, such as preventive services, substance abuse, mental health, HIV housing, and shelter programs.
During this time, Alicia had the honor of sharing some of her experience with other public servants by way of creating and implementing training for staff and developing policies and procedures to help improve overall performance.
Alicia has over 20 years of experience in the public sector and running non-profit, assisting homeless individuals in finding homes, jobs, and overall independence. She also is a member of the New York City Continuum of Care Committee.
David Simmons
Co-Founder
David Simmons experienced home insecurity as a child and as an adult. During his childhood, his family lived in a building abandoned by its owner. As an adult, David found himself living in an abandoned apartment building. These experiences had a profound effect on David. Professionally, he gravitated toward careers that provided pathways to assist those with little to no means and who are currently experiencing homelessness.
David's professional endeavors include working as a public servant at a residential reentry program for individuals suffering from substance addiction. While working as a residential manager, he implemented bookkeeping and property management software, scored an 81 and 91 on the New York City Fire Department's Fire Life and Safety Director's test, and sourced donations to help the organization and people he served.
With years of practical experience, compassion and positivity are recurring themes throughout David’s interactions with residents and fellow staff members. David’s personality enhances his ability to cultivate relationships with organizations and individuals. When faced with complex situations, David approaches problem-solving through the scope of a solution- based lens.
David enjoys writing. He has a series of poems patented by the Library of Congress. Motivated by his love of humanity, his dream is a world without homelessness. He is also a member of the NAACP.
Richard Fonyi is a retired US Army Field Artillery officer, serving on Active Duty for 30 years and retiring with the rank of Colonel. He began his military career as an enlisted Soldier in 1988 and served through Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm before entering the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. Richard graduated from West Point in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. He led Soldiers and commanded multiple combat units in peace and in war, serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He has served globally as a staff officer, operational planner, and strategist on various joint and multinational staffs and is the recipient of two Bronze Star medals, one with a valor distinction. While on active duty, Richard earned a Master of Science degree in Operations and Strategic Leadership. Following retirement in 2018, he went on to serve as a military consultant and project manager for the United States Army Cyber Center of Excellence and then transitioned to Amazon as an operations leader for two years to gain industry experience. He currently works overseas as a Senior Military Advisor for the Department of State, overseeing a large-scale IT project for a partner nation and ally to the United States. His passion is to serve others and solve challenging problems.
Our Board Members
Carrie Iseghohi
Carrie Iseghohi started her career in the early 1980s working with the mentally challenge population at the state level. After she completed her undergraduate studies, she pursued a career working with drug addicted families in a residential substance abuse program. She eventually moved forward to work in New York City foster care division where she licensed homes to create a safe and healthy environment for foster care children.
While working in the foster care system, she attended graduate school at Adelphi University and obtained a Master degree in Social Work, which led her to manage the Home Finding department. After fifteen years in the Social Service field, a decade working with the Mental Challenge populations and several years working with substance abuse families, she felt that it was time to retire. Although she has retired, she continues to serve the public by advocating for the elderly to gain access to their Medicare benefits.
Karen Whyte
Karen Whyte is a recent retiree of the New York City Department of Education. Her career with the Department spanned three decades. While Karen began her tenure as a substitute teacher, she retired as the Dean of Students. Karen also held positions as a Mathematics Teacher, a Mathematics Coach of teachers, the Chair of the Mathematics Department, a Mentor for new teachers, and a Supervisor of grade-level teachers.
Karen graduated magna cum laude from Lehman College, earning a bachelor's degree with a concentration in Psychology. At Lehman College, Karen was employed by the college as a peer tutor for English and Sociology. She was on the Dean's List and held the position of President of the Lehman College Chapter Honor Society in Psychology, PSI CHI. She also has a Math Education certificate from Lehman College, a master's degree in Special Education from Manhattan College and a master's degree in School Building Leadership from Mercy College where Karen graduated with distinction.
Despite her retirement, Karen continues to dedicate herself to education through travel, reading, and exploring new places.
Richard Fonyi
Richard Fonyi is a retired US Army Field Artillery officer, serving on Active Duty for 30 years and retiring with the rank of Colonel. He began his military career as an enlisted Soldier in 1988 and served through Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm before entering the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. Richard graduated from West Point in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. He led Soldiers and commanded multiple combat units in peace and in war, serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He has served globally as a staff officer, operational planner, and strategist on various joint and multinational staffs and is the recipient of two Bronze Star medals, one with a valor distinction. While on active duty, Richard earned a Master of Science degree in Operations and Strategic Leadership. Following retirement in 2018, he went on to serve as a military consultant and project manager for the United States Army Cyber Center of Excellence and then transitioned to Amazon as an operations leader for two years to gain industry experience. He currently works overseas as a Senior Military Advisor for the Department of State, overseeing a large-scale IT project for a partner nation and ally to the United States. His passion is to serve others and to solve challenging problems.