Staff
TROSA has 40 staff members. Below you will find information on some of our senior staff:
Kevin R. McDonald, Founder, President and CEO of TROSA
At the request of Durham business and community leaders, Kevin founded TROSA in 1994. Prior to coming to Durham, Kevin spent 12 years with the Delancey Street Foundation, a therapeutic community in San Francisco. His duties there included oversight of business ventures and the therapy program. He also opened and directed the North Carolina facility of the Delancey Street Foundation in Greensboro. Immediately prior to founding TROSA, Kevin directed a program for homeless parolees in Los Angeles that assisted 135 former gang members.
Under Kevin's leadership, TROSA has become an outstanding example of social entrepreneurship in North Carolina using business ventures for career training as well as self-supporting income. Kevin is the recipient of many awards and honors, including the 2001 Leadership for a Changing World award given by the Ford Foundation in partnership with the Advocacy Institute.
Jesse Battle, Director of Men's Program
Jesse provides leadership to the men of TROSA in building their ability to maintain a clean and sober lifestyle while improving their education and job skills. He joined the TROSA staff soon after graduating from the TROSA program in 1997. Serving the TROSA community, Jesse has been department head of several departments, including: Medical, Intake, Front Office, Special Events, Aftercare and Education. As Network Administrator, he led TROSA's technological growth from one server with ten workstations to a five-server 300-work station environment. With the assistance of a Glaxo Wellcome scholarship Jesse earned a degree in network administration from Durham Technical Community College. He serves on the board of Troy House Community Corrections Center and is a North Carolina Addictions Fellow.
Sandra Alger, Director of Women's Programs
Sandra went to the Delancey Street Foundation in 1988 for her own substance abuse problem. After completing her therapeutic commitment, Sandra stayed on at Delancey Street for the next 12 years working with the women residents in all the areas necessary to enable them to join society's mainstream, obtain employment and lead productive lives. She also served as the assistant to the President of the Foundation and taught remedial reading and basic clerical skills. Sandra joined the TROSA team in February 2004. She has a B.A. in Human Relations from Golden Gate University.
Keith Artin, Chief Operating Officer
Keith has professional business experience in areas ranging from investment banking to project management. At TROSA, Keith draws on all of these experiences managing TROSA's day-to-day operations. Keith began with TROSA in September 2001 following two years of work with entrepreneurial for-profit ventures. He also spent over five years as an Associate in the Public Finance Department of The Robinson-Humphrey Company/Salomon Smith Barney, where he structured more than 35 publicly traded municipal bond transactions totaling over $1.7 billion. Keith received his B.S. in Commerce from the University of Virginia and his M.B.A. from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.
Michael Keene, Vice President of Business Operations
A graduate of the Delancey Street Foundation's therapeutic community in Greensboro, NC, Mike managed Delancey Street Movers prior to joining TROSA in 1997. Mike is the force behind the success of TROSA Moving Company, the sixth largest moving company in the Triangle area and TROSA's principal source of revenue. As VP of Operations, Mike now oversees many of TROSA business ventures that provide important job training, as well as much needed income. The businesses include TROSA Moving and Storage, TROSA Frame Shop, TROSA Christmas Tree lots and Holidays by TROSA. One of Mike's greatest rewards is "seeing people get a good job when they graduate from TROSA."
Michelle Kucerak, Director of Development
Michelle has worked within the nonprofit field for the past thirteen years and brings significant experience in organizational development, training, fundraising, and community organizing to her role at TROSA. Michelle worked with the State Public Interest Research Groups for six years, most recently as a consumer advocate in North Carolina. She also worked with Refugees International in Washington D.C. for over 3 years, as Director of Development and Administration. At TROSA, Michelle facilitates donor development work. Michelle holds a B.S. in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
LaToshia Rouse, Controller
LaToshia has
professional accounting experience in various industries ranging from large
retail chains to the healthcare industry. She has worked for Performance
Inc. the largest retailer of bicycles and biking equipment in the