Armena is an inspiring figure who has dedicated her life to nonprofit management and community service. Born in the picturesque country of Armenia, she was drawn to helping others from a young age. Her volunteer work during the 1988 earthquake was a pivotal moment that solidified her passion for making a difference. With a strong educational background, including a bachelor’s degree from Yerevan State University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Delaware, Armena has effectively led numerous initiatives to support vulnerable populations Her tenure at Mission Armenia saw significant outreach to thousands of homeless and disadvantaged individuals. Later, at Lutheran Social Services of Nevada, Armena’s leadership resulted in over 430,000 people receiving essential services in Southern Nevada. Now, as the Executive Director of Family Promise of Las Vegas, Armena continues her lifelong mission of service, all while being a loving mother to her two sons, Aren and Eric. Her story is a testament to the power of compassion and commitment in transforming communities.
Marisa Cervantes is the Chief Operations Director at Family Promise of Las Vegas. With over twenty years of experience in the non-profit sector, she is deeply passionate about serving vulnerable populations, particularly those experiencing or at risk of homelessness and food insecurity. Marisa is highly skilled in fund development, grants, finance, and operations, having more than ten years of experience in grant writing and management, securing funds for programs, operations, and new initiatives. In her current role, she leads the organization’s fundraising, marketing, social media, and grant-writing efforts, ensuring the sustainability of essential programs and services. As Family Promise grows, particularly with the development of the Family Navigation Center, Marisa is proud to contribute to expanding the organization’s capacity to serve more families in need and to make a lasting impact on the community.
Bridget’s journey to becoming the Director of Community Engagement at Family Promise of Las Vegas is a testament to her unwavering dedication and passion for community service. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix in 2005, Bridget moved to Las Vegas in 2008 and began her impactful career with the United Labor Agency of Nevada. There, she excelled as a Program Manager, overseeing critical programs such as Nutrition for Life and the Emergency Food and Shelter Program. In 2020, Bridget joined Family Promise of Las Vegas as a Family Advocate Specialist, where she played a key role in administering the Siemer Foundation Grant and later managed the Motel Shelter Program, focusing on helping families achieve self-sufficiency. Her commitment and expertise led her to the role of Grants Manager, where she ensured the successful management of various funding sources. In her current role, Bridget is dedicated to fostering community engagement by developing new programs, building strategic partnerships, and securing resources to support families in need. Her passion for Family Promise’s mission drives her to continuously find innovative ways to assist families in overcoming challenges and reaching their goals.
Cherry Richardson has dedicated over 16 years to working with individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Southern Nevada. Starting as an intern in 2008, she embraced the challenges of non-profit work, learning the importance of collaboration and versatility. Her early retail management experience instilled a “customer-first” mindset. Throughout her career, she has taken on various roles, each providing opportunities to learn, lead, and make tangible impacts in our community. Her involvement in community collaboratives has earned recognition and funding for trusted partnerships. Cherry, along with her program team, prioritizes the work to end homelessness for families with children. With a passion for empowering others and valuing diversity, she sees every interaction as a chance to grow with purpose and create positive change.
Salbi Hovhannisyan is originally from Armenia and joined Family Promise in 2024. She is a graduate of the State Linguistic University in Armenia and holds an associates degree in Business Management from CSN Las Vegas. She has over 8 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, where she honed her financial skills surrounded by high level non-profit financial professionals. Her diverse background and dedication make her a passionate contributor to her field and community. Salbi is proud to be a part of the Family Promise of Las Vegas team and looks forward to assisting with efforts to take Family Promise to the next level with her financial acumen.
Ms. Larson is a dedicated Family Enrichment Manager at Family Promise of Las Vegas, where she has been making a meaningful impact since 2022. With over 22 years of extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role. Her previous 16-year tenure at United Way of Southern Nevada highlights her commitment to community service and support. In her current position, Ms. Larson manages the Family Enrichment program, which plays a crucial role in providing families with minor-aged children support and engaging activities and programs to ensure their growth and success in future endeavors. She is also actively involved in various task forces within Family Promise of Las Vegas, working collaboratively to address the needs of the community. Originally from Billings, Montana, Ms. Larson relocated to Las Vegas in 2001 and has since been a valuable asset to the local nonprofit landscape. Her educational background in legal administrative management further supports her effective advocacy and program management.
Martin Malmberg is a faith-filled leader with a passion for inspiring and mobilizing people to create meaningful change in their lives, communities, and the world. He has worked in 35 nations including Brazil (5 years) and India (5 years) training nationals in project development and pioneering; this resulted in more than 35 new locations being started primarily in India and South Africa. Martin specializes in nonprofit communications and fundraising and has a proven track record of growing donor engagement, managing record breaking events, securing multi-million dollar grants and exceeding annual fundraising goals by up to 65%.
Araceli De Anda has dedicated herself to the non-profit sector for the past three years, with one year of volunteer experience while studying for the medical field. Her personal experience with homelessness due to a house fire has given her a deep understanding of the needs and experiences of the families she serves. Although she initially pursued a career in the medical field, Araceli felt a stronger calling to support and serve her community, leading her to focus on helping families in need.
Jesus “Jesse” Martinez is a committed Family Advocate at Family Promise of Las Vegas, where he joined the team in 2024. With a focus on Workforce Development, Jesse plays a crucial role in helping families within the program secure sustainable careers, thereby promoting stability and longevity in the workplace. His dedication to the community is reflected in his collaborative efforts with families, individuals, and community partners, underscoring his strong belief in the power of collective support. Outside of his professional commitments, Jesse is a devoted husband and father who relishes outdoor activities such as kayaking, river rafting, and parasailing, which offer him both relaxation and adventure.
Mililani Ueligitone, affectionately known as Lani, has had a journey marked by diverse cultural experiences and a steadfast commitment to community service. Born in San Diego, California, and raised in the serene islands of American Samoa, Lani has always embraced her unique heritage. In 2017, she moved to the bustling city of Las Vegas, which brought about a significant transition. However, Lani’s passion for community service remained unwavering. She actively contributes to Family Promise and participates in church outreach programs, demonstrating her dedication to making a positive impact. A firm believer in the power of faith and family, Lani cherishes time spent with her loved ones, who provide her with the motivation and encouragement she needs. As a recent member of the FPLV Warriors, Lani is eager to continue her journey of growth and community support, working alongside her team to deliver valuable programs and resources. Her story is one of resilience, dedication, and an enduring commitment to bettering the world around her.
Crystal joined the staff of Family Promise of Las Vegas in October of 2017 as the front desk receptionist and administrative support and data entry specialist to the case management team. Ms. Martinez has lived in the Las Vegas area for most of her life, volunteering her services to many local non-profits before coming to our agency. Crystal is bi-lingual and a great asset when assisting Spanish speaking families. Her smile is the first thing people see when they enter our office.
Sam comes to Family Promise, with a Bachelor’s Degree of Business Administration, with a Major in Retail, with over 40 years in management experience. Starting in the Midwest with Sears, after service in the Army, including a year in Vietnam, in a variety of positions including that of Store Manager. On his move to California, he worked in many capacities at a number of major companies, to include Montgomery Wards, Target, Best Buy, Universal Studios, and Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2005 he moved to Las Vegas to undertake the position of Assistant Director, Retail, with Caesars Entertainment in their Casinos. After 7 years of retirement, Sam came to Family Promise to serve families by providing the crucial task of transporting goods and services to the families involved in the program.
Erik joined Family Promise in 2024 as a Project Coordinator. He has worked in non-profit, for-profit, not-for-profit, and for a state government during his career. He has lived in California, Texas, Arizona, and has been in Las Vegas, Nevada since 2022. He has volunteered extensively at organic farms and community gardens and also for homeless outreach non-profits. Erik is honored to be a part of the Family Promise of Las Vegas team and looks forward to contributing to the non-profit’s growth and success.
Lisa is a strong believer in education and wants all children to have the best possible chance to succeed. A stable home environment is a critical building block for that success. She has served on the board of Family Promise of Las Vegas for 9 years. In that time she has witnessed many families transition from homelessness to stability. Lisa holds a BA degree in Microbiology from the University of Colorado and a Masters in Public Administration from UNLV. She is retired from a 30-year career in public health with the Nevada State Health Division.
Brent has volunteered with Family Promise for many years, teaching financial literacy and providing support via Family Promise’s congregant programs.
As the new Board President for 2022, Brent is excited to help Family Promise expand services to homeless families during this important time as we build the Family Navigation Center with transitional housing units and facilities for staff and services. Brent brings his business leadership skills from his experience 30 years as an manager/executive in high-tech and financial industries and his education which includes a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a Master’s Degree in Education.
Claudia is the Finance Manager for The Crossing, a Christian Church, since 2014. Previously she was the Chief Financial Officer for Templeton Development Corporation, a real estate development and construction company, for 17 years. She received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Northern Illinois University. Claudia is committed to the mission of Family Promise of Las Vegas and is honored to serve on it’s board since 2007.
Chris is proud to serve on the Family Promise of Las Vegas board and support Family Promise’s mission of helping homeless families achieve sustainable housing and independence. Chris was introduced to Family Promise through his wife, who is a Family Promise volunteer coordinator. Chris is a business and real estate transactional attorney at Fennemore Craig, P.C., and has resided in Las Vegas since graduating from Brown University (where he played college football and earned Academic All-Ivy-League honors) and the University of Oregon School of Law.
Kristin is the Owner of MattNik Bookkeeping and Tax Solutions. With her Master’s Degree and over 6 years of experience, Kristin has been working with Small Business Owners and Self-employed Individuals helping them with their Bookkeeping, Budgeting and Financial Analysis needs. Her goal is to educate, help them get organized and prepare them and their businesses for success. Over the years she has helped her clients understand their financial numbers so they would be prepared to make the big decisions in their businesses. Kristin Kirui-Case is the creator and host of Educating Your Money Podcast. Which is a podcast geared towards small business owner’s and self-employed individuals.
Curtis joined the Family Promise of Las Vegas board in 2022, with the passion to support the mission of helping homeless families achieve independence. Curtis has over 16+ years of human resources experience, with 12 years of leading human resources change agent. He oversees all aspects of Human Resources, Payroll and Facility Management for ResortCom, while serving on our Executive Leadership Team. Under his leadership, ResortCom’s HR department has received industry recognition as a 2018, 2019, & 2020 ARDY award finalist from the prestigious American Resort Development Association (ARDA). Prior to ResortCom, Curtis worked as the Vice President of Human Resources with Resource Bank, where he helped further an Employer of Choice environment. Curtis graduated from Southern University with a Bachelor of Arts, and earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the prestigious Public Administration Institute within the E.J. Ourso Business School at Louisiana State University. He has led companies in the private, public, and non-profit sector, and is an integral part of the community, coaching youth soccer and mentoring young professionals.
Jonathan joined Gerety and Associates, CPAs in February 2024. Originally from the Pacific Northwest Jonathan, his wife and first son moved to Las Vegas in 2001. He spent 15 years in the gaming industry where he did everything from dealing to shift manager before transferring to public accounting. He then went back to school at UNLV to get his accounting degree where he graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2019. He received his CPA license from the Nevada State Board of Accountancy in 2021. During his time in public accounting, he has been exposed to all kinds of tax work from large casinos to personal returns. He has specialized in S-corporation and partnership passthrough returns but enjoys the complexity of all kinds of tax work. He also loves to give back to Las Vegas and currently sits on the Board of Directors for Family Promise of Las Vegas, a local non-profit that helps families in need. In his free time, he loves spending time with his wife and two sons. He also enjoys the many great restaurants of Las Vegas, playing video games and anything Star Wars.
Lisa grew up in Eastern Oregon, raised her family in the Inland Northwest (Spokane Valley, WA), and has lived with her husband in the Summerlin area since 2019. As an award-winning educator for more than 20 years, Lisa is honored to bring her prior non-profit and C-level business experience to her new FPLV board position. Lisa has traveled extensively with youth in support of various global humanitarian ministries. A mother of four adult children and seven grandchildren, Lisa is passionate about service. She and her husband regularly pledge their time and household resources in the support of the downtown Las Vegas homeless community.
Linda is the CEO of Blue Sapphire Management, a real estate investment and management firm with assets nationwide. She holds a B.S. in Computer Science from UCLA and has over 30 years of professional experience, including roles as a computer engineer, entrepreneur, and real estate investor. Since moving to Las Vegas in 2020 from Southern California, Linda is proud to serve the local communities in Las Vegas. She is especially passionate about mentoring young people to pursue higher goals and create impactful businesses that uplift the community.
Sara is Vice President of Customer Experience at Credit One Bank. Sara has worked in the banking industry for over 20 years focused on Quality and Audit, Process Engineering, and Customer Experience. Sara has a master’s degree in Organization Development and Leadership. Her work in nonprofit includes serving as Board President of the Spreckels School District Educational Foundation, securing funds for music and technology in local schools; Serving on the Executive Board of Enneagram Las Vegas where she is an Enneagram trainer and coach for Las Vegas teens, professionals, and community groups, focused on helping people gain deeper understanding of themselves and others; as well as volunteering for a variety of local non-profits in the Las Vegas area. She is honored to be invited to serve on the board of Family Promise of Las Vegas.
The most direct way to support Family Promise is through a financial contribution. Your donation provides services and housing to our families.