Leadership
Mission
Interfaith Community Services empowers people in need to stabilize and improve their lives through comprehensive programs, in partnership with diverse faith communities and people of compassion.
Meet Our Board
Dr. Kadri J. Webb
Chair
The Reverend Webb is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and currently serves as the Senior Pastor/Teacher of the St. John Missionary Baptist Church of Oceanside, CA. He has served in this capacity since October 2014. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of
Maryland Baltimore County and a Masters of Divinity Degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of
Theology at the Virginia Union University. Prior to being called to St. John Church, he served on the
ministerial staff of the Morning Star Baptist Church in Catonsville, Maryland, where he was licensed and ordained. Since arrived, Reverend Webb has opened the doors to the entire community, served special meals, completed a major renovation of the church, and invited local clergy to join together the help veterans received household goods for their new homes. Most recently, he was awarded the NAACP
Religious Service and Activism Award. Reverend Kadri Webb is a man of action who lives and believes “Actions speak louder than words.”
Reverend Meg Decker
Immediate Past Chair
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIR
The Rev. Meg Decker has served at Trinity Episcopal Church in Escondido for over 20 years. In that time she has led the congregation in creatively engaging the outside world in service and Christian witness.
Leading one of the founding congregations of Interfaith Community Services, the Rev. Decker highly values cooperation between faiths and has been instrumental in organizing interfaith events, demonstrating how religion can be a force for unity and service in the community. She currently leads the Escondido Faith Leaders’ Council and is organizing a multi-faith chaplaincy program at Interfaith Community Services.
Silas Harrington
Treasurer
FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR
Silas I. Harrington is licensed to practice law in California and Washington State and maintains a law office in Escondido focused on tax controversy, estate planning and business formation and planning.
Mr. Harrington is an active member of Community Lutheran Church in Escondido, California and appreciates the opportunity to apply his skills to maintain and build his local community.
Lisa Brinig
Secretary
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR
Lisa Brinig is a senior wealth advisor at Mariner Wealth Advisors, located in San Diego. Lisa’s primary
role is to help clients achieve their goals by creating and implementing financial strategies as part of an overall wealth management program. She counsels high-net-worth individuals and business owners in all aspects of their personal financial management. Lisa has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in finance and tax planning from San Diego State University. She also holds the designation of Certified Financial Planner (CFP).
Justin Apger
As Chief Operations Officer, Justin leads the day-to-day operations of the Downtown San Diego Partnership, where he drives future growth and strategy for the organization of more than 120 employees. Justin obtained his Bachelor of Arts from Baldwin-Wallace College with a major in International Business. He went on to attend Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts where he obtained his master’s degree in Intercultural Relations with a concentration in Training and Consulting. He was a founding member and Chief Operating Officer of Mission Edge, one of the largest management consulting organizations for social enterprises and nonprofits in San Diego. He has served as an executive coach for local leaders, board strategist and startup specialist. Justin has also served in other operations and finance leadership roles, and as a human resource and operations consultant for event planning companies and restaurants. His community involvement includes board leadership at local nonprofits such as Community HousingWorks, The AjA Project and the Columbia Community Foundation. Justin and his partner, JC, enjoy the theatre scene in San Diego, all the hiking opportunities our region offers and trying new restaurants in San Diego’s growing culinary space.
Mei Bautista
BOARD VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
Mei Bautista is a passionate advocate for the homeless, shaped by her own struggles with homelessness throughout her childhood and early adulthood. After graduating from high school in Escondido, she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, studied fashion design and hosted numerous community service projects. Driven by her experiences, Mei founded “Humanitote” four years ago, an initiative that creates reversible tote bags. For every bag sold, she donates a filled hygiene kit to individuals experiencing homelessness, totaling over 1,000 kits distributed. As the owner of Daydream Here, a vibrant retail gift shop in Escondido, Mei empowers and supports over 40 local vendors while deepening her mission to combat homelessness. Her ultimate goal is to reunite with her siblings, adopted over ten years ago, while continuing to serve her community through her volunteer efforts and entrepreneurial spirit.
Carol J. Brooks
PROGRAMS COMMITTEE CHAIR
Minister Brooks currently serves as an Associate Minister at Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church. She graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and from san Jose State University with a Master of Arts Degree in Administration/Supervision. The wife of Alphonso Brooks, Carol is also the mother of two sons and a grandmother of three. Currently, she is a member of the North County African American Women’s Association and the Women’s Community Club. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Vista Community Clinic and KOCT Community Television. She also served on the Community Healthcare Alliance Committee for the Tri-City Healthcare District.
Robert Costantino
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR
Robert Costantino is currently the successful business owner of Balloon Guru LLC in San Diego. He
first started practicing his craft up in Los Angeles in the early 1980’s, back when the Balloon Decor business was in its infancy. His philosophy which is crucial to his own recovery is “Do The Right Thing. Always” and he has implemented this philosophy into every aspect of his business. Robert definitely believes that if you strive to take the high road in life, you will always get through somehow. And if you have a spirit of gratitude along the way, all the better! Robert Costantino is also a graduate of Interfaith’s Escondido Community Sobering Services (precursor to Recovery & Wellness Center).
Mitchell Dubick
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR
An attorney with Higgs Fletcher& Mack, Mitch joined the Board in December 2016. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Mitch and his wife Julie came to San Diego in 1981 after working in the Criminal and Tax Divisions of the Justice Department. Mitch specializes in tax controversy cases as well as business matters. He has been listed as a Southern California SuperLawyer for several years. In addition to professional commitments, Mitch has served on several charitable boards and organizations, including serving as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Seacrest Village, Second Chance, the Anti Defamation League, and Serving Seniors.
Javier Lara
Javier Lara is an Operations Management leader with extensive experience in domestic and international supply chain & manufacturing practices. He’s been able to apply his skills for private and publicly held companies and has been fortunate to travel the world in the process of applying his craft. Javier graduated with Honors from the University of Phoenix with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. He’s currently employed by Viasat Inc. in Carlsbad where he lives with his wife and children.
Carol Lazier
DEIA COMMITTEE CHAIR
Carol Lazier is a highly accomplished San Diego philanthropist and community volunteer. She is an active member of Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church and presently serves as Board Chair of San Diego Opera where she successfully led the effort to prevent the Opera’s closure. “The Arts connect us as human beings. Art nourishes our souls, increases empathy and tolerance.” She has served on the boards of the San Diego Museum of Art, the San Diego Symphony and the Palomar Family YMCA. Carol was co-founder, lead underwriter and is President of Solutions: Exploring Success Post High School, a non-profit that provides college and career information to San Diego students. Carol has also given her time and resources to such non-profits as Palomar Health Foundation, CSUSM, UCSD
Rady School and UCSD Jacobs Hospital.
Yusef Miller
Yusef Miller is The founder of Mosques Against Trafficking, Co-Founder of The North County Equity &
Justice Coalition, Member of the Racial Justice Coalition of San Diego, Member of East County Justice Coalition, Board Member of Activist San Diego, and Board Member of the Islamic Society of North County (Escondido Musullah). Upon retirement from the Armed Service, Yusef filled his time with Social Justice activities, first though Interfaith teams, Escondido Together, Poway Interfaith Team (POINT), San Diego Regional Interfaith Collaborative (SDRIC), as well as the District Attorney’s Interfaith Advisory Council and the San Diego Anti-Hate Crimes Coalition, fighting disparities on all fronts, Race, Religion, Gender, Immigration Status. Currently, Yusef is a Community Health Worker (CHW) for The Multicultural Health Foundation, and it the North County COVID-19 Awareness Rep for the African American Community.
Hector Morales
Hector Morales was born and raised in Escondido, CA, and grew up attending Emmanuel Faith and Iglesia Latina Emanuel, a Spanish-language church plant of EFCC. Hector served in our Junior High Ministry while in college at Cal State San Marcos and joined the Emmanuel Faith staff in 1997. During that year he started The Bridge, an after-school tutoring program in a mostly Latino neighborhood in Escondido. In 2004 Hector graduated from Bethel Seminary San Diego with a Masters of Divinity, and was asked to continue and expand the church’s Community Outreach efforts. Since 2017 Hector has enjoyed connecting newcomers to our church family through our Welcome & Membership ministries, whether they are new to church altogether or have been walking with Jesus for many years. He and Brenda have been married since 2005 and have been blessed with two kids, Cecilia and Sammy. He enjoys the outdoors, cooking and playing most sports. You can usually find Hector on a field somewhere coaching baseball, softball or soccer.
Judge Randa M. Trapp, Ret.
Judge Trapp is a past president of the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association and past Regional Director of the California Women Lawyers. She was formerly a member of the Board of Directors of the California Association of Black Lawyers and Lawyers Club of San Diego. A veteran of the United States Navy, Judge Trapp was an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of San Diego School of Law for nearly 20 years. Judge Trapp is a silver-star, life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Epsilon Xi Omega Chapter where she has twice served as Chapter Parliamentarian.
Colonel Carlos T. Jackson
Assistant Chief of Staff / Operations Officer for Marine Corps Instillations – West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
Colonel Jackson hails from Detroit and enlisted into the
Marine Corps Reserve in 1992. He graduated from Tuskegee University with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and received his commission via the Platoon Leader’s Class program in December of 1996.
Operations include: Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Company
Commander; Operation Enduring Freedom as a Combat Advisor; Operation Enduring Freedom as the Regimental Combat Team-7 Future Operations Officer.
Colonel Jackson is a graduate of The Basic School, Amphibious Warfare School, Expeditionary Warfare School, Joint Forces Staff College, and the National War College in Washington D.C.
Colonel Jackson’s personal decorations include the Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Device, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Gold Star, Meritorious Service Medal with three Gold Stars, Joint Commendation Medal, Navy-Marine Corps Commendation
Medal with two Gold Stars, Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Distinguishing
Device and one Gold Star, and the Combat Action Ribbon with Gold Star.
Meet Our Team
Patricia Mack
Director of Housing
Santiago Zepeda-Ortiz
Director of Homeless Outreach
Mark Whitaker
Director of Operations
Jazmin Oregon
Director of Supportive Services
Heather Meese
Director of Human Resources
Lauren Varner
Director of Quality Assurance, Compliance & Grants
Erendira Hernandez
Director of Short-Term Housing
Shellie Bowman
Director of Recovery & Wellness
Vannessa Marshall
Interim Director of Coastal Services
Nima Patel
Controller Finance/Human Resources
