About Us

Our
Mission

To provide faith-based training and coaching for anyone who desires long-term employment.

Our
History

The WorkFaith Connection was developed in 2006 to address the challenges of unemployed men and women in Houston, who have a desire to become contributing members of society. Specific attention was focused on serving those caught in the cycle of poverty, formerly incarcerated, recovering from addiction, or transitioning out of homelessness. Based on an award-winning job skills training program called Cincinnati Works, the well-established curriculum was combined with a faith component and extensive follow-up procedures, resulting in The WorkFaith Connection. In 2007, The WorkFaith Connection launched its first "Job Readiness Workshop" as a comprehensive response to disadvantaged job seekers struggling to becoming employed in the city of Houston.

From 2007 to 2010, The WorkFaith Connection operated with one office location serving approximately 280 first time clients per year, while also serving a cumulative population of alumni as the years progressed. To meet increasing demand for the services offered, a plan for growth was developed, and in January of 2011 a second location opened, doubling the capacity of new clients served each year. A third location, was added in 2017 to expand to new regions of the city and increase capacity of clients served by 50% each year.

In 2013, The WorkFaith Connection began to offer more extensive services to the graduates of the program, such as the WorkFaith Academy supplemental classes. Employed graduates are now able to receive training in Conflict Resolution, Anger Management, Financial Coaching, and other life skills training needed to be successful in their life and job. Since inception, the staff at The WorkFaith Connection has consistently increased efforts to partner with other organizations and build long-term relationships with graduates of the program, becoming a family to them, celebrating their victories, and being supportive through their challenges.

In June 2019, we implemented a Long-term Employment Program(LTEP) to strengthen and deepen our impact in supporting transformation in our graduates.  Participating graduates commit one year to the Long-Term Employment Program. This Program creates an integrated relationship between the employer, the WorkFaith graduate, our coaching program, our church partners, and our support services. Through a one-year coaching model, enrolled WorkFaith graduates will have immediate employment options, and have access to continuing education, professional/technical skills training and certifications.  

 At the same time, our Employer Development team is building relationships with Houston businesses (Core Employers) that need labor that our graduates are eager to provide. As participating graduates commit to one year of bi-monthly coaching sessions & soft skill training, our Core Employers agree to provide vital feedback to WorkFaith concerning the employed graduate.  We believe our graduates will experience greater job stability and career advancement opportunities that will impact their earning potential, their family’s stability and improve the communities in which they live.

2006
WorkFaith founded to address challenges of unemployed men and women in Houston
2007
First "Job Readiness Workshop” launched
2007-2010
One office location served approximately 280 first-time participants per year
2011
Second office location opened, doubling capacity of new participants served each year
2013
More extensive services offered through WorkFaith Academy
2017
Third office location opened, increasing capacity of participants served by 50% each year
2019
Long-term Employment Program (LTEP) created to further support participants
2020
In response to COVID-19, WorkFaith launched fully virtual services and programs
2021
WorkFaith's IMPACT Certification and Spanish Initiative launch
2022
Officially launched WorkFaith Now, our 24/7 innovative online learning platform
2023
Trained and coached 3,309 clients and experienced an ROI of 638%

Our Team

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Leigh Booker

Information Technology Manager
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Chelsea Cantrell

Manager of Volunteer Program
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Anna Diaz-Hasselbring

Head of People and Culture
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Daniel Fain

Chief Financial Officer
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Anthony Flynn

Chief Executive Officer
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Nate Foote

Career Coach
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Tiffany Gardner

Director of Development
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Nick Hardy

Chief Program Officer
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Betty Ienna

Client Engagement Coordinator
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Lois Jackson

Career Coach Lead
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Latrina Johnson

Lead Instructor
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Matt Killian

Chief Operating Officer
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Josmery Maldonado

Manager of Operational Support
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Sivivian Merrick

Director of Program Services
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Arcadia Miller

Intern
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Ron Mitchell

Accounting Administrator
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Alejandra Quiroga

Bilingual Career Coach and Instructor
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Sahar Rahimian

Systems Support Administrator
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Janeka Russell

Program Coordinator
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Mori Sanchez

Development Coordinator
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Romona Simon

Operational Support Coordinator
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Debora Somuano

Bilingual Instructor and Recruiter
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Clyde White

Help Desk Technician
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Chaun Vaughn

Instructor
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Roman Zalasar

Client Support Specialist
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Kirsten Dupuy

Manager of Instruction

Anthony Flynn

Chief Executive Officer

Matt Killian

Chief Operating Officer

Anna Diaz

HR Manager

Freda Miller

Director of Client Services

Board Members

Kelly Boots Martin

Board Chair

Drew Brunkhorst

Hibernia Resources, LLC

Doug Chapman

Source Rock Resources, Inc.

Jorge Diaz

Platform Partners, LLC

Taylor Ducoff

Cadence Bank

Dena Lee

Retired Marketing Executive

Wendy Millhouse

Archrock

Alexandra Nunnery

Smith Parker Elliott, PLLC

Brent Owen

Refined Technologies, Inc.

Sharon Paul

Experienced Chief People Officer

Our Founders & Past Board Members

Barbara Elliot

Founder

Sandy Schultz

Founding CEO | 2006 - 2019

Fred Brazelton

Platform Partners, LLC

Embry Canterbury

Hibernia Resources, LLC

Chris Carmouche

Post Oak Bank

Gary Dunkum

Former Board Member

Randall Edwards

Retired Energy Executive

Kevin Garland

Mountaire Farms

Russell Ginn

Reg Aero, LLC

Kevin Howard

Kinder Morgan Gas Pipeline

John Kafka

Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing

Stan Marek

Marek Brothers, Inc.

Bob Zorich

Encap Investments