A quality home is the foundation
of society & community

A quality home is the foundation of society & community

The Women of RHA Part 2.

During Women’s History Month, Rockford Housing Authority is honoring all of the women who contribute to the organization’s success. We know how important women and their perspectives are to RHA because we’ve employed 34 women, have a female Board President and our CEO is a woman! Our team of women brings a variety of talents, ideas, and experiences to RHA, allowing us to foster a more diverse and interactive culture. Throughout this blog, you will see features from each of our Program Managers, Property Managers, and our Assistant Property Managers.

Program Managers

Sybil Mueller works with the Rockford Housing Authority and its non-profit Bridge Rockford Alliance as the Housing Choice Voucher Manager. Sybil has been with RHA for 11 years and 6 months. Prior to joining RHA, she served as an Aviation Maintenance Administration man, where she was in charge of policy and procedure changes that were needed to complete her squadron’s military missions successfully. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Northern Illinois University. Sybil brings a wealth of expertise and experience in government policies and processes, as well as management experience. Something that inspires Sybil is Dalai Lama’s 18 Rules of Living.

Monique Jones serves as the Human Resources Manager for Rockford Housing Authority. Monique has been a part of the RHA team for over 6 years and as her former position, a Family Self-Sufficiency Specialist, Monique assisted households in becoming economically self-sufficient. She has over 15 years of expertise in benefit administration and human resource management. Monique also attends school full-time as a Human Resources Management major at Concordia University. She and her family have won several awards and recognitions for their contributions in youth sports, including the Armature Athletic Unions Central District’s Outstanding Competitiveness Award and the Rockford PTA’s Community Service Award.

Linda Dorsey-Tillman is the Procurement and Contract Manager at Rockford Housing Authority. Linda graduated from the University of Phoenix in Schaumburg, Illinois, with a bachelor’s degree in business management. She started her housing career as the Housing Authority of Elgin’s Capital Fund/Internal Auditor, later rising to Deputy Director for a total of ten years. During her tenancy at the housing authority, she worked as a Uniform Physical Condition Standards Specialist, a Procurement and Contract Management Specialist, and an HCV Housing Quality Standards Specialist, earning certifications in each. Linda has been with RHA for about 3 years and 10 months now. One of her favorite quotes is: “if you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but

 whatever I do I have to keep moving forward.”

Rockford Housing Authority’s Policy, Compliance, and Security Manager is Christine Manley.  Christine has been with RHA for about 3 years and 8 months. She formerly served as the Occupancy Specialist in RHA’s Housing Choice Program. Christine graduated from Rockford University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology. Additionally, Christine has over 10 years of experience working in human services that included her managing HUD-funded programs that offered housing and social resources to Rockford’s homeless population. Christine enjoys working among the RHA team as they all share the common goal to better their community. “If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.”  Henry Ford

Rockford Housing Authority’s Section 3 Compliance Manager is Michaela Harris. She has been with RHA for about 3 years. Michaela joined RHA with about 15 years in community service, management, and customer service. Throughout her life, Michaela has spent her time giving back to her community by volunteering with organizations such as Rock House Kids, a mentorship program for elementary aged children. One of Michaela’s favorite quotes is “Happiness is the fleeting state of emotion that is dependent on doing. Joy is a long-term process of the mind that is dependent on being.” ‘It is inspiring to me because your mentality about life has incredible impact on your joy, your actions, and ultimately your success. It reminded me not to chase moments of happiness but instead focus on my mental and spiritual strength so that I can have joy all the time.’

Jana Janes joins RHA’s finance department as the Accounting Manager. Jana has been with RHA for about a year. She holds a Bachelor of Science and Business Administration in Finance with a minor in Economics from Rockford University. Since Jana has experience working as a Director of Finance and Controller, she has vast expertise in government aid, federal grants, non-profit and property management. A quote that inspires Jana is “there are no limits to what you can accomplish except the limits you place on your own thinking” by Brian Tracy.

Te’ Airia Robinson serves as the Human Resources Generalist at Rockford Housing Authority. She has been employed at RHA for about 2 years and 9 months. “If you are afraid to take a chance, take one anyway. What you don’t do can create the same regrets as the mistakes you make.” Iyanla Vanzant

Erin Woosley works at Rockford Housing Authority as a Redevelopment Coordinator. Erin has been working at RHA for about 5 years and 9 months. One of Erin’s favorite quotes is “The same boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It’s about what you’re made of, not the circumstances.”

Property Managers

Lisa Olson is one of the property managers at Rockford Housing Authority. Lisa has been with RHA for about 14 years and 6 months. Lisa’s favorite inspiration quote is “Courage is not having the strength to go on, it’s going on when you don’t have the strength.”

One of Rockford Housing Authority’s property managers is R. Ta’Nisha Gray. Ta’Nisha has been with RHA for 6 years and 8 months. A passage that inspires Ta’Nisha is ~ Jeremiah 29:11 ~ New International Version “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Lynn Feirn’s position at Rockford Housing Authority is Property Manager. Lynn has been with the organization for 11 years and 4 months. To Lynn, leadership is about inspiring and enabling others. A big piece of this is creating an environment so people can inspire others. “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Elizabeth McCann is a Property Manager at Rockford Housing Authority. For about a year and 9 months, Elizabeth has been employed with RHA. A quote that inspires Elizabeth is “Never regret a day in your life. Good days give you happiness & bad days give you experience.”

Felice Woitynek is the Property Manager of Olesen Plaza and North Main Manor for Rockford Housing Authority. Felice has been employed with RHA for 3 years. One of Felice’s favorite quotes is “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” by Maya Angelou.

Assistant Property Managers

Sammantha Gowan is one of the Assistant Property Managers for Rockford Housing Authority. For 6 years, Sammantha has been with RHA. “The elevator to success is out of order.  You’ll have to use the stairs….one step at a time.”- Joe Girard

 

Marilyn Taylor is also an Assistant Property Manager at Rockford Housing Authority. Marilyn has been employed with RHA for 4 years. A quote that inspires Marilyn is “there are no limits to what you can accomplish, except the limits you place on your own thinking. If you can dream it, you can achieve it.”

Housing Choice Voucher Department

Kashmir McField is an HVC Administrative Clerk for Rockford Housing Authority. Kashmir is a new hire as she has been with RHA for almost 2 months. A quote that inspires Kashmir is, “it’s only when you risk failure that you discover things. When you play it safe, you’re not expressing the utmost of your human experience.”

Angel Love-Adams is an HVC Inspector for Rockford Housing Authority. Angel has been employed with RHA for 3 years and 11 months. A quote that inspires Angel is “make your life a masterpiece, imagine no limitations on what you can be, have, or do.”

Rosalind Gulley is the Lead Occupancy Specialist in the HVC department for Rockford Housing Authority. Rosalind has worked for RHA for 6 years and 8 months. Rosalind’s favorite quote is hanging in her office, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,” Maya Angelou.

Lucy Burton is one of the Occupancy Specialists at Rockford Housing Authority. For 14 years and 7 months, Lucy has been employed with RHA.

Our department of Occupancy Specialists for Rockford Housing Authority are Shaneka Young, Courtney Williams, and Nichole Bourbon. This group of women assists applicants to become RHA Residents, providing them with safe, affordable housing and introducing them to RHA Human Services for their attainment of self-sufficiency.

With so many women in leadership roles, Rockford Housing Authority is proud of its diverse workforce. Our diversity of perspectives and backgrounds give RHA an advantage to help develop and improve the Rockford community. RHA will continue to highlight our female employees in honor of Women’s History Month. Keep a lookout for our upcoming blog, Women of RHA Part 3.