Our Team

Bill joined Building Hope in October of 2022 as President and CEO. Bill has extensive experience in the corporate, government, investment, social impact, philanthropy, education, and public policy arenas. Prior to Building Hope, he was President and CEO of the Strada Education Network, where he created a $2 billion national social impact fund. Bill also served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education under George W. Bush and as Assistant Secretary for Management and Budget and CFO earlier in his career. In 2022, he was appointed to the State Board of Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and he serves on the board of Green Street Impact Partners and several education-related boards, including The Jackie Robinson Foundation and Youth for Tomorrow

Mr. Moreno is President of Building Hope Services, LLC and is a registered Municipal Advisor. Mr. Moreno oversees the daily operations of Building Hope’s financial advisory, back office and support services. Mr. Moreno has been involved in over $2 Billion in charter school financings. He holds an MBA from Florida Atlantic University and a BS in Finance with honors from the University of Florida.. With over 19 years of CFO experience with various business enterprises including serving as a CFO for a National Bank. He also has served as Chairman of the Florida School of Excellence Commission, and is currently a member of the Florida charter School Appeal Commission.

Robin leads Building Hope Finance’s effort to provide charter schools with tailored, cost-effective facility financing options. He has vast experience in structured finance and in working with non-profits. He began his career in commercial real estate, financing over $3 billion worth of real estate across the US. He also leveraged this background to bring innovative financial structures to non-profit organizations, including Charter schools. Robin divides his time between Washington, DC and Philadelphia. He holds bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Dru is responsible for oversight and management of all Building Hope Real Estate investment opportunities in educational facilities. He joined Building Hope in 2015 with 20 years’ experience in community-based development; real estate; and construction of charter school, retail, and entertainment projects. He has been an active member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Rowland Hall School. Dru holds a B.S. in Management Information Systems from Fairfield University.

Amy Bevilacqua is an experienced operator and investor in the education sector whose career began in college admissions and has been focused on driving innovation and scale in K-12 and higher education. She is the President of the Building Hope Impact Fund, partnering with national philanthropies to provide catalytic capital and design, incubate, and grow innovative programs and services for education entrepreneurs, building on Building Hope’s 22 year track record providing capital and service solutions in the charter school sector. Earlier she co-founded Green Street Impact Partners, a private equity firm investing in companies that represent the future of education. As Chief Innovation Officer at American Public Education (NASDAQ: APEI), she led strategy, growth initiatives, and investments centered on business model innovation, and she also served as Chief Marketing Officer for an early learning company and ran content-related businesses at PBS. Her perspective was further shaped by teaching in the University of Pennsylvania’s Master's in Education Entrepreneurship program, where she led the Capstone Program and supported entrepreneurs launching new K-12 schools in underserved communities. A prominent voice in impact investing in the education sector, she founded ElleCap, the only global network of women investors in education with over 225 members worldwide. 

Tiphanie Edwards’ extensive professional experience includes serving in various educational capacities including teacher, academic dean, director of human resources, director of diversity, equity and inclusion and assistant head of school. Tiphanie’s portfolio has included human resources planning; compliance and regulatory management; talent recruitment; organizational development and performance management.

Tiphanie pursued undergraduate and graduate studies at Towson University. She holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Human Resource Development and a certification in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from Cornell University. Tiphanie also received leadership training at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education through the Principals’ Center and was previously certified as an principal. Her human resources certifications include Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) and Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). Tiphanie resides in Bowie, MD, with her husband, Mark and their three children.

Lance came to Building Hope in 2017 with significant experience as an accountant in the audit practice at Ernst & Young and in the transaction services practice at PriceWaterhouseCoopers; a finance and strategic planning manager at National Express Corporation, a K-12 student transportation operator; and Director of Finance at LearnZillion, a K-12 education technology company. Lance has also served as a Board Director and Treasurer for Lee Montessori Public Charter School in Washington, DC. He is a CPA and holds Finance & Accounting and Masters of Accounting degrees from Miami University of Ohio.

Allison Serafin brings experience, accomplishment and energy to her responsibilities at Building Hope. Allison has more than 20 years in the education field, including time as an elected member of the Nevada State Board of Education. She helped raise more than $40 million for IDEA Public Charter School in her hometown of Houston and was Domestic Portfolio Director at Dovetail Impact Foundation. Allison is a dedicated Peloton bicyclist. She earned a BS in Political Science at Texas Christian University and an MS in Social Work at the University of Texas-Arlington.

Karen has over 17 years of leadership experience fostering collaborations, securing buy-in across organizational levels, and motivating teams in the education industry. Coupled with her degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Marketing, she is equipped with the knowledge and expertise needed to lead with a community-centered, relationship-building focus as Director of Marketing at Building Hope.

Karen’s background in commercial real estate, and marketing, along with her passion for excellent education, led her to own and operate Montessori schools and launch public charter schools to make a difference in the lives of families and communities. She is committed to ensuring all students have access to high-quality educational opportunities.

Joshua is a graduate of the George Washington University majoring in Political Science in hopes to make the world a better place. As a charter school alumnus, he brings a diverse insight to how we serve our students and is an exemplary example of our impact at Building Hope.

He also serves as President of Key to Knowledge, a small nonprofit missioned to improving education in developing countries, that served over 450 students in Honduras, Cuba, Venezuela, Guatemala and Puerto Rico.

Adam is responsible for planning, organizing and executing conferences and school events, in an effort to create, build and expand relationships with charter schools. He provides support for growing school campuses, through direct development and client engagement. Prior to joining Building Hope, Mr. Koonin was a National Relationship Manager, serving some of the largest public-school districts with procurement and expansion projects. He is an alumnus of Tulane University.

Jerry Zayets is responsible for managing the development and construction process for BHRE. In conjunction with his team, he manages acquisition, entitlements and project management, pre-construction, and construction management. He also advises schools on site selection, construction management, and project affordability. Prior to joining BHRE, Jerry was the Director of Acquisitions and Development for Capital City real estate, where he implemented large-scale mixed-use development projects. He is a graduate of University of Maryland and holds a master’s degree from its School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. For more than 5 years Jerry has served on the Board of Trustees for Creative Minds International, a public charter school in Washington, D.C.

Kyle has comprehensive construction knowledge from hands-on experience in roles ranging from laborer to president. He has managed teams as a subcontractor, general contractor, program manager, and developer. As VP of Preconstruction, Kyle led national efforts, gaining a broad understanding of various projects and delivery methods. He has led teams at all levels for private clients and public entities and oversaw over $350 million in contracts and developed strategies for a national P3 developer of municipal projects.

Brady Hutchins is the Director of Real Estate at Building Hope. He started his career as an intern for a commercial construction company in Eagle, Idaho, and on his first day of work, met Dru Damico, Building Hope’s President of Real Estate. Hutchins completed the construction of five schools in three years before leaving Idaho and joining Damico’s team in 2020. He finished 11 school projects in his first two years and has seven more on the books for 2023. Hutchins earned a B.A. in Construction Management from Boise State University in 2017.

Lauren Allen brings nearly a decade of experience from the charter school realm to Building Hope Real Estate. Lauren started as a math teacher at Kenilworth Science and Technology School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and later served as the Director of Community Affairs. She facilitated the growth and expansion of Kenilworth, increased outreach to parents and families, and organized events that grew to attract thousands in attendance. Lauren graduated from the University of Rochester in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Studio Art. In 2020, Lauren completed a BS in Nursing from Southeastern Louisiana University.

Iliya joined Building Hope in May 2022. Previously, he worked as an ESG and Sustainability Associate at Bridge Investment Group, and as a Fixed Income and ESG Product Analyst at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Iliya graduated summa cum laude from Brigham Young University-Idaho, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Financial Economics. Additionally, Iliya is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) charterholder since August 2022.

Justin works with charter schools to plan, design, construct and occupy facilities. Prior to joining Building Hope, Justin was a Project Manager at a general contracting company, where he managed new construction and renovation projects. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management from Morgan State University.

Elizabeth Barlow-Gupta is a leader who brings people, ideas and operations together. With a career marked by diversity across industries, delivering in challenging environments and success through relationships, her experience guides organizations with fresh direction focusing on working beyond obstacles.

Lizzie comes to Building Hope after managing a commercial construction firm specializing in construction management and design-build projects. Previously she held leadership positions in the mining industry both in the United States and Australia with key accomplishments in operational excellence and communications.

Lizzie holds a BS in Anthropology from the University of Utah. Government Politics and Journalism. She has two courageous young boys and considers their growth and development her greatest accomplishment.

Lizzie has served on The Board of Directors of the Salt Lake City Library System, Seeds of Peace, The Governor’s Mansion Artist Series, and held various positions on committees with community organizations.

Damion J. Winn is a dedicated civil and environmental engineering professional with extensive project management experience across both private and public sectors. He is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of New Orleans (B.S. in Civil & Environmental Engineering, 2015) and a certified EIT with extensive project management experience. Leveraging his USAF Non-Destructive Inspection training, he has overseen infrastructure, commercial, and real estate developments worth up to $180 million. Known for his attention to detail, collaborative approach, and leadership skills, Damion consistently manages budgets, coordinates subcontractors, and ensures on-time project delivery, ultimately driving impactful results for Building Hope.

Frank Garza is an Assistant Project Manager with Building Hope. Prior to joining Building Hope he worked for a home builder in Austin, Texas as an Operations Coordinator where he helped with pre-construction needs and company processes. He graduated from Texas A&M University in December of 2020 with a Bachelor’s degree in University Studies – Global Arts, Planning, Design and Construction Concentration. Along with a Minor in Business and Facility Management.

Dan joined the Building Hope Real Estate team in April of 2023. Coming from a family of educators and having lived on various school campuses for most of his life, he is no stranger to the importance of facilitating accessible, quality education. As a 2022 graduate of Bates College, Dan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies with a minor in Philosophy.

Vanessa has worked in tax consulting, compliance, and a variety of other accounting and operations roles for non-profit organizations, including arts and educational institutions. She has a Bachelor’s degree in accounting and dance from Muhlenberg College and a Master’s of Accounting with a tax emphasis from the College of William and Mary.

Dario Gray, Grants Administrator, Dario began his career within the education side of Non-Profit Agencies, managing multiple New York State Education Department and United States Department Of Education grant-funded programs. He is the recipient of the National AfterSchool Network Emerging Leaders Under 30, ChangeMakers 30 Under 30, and Buffalo’s Business First 30 Under 30 awards. Dario holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Medaille College in Buffalo as well as a dual Masters in Business Administration from Temple University in Philadelphia. In his spare time, Dario enjoys baking pastries and desserts.

Trisha Leitem is the Director of Services for Building Hope, bringing over 20 years of experience in education and organizational leadership. She has served as a teacher, principal, and board member, demonstrating a deep commitment to student success and school development. Her expertise extends beyond education into grants management, policy, payroll, and human resources, making her a well-rounded leader in the field. With a passion for fostering strong, sustainable school communities, Trisha plays a vital role in supporting educators and institutions through her work at Building Hope.

Mark’s work with Building Hope Services includes financial reporting; representing the organization and its partner schools at school board meetings; joining school representatives to attend workshops on grants and other financial programs; and advising schools in accounting, business, and other professional aspects that draw on his many years of experience as CFO for a publicly traded company. He is a graduate of American University and attended NY Law school.

Christine has served as an educator, school administrator and executive director of a system of four charter schools in the state of Florida. Throughout her career she has helped with all phases of charter school operations ranging from the writing of the charter application to the successful replication of a high-performing charter school. She joined the Charter Support Unit in 2021 with a desire to support charter schools meet their mission and goals for student success. Christine holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Florida International University and a master’s degree in Reading Education from Nova Southeastern University.

Becky joined Building Hope in February 2020 with a background in municipal bond finance. In her previous work as an analyst for a national investment banking firm, she helped structure financing for charter school and local government clientele. Her work involved all facets of the capital debt market financing process, from preparation of bond documents to coordinating rating agencies, bond insurers, and legal counsels, leading to successful closings for dozens of public finance clients. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a Post-Baccalaureate Accounting Certificate from Robert Morris University and is a registered Municipal Advisor Representative.

Kevin manages business transactions for public charter schools in Florida. He is an active CPA. His background includes leadership in the medical staffing, environmental services, and investment sectors, with expertise in budgeting, accounting, finance, and business administration. Kevin has helped start-up companies to grow and become competitive and helped mature companies to maintain their high standards. He has a Finance Degree with a risk management concentration from Virginia Tech and an MBA from Florida State University.

Macarria has over 13 years of experience in the accounting and finance industry. She started her career as a Financial Account Analyst, by measuring the financial risk of new and existing clients while maintaining a diverse accounts receivable portfolio. Macarria has also served as a Senior Accountant with primary responsibilities of reconciling bank statements and maintaining compliance of operations. She is currently assisting with bonds accounting here at Building Hope. Macarria has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from the University of South Carolina and an MBA with a concentration in Finance from Strayer University.

Sally brings 25+ years of experience in business management, project administration, executive support & HR. She previously served as Business Manager at a partner charter school with 1,375 students, overseeing finance, HR & compliance for a staff of 110. She also spent 13 years at a global climate solutions company, managing projects up to $5MM & supporting direct sales teams with contracts worth over $12MM annually. Prior to that, she held an executive support role for 7 years at a prominent Miami real estate firm, managing compliance, payroll & vendor relations. Known for her organizational skills & educational background in Supervision & Management, she delivers results across diverse industries.

Betsey joined Building hope in 2023 with 6 plus years of experience in Human Resources and Payroll. She is excited to work with the various school administrators assisting them in all of their H.R. and Payroll needs. She has a bachelor’s degree in recreation management and youth leadership. She is married with four daughters and 11 (soon to be 12) grandchildren. She enjoys spending her free time with her growing family.

Yamil has 9+ years working in Human Resources and Payroll. She graduated from Florida International University with a Hospitality Management degree. While in college, she was an America Reads tutor working with elementary children and completed an internship in Human Resources. In her spare time she loves traveling and spending quality time with family and friends.

Amanda joins our team at Building Hope as the Grants Specialist. She brings a well-rounded skill set in Grant Management with over 5 years of grant experience at the LEA level. With over 15 years in various roles at her previous school district in Wyoming, Amanda has a vast knowledge and love for supporting staff and children in education. Amanda now lives in Florida and is excited to bring her talents to Building Hope. She enjoys exploring the endless activities in Florida with her family and looks forward to making many memories.

‍

Rafael oversees the budgeting process for charter school clients in Florida. Prior to joining Building Hope in 2017, he spent 25 years running investment portfolios for various banks in Miami. Rafael has a degree in Finance from Florida International University. He lives in Miami with his wife and 3 children.

Amy is a Staff Accountant, offering back office support services from the Ft. Lauderdale, FL office. She is a veteran of the United States Air Force that joined the team in 2014 and has over 22 years of Accounting experience. She has 5 children, and has seen first-hand, the benefits of charter schools.

Daniel Portal has a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Central Florida and is currently working on getting an MBA from FAU. He is an avid golf player in his spare time.

Opal is a Florida-based staff accountant with our back-office services team. She came to Building Hope in 2016 with over 18 years’ experience working in Finance and Accounting. Opal is also a business teacher and holds a bachelor’s degree in Professional Management from Nova Southeastern University. She has three children, the youngest of whom attend one of Building Hope’s partner charter schools.

Tom Eloph is an experienced systems manager and developer with a background in QR code systems and physical asset management. Tom brings two decades of technical expertise to every project. He has worked in higher education and small local businesses, always looking to bring some extra ingenuity to existing processes. Tom likes wearing many hats and being able to explain the technical to the non- technical along with making experimental tools in hopes of building a better mousetrap.

Patrick Toepel is an experienced senior software engineer known for his expertise in architecting efficient solutions. Patrick brings two decades of technical expertise to every project. He has worked in large fortune 500 companies and small boutique businesses helping him understand the importance of collaborative experiences, wearing many hats, and being able to explain the technical to the non-technical. He is a forever student, comes from a long line of tinkerers, and is always open to a discussion around anything tech.

Ali has 19 years of experience in the accounting and finance sector and has worked for well-known international organizations including USAID and UNDP. Ali Reza is a candidate for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation and holds two bachelor’s degrees, one each in finance and civil engineering.

Najahla is a Senior Accountant on Building Hope’s corporate accounting team where she is responsible for recording, maintaining, and analyzing financial data related to Building Hope Real Estate. Bringing over 9 years of specialized accounting experience in the construction industry, Najahla joined Building Hope in 2023. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Beyond her professional pursuits, Najahla finds joy in traveling, exploring new destinations, and immersing herself in different cultures.

Daniel is responsible for the accounting of Building Hope Holdings, Services, and Impact Fund. He has over 17 years of accounting and financial management experience. Daniel has a Bachelor’s degree from Boston College, and obtained his Master’s degree in accounting and financial management from the University of Maryland Global College. Daniel is married with four children and lives in Brandywine, MD.

Vernae Rahman-Smith joins the team as a Staff Accountant with a unique blend of experience in accounting, social work, and postpartum doula care. A graduate of Howard University with degrees in Accounting and Social Work, she has built her career supporting mission-driven organizations through grant accounting, financial reporting, and nonprofit finance. Her diverse background has strengthened her ability to combine analytical problem-solving with a people-centered approach. Vernae is excited to contribute to the organization's mission, collaborate with her new colleagues, and continue growing as an accounting professional.

Sherece is the Paralegal to Building Hope’s General Counsel. She came to Building Hope in 2018 with a background in the real estate and title insurance industries.

Lori is a seasoned administrative professional with over 27 years of experience supporting senior and C-level executives. She is the executive assistant to CEO, Bill Hansen.

With a passion for helping others, Lori is eager to bring her expertise to the organization to assist in furthering Building Hope’s mission.

Candace Jenkins, graduate of Johnson & Wales University – Charlotte, joined Building Hope in November 2023 as Loan Administrator. Candace began her career in the banking industry as a bank teller before transitioning into the mortgage industry for several years. In 2022, she pivoted into the commercial banking sector gaining additional experience as a Loan Portfolio Specialist with Community Bank of the Chesapeake, now known as Shore United Bank. Areas of expertise include Loan Account Management and Customer Relationship Management. Outside of normal business hours, you can find Candace visiting a new restaurant or enjoying family friendly events with her daughter.

Curtis leads the Charter Support Unit, providing operational assistance to help charter schools improve efficiencies. He was formerly the principal of a high-performing public charter school in Florida. Curtis holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University and a bachelor’s in Education from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh.

Joan is a charter school business manager, covering areas such as financial accountability, policy and quality control. She is also a grant writer, and serves as an AdvancED (Cognia) Charter School Accreditation Team Member at the PreK to High School level. Joan began her career teaching business administration and accounting principles, then worked in the charter school system as a technology coordinator, systems administrator, human resource generalist, and National Lunch Program Director. In her free time, she works as a freelance graphic artist.

Arly is a Human Resources and Payroll Services Specialist. She has 15 years of experience working in the charter school sector in the areas of Data Management, Human Resources, Payroll, and Front Office Management. She is a Florida native and a mom of 3 children who attend charter schools in the Tampa Bay area. Arly is eager to bring her expertise to Building Hope.

Leda joined Building Hope in 2016. As loan administrator, she is responsible for maintaining compliance on loans and real estate transactions. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Oral Roberts University and has extensive experience in the banking and health care industries, and started her professional career as a Special Agent for the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division.