Make It Right » Staff

Tom Darden

mpilon — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 20:50:33 +0000

Tom Darden is the Executive Director of Make It Right. He worked with the Make It Right Board to raise over $40 million from more than 31,000 donors, managed the design process with 21 architectural firms, and developed Make It Right’s award-winning LEED Platinum homes and buildings. Under Tom’s leadership, the Make It Right neighborhood in New Orleans has become the largest, greenest development of single family LEED Platinum homes in the world, according to the U.S. Green Building Council. Tom was named Louisiana’s 2009 Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the Small Business Administration. In 2012, he received the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in the N.G.O. Sector Award. He also was a member of the Super Bowl XLVII Environmental Host Committee.

As Make It Right’s first volunteer in December of 2006, Tom conducted initial due diligence efforts on the feasibility of Brad Pitt’s concept for building green, affordable housing on a large scale in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans. Tom’s research evolved into the first strategic plan for Make It Right.

Prior to joining Make It Right, Tom worked as a development consultant in Washington, D.C., evaluating former manufacturing and mining sites in the D.C. metropolitan market, including the site where the largest dinosaur bone unearthed on the east coast of North America was discovered. Tom’s efforts made it possible to reclaim the mine and preserve the archaeologically significant site. In addition, Tom helped establish a start-up telecommunications company and founded Arbor Equity, a real estate firm in Raleigh, N.C. committed to sustainable development.

Tom received a B.A. with Honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Media and speaking requests for Tom should be sent to Taylor at media@makeitright.org. All other requests should be sent to Karen at dardenassist@makeitright.org.

Karen Griffiths

mpilon — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 20:54:47 +0000

Karen Griffiths joined Make It Right in January of 2012 and is the Manager of Office Services and Executive Administration. She serves as a personal assistant to Tom Darden, coordinating his schedule and providing management level administrative detail and services. She regularly works with other MIR directors and board members in managing daily operations and executive decision-making. Additionally, Karen oversees the facilities management of the main office and provides facilities support to the MIR site office.

Karen holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Phoenix with a major in Business Management. Prior to joining MIR, Karen was an Administrative Specialist with the US Army. She has also worked as a Regional Sales Coordinator at Charles Schwab and a Senior Administrative Specialist with Coca-Cola Enterprises. Karen is a native of the New Orleans area.

Delia Woods King

mpilon — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 21:01:03 +0000

Delia is responsible for managing the counseling function for the Homeowner Services Department. In this role, Delia assesses obstacles faced by clients and helps them become mortgage ready buyers. Delia has worked with Make It Right in New Orleans since 2008, helping families move into new homes. Delia was born and raised in New Orleans and studied at Tuskegee University. She has a passion for the community and enjoys making the dream of homeownership a reality!

Willie Murray

mpilon — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 21:03:36 +0000

As Make It Right’s Customer and Community Relations Manager, Willie Murray works with Homeowner Services and Construction staff in New Orleans to ensure customer satisfaction and strong community relations. Willie also assists in land acquisitions and home inspection.

Prior to his work with Make It Right, Willie was a director with a real estate development firm in Raleigh, NC. He successfully coordinated several philanthropic initiatives, including $1.5 M in relief for Haiti.

Willie received a B.S. with Honors from North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC.

Daisy LaGrue

Taylor Royle — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 13:11:09 +0000

As a homeowner services counselor Daisy’s responsibility is to help families become homeowners with Make It Right. From the first inquiry to turning the key, as a counselor Daisy will be a part of that dream becoming a reality.

Daisy’s goal is to help empower individuals and families in and around her community to achieve financial health. For the last 8 years Daisy has actively worked towards that goal through previous customer service, business development and homeownership and credit counseling roles with community based financial institutions. As a business developer Daisy played a vital role in helping individuals open their first business. As a counselor Daisy counseled several families into realizing their dream of homeownership and obtain financial freedom.

Daisy received her B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences, Minor Finance from Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA.

Tanya Harris

Taylor Royle — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 15:42:33 +0000

As Community Outreach Manager, Tanya assists Lower 9^th Ward homeowners and residents in pursuing a better quality of life for themselves, their families and their community.

Tanya Harris was born and raised in New Orleans’ Lower 9^th Ward and has been a leader in the post-Katrina rebuilding efforts and and advocate for the right of return for all residents of New Orleans. As chair of the Lower 9^th Ward Neighborhood Council, Tanya has led organizing campaigns for fair wages, voting accessibility and affordable housing.

Harris was nominated for CNN’s AC360 “Keeping Them Honest” award and was the recipient of the Tides Foundation’s 2007 Jane Bagley Lehman Award.

Daphne Coleman

Taylor Royle — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 12:07:34 +0000

A native of metro New Orleans, Daphne Coleman joined Make It Right in 2013 as an Outreach Coordinator. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing from Southern University A&M in Baton Rouge. She has an extensive background in tax credit properties and affordable housing programs. Previously Daphne served as a leasing and property manager for local property developments. She has also worked closely with young people her community by coordinating educational programs.

Craig Turner

mpilon — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 21:05:03 +0000

Craig Turner oversees Make It Right’s construction staff and general contractors hired to build homes for Make It Right.

Craig’s thorough technical knowledge and commitment to the production of high quality work has assisted Make It Right in successfully building LEED Platinum homes and buildings and meeting all quality standards. He strongly believes in maintaining high service standards and providing efficient, safe and responsible project management.

At age 15, Craig left school to pursue a four-year apprenticeship program to become a Master Carpenter before completing nine years of subcontracting. Today Craig has over 16 years of residential and commercial management experience in the construction industry, supervising projects totaling over $240 million. Over the past ten years, he has worked predominantly on inner-city brown field sites. Craig has previously served as a Site Agent responsible for the supervision and organization of the workforce and all trades and as a Project Manager responsible for management of costs and enforcement of quality assurance procedures and project performance standards.

Jordan Pollard

mpilon — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 21:10:17 +0000

As Make It Right’s Research, Design and Development Manager, Jordan Pollard works with the Communication team to help share the lessons learned by the organization and with the Construction team to develop cost appropriate design and construction methodologies. Pollard has ten years of experience in architecture, fabrication and construction.

At environmental architecture firm William McDonough + Partners, Jordan spent six years working on projects ranging from master planning to residential work clients including Google, VmWare, Proctor and Gamble, the Chinese government and others.

In 2007, Jordan started working with Make It Right through WM+P, helping to write the guidelines and material selection criteria for the first homes. In 2009, he moved back home to Louisiana to work with the Executive Architect for the Make It Right project, John Williams Architects. At JWA, Jordan managed Make It Right’s work for two years. In 2012, he joined Make It Right to develop the Library and Laboratory, new platforms for sharing the technical aspects of Make It Right’s work with a broader audience. Jordan is also helping to advance design, research and development opportunities.

Cesar Rodriguez

mpilon — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 21:12:07 +0000

Cesar R. Rodriguez coordinates product donations and construction services for Make It Right. Cesar is a second-generation contractor with over 10 years experience in construction management. He previously managed his own construction business and brings a wealth of construction and management experience to Make It Right. He is a graduate of the University of Houston with a major in Political Science. Cesar was among the first group of contractors to return to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.