Leadership
Executive Leadership
David Rout, Executive Director
David Rout is the Executive Director of Homeward Alliance, where he has led the organization’s growth from a small grassroots nonprofit to the region’s leading agency addressing homelessness. David is a visionary dedicated to transforming bold ideas into impactful realities, driving innovation, and inspiring change. David drives the development of a comprehensive continuum of programs that support families, adults, and seniors—ranging from basic needs assistance to housing-focused case management and employment services. In addition to overseeing the organization’s direct service programs and administration, David guides the technical initiatives, working to advance best practices and systemic strategies aimed at making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.
Initially joining Homeward Alliance in 2012 as one of the first employees of the organization, he advanced to his current role in 2014. He is actively engaged in regional collaborations, representing Homeward Alliance on multiple task forces and boards dedicated to housing and homelessness solutions. David holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Colorado State University and remains committed to fostering innovative, data-driven, and community-centered approaches to ending homelessness.
Serena Thomas, Programs Director
Serena Thomas is the Programs Director at Homeward Alliance, where she provides strategic oversight for the Murphy Center for Hope and the organization’s Resource Navigation, Employment, Family, Volunteer, and Distribution programs. With a strong track record in program development and management, Serena excels at designing and implementing innovative solutions that drive impactful outcomes and sustainable growth. She plays a key role in strengthening service delivery, expanding program impact, and fostering collaboration among staff, volunteers, and community partners.
Prior to joining Homeward Alliance in 2020, Serena worked in both the nonprofit sector and high-tech industry. Leveraging her unique blend of experiences, she applied skills to multiple local nonprofits supporting children and families experiencing poverty. She focused on problem-solving, data analysis, program development and strategic planning. Serena has a deep commitment to equity, accessible resources, and long-term solutions to homelessness and housing instability. Serena holds bachelor’s degrees in computer science and mathematics.
Pam Brewer, Development Director
Pam Brewer is the Development Director for Homeward Alliance, overseeing the strategy and implementation of the organization’s marketing, public relations, fundraising, and community engagement efforts. Her strategic leadership enhances Homeward Alliance’s visibility, fosters collaboration among key stakeholders, and strengthens funding diversity to ensure long-term sustainability and advance the mission of making homelessness rare, short-lived, and non-recurring. She strengthens stakeholder relationships and enhances Homeward Alliance’s visibility to drive mission impact.
Since joining Homeward Alliance in 2016, Pam has led successful signature fundraising events, implemented major gifts and planned giving campaigns, provided oversight of the volunteer program, and developed new donor and volunteer engagement platforms. Pam holds a bachelor's degree in sociology and anthropology from Syracuse University and brings over two decades of experience in program development and advocacy for at-risk women and children in school settings and domestic violence programs.
Technical Services Leadership
Sandra Wright, Systems Strategy Director
Sandra Wright is a Systems Strategy Director at Homeward Alliance, where she represents the organization's technical arm in high-level strategic initiatives across the region. Sandra has a proven ability to navigate complexity, anticipate challenges, and design innovative solutions, transforming ideas into actionable strategies that create lasting, meaningful change. Sandra is responsible for strategic planning and using best practices to drive solutions that aim to prevent and intervene in homelessness. She engages with a broad spectrum of stakeholders to foster community collaboration and ensure alignment among diverse groups to work toward sustainable solutions.
Prior to joining Homeward Alliance in 2021, Sandra served as the Executive Director of Loveland’s Community Kitchen for seven years where she was responsible for providing overall leadership, direction, strategy, and vision to the organization. In addition to her non-profit background, she brings over 15 years’ experience working with beginning stage companies where she oversaw daily operations, product development, marketing and public relations. She actively engages in multiple task forces and boards focused on regional homelessness response.
Rachel Kirkland, Data & Technical Assistance Director
Rachel Kirkland is the Data & Technical Assistance Director for Homeward Alliance, where she oversees the collection, management and interpretation of data, to drive informed decision making and improve operational efficiency. In that role, she serves as the HMIS System Administrator for the Northern Colorado Continuum of Care. She leads efforts to enhance data collection, analysis, and integration across northern Colorado, ensuring service providers have the tools and insights needed to drive meaningful outcomes for individuals experiencing homelessness. She brings expertise in data-driven solutions and systems improvement, spearheading initiatives to ensure data compatibility across multiple platforms.
Rachel has been a dedicated member of Homeward Alliance since 2016. Throughout her tenure, she has served in a variety of key roles, including Resource Navigator and Re-Entry Program Manager. Her leadership has strengthened service coordination and the overall effectiveness of homelessness response systems. Rachel’s commitment to collaboration, innovation, and technical excellence continues to shape and improve the region’s approach to addressing homelessness.
Linda Nuss, Special Projects Director
Linda Nuss is a Systems Strategy Director for Homeward Alliance, where she leads high-level initiatives to address homelessness across the region. Linda’s combination of big-picture thinking and collaborative leadership has paved the way for dismantling barriers to innovation, driving policy reform and creating sustainable system-wide change.
Linda joined Homeward Alliance in 2014. Prior to stepping into her current role, Linda served as Operations Director, playing a key role in transforming the organization from a grassroots effort into a leading regional non-profit. She was instrumental in developing and scaling programs, building operational infrastructure, and driving organizational growth. Linda is passionate about ensuring that individuals with lived experience have a voice in shaping solutions.
Assistant Directors
Jessica Long, Assistant Programs Director
Jessica Long is the Assistant Programs Director at Homeward Alliance, where she leads efforts in compliance, staff training, grant reporting, and program evaluation, drawing on her experiences in program management, personnel development, and collaborative service delivery. Since joining Homeward Alliance in 2020, she has held multiple roles, including Family Services Manager, where she oversaw family-focused programming and community partnerships.
Prior to joining HWA, Jessica worked in Thompson and Poudre School Districts, providing mental health education, supporting students with disabilities, and advocating for at-risk students. She holds a B.A. in Sociology with an emphasis in Social Work from Biola University. Outside of work, Jessica is doing her best to raise three young boys to be kind, curious, and good humans.
Kinszia Erickson, Assistant Development Director
Kinszia Erickson joined Homeward Alliance in 2023. She holds an Associate of Arts in Hotel and Event Management, as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts. In her role as the Assistant Development Director she focuses on fundraising, grant writing, website management, and creative ways to interact with our local community while advocating for the people we serve.
With a varied background spread across several industries, she brings experience in event planning and fundraising, community outreach, nonprofit management, and volunteer engagement and retention. She is also a firm believer in adding levity and whimsy where possible, and will now take this time to brag about her three cats, three dogs, precocious pre-teen, and wonderful husband.