Our Leadership

More than half of our dedicated board members are active patients in our health centers. All of our leadership team has served at Community of Hope for more than four years, and several for more than ten years. 

Dr. Tabari Baker | Board Chair

One of Dr. Tabari Baker’s core beliefs is that every person deserves access to quality healthcare services.  He is committed to eliminating health disparities and ensuring that equitable care exists within Washington, D.C.  It is this commitment, along with his professional expertise, that led him to Community of Hope and motivates him to serve on our Board of Directors.

Tabari brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role within Community of Hope. Prior to his current position on the board, he chaired the Quality Management Committee, where he ensured that providers and staff administered outstanding, quality healthcare to our patients. He also currently works as a Scientific Affairs Manager for a leading biotech company, Roche Diagnostics Corporation.  In this role, Tabari educates pathologists, oncologists, and laboratory staff on the utility of appropriate diagnostic testing and the promise of personalized medicine.   His research experience and interests span several areas, including molecular biology, cancer stem cells, and clinical genomics.

Tabari holds a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Morehouse College, a Master of Science in Cancer Biology, Prevention, and Control from the University of the District of Columbia, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Tumor Biology from Georgetown University. 

In his spare time, Tabari plays golf and reads every Haruki Murakami book he can find.  As a self-proclaimed “foodie”, Tabari also enjoys discussing the best food, restaurants, and chefs from around the globe.   Tabari lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife DaJoie, and twin boys.

Board of Directors

Dr. Tabari Baker, Chair
Kimberly Woods, Vice Chair
Maira Mendoza, Secretary
Caty Poulin, Treasurer
Beniam Ado
Matthew Blumenstein
Christopher Earley
Rob Lazerow
Stepfan Martin
Alyce McFarland
Ingrid Scott
Keven Vance
Maria Weber
Heather Wise

Our Leadership Team

Kelly Sweeney McShane | President and CEO

Kelly Sweeney McShane is a well-respected and innovative nonprofit leader in Washington, DC. For over 20 years, she has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of homeless and low-income families through providing direct services as well as finding long-term solutions through system change. Her bold leadership in housing systems and healthcare delivery is transforming care in both fields.

Kelly has been President and CEO of Community of Hope (COH) since 2001. Her leadership and foresight have grown COH from a budget of $1.8 million to $16 million, allowing the organization to serve six times more families and individuals. Founded in 1980, COH provides housing for homeless families, affordable, quality healthcare in a family practice model, and employment services. Kelly has led the organization through successfully completing goals in three strategic plans and the fourth plan has just been launched. Kelly’s dedication to serving homeless and low-income families in the District means that the organization’s growth is driven steadily by the needs of patients and clients. In the past five years, COH has added two new health centers and increased the number of families served in a variety of housing programs. COH, in partnership with another nonprofit, provided leadership in implementing a uniform assessment system for all families experiencing homelessness, and this system is now used across the homeless continuum in DC. COH’s new strategic plan includes a bold stretch goal of increasing family sustaining income for the families we serve. In 2012, she led Community of Hope to receive the prestigious Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management, recognizing a number of innovative organizational practices.

Kelly has provided leadership at a city level in transforming systems to help low-income families. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the DC Primary Care Association, as a member of the DC Bar Pro Bono Community Economic Development Project Advisory Committee, and as a member of the Federal City Council. Since 2006, Kelly has served as a member of the Mayor’s Interagency Council on Homelessness, including co-chairing the Strategic Planning Committee. She worked on developing the past two five-year Plans to End Homelessness, including most recently Homeward DC released in April 2015. She has previously served as a board member of 501cTech, Franciscan Mission Service, and the Center for Non-profit Advancement. She is a member of the 2006 class of Leadership Greater Washington.She received a Master’s in Business Administration from Georgetown University and has a Bachelor’s from Harvard University.

Kelly has won numerous awards, including the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation's Exponent Award, which recognizes nonprofit leadership. Kelly also was recognized as a Champion of Change by the DC Primary Care Association in 2011. In 2015, she won a Washington Women of Excellence award for her dedication to improving the quality of life for low-income and underserved persons. She is the recipient of the Washington Business Journal's Women Who Mean Business Award, which honors the region's most influential businesswomen who have not only made an impact in their industry, but have made a difference in their communities. Most recently, Kelly received an Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Real Estate Award from the University of Maryland.

Kelly previously served as Executive Director of Hannah House, a transitional housing program for homeless women in the District of Columbia, and was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Sierra Leone, West Africa. She is the co-author of a book entitled Winning Ways: Great Nonprofit Management Ideas. She lives in Washington, DC with her husband Kevin McShane, and they are parents to three college students.

Jamey Burden | Vice President, Housing Programs and Policy

Since 2009, Jamey has served as our Vice President Housing Programs and Policy. He leads our approach to ending homelessness and is key to implementing our housing programs. He previously worked at the National Alliance to End Homelessness where he researched, wrote and edited key policy/planning papers, briefs and technical assistance toolkits. Topics included creating a plan for homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing, developing key partnerships, and implementing strategies to foster system change to move toward a housing stability focus. This work allowed him to be involved with some of the most innovative and results-oriented work going on in the country.

Jamey received his Master’s in Social Work from the University of Connecticut and a Bachelor’s from Wheaton College. He currently serves on several committees of the DC Interagency Council on Homelessness.

Leah Garrett | Vice President, Development and Communications

Leah joined the team as the Vice President, Development and Communications in 2011. Prior to working at COH, she volunteered for more than two years on COH’s Finance committee and briefly on the Board of Directors. In her current role, she oversees the fundraising, communications, community engagement, volunteerism and marketing operations. Leah brings with her years of experience in fundraising and communications, serving previously as the Director of Individual Giving at Sojourners and at other nonprofits, including a center for abused and neglected children, a retirement home, and a community health center. 

Leah received her Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Eastern University and her Bachelor’s from Olivet Nazarene University.

Carla Henke | Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Carla Henke joined the Community of Hope in 2012. As Chief Medical Officer, she leads the medical directors at each of our health centers and our Nursing Department. She provides oversight on all clinical items, including being the lead for the staff and board Quality Management Committees. She is board certified in family medicine.

Dr. Henke received her medical degree from the University of Buffalo and completed her residency training in Lancaster, PA. 

Stephanie Leonetti | Vice President, Talent Management

Since 2013, Stephanie has been an integral part of our Talent Management team. She has held a number of positions moving from Human Resources Generalist to Vice President of Talent Management. As Vice President of Talent Management, she oversees our human resource infrastructure, including recruitment, benefits, employee relations and staff culture.

Stephanie received her Bachelor’s from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management and her Master’s in Educational Policy and Social Analysis from Columbia University. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management.

Victoria Roberts | Vice President, Health Services

Victoria joined the Community of Hope in 2007. She has more than 30 years of experience in the nonprofit field in both management and direct service positions. As Vice President of Health Services, she oversees the operations of the dental, behavioral health and patient engagement departments of Community of Hope health services. She has helped successfully lead us through the development and opening of the Conway Health and Resource Center, our newest and largest health center in Ward 8, and the merger with the Family Health and Birth Center. She has also served DC in a variety of positions including Program Director during the development of N Street Village and the Director of Client Services at Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place. Victoria is currently the chair of the board of directors for DC’s Clinically Integrated Network.

Victoria received her Bachelor’s from St. Olaf College and has completed a fellowship with the Advisory Board Company.

Derek Sykes | Vice President of Finance and Operations

Derek Sykes joined Community of Hope in 2019. As Vice President of Finance and Operations, he leads the Accounting, Billing, Facilities, Finance, Information Technology, and Special Projects teams. Derek began his career at KPMG as an auditor and forensic accountant and has served in various roles within healthcare, including the Director of Finance at Inova Alexandria Hospital. He also serves as the Treasurer on the Board of Directors for Little Lights Urban Ministries.

Derek received his Bachelors of Science in Business Administration and Masters of Accountancy from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University North Carolina at Chapel Hill.