Leadership

Julio Carrillo
Chief Executive Officer

About Julio

Julio Carrillo (pronunciation: Cay-reel-yo) is passionate about bringing strategic business thinking to Georgia’s nonprofit sector and driving measurable impact for organizations addressing issues that affect the stability and success of at-risk youth and families in low-opportunity communities. Joining Families First as its Chief Operating Officer in January 2020, Carrillo applies his 15 years of 501(c)3 management experience to implementing smarter service programs and strengthening partnerships among agencies, organizations, businesses and government that collectively occupy the nonprofit services ecosystem.

In 2006, Carrillo pivoted from supply chain and inventory management roles in the private sector (The Fresh Market and Cesca Logistics) to the public sector by joining Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta. For more than a decade through various operational and programming roles including COO, Carrillo helped its Atlanta staff and 100% volunteer workforce of 3,400 adult mentors to become an example to hundreds of chapters nationwide, showcasing better ways to mentor more children and change the trajectory of their lives.

Impressed with the impact of newly implemented nonprofit technology solutions that significantly enhanced the effectiveness and efficiencies of the Big Brothers Big Sisters agency, in 2017 Carrillo jumped at the chance to oversee the operations of TechBridge, a nonprofit providing creative technology transformations exclusively to nonprofit organizations working primarily in food security, homelessness and workforce development. Carrillo developed the nonprofit’s leadership, launched revenue streams and helped manage consulting teams in 47 states (and India) delivering 1,300 projects and serving clients like Feeding America and Habitat for Humanity.

A recognized change-maker and collaborative leader, Carrillo was selected as a member of the 2016 Leadership Atlanta class where he initiated outreach about domestic/intimate partner violence with the Latinx and LGBTQ communities. In 2017, he was named one of the Atlanta Business Chronicles’ 40 under 40 and the editors of Atlanta magazine have chosen him as one of our city’s most powerful leaders by The Atlanta 500. He currently serves as a Board member to Agape Youth & Family Center, Atlanta Victim Assistance and the GreenLight Fund. Carrillo is a native of Colombia, South America. He earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration in Spain. He is certified in Strategy and Innovation by Columbia University, City of New York. Carrillo speaks English and Spanish.

Liz Liston
Chief Development Officer

About Liz

Liz joined HOPE Atlanta in 2019 having spent the last 13 years in nonprofit fundraising with a focus on human services. She has a diverse skill set, including experience in major gift fundraising, event planning, volunteer management, grant writing, and capital campaign management. Liz has served the Atlanta community through positions with The Galloway School and Truancy Intervention Project Georgia, and recently led the efforts of CHRIS 180’s 15-million dollar capital campaign, which will double the organization’s impact by 2020. Most recently, she raised funds for the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University. She enjoys interacting with donors to align their philanthropic interests with programs and services that improve the lives of our community’s most vulnerable.

Leah Baker
Senior Director of Finance and Administration

About Leah

Leah joined the team at HOPE Atlanta in 2019 and currently serves as Senior Director of Finance and Administration. With over 20 years of experience in accounting and non-profits, Leah brings a valued skill set in government grants and budgeting to the organization. Leah is a servant leader who works behind the scenes to create a financially stable organization so HOPE Atlanta can meet its program goals and objectives. Leah holds a BBA in Accounting and a MS in Human Resource Management. She enjoys working directly with clients and has served those with dementia, senior citizens, and persons in foster care and seeking adoption.

Dominique Ellis
Director of Emergency Services

About Dominique

Dominique has been with HOPE Atlanta since May 2018 and has had the pleasure of working in various departments. She has over 10 years of experience in the human service industry and a graduate of Harris-Stowe State University. Prior to relocating to Metro Atlanta, Dominique gained a diverse background through her work experience as a Lead Pre-Trial/Probation Officer for the City of Saint Louis, Veteran Housing Case Manager, and in Workforce Development roles. Dominique believes in equality for all and strives to empower everyone to achieve their full potential.

Becky Knighton
Senior Human Resources Business Partner

About Becky

Becky joined HOPE Atlanta in early 2022. She has close to 10 years of Human Resources Management experience, primarily in the manufacturing and healthcare industries. Becky attended Columbus State University and The University of South Carolina where she studied Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources Management. She is an Atlanta native that has just returned home after living in South Carolina for several years. Becky is new to non-profit organizations but is welcoming the challenge of this new industry.

David-Lee Mattison
Senior Director of Programs

About David

David has over 25 years of combined experience in homeless and providing HIV prevention education/risk-reduction counseling services and Program Management. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management from Norfolk State University. David has an extensive background with the LGBT community, specifically targeting high-risk racial and ethnic minority populations in nontraditional venues. He is also a National Behavioral Interventions trainer for the CDC and State of Georgia and a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.

Latricia Nation
Director of Veteran Services

About Latricia

Latricia has an extensive background working with a variety of the homeless population located in Metro Atlanta. Originally from Pensacola, she has a degree in Psychology from Ga State University, a Master’s in Business Administration, a Master’s in Philosophy and is currently a PhD candidate in Public Policy with a concentration in Non-Profit Management. Latricia is a certified Life Coach as well as a published Author.

Amy Olvey
Director of Community Engagement

About Amy

Amy approaches all that she does with a passion to serve others and create positive change in the community. In her role as Director of Community Engagement, Amy is the primary point of contact for individuals, faith-based communities and corporate sponsors who want to support HOPE Atlanta through volunteer engagement and in-kind donations. Amy grew up in Statesboro, Georgia and graduated from Georgia Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. She taught school in Perry, Ga., and was a senior sales consultant with Scholastic Book Fairs, working closely with educators to promote literacy in the classroom. She and her husband attend Peachtree Road United Methodist Church. In her spare time, she enjoys international travel, playing golf and watching college football.

Monyca Roberts
Director of Special Needs Housing

About Monyca

Monyca joined the HOPE Atlanta team in January 2015 as a case manager. For the past seven years, she has guided many individuals to self-sufficiency through various positions within the agency. With eleven years of experience working in social services, she is committed to providing the highest level of care to those in need. Monyca holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Spelman College.

Katherine Welker
Development Director

About Katherine

Katherine joined HOPE Atlanta as Development Director in 2021 and brings over 10 years of experience working in nonprofit development. Katherine has worked at nonprofit organizations of all sizes to help grow fundraising efforts, particularly in Individual Giving, and has a passion for helping connect supporters to the work they help make possible. She received her Master of Public Policy with a concentration in nonprofit management from Georgia State University and her B.A. in Political Science from The University of the South.

Recognizing that the issues of homelessness, hunger, and racial justice are closely intertwined, HOPE Atlanta takes a public stand against racism and systemic injustices and declares that black lives matter.

Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors consists of several men and women who work in key industries that are essential in our fight to end homelessness and hunger in our community. Our organization is eternally grateful for our generous Board members who endow HOPE Atlanta with knowledge and support.