Leadership Team

Kathy joined the Deborah’s Place staff in 1987. In 1991, she received her Master’s in Social Work from Loyola University. Formerly serving in several staff positions, including as CSO, COO, Director of Supportive Housing and Clinical Director, Kathy is integral in developing innovative approaches to homeless services, such as the eviction prevention program, and creating new policies and procedures to enhance services. Kathy is also an Adjunct Faculty at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, where she teaches social work. She serves as Co-Chair for the Evaluation Instrument Subcommittee and is a member of the System Performance and Evaluation Committee for the Chicago Continuum of Care (All Chicago).

Tiffany has been working in social services for 18 years, providing services to the most vulnerable populations including youth, families and single adults. Tiffany is dedicated to helping single women who are experiencing homelessness to find permanent housing and maintain housing once they have reached their housing goal. She believes that housing is a human right for all. Tiffany joined Deborah’s Place in 2007 as residential staff and in 2012 she became Program Manager of the Teresa’s Interim Housing Program. In 2014, she earned an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Lewis University. In 2019, she was a part of the Willie’s Warriors Women Leadership Initiative for Black women in Chicago. In 2020, Tiffany became the Clinical Services Director where she provided oversight to Case Management and Health Services. In 2023, she became the Chief Operations Officer, where she oversees clinical services, residential services, property management and program data management.

Maureen is a CPA/MBA with 20+ years of experience in the non-profit, education and telecom sectors. Maureen was the Controller for Marillac St. Vincent Family Services in Chicago. Prior to Marillac St. Vincent Family Services, Maureen held positions with Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity, Art Institute of Wisconsin and the Golden Apple Foundation, as well as corporate positions with US Cellular and Ameritech Corporation. Maureen holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Illinois and an M.B.A from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. Maureen served on the Deborah’s Place Board previously and rejoined the Board of Directors in 2018. She was the Board Treasurer, Chair of the Finance & Audit Committee and member of the Investment Committee.

Lakeithia is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who joined Deborah’s Place in 2015, after she obtained her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health from Chicago State University. She has over 12 years’ experience working in the field of social services. She has trained in Complex PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder), ARC (Attachment, Regulation and Competency), Trauma Treatment, and SPARC (Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress), as well as an additional 40 hours of training regarding domestic violence and abuse. Lakeithia’s background includes positions in residential settings, case management, and clinical counseling as both a therapist and as a supervisor. As the Clinical Services Director for Deborah’s Place, she implements strategies and guidance to help in a systemic way and oversees Case Management Services, Health Services, and Alumnae Services.

Nicole joined the Human Resources department in 2014 after working in the finance department of Deborah’s Place for many years. She is responsible for staffing and recruitment, payroll, compensation, employee relations, performance management and interpretation and implementation of agency policies and procedures. She has more than ten years of experience working in the nonprofit sector in finance and administration. Nicole received a Master’s in Human Resource Management from Keller Graduate School of Management and is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). Nicole is also a member of the Greater Chicagoland Non-Profit Human Resources Directors Group.

Isaias has been working with the disenfranchised population for over 20 years, providing services to families and single adults. Isaias is dedicated to helping unaccompanied women who are experiencing homelessness to find permanent housing. He believes that housing is a human right for all. Isaias joined Deborah’s Place in 2011 as the Lead Desk Clerk, and in 2013 became the Program Management Coordinator and worked closely with the residential population at Deborah’s Place. In 2023, Isaias became the Property Management Director where he now provides oversight within the property management department.

Christy Smith-Hall, CFRE, MNA, is a seasoned nonprofit professional with over a decade of experience driving transformative change through fundraising. Her work has supported organizations serving unhoused populations, including families, reentering citizens, and single, unaccompanied women, as well as initiatives in public media, environmental justice, and social justice.

Christy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Illinois State University, where she became a lifelong member of Iota Heart Sisterhood and Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. She also earned a Master of Science in Nonprofit Administration (MNA) from North Park University, where she was inducted into Nu Lambda Mu, a nonprofit honor society. Beyond her academic achievements, Christy became a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) in 2019 and earned the prestigious Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation in 2024. Her expertise spans major gift acquisition, event planning, and donor retention, excelling in building meaningful relationships and delivering measurable results.

A proud native of Chicago’s North Austin neighborhood, Christy is deeply committed to her community. She actively supports neighborhood improvement initiatives and enjoys patronizing local businesses on the West Side of Chicago. In her personal life, Christy loves exploring documentaries and true crime stories, attending sporting events and neighborhood festivals, taking trips with her sorority sisters and friends, and traveling with her husband and two children.

Betty has over 15 years’ experience working with disenfranchised populations and in social service settings. Before becoming Director of Residential Services in 2014, Betty held several direct service and management positions at Deborah’s Place. She holds a Certificate in Addiction Studies from Harold Washington College and is an expert in the implementation of Harm Reduction principles in residential settings. She received her Bachelor’s in Applied Behavioral Science and her Master’s in Psychology from National Louis University. In 2022, she completed an MBA in Nonprofit Management from National Louis University.