Staff and Board of Directors
Founder/CEO: Debbie Johnson
Debbie Johnson, founder, and CEO of TenderLove Community Center (TLCC) is an immigrant African American who experienced winter homelessness in Indiana State shortly after arriving in the United States. As a direct result of her experience, Debbie recognized that there are as many reasons for homelessness as there are individuals, and the need must be met by more than simply feeding and housing people. She brought like-minded individuals together to incorporate TenderLove Community Center as a non-profit (501c3) organization with a mission to help homeless and low-income individuals achieve stable, self-supporting lives for themselves and their families.
Debbie possesses an associate degree in nursing and a bachelor’s degree in science from her home country. In the past few years, she earned another bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in public health. She is currently working towards her doctorate in counseling and psychological studies with a concentration in addiction counseling. Her goal is to enhance her ability to provide mental health support to people around the globe.
She is a tireless, impassioned, and collaborative leader, much-loved by the students at TLCC, able to work with remarkably diverse clients and staff and inspire others to volunteer and donate. Debbie served on the board of Near North Valley Neighborhood Association and Albuquerque Continuum of Care (CoC), and on the board of Recovery Workplace of New Mexico, and volunteered with the American Red Cross.
Staff:
Administrative Assistant: Martha Lara-Delgado
Program Director: Charles King
Sewing Instructor: Yolanda Herrera
Case Manager: Crystal Barreras
Case Manager: Tinamarie Lizarraga
Program Manager: Daniel Olufemi
Development Director: Karen Meizner
Store Manager: Manuela Montoya Terrazas
Board of Directors
Tommie Bedford, President/Treasurer
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.
Nina Martinez, Vice President
Experienced Inside Sales Representative with a demonstrated history of working in the information technology and services industry. Skilled in Managed Services, Enterprise Software, Partner Management, Storage, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM). Strong sales professional with a Bachelor of Science focused in Psychology from The University of New Mexico. She is Hispanic American.
Jules Flores, Secretary
Jules obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre and Dance with an Emphasis in Drama Education from the University of New Mexico and a Certificate in Film Tech from the Central New Mexico Community College. She completed her Master of Education in Higher Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
She has worked in Higher Education for five years, supporting first-generation and minority students. Currently, she works at Central New Mexico Community College, where she works closely with students. Her past experiences include leadership development and inclusion programming for college students and Student Affairs professionals.
Jules values service and strives to make a difference in her community. She served as the professional development chair for the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas (HWNT) El Paso Chapter and on the LGBTQ+ Round Table with the El Paso Community Foundation.
Jules has volunteered for Tenderlove since 2014, when she assisted with the planning and coordinating of our first fashion show, and recently served on the planning committee for our first ever Virtual Gala.
Emily Dunn
Emily has a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance from Eastern New Mexico University. She is currently working on completing her Spanish Certification Program through CNM. She also sits on the Board of Directors at her church Glorybound Ministries Center, where she has been attending for the past 30 years. She has a heart for people and is passionate about serving her community through music ministry.
Emily has been in banking for almost 15 years and is currently a Branch Manager for WaFd Bank. She works with Junior Achievement of New Mexico to provide financial literacy classes for elementary, middle, and high school students. She is also providing financial literacy classes for the TenderLove Community Center.
Advisory Board
Ken Carson, Jr.
Ken Carson Jr. an Albuquerque, New Mexico native attended New Mexico State University. In his 40 year career as a banker, he began as a Federal Bank Examiner in college working for the Comptroller of the Currency. After 5 years he moved into banking and served as a Compliance Officer, head of Loan Administration and Loan review and as a Loan Officer.
He was appointed by Governor Gary Carruthers as Deputy Director of the State Banking department. Shortly after his appointment, the Director left and Ken was appointed Director of the Banking department at age 28. He was one of the youngest Banking Commissioners ever appointed to that position in the country at the time. He was reappointed to the position by Governor Bruce King.
After serving as the state’s Banking Commissioner for approximately 7 years, Ken left and was appointed President of the Bank of Belen, which is now MyBank of Belen. Ken started in his position with the bank when it had assets of $7 million and the bank was only 9 months old. Over the next 12 years Ken and his staff grew the bank to $150 million in assets with 5 branches located in 3 counties.
At the age of 56 Ken opened Nexus Brewery in May 2011. Having never been in the business he looked at all types of food and did research on the internet to find a menu he thought was unique. Ken came up with the idea to blend New Mexico cuisine with Soul Food. Nexus has consistently been rated as one of the best restaurants in Albuquerque for food, beer and service, and has even been one of the few restaurants in NM featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.
Nexus is proud to support various non-profit organizations and has a membership where $5 of every membership sold goes to a community fund. Nexus has been very active with the community and has donated over $8000 each year to local nonprofits.
_____________________________________________
Patrick Dee
_____________________________________________
Diane Gibson
Diane Gibson has lived in New Mexico since 1975 and in Albuquerque where she has made her home in the Jerry Cline Park neighborhood. She retired from Sandia National Laboratory after 28 years and then celebrated a second retirement after eight years of service to the City of Albuquerque. Diane is proud and honored to help the Tenderlove Board of Directors and staff meet their goals.
____________________________________________
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.
____________________________________________
Claude Valles
Claude Valles was born in Tucson, Arizona. His family moved to Aztec, New Mexico shortly thereafter where he remained until his high school graduation. Claude attended UNM then joined the U.S. Navy after receiving his degree. His military experience included sea duty and a tour in Viet-Nam.
Claude traveled after leaving the military then came back to Albuquerque. He worked at a variety of jobs then returned to UNM, the Anderson School of Management, financed by the G.I. Bill. The M.B.A. he earned proved valuable as he moved into professional positions afterward. Claude’s final career move was to the U.S. Department of Labor. He was an auditor for twenty-six years before retiring in 2014.
“I worked hard and overcame many obstacles to get ahead in life. But as I look back I see that my struggles and hardships were diminished by my status as a man, that women have it harder at every stage of life. I am now obliged to be part of the effort to help women especially those with the greatest hardships. So I am pleased to be associated with The Tenderlove Community Center.”
Honorary Board
Adesola Adedokun, MD
Dr. Adedokun is one of the three founders of TenderLove, giving generous spiritual and financial support. Specializing in Family Medicine, he attended Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife Nigeria obtaining an M.B.Ch.B. (M.D.) degree in 2004. He currently studying to be certified in the U.S.
Diana Lewis
Board Meetings are open to the public.
Please contact TenderLove Community Center for date, time and location of next board meeting.