Leadership
Melisa Vierra
Executive Director
Melisa Vierra was born and raised in Santa Cruz County and is a 9th generation Santa Cruzan, with deep family roots in the area, going back to the Spanish land grants.
After graduating from UCSC with a major in Environmental Studies and a minor in Sociology, she started a family. As a single mom, she found a way to support her family and give back to the community by working at Families In Transition. She started as a Program Coordinator in 1999 and is now the Executive Director. Her favorite pastimes are spending time with family, gardening, and exploring ways to join her passion for the environment with equitable housing options, such as small dwellings and alternative communities.
Erik Lua
Fund Development Manager
(831)740-7340
Erik Lua grew up in Watsonville, CA and graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education from Santa Barbara City College in 2014. After traveling and exploring various career opportunities, he began working at Families In Transition as a CHAMP Housing Navigator in February of 2019. With Erik's passion for positive human interaction, he quickly took on the additional role of Fund Development Coordinator in order to bring in unrestricted funds to our participating families. In late 2020, Erik was given the role of Fund Development Manager propelling his fundraising work in our community. Erik strives to create an empathetic and confident safe space that prioritizes human relationships.
Erik’s background in customer service, non-profit fundraising, staff management and sales marketing has provided him with the necessary tools for his role with Families In Transition. He enjoys working with a diverse staff that shares a passion for improving the lives of others and bettering their community.
Erik’s hobbies include hiking, tending to his plant-filled apartment, listening to music, and spending time with his friends and family.
Our Staff
Board Members
Vanessa Quiroz-Carter
Board Member
Vanessa Quiroz-Carter was born and raised in Watsonville. She graduated from University of California, Berkeley, with a B.A. in English Literature in 2009. Vanessa received a Master's Degree from the California State University, East Bay in 2018. She currently works as an Adjunct Professor at Hartnell Community College in Salinas. Vanessa is passionate about community engagement and has been an active community member since her youth. Vanessa recognizes the serious need for safe, affordable housing in our community and believes everyone deserves the dignity of a safe place to call home. By sitting on the Board for Families in Transition, Vanessa hopes to assist in their mission to end and prevent homelessness in Santa Cruz County. In addition to serving on the Board for Families in Transition, Vanessa also currently serves as a Commissioner for the Santa Cruz County Women's Commission, and the Parks and Recreation Commission in Watsonville.
Veronica Schultz
Board Secretary
(831)740-7340
Born in Chile and raised in the USA, Veronica moved to the Santa Cruz area twenty years ago after graduating from Mary Washington University with a BA in Philosophy & Religious Studies. Professionally she has extensive experience in the insurance industry - ten years as an Underwriter of 501c3 nonprofits and currently as an Insurance Risk Analyst at Granite Construction Inc., in Watsonville. In her free time Veronica enjoys community service, getting her hands dirty in the garden and kayaking with her partner.
Veronica joined the FIT Board in 2019 and currently serves as Board Treasurer. She believes deeply in the ability of people to positively affect their communities and is honored to support FIT as a board member.
Mindi Broughton
Board Member
(831)740-7340
Born in Chile and raised in the USA, Veronica moved to the Santa Cruz area twenty years ago after graduating from Mary Washington University with a BA in Philosophy & Religious Studies. Professionally she has extensive experience in the insurance industry - ten years as an Underwriter of 501c3 nonprofits and currently as an Insurance Risk Analyst at Granite Construction Inc., in Watsonville. In her free time Veronica enjoys community service, getting her hands dirty in the garden and kayaking with her partner.
Veronica joined the FIT Board in 2019 and currently serves as Board Treasurer. She believes deeply in the ability of people to positively affect their communities and is honored to support FIT as a board member.
Robin West
Board Member
(831)740-7340
Robin was born in Fort Ord, California and traveled around the United States as an ‘Army brat’. She moved back to the Central Coast as an adult and has lived in the area for over thirty years. Robin graduated from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington with a BA Degree in Political Economy and from the Fashion Institute in Los Angeles, California with an AA Degree in Fashion Design. Robin has a history of working with non-profit agencies serving families with low-incomes and people with developmental disabilities. She currently works as the Student Retention Coordinator (including Homeless Student Liaison and Basic Needs) with Cabrillo College.
Robin has lived experience as a homeless mother of three children. She has been involved with the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Project and the HEAP/CESH emergency housing grant. She is dedicated to the goal of ending and preventing homelessness in Santa Cruz County. And as a Board member, has a vison of creating more affordable housing units that are inclusive, environmentally sustainable and beautiful in design- similar to the Backyard Homes Project in Los Angeles.
In her free time, Robin likes to be outdoors at the beach or hiking in the mountains, dancing to R&B music, gardening for medicinal and dye plants, being creative, and spending time with family and friends.