Executive Team

Blanchard has worked with local and national organizations to develop and articulate strategies for economic development and integration, immigration reform and more options in education. She has also restructured the agency into three major divisions, met the unprecedented challenge of Hurricane Katrina, and embarked on a forward-looking initiative to transform community centers so that they better meet the needs of families and neighborhoods by identifying their unique strengths and then developing programs designed to build upon those advantages.

Blanchard has been recently recognized for being a catalyst of change by the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center who awarded her a 2007 “Pepsi Everyday Freedom Hero” award. In 2004, she was awarded the “Edward A. Smith Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership” by the Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership for her courage, foresight and commitment to building and strengthening communities. Ms. Blanchard has also been recognized by the Harris County Women’s Political Caucus with the “2002 Shattered Glass Award” and by the Houston YWCA with the "2000 Outstanding Woman of Achievement in Community Service Professional" Award. Moreover, Blanchard has challenged the agency to meet the highest standards of service and accountability, recognized by the Better Business Bureau of Houston, US Department of Health and Human Services, National Association for the Education of Young Children, Leadership Houston, Texas Education Agency, The WorkSource, Houston Chronicle, City of Houston, Harris County, SmartMoney Magazine, Chronicle of Philanthropy and the NonProfit Times among others.

Blanchard is a member of the Greater Houston Partnership’s Executive Women Partnership Committee, Leadership Texas and American Leadership Forum. She has previously served on the boards of the following organizations: United Neighborhood Centers of America, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, University of Houston Graduate School of Social Work and the Washington Center for Complexity and Public Policy. She served on the Harris County Child Protective and Regulatory Services and was appointed to the Texas Workforce Investment Council, where she focused on the State’s employment, education and training through strategic planning and evaluation.

View video excerpts of Angela Blanchard's speaches on YouTube

Mr. Shadle started his career with Exxon as a salesman in 1961. He climbed through many positions, including Sales Supervisor, Economics and Business Analyst, and Product Sales Manager before becoming the National Product Manager in 1977 where he was responsible for forecasting, production, and distribution of $20 million of Atlas Tires per year. In 1982, Mr. Shadle joined the Advertising and Communications Group, where he supervised several aspects of Exxon advertising, including print, radio, and outdoor advertising. As Executive Producer of Exxon’s training seminars, he produced multi-image productions that were used to train thousands of Exxon dealers and distributors in the latest business methods. Mr. Shadle created and produced videos and live presentations selling business “excellence” concepts and providing basic management skills training.

He served as a school principal and mathematics and science teacher in a private school – Eagle Academy. In 1995, he became the Associate Pastor of Liberty Revival Church, a non-denominational church in Northwest Houston.

Mr. Shadle earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Northern Arizona University and his Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University. He and his wife Patricia stay active water skiing, scuba diving, and snow skiing, among other outdoor activities. They especially treasure family trips taken with their three sons, wives, and six grandchildren.

From 1995 to 2000, he was a Partner of Dartford Partnership, a privately held partnership he co-founded that was engaged in the acquisition and management of packaged food businesses and companies. Prior to forming Dartford, Mr. Chung was co-founder, Executive Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer of a privately held milling and baking mix company with $385 million in annual revenues.

From 1987 to 1990, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Wyndham Foods, Inc., a cookie company formed through the acquisitions of small, regional cookie companies. At the time of its sale to President Enterprises in 1990, Wyndham was the third-largest cookie company in the United States.

Mr. Chung was formerly employed by Riviana Foods, Inc., most recently as Vice President of Finance. Riviana is one of the leading manufacturers and marketers of packaged rice and rice mixes in the United States.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rice University and a Master of Business Administration from Stanford University. He is married and has two children.

Ms. Douglas joined Neighborhood Centers in 2006 bringing an extensive knowledge of the local nonprofit community. As part of the senior leadership team, Emelda is instrumental in ensuring that Neighborhood Centers sustains its growth and relevance in providing resources to families in Houston’s most vulnerable communities.

Neighborhood Centers’ annual operating budget exceeds $200 million. Emelda is responsible for the strategic direction and implementation of the Agency’s fund development, which includes principal gifts, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations and annual giving program. Additionally, she oversees marketing and communications, program planning and evaluation and public resource development.

Prior to joining Neighborhood Centers, she was Vice President of Community Investment for the Greater Houston Community Foundation and facilitated the distribution of annual grants of more than $34 million to local charities. The previous decade of her career was in the private sector in business development for a natural gas liquids pipeline company.

Ms. Douglas is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, accounting major, and graduated with honors from Stephen F. State University. She and her husband Roy live in Humble, Texas and have two wonderful children: Alicia and Alexander.

Prior to joining Neighborhood Centers, Ms. Butcher was Vice President of Community Relations for Wells Fargo for five years. In that role, she identified opportunities for Wells Fargo to serve the community through volunteer activities and charitable gifts and managed a $1 million-plus annual contribution budget for the Houston region. She began her work at Wells Fargo in 1999 as assistant vice president with responsibility for media relations and charitable contributions.

Ms. Butcher’s experience also includes positions as Community Relations Manager with the University of Houston marketing department, development director of an education foundation in Louisiana, and more than 20 years in the field of church music as an organist and choral director. She is a former board member of AAMA, and currently is a member of the International Association of Business Communicators and a sustaining member of the Junior League of Houston.

Ms. Butcher graduated from Emory & Henry College in Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music, and earned a Master of Music degree and a Master of Science degree in communication, both from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She is married and has one son.

Prior to his work at Neighborhood Centers, Mr. Comella served as the Director of Information Services at OakBend Medical Center in Richmond, Texas. He enjoyed serving his community by strengthening and providing efficient and effective controls and the infrastructure to assist in meeting the medical needs of the growing Fort Bend County. He also served in the for-profit world as the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA) National Champion for KPMG.

Upon returning to Texas from his military relocations throughout the country, Mr. Comella engaged himself in the community, participating in the Richmond/Rosenberg Leadership Class 2004. He served as Co-Chair of the Texas Hospital Association’s Information Systems Advisory Board. Mr. Comella is also active as a volunteer on the Commercial Exhibits Committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Mr. Comella is a native of Abilene, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Information Systems from Southwest Texas State University. He has had numerous technical certifications, including Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE).

In addition to his service to Neighborhood Centers and its clients, Mr. Fraga has served on numerous volunteer boards and committees, as well as on a variety of task forces and councils. Mr. Fraga is particularly well known for his work to improve the social, economic, and physical surroundings of Houston's Second Ward. He is a member of the Houston Committee for Private Sector Initiatives, Houston Housing Development Corporation, the United Way Campaign, and the Housing Finance Corporation. He has also served on the Chinquapin School Board, Cultural Arts Council of Houston, Neighborhood Housing Service, and the Houston Housing Authority. He was also a member of the Board of the Houston Independent School District for four years where he helped to increase parent participation within the entire School District.

Mr. Fraga has been honored for his tireless service and efforts throughout his career. In 2000, he was given a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Houston Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers for his work in improving Houston’s inner city and received the Metro Salute to Hispanic Families. Mr. Fraga and two of his brothers, Lupe and Angel Fraga, were honored with the Community Service Award by the Mexican American Bar Association in 2001.

A member of the National Association of Social Workers, he earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and his Master’s in Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio.

In her 23-year tenure with the agency, Ann has held a number of positions, beginning as an intake worker in the agency’s child care program. Since joining the executive team in 2001, Ms. Hilbig has held responsibility for program operations at all of the agency’s community-based sites. Her accomplishments include the opening of an elementary charter school; development of innovative models of collaboration for early childhood programs; incorporation of the asset-based community development philosophy into program operations; doubling the number of senior centers; adding an evidence-based senior fitness program; and the implementation of a compassionate case management response to disasters known as Stay Connected.

Ms. Hilbig is a member of the Governing Council of Care for Elders, the Houston Community College Adult Education Advisory Committee, and the Pastoral Council for All Saints Catholic Church. She is the Past President of the Houston Area Association for the Education of Young Children, former Board Chair of the Texas Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, and former member of the Executive Committee for the Texas Early Care and Education Coalition. She is a 2005 graduate of Leadership Texas, in 2006 was named Alumni of the Year for the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, and in 2008 received the Lifetime Commitment to Children award from the Houston Area Association for the Education of Young Children.

Ms. Hilbig is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of St. Mary's Dominican College in New Orleans, and obtained her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Houston. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker.

In 1997, at least 98 percent of Piney Point’s student population qualified for free or reduced lunch, and 65 percent were second language learners. It was also rated “Academically Unacceptable” by the Texas Education Agency when Ms. Sailors was named principal. Under her leadership, the school earned “Recognized” status within three years.

As superintendent, Ms. Sailors oversees Neighborhood Centers’ continuing commitment to providing quality educational opportunities to underserved populations in the Houston area. The Choices in Education Division includes a pre-kindergarten through fifth grade charter school that serves students in 12 locations; an extensive Head Start program that provides services to over 2000 low-income children; two fully-accredited Early Child Development Centers.

Ms. Sailors earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and her Master’s in Elementary Education from the University of Houston. She received her Mid-Management certification at the University of St. Thomas. Ms. Sailors enjoys spending time with her two college-aged children – when they can fit her into their busy schedules.

Previously, he was Director of New Business Development for Public Sector Solutions and developed opportunities for the design and implementation of effective human services programs for other non-profit agencies and government organizations. Under his direction, the division grew from managing one child care contract, which served 13 counties, to four contracts serving 46 Texas counties and totaling more than $145 million annually. Currently, the Public Sector Solutions Division serves as Financial Aid Payment Contractor for Workforce Solutions – Gulf Coast Workforce Board, and as Child Care Service Contractor for the Coastal Bend, Deep East Texas, and Rural Capital Area Workforce Development Board areas.

Through the Stay Connected program, Neighborhood Centers provides a compassionate response to both the material and emotional needs of people who have been affected by natural disasters such as hurricanes. In 2009, more than 17,000 people were connected with services and resources to assist them in the long-term recovery process.

Mr. Solis’ experience also includes service as the Chief Financial Officer for the YWCA El Paso Del Norte Region. He began his career with the YWCA in 1991 and held positions there as Child Care Services Administrator and Child Care Services Finance Supervisor, managing the child care subsidy program for the Upper Rio Grande Workforce Area.

Throughout his career, Mr. Solis has worked with many regional partnerships and has successfully secured and managed contracts with funding sources including school districts, United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast, and the City of Houston.

A native of El Paso, Mr. Solis earned a BBA in Accounting from the University of Texas at El Paso. He is married and has an eight-year-old son.

Prior to her current position, Mrs. Vasquez was the Director of the Citizens’ Assistance Office for the Office of Mayor Bill White. She also served under Mayor Bob Lanier in a similar capacity in 1991. Her experience with the City of Houston included coordination and oversight of community initiatives for the Citizen's Assitance Office.

Mrs. Vasquez started her career in social services in 1993. Since then, she has been a teacher, case manager, job developer, director of youth programs, and a school principal for an alternative HISD at-risk charter high school.

Mrs. Vasquez earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Saint Edward’s University and her Master’s in Education and mid level management certification from the University of Houston.