Who We Are
WHO WE ARE
Since 2001, Doors of Change has been transforming the lives of homeless youth. Established as a 501(c)(3) under the name “Photocharity,” we have raised over $8 million since our inception. We have served over 23,000 young people and helped over 2,900 homeless youth get off the streets. Our mission is to act as advocates to support homeless youth ages 17-24 and provide access to the resources they need to improve their quality of life. We aim to get them off the streets into safe housing and help them attain self-sufficiency.
Nearly one-third of all homeless adults are reported to have begun their life of homelessness as a youth. Intervention and getting youth off the streets are paramount in breaking the long-term cycle of homelessness. In 2013 we identified a significant gap in the services and resources available to homeless Transitional Age Youth (TAY), ages 17-24, and re-dedicated our organization to serve this underserved population.
Before the pandemic, our award-winning music and art program successfully built these relationships. Suspending that face-to-face program led us to develop a broader approach to connecting with homeless youth. Now we reach out to our clients where they live, on the streets, and meet with them by phone. We help them via our new Homeless Youth Advocacy Program (HYAP). Our approach saves lives by focusing on each individual and building relationships in the responsive, open-minded, and personal way each young person needs.
MISSION: GETTING HOMELESS YOUTH OFF THE STREETS
Your support can transform the lives of hundreds of homeless youth.
Help provide Intensive Case Management, safety essentials, food, and more for as little as 60 cents a day!
MISSION: GETTING HOMELESS YOUTH OFF THE STREETS
YOUR SUPPORT CAN TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF HOMELESS YOUTH
WHO WE ARE
BOARD ANGEL TEAM™
JEFFREY SITCOV
PRESIDENT & FOUNDER
Jeffrey, a physical therapist for 18 years, suffered a career-ending injury in 1998. After much soul-searching and praying he committed to dedicating his life to helping disadvantaged and homeless youth. After interviewing over 100 nonprofit organizations he went on outreach to find homeless youth and, that evening, his life was changed.
In 2001 he formed Photocharity. Also an award-winning photographer, Jeffrey met and photographed music industry greats while working at the SDSU Open Air Amphitheater.
These music legends were moved by Jeffrey’s vision to help homeless youth and, through their donations of signed music memorabilia, provided significant funding to help the organization get off the ground. Billy Joel, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, B.B. King, and many others have helped raise over $850,000.
As President of Doors of Change, Jeffrey leads a group of committed, caring people to help homeless youth. He considers himself only the “quarterback” of this amazing team.
Jeffrey has received awards locally and nationally, including the Channel 10 Leadership Award, Torrey Pines Bank Circle of Excellence Award, La Mesa Rotary “Peacemaker of the Year Award,” and the Jewish Family Services Volunteer of the Year Award. He was also a national semifinalist for the Volvo for Life Award.
REED MALTBIE
CO-CHAIRMAN OF BOARD
With dual master’s degrees in sports psychology and education, combined with three decades of professional coaching experience, Coach Reed Maltbie has established himself as a global authority on cultivating and achieving peak performance, high-performance communication, mental skills training, and leadership development.
As a trusted expert, he is a sought-after educator and advisor, having worked with organizations like State Farm Insurance, Civil Air Patrol, Entrepreneur’s Organization, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, PGA Canada, Gaelic Games Association, Sport New Zealand, and US Sailing.
Beyond his captivating virtual and in-person keynotes and workshops, Coach Reed is a prolific writer and his invaluable insight has been featured on prominent media outlets such as CNN, ESPN, ESPN Radio, Huffington Post, NBC SportsEngine, and SiriusXM Radio.
Coach Reed’s compelling 2015 TEDx talk, “Echoes Beyond the Game,” remains essential viewing for leaders who want to build transformational relationships with their teams. His unwavering dedication to developing leaders who transform lives remains a driving force in his work.
In 2023, Coach Reed released his highly anticipated debut solo book, “The Spartan Mindset: Mastering the Language of Excellence.” This international bestseller (in 5 countries!), delves into the profound impact of language on performance. It is an essential read for individuals and teams striving to become more effective and supportive communicators within high-pressure, competitive environments.
Today, Coach Reed primarily focuses on helping high performers leverage the skills they forged in sports to achieve performance excellence beyond the game through his full-time work as a nonprofit executive and a peak performance consultant.
You can find him at CoachReed.com and his book can be found at your favorite booksellers.
STEVE BRAM
SECRETARY | BOARD MEMBER
LINDA CONOVER
BOARD MEMBER
Owner and Co-Founder of Leucadia Pizzeria and Italian Restaurants, Linda has been a resident and pillar of the North County community for nearly 40 years. Her dedication to her 100+ employees and to make a difference in the lives of her family, friends, and community is evidenced by her 18 years as an Angel to Doors of Change. Born and raised in New Jersey, she graduated from Endicott College in Beverly, MA. She lives in Solana Beach. Linda was also selected as one of the 2024 Nonprofit Board Leaders of Influence by The San Diego Business Journal!
GABRIEL IGARTUA
BOARD MEMBER
ANDREW MINER
BOARD MEMBER
Over the past two decades, Andrew has been assisting numerous nonprofits that focus on helping homeless youth, at-risk youth, and individuals and families that have experienced crisis and/or sudden loss. He has helped develop programs to give homeless children valuable life skills in the form of music, art, athletics, and entrepreneurship.
Professionally, he is an entrepreneur and marketer who helped launch and grow Neil Patel Digital into one of the world’s most sought after marketing agencies and industry software providers. Andrew is now leading Aggregate.ai as the emerging leader in Ai and big data activation and analysis. Andrew with his wife and children, enjoy time with their horses, surfing, and many other outdoor activities.
LAURA M. NAVA
BOARD MEMBER
Laura is an attorney that is licensed to practice in Mexico and licensed to practice in New York with over 30 years of experience. Laura is currently a member of the Corporate and Labor and Employment Practice Groups in the firm’s San Diego (Downtown) and New York offices.
Laura’s legal practice focuses on cross-border transactions involving Mexico and other countries of Latin America. Her main areas cover investments in Mexico, mergers and acquisition and international business. Laura also handles international mediation cases involving cross-border issues or Spanish-speaking parties. Laura acts as a mediator and arbitrator for disputes and controversies between US corporations and Mexican/Latin American corporations and individuals.
Laura is involved in Casa Cornelia assisting in asylum matters and visas. Also, from 2002 through 2011 she participated and worked on the Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, for two of those years as a member of the Del Mar Unit and for the seven other years she founded, chaired and participated in the Milagros Unit of the Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary. Laura is currently serving a two year term (2022 – 2024) as President of the US Mexico Chamber of Commerce – West Coast (LA) Chapter.
Laura grew up in Tijuana, Mexico and moved to San Diego in 1997. Laura is fluent in Spanish and English, and conversant in French and Italian.
Laura has two sons in their twenties that helps her realize the importance of providing love, guidance and care to young persons and specially appreciates the importance of working with homeless youth as they have found themselves in the despair or problems that took them to become homeless in San Diego.
Laura is very proud and enthusiastic about being a member of the Board of Directors of Doors of Change and working with this organization knowing how it helps homeless youth change their lives and become independent self-supporting individuals.
LACRETIA KELLY
CO-CHAIRMAN OF BOARD
GARETT HOUSEAL
BOARD MEMBER
JOHN SIMONELLI
BOARD MEMBER
ADAM LOEW
BOARD MEMBER
Adam’s passion for helping people as a luxury real estate expert in San Diego is unmeasurable and unparalleled. As a long-time executive for a large, international fitness chain, from New York to San Diego and Stockholm to Oslo, he has been responsible for thousands of lives being changed across the world. Throughout his career, he has always been involved in real estate as an active investor and conduit for others. As a luxury agent, he has helped numerous San Diego homeowners, negotiated many short sales and modifications, and professionally advised clients on all of their real estate needs.
Community Involvement
Adam also actively serves his local community on the Honor Council at Ecke-Magdalena YMCA, and as a member of the Fitness Committee at the Lawrence Family Campus JCC. Whether you are selling your luxury home, a first time home buyer, or an investor looking for a great opportunity, Adam will dedicate himself to your situation and engage his experience and expertise to ensure the best outcome.
SHANNON PECK
BOARD MEMBER
Shannon Peck is a dedicated advocate for community well-being and personal transformation, with a rich background in philanthropy, counseling, and spiritual healing. As a former board member of the Community Resource Center, she supported programs that addressed domestic violence, homelessness, and hunger in her community.
Shannon is deeply committed to empowering individuals and families, offering them the resources and support they need to rebuild and thrive. Her compassionate vision has significantly contributed to creating safe and healthy communities. Shannon is a passionate supporter of the mission of Doors of Change mission to help homeless youth become empowered, independent, contributing members of society.
In addition to her nonprofit work, Shannon is a published author, speaker, and spiritual counselor who has spent decades guiding people toward self-discovery and healing. Her work focuses on exploring the intersection of personal growth, relationships, and spiritual awareness, often drawing from her own transformative life experiences. Through her books, workshops, and private sessions, she has inspired countless individuals to embrace their true potential. Shannon’s dual focus on community service and personal empowerment makes her a passionate force for positive change in both individual lives and the broader community.
In addition to writing, Shannon co-founded The Love Center with her husband Scott Peck, dedicated to raising universal love consciousness. She currently resides in Solana Beach, CA, and continues to offer healing services worldwide through her Past Life & Spirit World Soul Regression sessions.
JUSTINE YILDIZ
BOARD MEMBER
Justine is a graduate of the Ventura College of Law and received her undergrad degree in Environmental Writing at the University of California, Santa Barbara. As a former homeless youth served by Doors of Change, her perspective enables a deeper understanding of how our services impact other youth.
In 2010 Justine founded her own jewelry design business, “Friendly Feathers”, which she now operates part time. Justine currently works in Compliance, and she is preparing to take the Bar exam to become a practicing attorney. In her spare time, Justine enjoys camping, fishing, and going on road trips.
STAFF
JOANNE NEWGARD
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
MELISSA FLORES
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Melissa has a BA in Anthropology from the University of California San Diego, and a MA from the University of San Diego in Nonprofit Leadership & Management. As a member of the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council (NACC), Melissa’s passion lies in helping and educating others and believes that by helping people reach their goal, one will in turn reach his/her own goal. In her free time. Prior to coming to Doors of Changing, Melissa worked at an international nonprofit in education and economic empowerment. In her free time, Melissa enjoys traveling, reading, and volunteering at other local nonprofits.
ANNIE ARDITTI
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Annie is an East Coast native with over 10 years of experience in both the nonprofit sector and sales. Throughout her career, Annie has developed a strong skill set in program management, fundraising, business development and relationship building. Passionate about making a positive impact, she has a proven track record of driving growth, cultivating partnerships, and fostering strong connections with sponsors. With a deep commitment to community-centered initiatives, Annie excels in creating strategies that align organizational goals with meaningful outcomes. She is excited to bring her expertise to Doors Of Change and contribute to its continued success.
Annie enjoys spending time at the beach, exploring all that California’s beauty has to offer and cheering on the Baltimore Ravens.
VILMA MERCADO
ACCOUNTANT
Vilma Mercado has a bachelor’s degree from University of California, Los Angeles, as well as additional qualifications in accounting and bookkeeping from Valley College and UCLA Extension. Vilma brings a wealth of expertise to her role and a career that spans across both the non-profit and private sectors. She previously served as Staff Accountant for a real estate brokerage and, prior to that role, as director at a nonprofit community development agency where she oversaw housing and economic development programs for Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. She is proud of her efforts to advocate for lower-income families, promote financial literacy, and her role in increasing homeownership rates, particularly in underrepresented communities.
Vilma values integrity, self-improvement, and a strong work ethic. Outside of her professional life, Vilma enjoys traveling and volunteering. She strives to make a positive impact in her community and is thrilled to be a part of the Doors of Change family where her professional core values are aligned with the company’s mission and culture.
NICOLE DIAZ
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR
Nicole graduated in 2014 with a BS in Criminal Justice, a minor in psychology and is currently working on her Masters in Child, Youth and Family Services. She has been in the social services field for over 5 years. Nicole is devoted to her work and her clients and knows that each client must be approached differently. She is trained in a range of modalities including trauma informed care, motivational interviewing, cultural competency and mental health services.
TURQUOISE TEAGLE
CASE MANAGER
Turquoise served in the Navy for 10 years and was bestowed the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and the Pistol Sharpshooter Ribbon.
Prior to joining Doors of Change as a Case manager Turquoise was the site coordinator for Crowne Plaza, an Outreach Coordinator for the Veterans Village, and an Unhoused Care Team Coordinator at Downtown San Diego Partnership. For their leadership and dedication to the unhoused community, Turquoise received the Staff of the Year award given by the Regional Task Force on Homelessness. Turquoise is a model and spokesperson for Dapper Boi, an LGBTQ fashion brand that makes gender affirming clothes affordable and accessible. They also volunteer with the Regional Task Force on Homelessness for the Point in Time Count.
Angel Godinez
CASE MANAGER
Angel Godinez is an impassioned advocate for social justice and community empowerment. With a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from San Diego State University under her belt, Angel embarked on a journey to effect positive change in society. Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Administration at Cal State San Bernardino, Angel is dedicated to honing her skills to address systemic issues and implement policies for the betterment of our community.
Since 2020, Angel has been deeply involved in homeless services, starting as a Residential Coordinator and steadily advancing to become a Case Manager. Through her unwavering commitment, she has successfully housed numerous clients and facilitated their access to vital supportive services, providing them with a pathway to stability and self-sufficiency.
Angel’s expertise extends beyond their academic pursuits, as she holds certifications in Trauma-Informed Care and Section 8 vouchers. These qualifications underscore her dedication to providing compassionate and effective support to individuals facing homelessness and trauma.
With his comprehensive education, hands-on experience, and fervent dedication to social welfare, Angel Godinez stands as a beacon of hope and a catalyst for positive change in our community.
Support homeless youth when they need you most.
Your unrestricted gifts enable us to provide immediate shelter, case management, and life-changing ongoing support for Homeless Youth in San Diego County.
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