Meet Our Team

As Executive Director of Empower CDC, Mr. William H. Merrick is responsible for building the overall development program for Empower CDC including affordable and market-rate housing, acquisition activities, single-family, multi-family, and commercial development and long-term strategic visioning. During his decade-long career, he has managed dozens of large-scale industrial and residential projects in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas and has extensive professional experience in land and community development efforts. Mr. Merrick holds college degrees and certifications in architecture, construction management, and community development & rehabilitation. He has previously been or is currently a member of the Urban Land Institute, Texas Association of Community Development Corporations, Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation, the Houston Housing Collaborative and various economic development organizations.

Prior to joining the staff of Empower CDC, Mr. Merrick served on the organization’s board of directors and was vice president of the board until stepping down. As a board member, William was instrumental in developing several on-going programs, including Empower’s Senior Home Rehabilitation program which allows our community’s most vulnerable residents to age in place.

Raised by a single mother in Natchez, MS, William experienced first-hand how difficult it is for certain demographics to attain generational financial stability through home ownership. This fueled his passion for affordable home development and general community improvement.

In his downtime, Mr. Merrick can be found gardening or playing sports with his family.

Kenneth Kopech was born in Houston, Texas and has lived on both the East and West coasts of the United States. Ken graduated from Blinn College in Brenham with an associate arts degree. He then graduated from the University of Texas with his bachelor’s degree, and he did his graduate studies at the University of Houston.

Ken managed retail and grocery stores for several years, then worked as a public school classroom teacher for eight years, teaching junior high science. He transitioned to the oilfield and spent fourteen years working in various roles for Nabors Industries. He started by working on drilling rigs all over the United States as an MWD field supervisor. Later with Nabors, he moved into human resources,
working as a generalist and training coordinator. He spent time working in the engineering group, and he spent his last eight years working for the corporate training group. He developed classes and taught management, supervision and leadership skills to employees all over the world.

The last few years have seen him focusing on nonprofit work, spending time working for The Star of Hope Mission in Houston and as an HR generalist. He volunteers frequently at The George Theater in Houston, and he serves on the board of directors for Skylakes Water Corporation. He has been on the board of directors for Empower CDC for three and a half years, serving as Board Secretary.
He was recently hired to the role of Vice President-Operations for Empower CDC.

Ken is married and has three grown children. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing and traveling around the U.S. and other parts of the world with his wife, Carla.

La'Shundria Penny Small, known to most as Penny, is a Houston native from the Sunnyside community in South Park. She graduated with both her bachelor's and master’s degrees in Criminal Justice from the University of Houston-Downtown. 

Currently pursuing her PhD at Texas Southern University (TSU), she serves as the Director of Supportive Services at Empower CDC. Her personal mission is to create meaningful pathways of support that uplift families to achieve self-empowerment. She is committed to building community-centered programs that address real-life challenges with accountability and with a deep respect for the lived experiences of those we serve.
 

Having personally faced many of the same challenges as the populations she now serves, Penny understands the importance of meeting people where they are. Her goal is to be a pillar in the community—helping to move individuals and families toward stability, self-sufficiency, and a better quality of life.

Haja Isata Macauley brings over 10 years of nonprofit experience and a passion for sustainable, community-driven projects to her role as Project Coordinator for White Stone Development and Empower CDC. A former Peace Corps Volunteer with a background in biology, chemistry, and urban sustainability, she works closely with the Project Manager to develop, drive, and implement project goals. She thrives on building meaningful, impactful projects that inspire change, empower communities, and respects the planet.

Nina Barbieri is the Director for Project Canvas and has over 10 years’ experience working in the realm of K-16 education. She received her PhD and MS in Criminology from the University of Texas at Dallas, and her BS in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth. Nina previously worked as a special education instructor before joining the University of Houston-Downtown, where she worked as a criminal justice professor for seven years before joining Empower CDC.

It was in these spaces where her passion for empowering young people to become the best versions of themselves was solidified. As a first-generation college student, and child of teen parents, Nina understood many of the barriers young adults face when considering going to college and the challenges you experience along the journey and made it her mission to empower her students through mentoring, the power of education, goal setting, and establishing self-agency.

In her free time, Nina enjoys traveling, volunteering, and engaging in arts and craft projects.

Email: nina@empowercdc.org

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nina-barbieri

Born and raised in Houston, Wesley brings experience in media and marketing to his role at Empower CDC. Since joining in August 2023, he has contributed his expertise to support the organization's mission. Outside of work, Wesley enjoys hitting the golf course, a passion he's pursued for over 20 years.

Daniel Brown is a native of a small town in southern Louisiana. He's been a resident of Houston, TX since 2006 and is proud to call Houston his home. Daniel is a leader amongst many and spends a great deal of his time serving the community with a smile. With a background in Business Management, Daniel expresses and lives the ideal of "People First" and continuously strives to have international interactions daily.  Daniel is a speaker and positive role model for the youth and is also a small business owner.  In his downtime, Daniel plays tennis, loves to socialize with family and loved ones and is a new found lover of nature.

I am RoShonda, a Resident Engagement Specialist at Empower CDC, and I take great pride in serving and supporting communities through our organization's services. I am dedicated to encouraging positive relationships and creating meaningful connections within the communities we serve. I strongly believe that engagement is about embracing and demonstrating love through action, and I am passionate about contributing to the betterment of our community through active involvement and support.

Sedrick Thomas is a motivated student at Prairie View A&M University who demonstrates a strong work ethic and creative ability. Extensive leadership experience, particularly within a higher education setting. Ability to adapt to working across university departments, with faculty, administrators, and students. Proven communication skills.

Natalie Villalba is a dedicated social work student currently attending The university Of Houston Downtown she is passionate about supporting individuals, families, and communities through advocacy empowerment, and compassionate care. As a social work student she is committed to making a positive impact through service, collaboration, and community engagement.

Born and Raised Houston, Perrion exudes the aura of camaraderie and friendliness. With a penchant for assistance, Perrion has lent his helping hand through any situation. He has knowledge in technical support, research analysis, and communication skills. As of right now, He is completing his A.A in Technology of Information Systems. One day he hopes to apply his formal education to a lifelong business.