More Than a Seat at the Table: Service on the Dave’s House Board of Directors
There are many reasons people choose to serve on a nonprofit board of directors. From a personal connection to the cause or the opportunity to share professional expertise, each of us has the potential to contribute something meaningful to serve the needs of a community. At Dave’s House, board service supports one powerful mission: providing permanent supportive housing for adults living with serious mental illness.
For more than 16 years, Dave’s House has delivered life-changing residential solutions for individuals and families – enabling access to safe, stable homes, and bridging support and community that make long-term stability possible. Aligned with this work is a Board of Directors made up of people with diverse professions and life experiences who share a commitment to strengthen the impact of the innovative Dave’s House model. As the strategic growth of Dave’s House continues, our extraordinary Board of Directors is expanding to include more members ready to drive the ongoing momentum of our mission.
Different Paths. One Shared Purpose.
For Board Chair Elena Norman, service is rooted in the belief that making a positive difference requires intentionally choosing to recognize and support people in need. Her own family has experienced the impact of serious mental illness, giving her a deep understanding of what is at stake for individuals and the people who love them. Her perspective on board service is a straightforward truth:
“As Board Members, as compassionate individuals, and as a capable team – we are people who can be counted on to positively impact the lives of others through our service.”
She describes the board’s collective gifts of “time, talent, and treasure” as a way to create the positive difference we all hope to see in the world. That sense of collective purpose is echoed throughout the board.
Bringing What You Know to Something That Matters
Brian Thomas describes Dave’s House as a mission that goes far beyond housing. “Dave’s House mission goes beyond providing housing; it serves as an opportunity for stability, dignity, and hope.” For Brian, one of the most rewarding aspects of serving is watching shared leadership turn into tangible outcomes for the community.
There is no single definition for the ideal Board candidate – the universal qualification is an ability to bring perspective and resources that strengthen our efforts. The current Dave’s House Board includes leaders with experience in business, finance, behavioral health, communications, construction, social work and community service.
Shown Here: Dave’s House Board Members: Brian Thomas, Mark Coleman, Erin Kronenberg
For Mark Coleman, joining the Board created an opportunity to put his professional skills to work for a mission that also had personal meaning. He grew up with a parent living with severe mental illness and has also friends, neighbors, and family who have been similarly impacted. “I decided this was a time in my life, using my professional skills, to give back to society.” Today, he sees helping Dave’s House grow and expand its mission as an especially fulfilling part of his service.
Board Member Erin Kronenberg was drawn to Dave’s House through both personal experiences and her professional work. She has seen how mental illness and unstable housing can make it difficult for someone to move forward, and how a permanent home with built-in support can restore confidence and connection. “Meaningful change happens when compassion is paired with action.” Erin values the genuine care behind every decision at Dave’s House and the board’s shared commitment to long-term solutions.
That is an important part of board service at Dave’s House. Members do not begin with every answer … they bring what they know, have experienced, and a willingness to contribute, becoming part of a team working toward something bigger.
For Some, the Mission Is Deeply Personal
Make it stand out
Many members of the Dave’s House Board have been touched personally by serious mental illness. Co-Founder Lin Wilensky was inspired as a result of her brother Dave’s journey with schizophrenia, and recognizing what permanent supportive housing could make possible. She and her husband Ron Wilensky co-founded Dave’s House.
“Permanent supportive housing like Dave’s House saved my brother’s life.”
She recognized that stable housing enabled Dave to be safe, productive, happy, and treated with dignity. The experience continues to drive her commitment to the strategic growth of an organization that will continue to deliver permanent affordable housing solutions for generations to come.
For Christin Ray, a career in behavioral health and her own family experiences come together through her board service. “Dave’s House reflects what can happen when people come together with heart, purpose, and a shared belief that everyone deserves the chance to feel whole.”
Ray Dorman found a similar opportunity. After retiring, he wanted to devote more time to service and discovered that his professional experience could support Dave’s House in practical and meaningful ways. “Helping to address the need for permanent housing for people with serious mental illness gives me a sense of belonging to something much greater than myself.”
Shown Here: Dave’s House Board Members: Christin Ray, Ray Dorman, and Ralph Nattans
Board Member Ralph Nattans has devoted more than 50 years to helping individuals and families in need through social work, counseling and programs addressing homelessness, housing and mental health. His friendship with Dave’s House founders Lin and Ron Wilensky led him to continue that lifelong calling through board service. “I hope to continue my lifelong calling to provide support and assistance to those in need through my service on the Dave’s House Board.”
For Board Member Christina Watkins, the mission of Dave’s House is deeply personal. Her sister, Tiffany, lived with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder before unexpectedly passing away in 2019. Christina honors her sister’s legacy through mental health advocacy, storytelling and her work with the Heart Over Illness Foundation. “Every conversation, every resource and every life impacted is a tribute to Tiffany.” Christina knows how overwhelming a mental health journey can be for both individuals and their families. Her board service reflects her commitment to breaking stigma and ensuring that more people feel seen, supported and empowered to seek help.
The Next Chapter Needs More People at the Table
2026 Dave’s House - Clearing the Way - Pre-Demolition Event for: Dave’s House at Celery Place
Dave’s House is in the midst of a vibrant era of growth. Our Central Florida portfolio is expanding beyond six existing homes in Orange County with the development of Dave’s House at Celery Place community in Sanford. The new community is slated to open in 2028, bringing permanent supportive housing and greater stability to more adults living with serious mental illness. Growth brings opportunity, but it also requires leadership. We are looking to strengthen our Board of Directors with people who believe in the mission and are ready to participate. People who will share expertise, open doors, make connections, serve as advocates, and help Dave’s House continue building a strong and sustainable future.
Prior board experience is not required. Dave’s House Board Chair-Elect Bradley Wightman had no previous nonprofit board experience when he was approached to consider serving. He saw an organization delivering housing solutions for people with serious mental illness and recognized that his own skills and perspective could strengthen the organization. What matters is a willingness to serve. “The work of Dave’s House matters because it shows how effective service can be when a community shares a goal and brings real passion to the cause.” What matters most is a willingness to serve and a desire to make a difference.
Could Your “Why” Lead You to Dave’s House?
For candidates considering board service, perhaps your “Why” involves with a personal experience, or a professional skill available to share for a broader purpose. Perhaps the draw is recognizing that everyone deserves stability, dignity and a place to call home. Whatever inspires you to reach out, lean in, and serve, Dave’s House would welcome the opportunity to connect. If our mission speaks to you, we invite you to learn more about our leadership team and complete our Board of Directors Application. Or reach out to Dave’s House, CEO - Ellen O’Connor at Ellen@DavesHouse.org.
Together, we can help ensure that more people living with serious mental illness have a home, a community, and the opportunity for a more stable future.