Staff and Board
Our Team
Staff
Board of Directors
Interns and Assistants
Thrive DC Staff
Alicia Horton, Executive Director
Alicia joined Thrive DC in 2009. A recognized expert in community rehabilitation and social justice, Alicia has a JD from the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University and a MPH from Tulane University’s School of Public Health. She previously served as Director of Community Mobilization and National Constituencies for the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence and Executive Director of Health Education and Enrichment Resources, a youth services organization she founded in New Orleans. In 2006, Alicia was appointed to the Howard University Institution-Wide Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects. She has received numerous honors throughout her career including the DC Chief of Police Special Award for Community Service and the Columbus School of Law “Extra Mile Award” for significant contributions to the community.
Terrence Brown, Executive Chef
Terrence joined Thrive DC in 2009. His illustrious career has included cooking for hotels, nursing homes, and other entities. For the last 10 years Terrence has operated his own catering business and in 1982, Terrence was named one of the top 75 chefs in Washington DC while working at the Marriot Wardman Park Hotel. Terrence has applied his culinary talents to the preparation of fine cuisine for a host of celebrities and dignitaries throughout the Washington Metropolitan area. At Thrive DC, Terrence oversees menu development, meals preparation, Emergency Pantry distribution and kitchen volunteer coordination.
Jessica Macleod, Director of Social Services
Jessica completed a BSW at Salisbury University, MD, after which she joined the Peace Corps and worked on health issues in Paraguay. Upon returning to the US she earned a MSW at Boston University, where she began working with homeless individuals as the manager of a family shelter program in a women’s shelter in Cambridge, MA. In Wilmington, DE, Jessica managed a drop-in center for the homeless and was a therapist in the Delaware Correctional System. Since moving to the DC area, Jessica has directed a homeless services program offering case management, housing, and health and mental health services. As Director of Social Services, Jessica gives direction to Thrive DC’s Social Services programming and provides clinical supervision to Thrive DC’s Social Services staff.
Jennifer Paul, Director of Development
Jennifer has spent her career of 20 years helping advance child welfare, conservation and social justice causes. After serving as the Director of Membership for the Ocean Conservancy where she oversaw membership and donor programs for 10 years, Jennifer started a non-profit consulting business specializing in annual fund planning, donor program development, direct marketing and strategic communications. She assisted clients ranging from start-ups to major national organizations. As Thrive DC’s Development Director, Jennifer works with Board Members, staff, donors, volunteers and partners to build a community that will sustain and grow our programs into the future.
Alice Arnold, Development Assistant
Alice joined Thrive DC in 2013. A native of Iowa, she attended the University of Iowa earning a B.A. in International Studies and Non-fiction Writing. Prior to joining Thrive DC, she spent a year in the West Bank working at a UNESCO Chair on Human Rights and Democracy. While abroad, she administered human rights based education programs for young adults and conducted research focusing on challenges faced by university students in the immediate locale and nearby Gaza Strip. In the past she has facilitated both elderly and youth programs and is dedicated to working with vulnerable populations in a non-profit environment.
Clinton Haughton, Sous Chef
Clinton brings over 20 years of experience working in a variety of culinary atmospheres. His expertise includes high-end catering, management and working for a number of different college and university culinary programs in the immediate area. Clinton’s broad knowledge of a variety of different ethnic foods and cuisines allows our clients to enjoy a range of healthy, well prepared meals from all over the world.
Christopher Nance, Morning Program Assistant and Social Media Coordinator
Chris joined Thrive DC in November of 2010. He is originally from Arkansas and attended University of Central Arkansas. Before joining the team at Thrive DC, Chris worked in critical care at a hospital in Little Rock, AR where he performed routine and emergent cardiac tests. During his time in a clinical setting, Chris gained a passion for helping people who do not have the ability to do so on their own. It was that drive that led him to Thrive DC where he helps community members fight hunger, disease and poverty every day. When he isn’t at Thrive DC, he enjoys cooking vegan food, playing with his dogs and going to DC United games.
Michael Ocean, Administrative Assistant
Michael has served in administrative positions for more than 20 years working in the Air Force and many non-profit organizations. Prior to joining Thrive DC, Michael worked at an alternative high school in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Michael has lived in Washington, DC for 12 years and was drawn to the non-profit sector by a desire to give back to the community and serve in the public interest. At Thrive DC, Michael handles a wide range of administrative and office management responsibilities.
Boris Ozuna, Morning Program Coordinator/Case Manager 
Boris joined Thrive DC in 2013. Originally from Colombia, he studied at the Mennonite Biblical Seminary of Colombia where he earned an Associate’s Degree in Bible and Religion. After several years of working in the non-profit sector in Colombia, Boris came to the United States to earn a BA in Peace building and Development at Eastern Mennonite University. His previous work experience is related to ESL Literacy and community organizing movements based on popular education models. He believes strongly in social justice and is passionate about social change.
Trenett Smith, Evening Program Coordinator/Case Manager
Trenett joined Thrive DC in 2008. She has been in the mental health and social services fields for the past 11 years, specializing in homeless, mentally ill, physically disabled, and aging populations. Trenett also brings experience in crisis intervention, case management, housing, and group counseling. Most recently, she served as a Residential Counselor for Angel Watch Shelter of the Catholic Charities where she worked with homeless survivors of domestic violence. She has also gained clinical social work skills during her employment as a Social Worker’s Assistant with Bradford Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Clinton, Maryland.
Carl Smith-Hunnicutt, Volunteer and Community Relations Coordinator
Carl joined Thrive DC in 2011. After graduating with a B.A. in Sociology and Social and Economic Justice from UNC-Chapel Hill, Carl served as Canvass Director of the DC office of Grassroots Campaigns, Inc. More recently, he spent a year and half working with marginalized communities in the rural highlands of Honduras, providing access to education and healthcare while honing his Spanish language skills. Carl has held several different positions at Thrive DC including Morning Program Coordinator and Development Assistant before taking on his current role as Volunteer and Community Relations Coordinator. He enjoys working within the DC community while absorbing what makes small non-profits tick.
Rachel Steber, Employment Specialist
Rachel joined Thrive DC in 2011. She is originally from North Carolina and received her B.A. in Political Science and International Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before joining Thrive DC, Rachel spent an AmeriCorps year in El Paso, TX working as a Case Manager for family reunification and refugee-based immigration cases. She began her work with the homeless as a volunteer in various organizations in her hometown and throughout college. Her passion to work to support individuals who are experiencing homelessness has strengthened over the years and she is excited to be a part of Thrive!
Sean Wormsley, Security
Sean has been working with Thrive since 2012. A native of Washington, DC Sean brings over 15 years of security experience to Thrive DC. In addition to helping secure a safe and comfortable environment for all of our community members, Sean enjoys working with fellow staff to engage and support the various social services offered daily. When not at Thrive DC, Sean enjoys following all Washington sports teams and is a movie buff.
Board Members
Samantha Akins, Secretary
Samantha Akins joined the board of Thrive DC in January 2013. For the past 14 years Samantha has been working on and managing international development projects in Latin America. She is the Director of Business Development at DevTech, an international development firm based in Arlington, VA. Samantha has served as the Deputy Director of Policy Reform and Conflict Resolution programs in Colombia and Venezuela and has managed large multi-million dollar grants programs in a number of countries. She has worked throughout Latin America, Africa, Russia and Ukraine. She earned an MSc in Social Policy and Planning in Developing Countries, from the London School of Economics, and a B.A. in International Affairs and Economics from the George Washington University. In addition to a strong back ground fundraising and grant management, Samantha is fluent in Spanish.
Kate Barrett
Kate Barrett joined the Thrive DC board of directors in March 2013. She is head of communications and marketing for venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates (NEA), where she leads the development and execution of NEA’s global communications strategy and provides strategic counsel to many of the firm’s portfolio of technology and healthcare companies. She previously held communications and project management roles at MedImmune (acquired by AstraZeneca PLC), The Kroger Co., and The E. W. Scripps Company. Kate began her career as a correspondent for the Cincinnati Enquirer after earning her bachelor’s degree in English/Journalism at Miami University.
Jules Baughns
Jules Baughns joined Thrive DC’s board of directors in June 2012. He is a corporate attorney with volunteer experience that includes work with The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless and AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly. Jules has held various positions in non-profit organizations, including as a clinical therapist and manager of a community mental health center and researcher for The Carter Center – Mental Health and Global Development Initiative programs. He received a BA in International Studies from Morehouse College, a MSW and MA in International Studies from the University of Denver, and a JD from the University of Connecticut. Jules resides in Washington, DC with his wife and two children.
Clara B. Lee
Clara B. Lee began volunteering for Thrive DC in 2010, picking up fresh food from the Farmer’s Markets and serving meals during the dinner program. Her background includes over 25 years of experience consulting to the Department of Defense. After developing management expertise in Fortune 500 companies, Clara decided to follow her passion and founded C.B. Lee Consulting Group, LLC in 2012 to partner with minority women and small businesses. As a transformation consultant, Clara leverages career development and strategic planning techniques to help women and small businesses conceptualize and implement tactics to achieve high performance. Clara received a BS in Social Work from Jackson State University, a MSA/Public Administration from Central Michigan University, and a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix. Clara also holds professional certifications in Project Management, Contract Management, and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.
Antoinette Merrill, Treasurer
Antoinette has over ten years of experience working domestically and internationally with entrepreneurs and small businesses on matters related to finance and a variety of strategic business measures. As the Vice President of Finance and Administration at Dougherty & Associates, she oversees the strategy and execution of contract management and administration, human resources and recruiting, and develops financial strategies to stimulate organizational growth. Her extensive experience working with the financial and accounting sector provides Thrive DC with financial knowledge and support. Antoinette received her Bachelor of Accountancy at the University of San Diego and her EMBA at George Mason University.
Nick Rosenbach, President
Nicholas P. Rosenbach began working with the homeless in 2003 as a volunteer at Miriam’s Kitchen & Charlie’s Place as one of their dining room coordinators. Nick joined the Thrive DC staff in 2010 as the Morning Program Coordinator, where he initiated Thrive’s first art therapy program. Although he left the staff in 2011, Nick maintains a constant presence at Thrive volunteering weekly. Nick has also been a longtime basic literacy advocate, working with the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia and with incarcerated adults in the city’s detention center as a reading and GED instructor.
Rochelle Sanchirico, Vice President
Rochelle Sanchirico is a marketing professional with a passion for developing successful communities. She is currently the Director of Digital Marketing for The Washington Post, and is responsible for all marketing activities for The Washington Post’s digital and mobile products. With a purview spanning B2C and B2B marketing, she drives visitors, engagement and revenue using various channel marketing strategies, including paid and organic search, online display, out-of-home, broadcast and social media. Sanchirico brings an extensive marketing background from her time at Kaplan (a division of The Washington Post Company), where she held marketing roles in their corporate, K-12, and higher education divisions. Prior to this, she held international rights positions in the book publishing industry for several years. Rochelle received her MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and her BS in Geology and English from the University of Michigan. Sanchirico resides in Arlington, Virginia with her husband and daughter.
Edgar Steele
Edgar joined the board of Thrive DC in February 2012. He serves as a Local Business Development Manager for Cuisine Solutions, a local Virginia based company which is an industry leader in sous-vide cooking. His prior experience as a chef at Café’ Atlantico and Minibar reflect his passion for the food service industry which translates into his interest in assisting with Thrive DC’s food program development. He received his degree at the Culinary Institute of America and continues to teach education classes at L’Academie de Cuisine.
Ex Oficio:
Cathy Harris, General Counsel
Cathy Harris is an attorney with the law firm of Kator, Parks & Weiser, PLLC, in Washington D.C. She has been practicing employment law since 1999, representing individuals in matters including sexual harassment, discrimination and other employment-related matters. She is a co-manager and member of the firm. She previously worked as an Assistant District Attorney in New York. She obtained her law degree at the George Washington University Law School, and attended Brown University for undergraduate studies. Ms. Harris currently serves as General Counsel to the Board of Directors.
Alicia Horton, Executive Director
Interns and Assistants
Ceryse Devaney, Social Media and Computer Center Assistant
Ceryse is studying at the School of International Service in American University. She began at Thrive DC this spring as a federal work study student in the Computer Lab and Social Media department, drawn to the organization by an interest in becoming more involved within the DC community. Ceryse looks forward to learning more about Thrive DC and its clients over the course of her time here.
Rohita Javangula, Volunteer and Community Relations Intern
Rohita is an undergraduate at the George Washington University majoring in International Affairs and Geography with a concentration in African Studies. She spent this past summer volunteering in Ghana with a non-profit working with youth and women’s development and is currently the community service chair for her sorority. She’s been the community relations intern at Thrive DC since September 2012.
Kyle Murphy, Social Work Intern
Kyle is studying social work at Gallaudet University and is deaf. He joined Thrive DC in August of 2012 as a Social Work intern. His main roles include hosting activities for men in the morning and providing case management for participants in the Real Opportunity Employment Training program. Kyle learned about Thrive DC on campus and was excited to help serve the DC community through direct service. In his free time, Kyle is a weight lifter training for the 2016 Olympics. Upon graduation in May 2013, he plans to pursue his Masters of Social Work at Gallaudet.
Ben Richardson, Development Intern 
Ben is pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing at American University. Ben joined Thrive DC in January of 2012 as a federal work study employee to assist with development. Before arriving at Thrive DC, he worked with Catholic Charities in his native Maine on refugee resettlement, an area which continues to interest him. Over the course of two semesters, Ben has learned a lot about Thrive DC, as well as the community it serves. He plans to put this experience to good use marketing for social change around the world.
Brooke Wilcoxson, Social Work Intern
Brooke is a student at Gallaudet University and is pursuing a degree in Social Work, minoring in Family Child Studies and is deaf. She joined Thrive DC in August 2012 as a Social Work Intern working primarily with the Women’s Dinner program. She engages clients through a weekly women’s discussion group and case management, in addition to other program support. When not at Thrive DC, Brooke is an avid reader and writer and enjoys working out. After graduation in May 2013, she plans to enroll in the Masters of Social Work school and ultimately her pursue a PhD at Gallaudet.
