Administration

Jean-Michel Giraud has advanced the entire homeless services system in the Washington, DC Metro Area by drawing on over two decades of clinical experience in human services, expertise in psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery, and commitment to person-centered programming. He is a pioneer of innovative program models and, since joining Friendship Place in 2006, has overseen the launching of 10 new programs based on the state-of-the-art Housing First service model, transforming the organization from a small neighborhood provider serving 300 people a year into a major regional provider serving more than 3,000 people annually.

Jean-Michel’s focus on cost-effective, permanent and rapid solutions to homelessness has been lauded by the DC government, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and countless homeless service advocates. He is a recipient of the Meyer Foundation Exponent Award for visionary nonprofit leadership (2010), served on the DC Interagency Council on Homelessness from 2009 to 2017, and is a member of the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association.

Jean-Michel speaks at national conferences and presents field workshops on empowerment, organizational transformation, systemic change, veterans services, Housing First, Employment First, Rapid Rehousing, LGBTQ, racial equity, and senior homelessness.

Jean-Michel Giraud holds a Master’s Degree and Doctoral Qualification (DEA) in American Studies from Montpellier University in France, undergraduate degrees in Translation from La Sorbonne Nouvelle and Paris X University, and a Master Certificate in Business Administration from Tulane University in Louisiana. He is a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner and has earned a Co-Occurring Disorders Competency Designation from DC COSIG and The Danya Institute.

Cornelia M. Kent is the Vice President of Administration/Chief Financial Officer at Friendship Place responsible for Finance, Budget, and Administration. In addition to overseeing the development and management of the agency’s annual budget and financial statement audit, Ms. Kent is responsible for ensuring financial compliance and reporting to various Federal, and local government stakeholders.

Prior to joining Friendship Place, she was the Chief Financial Officer for the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) responsible for the Budget, Procurement and Finance offices from 2018 to 2021, and the Assistant Chief Financial Officer and Controller at HOC from 2003 to 2012. Prior to rejoining the HOC in 2018, she served as the Director of Finance for several non-profit organizations where she was responsible for all aspects of budgeting, investing, finance and accounting. Ms. Kent has more than 20 years of experience as a finance professional in the affordable housing and non-profit sectors.

Ms. Kent holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government & Politics and a Master of Business Administration in Public Accounting from St. John’s University, a Master of Science in Information Systems from American University, a Master of Public Policy from George Mason University, and is a Certified Public Accountant.

O’Ne (pronounced Oh Nay) joined Friendship Place in April 2024.  O’Ne came to us from D.C. government wherein he served as the Chief HR Office for the D.C. Attorney General and Associate VP of HR at the University of the District of Columbia, whereat he also was an Adjunct Professor teaching Human Resources in the School of Business.

O’Ne is from New Orleans, and has been living in the Washington, DC area since 2002.  O’Ne has been working in human resources approximately 30yrs, with more than 15yrs at the senior/executive level.  O’Ne’s wide-ranging experience expands over multiple industries including non-profit, higher education, federal/local government, private, and military branches.

O’Ne has extensive experience in Strategic Planning, HRIS, Organizational Development, Health & Wellness (EAP), compliance, policy, budget management, compensation & benefits, classification, performance management, recruitment & retention, rewards & recognition, launching wellness & DEIA programs, labor and employee relations, contract negotiations, and has served as Chief Negotiator over several Collective Bargaining Agreements.

O’Ne has led teams ranging from 1-25, including contractors on local and national scale.  O’Ne is also fluent in English and Spanish.

Shauna L. Figueroa is a tri-state Licensed Clinical Social Worker; she is also licensed in the state of Connecticut where she relocated from in 2021.  In 2008, she received her MSW from Springfield College, Advanced Generalist Program, where she received training in social work theories, values, and ethics and developed the skills to integrate this learning into assessments, intervention, and treatment with individuals, families’ groups and organizations.    

For over 25 years, Shauna has worked in several private, non-profit and state funded programs.  She has spent over 16 years working for the State of Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families where she has moved from front line case work to managing macro level systems through managing quality assurance process.  In addition to her expertise in child welfare, she has worked extensively with individuals experiencing issues related to the criminal justice system, homelessness, medical concerns and family disruptions which are often due to unaddressed mental health and substance abuse concerns.  

Since 2012, she has also worked in academia as an adjunct professor providing instruction to undergraduate Human Services and Social Work students. Shauna serves as a clinician in a private practice setting where she provides therapeutic support to individuals, couples and families allowing her to utilize her clinical skills on a consistent basis. 

In her free time Shauna enjoys reading, painting, music, yoga and meditation.  She has two adult sons she cherishes and spends time with as often as possible.  Being near water is particularly calming and her most HAPPY place.   

Jean-Louis is a dedicated professional with extensive experience in nonprofit program design and management, human rights education, community organizing, education, democracy, youth civic engagement, and social justice advocacy. At the core of his social justice engagement are his Ignatian vision to be “ a person at the service of others” and his unwavering commitment to human dignity.

Prior to his Friendship appointment, Mr. Ikambana has served in several capacities the cause of the advancement of human dignity in different international, national and local organizations in Africa, Europe, South America, and North America as teacher, social worker, program manager, program director, board member, and advocate.

Mr. Ikambana holds a BA in Philosophy and Human Sciences from l’Institut Saint Pierre Cainisius, Kimwenza-Kinshasa (DRC),  MA in Political Science from La Javeriana University, Bogota ( Colombia), MS in Criminal Justice from Saint Joseph University, Philadelphia (USA),  Master’s Degree in International Services at American University (USA), and a Ph.D. in African American Studies from Temple University, Philadelphia (USA).

He is the recipient of the 2010 Community Human Rights Award presented by the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area; 2014 President’s Volunteer Service Award and the 2016 Edward O’Brien Award of Human Rights Educators USA, and 2017 Community Human Rights Award from the US Human Rights Network.

Mr. Ikambana is the author of “Mobutu’s Totalitarian Political System. An Afrocentric Analysis”, published by Routledge, and a contributor in “ Africa In the 21^st Century”, published by Routledge.

Chris Rutledge has more than 25 years of experience in the non-profit sector, serving in both development and programmatic roles. His fundraising experience includes success with individuals, foundations, the Federal Government, corporations, international bodies, and labor unions.
Prior to his role at Friendship Place, Chris provided programmatic and fundraising leadership to such organizations as AARP Foundation, the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, New York University, Columbia University, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, and the U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference.

A husband and proud father of two daughters, Chris has served 5 years as a PTA President and is a member of the Montgomery County Council of PTAs Board of Directors. He lives in Silver Spring.

Jonathan Whitted has dedicated over 15 years to serving diverse populations through various case management and program leadership roles. He started his career in Southwest Virginia by providing support to a pro bono mental health counseling program as an assistant program coordinator. Later, he served as a mental health case manager throughout multiple counties in the southwestern region of Virginia and in the City of Roanoke.

In 2012, Jonathan became a member of Friendship Place starting as a permanent supportive housing case manager in the Neighbors First Division. He later joined the Veteran Services Division in 2014 as a SSVF rapid rehousing case manager. During his tenure in the Veteran Services Division, he took on various leadership roles, including the oversight of the Maryland program office, Rapid Resolutions pilot, Shallow Subsidy pilot, Continuum of Care engagement, and Coordinated Entry. After three years of service as Assistant Director, Jonathan was promoted to the role of Division Director in December 2020 to lead the organization’s continued work with the VA toward ending veteran homelessness in the DC Metro Region. He has been a presenter at multiple national conferences, including NAEH and the Housing First Partners Conference. He is passionate about the impact of housing first and participant-centered services. This is shown through his progressive engagement with individuals in need of housing support and his dedication to the development of staff with a passion for ending homelessness.

Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in Psychology and Human Development from Virginia Tech and an MBA from Boston University.