Staff and Board of Directors

President & CEO: Debbie Johnson, Ph.D.

Dr. Debbie Johnson, who is also the founder of TenderLove Community Center (TLCC), is an
immigrant African American woman who experienced winter homelessness in the state of Indiana shortly after arriving in the United States. That lived experience shaped her deep
understanding that homelessness is not a one-size-fits-all issue and cannot be resolved through food and shelter alone. Recognizing the need for holistic, person-centered solutions, Dr. Johnson brought together like-minded community members to establish TLCC as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping homeless and low-income individuals achieve stable, self-supporting lives for themselves and their families.

Dr. Johnson holds an associate degree in nursing and a bachelor’s degree in science from her home country. She later earned another bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in public health in the United States. Most recently, Dr. Johnson earned a PhD in Counseling and Psychological Studies with a concentration in Addiction Counseling. Her academic and professional journey reflects her commitment to strengthening access to trauma-informed, culturally responsive mental health and addiction services for marginalized populations locally and globally.

A tireless, compassionate, and collaborative leader, Dr. Johnson is deeply respected by TLCC clients, students, staff, and community partners. She has demonstrated an exceptional ability to work effectively with diverse populations while inspiring volunteers, donors, and stakeholders to support the organization’s mission. Dr. Johnson has served on the boards of the Near North Valley Neighborhood Association, the Albuquerque Continuum of Care (CoC), and Recovery Workplace of New Mexico, and has volunteered with the American Red Cross. She currently serves on the board of Voz Collegiate Charter School as the school foundation’s Board Chair and on the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association as Vice Chair. She is also actively involved in various community initiatives, further reflecting her long-standing commitment to community leadership and service.

She has received numerous awards since establishing TLCC, all based on her passion for helping others. Follow this link to learn more.

Board of Directors

Christopher Prien, Board Chair, currently serves as CEO/Portfolio Manager for WaterRock Wealth Management. Chris started his career in the financial services industry in 1990 and has held Vice President positions with Invesco, Thornburg Investment Management, New York Life, and PNC Wealth Solutions. Chris enjoys spending time golfing, fishing, camping, watching the Denver Broncos, and the New York Yankees. Chris has been married to his wife Trish for 36 years. They have two grown children, Adrian & Brianna, son-in-law, Daniel, granddaughter Ellie, and grandsons, Daniel Jerimiah (Champ) and James (Jamie). Chris is very active at church, volunteering for the Men’s Ministry and serving on the safety team. Mr. Prien also sits on the corporate board for the YMCA of New Mexico.

Tommie Bedford, Immediate Past President, Tommie has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics from Prairie View A & M University, Prairie View, Texas. She is a widow with two children and four grandchildren. She was a Substitute Teacher in Albuquerque Public School for three years and a Home Economics / Culinary Arts Teacher at Albuquerque Job Corps for nine years. Currently involved in Church and Grandchildren’s activities, she loves to travel, sew, quilt, and make crafts. Tommie is currently the nursery coordinator and newcomer welcome baskets overseer at her church and a volunteer instructor at TenderLove.

Savannah Willingham, Vice-Chair, graduated from New Mexico State University with a degree in Fashion Merchandising and Design and is now working as a Public Relations Account Manager in Albuquerque, a position in which she came to discover TenderLove.
Savannah is passionate about helping those most in need and believes in advocating for others—especially those who aren’t always able to advocate for themselves. Savannah recognizes homelessness as a growing issue in our society and is eager to support TenderLove in its mission of helping people get back on their feet.

Also an active member of her church’s conference for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Savannah believes in following the call of Christ to help those in need and to respect the inherent value of every human.
In her free time, Savannah enjoys making art, going on hikes, playing music, and spending time with family and friends.

Isabel Ozechowski, Treasurer

Isabel is deeply committed to addressing homelessness, particularly as it affects women and children in Albuquerque—a city facing one of the most pressing and rapidly growing homelessness crises in the nation. As Vice President of the Tenderlove Board, she brings passion, leadership, and a strong sense of purpose to the organization’s mission.

A dedicated member of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, a Tenderlove Community Center partner, Isabel actively participates in outreach efforts by preparing and serving home-cooked meals to unhoused individuals near the church every Sunday after worship. Her faith and service reflect a strong belief in giving back to the community and embodying compassion through action.

Isabel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology, and an MBA from The University of New Mexico. She leverages this academic foundation to

advocate for women and children, raise awareness about homelessness, and help secure resources in support of Tenderlove’s vision. She currently works at Thornburg Investment Management and lives in Albuquerque with her family which includes their blue healer, Charlie.

Denine Rothman was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and proudly serves as the Program Manager for PNM’s Time-of-Day (TOD) Rate Plan. In this role, she encourages customers to shift consumption to different hours of the day, promoting both cost savings and a more sustainable energy future for New Mexico. Before joining PNM, Denine spent more than 22 years in diverse Human Resources roles at Intel Corporation, where she built deep expertise in leadership development, employee engagement and organizational growth. Denine holds a master’s degree in Bilingual Education, a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism, and a minor in Spanish, all from the University of New Mexico. Deeply committed in giving back, Denine is passionate serving her community. She believes in showing others that they matter, spreading kindness, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of people across New Mexico.

Advisory Board

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Patrick Dee

Pat is a native of Denver, Colorado and attended the University of Denver where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. He worked as a CPA in Colorado for a few years and then started a 40-year career in banking, initially in Wyoming and later in New Mexico, where he has resided since 1984. He has been married to Debi for over 36 years and has been blessed with three children and two grandchildren, and unofficially claims an additional daughter, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren (it’s a long and wonderful story).

He is now retired from the banking industry and his career included involvement in virtually all areas of banking at one time or another and included some time as the President and CEO of what was then known as First Community Bank, headquartered in Albuquerque. He has served on numerous non-profit boards over the years.

His favorite activities in retirement are golfing, fishing, camping, photography and spending time with his family. His most treasured titles are “Papa” and “Grandpa.”

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Trish Prien

Trish Prien is a residential Real Estate Broker. She is actively involved in the Albuquerque community, dedicated to community service and volunteerism, serving as a Sunday school teacher at her church, including serving on the Tenderlove Gala planning committee, she has also assisted in the procurement of the recovery house and transitional housing. A former volunteer at Care Net pregnancy center, a former board member of the NM YMCA and has also served as a co-leader for Girl Scouts. Trish has a deep sentiment to give back to the local community and looks toward making a difference in the lives of others.

Trish and her husband love to spend time with their adult children and grandkids, including vacationing, camping and other activities.

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Canada Location Board of Director

Chief Francis Oyawale is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Majek Solutions Inc, a Canadian financial services company dedicated to delivering a comprehensive range of financial products and services tailored to the diverse needs of individuals, families, and businesses. With several years of experience in the financial services industry, he has built a reputation for integrity, professionalism, and a client-centered approach to financial planning and wealth-building.
Chief Oyawale has extensive international experience in residential and commercial real estate financing and investment. He is committed to helping clients achieve their short- and long-term property ownership and investment goals by providing expert guidance at every stage of the financing process. Working alongside a network of highly reputable lenders, he helps clients secure financing for a wide range of properties from first-time home purchases and condominiums to multi-million-dollar commercial developments. By leveraging relationships with multiple lending institutions rather than relying solely on traditional banks, he helps clients obtain competitive interest rates, flexible financing options, and customized lending solutions that best fit their financial circumstances.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Chief Oyawale is deeply committed to serving marginalized and underserved populations. He believes that access to stable housing, financial literacy, and economic opportunities is essential to building stronger communities and improving quality of life. His commitment to social impact aligns closely with the mission of TenderLove Community Centre Canada, where he serves as a Founding Board Member, helping to guide the organization’s strategic direction and long-term vision.
Chief Oyawale also played a pivotal role in the early development of TenderLove Community Center in the United States. As one of the organization&’s earliest supporters, he provided significant financial support during its formative years, laying the foundation on which the organization has grown. His unwavering belief in the mission to empower individuals experiencing homelessness, poverty, behavioral health challenges, and other life barriers has made him a trusted advisor and a valued champion of the organization. Through his combined expertise in finance, real estate, and community development, Chief Oyawale continues to bridge the gap between financial success and social responsibility. His leadership, generosity, and dedication to empowering vulnerable populations have had a lasting impact on the lives of countless individuals and families throughout North America.

Honorary Board

Diana Lewis

Diana was among the students in TenderLove’s first graduating class for sewing proficiency. She returned to volunteer for several years and served two separate terms on the Board of Directors.

A professional teacher with compassion for education, Diana has 10 years of affiliation as a Teacher at First Fruits Christian Academy, Albuquerque, NM teaching grades preschool through 6th, assisting in the planning and coordination of a variety of music programs and the establishment of a Spanish language class. She was awarded “Teacher of the Year” for two years.

Her academic education was at the University of Pacific, Conservatory of Music, Stockton, CA, and Diana served in US Navy Reserve as a specialty Hospital Corpsman

Girl Scouts of America, Troop Leader Special Olympics of Rio Rancho, Coach and Parent Upward Athletic Program, Coach, Leader First Fruits Christian Academy, Summer School Program, Teacher, Assisted Event Coordinator.

Board Meetings are open to the public.

Please contact TenderLove Community Center for date, time and location of next board meeting.