Hope Solutions is proud to welcome two outstanding leaders to our organization: Jennifer Ellis, who joins us as Vice President of Strategy & Development, and Marlene Matsuoka, who joins our Board of Directors. Their leadership reflects our deep commitment to the goals of our FY25–29 Strategic Plan, which calls us to expand permanent housing solutions, strengthen client-centered support services, influence public systems, and invest in organizational excellence.
This new position and board appointment reflect our commitment to building on our strong foundation, deepening our public and private funding strategy, and aligning our work across housing, services, policy, and organizational excellence. As we pursue our five-year priorities, leadership like Jennifer’s and Marlene’s will help ensure that we are well-positioned to meet the needs of our community with vision, stability, and accountability.
Welcoming Jennifer Ellis, Vice President of Strategy & Development
Hope Solutions is thrilled to welcome Jennifer Ellis as our new Vice President of Strategy & Development. This newly created position was added to help strengthen our organizational infrastructure, expand our public funding and government relations efforts, and support our mission.
Jennifer brings more than two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, strategy, fundraising, and community partnership. Most recently, she served as Chief Strategy Officer at La Familia, a community-based organization in Alameda County where she helped lead organizational planning, helped build and sustain a $30 million budget a $30 million budget, and oversaw initiatives in housing, behavioral health, and community development. Her background also includes strong experience in grants, development, program design, and systems improvement.
Jennifer will lead key efforts related to public funding, policy, and contracts. Her leadership, collaborative approach, and deep commitment to mission-driven work will be invaluable as Hope Solutions continues building long-term stability for the individuals and families we serve.
Jennifer holds degrees from the University of California, Davis and the University of Southern California, along with certifications from Cornell University, Harvard University, and Clear Impact.
Welcoming Marlene Matsuoka, Board Member
Hope Solutions is equally honored to welcome Marlene Matsuoka to our Board of Directors. Marlene recently retired after more than 40 years in the health insurance and employee benefits industry, where she served in leadership roles with Blue Shield of California, Great-West Life, and Cigna Healthcare. Her experience in business leadership and market growth brings a valuable perspective to our Board as we continue strengthening our organizational strategy and impact.
Marlene has also been deeply engaged in community service. She has served on the Board of Catholic Charities East Bay as Development Committee Chair and Executive Committee Member. In addition, she is active on St. Perpetua Church’s Social Justice Committee. We are grateful to welcome Marlene’s voice, experience, and commitment to social justice as part of Hope Solutions’ leadership community.
Together, Jennifer and Marlene represent the kind of thoughtful, experienced leadership that will help move Hope Solutions forward as we carry out our FY25–29 Strategic Plan and continue working toward a future where everyone has a place to call home.