Senior Staff
Timothy Evans, Executive Director
Timothy Evans brings more than 20 years of experience in organizational leadership, strategic development, operational excellence, and equity-centered systems transformation.
Tim serves as the Executive Director of Operation Dignity, where he leads strategic growth initiatives that expand outreach, shelter, emergency and transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing for vulnerable populations. His leadership focuses on strengthening organizational infrastructure, driving financial sustainability, and cultivating community partnerships that influence policy and advance equitable outcomes across the Bay Area.
Tim served as Chief Operating Officer for Lifehouse and Hamilton Families, overseeing multi-department operations, guiding long- and short-term strategic planning, and managing complex government contracts. His work included implementing DEI-centered organizational strategies, optimizing systems and processes, modernizing data-informed decision-making frameworks, and supporting organizational culture transformation.
Tim serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for Festival Opera in Walnut Creek, where he is committed to creating pathways for young Black and Brown children to explore, grow, and thrive in the arts and classical music. His board service reflects his dedication to cultural equity, creative expression, and expanding access to artistic opportunities for underrepresented youth.
Tim holds a Master of Arts in Management from Saybrook University, with a specialization in Strategic Planning in Sustainable Business and Risk Management, as well as a Bachelor of Business Administration in Science Management. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. to deepen his research and expertise in organizational leadership, systems design, and sustainable impact.
Marguerite Bachand, Immediate Past Executive Director:
Marguerite joined Operation Dignity in January of 2017 until she stepped down due to a swift, aggressive, and ultimately fatal illness in the summer of 2024. Link to obituary: Marguerite Marie Bachand Obituary – Visitation & Funeral Information (chapelofthechimes.com) She is fondly remembered by the staff and residents of Operation Dignity and all of the many individuals and families whose lives she touched through her work.
Mercedes Brown, Program Director of Permanent Housing Programs: mbrown@operationdignity.org
Mercedes has been serving with the homeless population for over 15 years. She started as an outreach worker specializing in harm reduction, disease preventative education, and case management. Mercedes received her AA in Community Social Service from Merritt College. She supervises transitional veteran housing and services at Dignity Commons in Alameda and Ashby House in Berkeley, where she leads with integrity, compassion and humility. When not working, she enjoys travel, music and spending time with family and friends.
Lola Rockwell Brown, Director of Veteran Housing: Transitional & Emergency Shelter lrockwell@operationdignity.org
Lola Rockwell Brown started working in the nonprofit field in 2000, as a graveyard shift outreach worker in San Francisco. It was a steep learning curve driving solo helping the homeless, but a wonderful experience. From there she worked the drug and alcohol treatment field at Baker Places, serving the community of San Francisco again, then as a case manager at an adult shelter in Redwood City. After some time off to focus on her family, she rerned to work in parent enrichment and education in the Oakland Unified School District, where her main focus was empowering the urban community about the importance of early childhood education and focusing elementary, middle and high school parents on college prep. Lastly, prior to coming to Operation Dignity, she was privileged to work in the foster care system as a case manager for a group home on the peninsula, where she collaborated with judges, social workers, parents and schools to help kids create a successful future. She has held several positions at Operation Dignity as a Case Manager, After Care Case Manager, Senior Case Manager, and now as Director of Transitional & Emergency Housing for veterans. Operation Dignity is her forever job – working with vets is an honor and a privilege.
Laura Ross, Director of Development: lross@operationdignity.org
Prior to Operation Dignity, Laura worked for HomeRise in San Francisco where she spent 4 years managing grants that supported construction and operation of permanent supportive housing. She first began working with nonprofits while still in college. Her career began in theatrical production and gallery management while living in New York City, later transitioning to project management for private communities and local government in the Savannah, GA and Hilton Head, SC area. She began working with grants in 2008 while managing the construction of parks and nature trails for the Town of Bluffton, SC. Since then, she has dedicated her career to grants management and fundraising. She transitioned to social services and organizations focusing on homelessness in 2016 when she began working for Union Mission in Savannah, GA. After a long career in various fields, she feels that helping formerly homeless individuals and families to secure housing and regain happiness and stability is the most fulfilling job possible.
Board of Directors
Morgan Clyde, Chair Morgan joined Operation Dignity’s board in July of 2016. After graduating high school, Morgan joined the Air Force as a member of the USAF Security Forces, where he worked in law enforcement, force protection, and corrections. He was stationed for four years in New Mexico, and served one tour in Mosul, Iraq, after which he transitioned to the Air Force Reserves and served five more years at Travis AFB in Fairfield, until 2013. While in the reserves, Morgan completed a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy at Sonoma State University. In 2017, he completed a graduate degree in Public Management and Policy Analysis at California State University, East Bay, working with one of his professors to do research on behalf of a local police department. He enjoys traveling with his wife, reading, and visiting the Bay Area’s museums and craft breweries. Morgan believes strongly in public service, in a civic duty to facilitate the reintegration of veterans, and in protecting the inherent dignity of all – regardless of their present circumstances.
James De los Reyes, Secretary
James is an attorney with Fennemore Wendel in Oakland and represents a variety of clients in matters relating to construction, real estate and general litigation. His firm proudly and regularly supports Operation Dignity, its mission and mobile outreach efforts. While not a veteran himself, James remains indebted to the men and women who have served our country, including many members of his own family, and is grateful to serve as a member of Operation Dignity’s board. James received his B.A. from Stanford University and his J.D. from UC Hastings, where he often serves as an alumni coach and judge for Hastings’ nationally-ranked Moot Court intercollegiate competition teams.
Dale Adams
Dale is a Navy Veteran with a history of commitment to community service. He spent seven years doing missionary work in South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda, leading community development projects and helping youth build leadership skills. His professional background is in IT, where he combines technical proficiency with customer service and problem solving. He joined the Operation Dignity Board in March 2019 to give back to other veterans and contribute his team- and infrastructure-building experience.
Dr. Susan Sperling For over a decade, Susan served as the President of Chabot College in Hayward, California. During her tenure the College doubled its graduation rate and developed key partnerships with the City of Hayward, Hayward Unified School District, California State University East Bay, and a variety of local non-profits, increasing services and support for students facing challenges of economic inequality, racism, and xenophobia. She also guided the development of the new Chabot Library and Learning Connection, the Space & Science Center building, and First Responders Training Center in partnership with the City of Hayward. She also worked successfully to increase the diversity of Chabot College’s faculty and staff.
Since retirement Susan is excited to begin a new chapter of non-profit service working on the Operation Dignity’s board, advocating for children in the foster care system, writing, and traveling with her husband Marc.
Nick Friend
Nick Friend joined Housing Trust of Silicon Valley in February 2025 as Chief Lending Officer after serving as Vice President of Lending at Century Housing’s Northern California office. He has nearly 20 years of experience in community lending and affordable housing finance. Prior to that, Nick was a mortgage officer at the Community Preservation Corporation in New York. Nick has also held leadership roles at Citi Community Capital and New York City Economic Development Corporation.
He holds an MBA with a concentration in real estate from Columbia University and a BA in Architecture from Yale University. Originally a San Francisco native, Nick lives in Berkeley with his family.
Saleemah Jones
Saleemah is a Community Development Specialist with the County of Alameda where she manages several affordable housing projects. Prior to entering into the development of affordable housing field she practiced law for sixteen years in various areas that included family law, civil litigation, and housing. Upon moving back to California, Saleemah saw the housing crisis the Bay Area was faced with and was determined to assist with the problem head on. She has always been involved with helping the community and helping the homeless population. Saleemah also has a non-profit theatre productions (Put Ur Play On Productions) where she writes, directs, and produces thought provoking stage plays.
Gretel Tortolani
Gretel comes to the Board of Directors of Operation Dignity with over 20 years of experience in finance and accounting. She is currently the Chief Financial Officer for Otis McAllister, an international food and beverage company. She was previously the CFO & VP of Human Resources at Operation Dignity and prior to that has held positions with the Mt. Diablo Region YMCA, Mi Pueblo Supermarkets, Best Express Foods, Sage Software and Dynamic Office and Accounting Solutions. She is very excited to be a part of Operation Dignity once again! Gretel graduated from St. Mary’s College with a degree in Management. When not working she enjoys spending time with her kids and great friends. She also loves to travel, do sports and go on hikes with her two Nordic Spitz.
Neil Saxby
Neil Saxby is an experienced development professional with a demonstrated history of working in the affordable housing real estate industry in Northern California. He has an MBA with a Finance focus from the University of California, Davis – Graduate School of Management. Neil is the principal owner of RENEW URBAN Development Consulting. Prior to that, he worked as the Director of Development at BRIDGE Housing Corporation and the Associate Director of Real Estate Development at Eden Housing.