Learn valuable tips for finding the right home, navigating the home search process, and protecting your investment through insurance, maintenance, and responsible homeownership practices. Please Note: Attendance at the Orientation workshop is required prior to this session. IMPORTANT: Participants must complete all Homebuyer Circle workshops to receive a First-Time Homebuyer Certificate. The certificate is valid […]
Sylvia Leonard dedicated nearly 40 years to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, retiring in 2018 as a Loan Specialist after a distinguished career supporting rural development and equitable access to financial resources. Beginning in 1979, she advanced through multiple roles, gaining expertise in federal loan and grant programs while advocating for underserved communities.
Beyond her federal service, Sylvia is a lifelong musician and community leader. She continues to minister through music and serves in leadership roles with The Sanctuary of Hope Worship Ministries. Guided by faith and compassion, she remains committed to empowering individuals and strengthening communities through advocacy, service, and outreach.
Vanessa Rivera is an experienced accounting professional with a strong background in finance, property management, and nonprofit housing services. Bilingual in Spanish and QuickBooks certified, Vanessa is not only skilled in financial operations—she is also deeply connected to the mission of affordable housing. Having purchased her home through a homeownership assistance program, she understands firsthand the life-changing impact of these services. Her lived experience and professional insight make her a passionate and valuable advocate for the work we do.
Georgina Romero brings over 20 years of experience in human services and community engagement. As Manager of the Wimauma Opportunity Center at Enterprising Latinas, she leads workforce and engagement initiatives that empower local families through education, economic mobility, and access to vital resources. A certified Financial Education Coach and Community Engagement Specialist, Georgina is also a dedicated community leader, entrepreneur, and advocate for equity. Her extensive background and deep commitment to service make her a valuable asset to our board and mission.
Nora Santos has been with Florida Home Partnership Inc since 2017 and brings years of non-profit experience, inclusive of working with farm worker housing and providing supportive services for migrant workers.
In her current role as a Loan Specialist, she assists low-moderate income individuals with becoming homeowners through the process of applying for a loan, state, and local down payment assistance. She is also a certified USDA 502 Loan packager for FHP’s Self Help Housing Program. Nora has a passion for this industry, and it reflects in her daily work.
Chad, has over 23 years in housing construction and project oversight. He joined Florida Home Partnership in 2023, when he transitioned from the private sector to non-profit affordable housing. He has been a great asset to our Real Estate Development department, in providing resourceful tools to achieve smooth project operations. In addition, his knowledge has aided in a significant reduction in FHP’s construction time to build. Chad and his team are essential at monitoring projects by adhering to production schedules, budget management and providing targeted solutions.
Chad joined FHP staff in 2023 when he transitioned from Private Builder to Self-help Builder. Resourceful Construction Manager with 23 years of expertise in organizing business operations, financial oversight, and resource management to achieve smooth flow and project operations. Monitors projects by adhering to production schedule and budget, managing production team, identifying problems, and providing targeted solutions.
Tania Centeno-Melendez started working at Florida Home Partnership Inc in 2015 as a temporary receptionist. When her temporary position ended, she was given a more permanent role.
In 2017, Tania took on an administrative role then transitioned into her current role as the Family Bookkeeper, where she assists the Chief Financial Officer and Construction staff by handling accounting and construction files, overseeing family bank accounts for our self-help program participants.
Jacquelin Garcia, a dedicated professional, joined Florida Home Partnership in December of 2021 as an Office Assistant. With her exceptional skills and strong work ethic, she quickly rose to the position of Loan Assistant within the Loan Department. Jackie brings over 8 years of valuable customer service experience to her role, ensuring that our clients receive the highest level of assistance and support.
In addition to her impressive background in customer service, Jackie is also a USDA 502 Loan Packager. This specialized expertise allows her to effectively package loans through USDA and assist in collecting documents for Down payment assistance. Her daily interactions with our clients are marked by her friendly demeanor, attention to detail, and commitment to providing excellent service.
With her wealth of experience and knowledge in loan processing and customer service, Jacquelin Garcia plays a crucial role in helping our clients navigate the loan process and achieve their homeownership goals. Her dedication to her work and commitment to excellence make her an invaluable asset to the Florida Home Partnership team.
Detra Smith-O’Bryant, brings over 25 years of dedicated experience in organizational leadership, strategic planning, affordable housing and community development to her role as Executive Director of Florida Home Partnership. Mrs. Smith-O’Bryant holds a Master’s degree in Adult Education with a focus on Curriculum Design from Strayer University and a Bachelor’s degree in Management and Organizational Leadership from St. Petersburg College. Mrs. Smith-O’Bryant is also a HUD certified Housing Counselor.
Her extensive career and extreme passion for the housing industry includes managing multiple housing programs and significant funding allocations and grant initiatives.
In her role at Florida Home Partnership, Mrs. Smith-O’Bryant is committed to enhancing the organization’s capacity to provide affordable housing solutions, support sustainable community development, and foster meaningful partnerships. Her leadership and vision are instrumental in driving the organization’s mission forward, ensuring that individuals and families in Florida have access to safe, affordable housing and the resources they need to thrive.
Tom joined Florida Home Partnership in October 2023. Tom is a licensed CPA in the state of Florida with over 16 years in the non-profit sector. Tom previously worked at AMIKids and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul where he learned the importance of affordable housing. Tom holds a B.A. in economics from Binghamton University and a B.S. in accounting from the University of South Florida.
Dan Blood joined the Board in 2018. Dan completed a career spanning 34 years as a housing planner, community development administrator and appointed official in Hillsborough County, Florida. Today Dan manages some small personal investment projects in securities and real estate. Dan also judges BBQ contests as a Master Judge for the Kansas City Barbeque Association. Dan’s career credentials include an AICP certification, American Institute of Certified Planners, APA; certified Project Management Professional, Project Management Institute; Certified Economic Development Administrator, EDA; and Certified Housing Administrator, Family and Elderly Housing, HUD.
Vernon Fuller is a retired USDA Rural Development employee, with 40 years of service. He worked most of those years providing the agencies services to the Central Florida region, which included Hillsborough County. Vernon was the agency representative to whom Dorothy Duke initially contacted to seek grant funding to help establish then Homes for Hillsborough. He provided oversight for the grants that ensued up until his retirement from USDA in 2014. Since that time he has been serving on two other non-profit housing related boards, Homes In Partnership, a self-help housing grantee in Lake County and Florida Non-profit Housing, which provides housing related technical assistance to self-help grantees and the farmworker community.
Mr. Pablo LaTorre is a former member of the United States Army and a current Deputy with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO). He has been with the HCSO since 2004. Mr. LaTorre became a self-help homeowner at Bayou Pass Village in 2005. As the first resident of Bayou Pass Village, Mr. LaTorre has actively served on the Bayou Pass Homeowners Association Board for over 10 years. He has held various offices while on the board including secretary, treasurer and vice president. He was elected to the Florida Home Partnership Board of Directors in June 2014.
Ms. Hazel Jackson is a professional health care worker and self-help homeowner in the Summerview Oaks Subdivision. Ms. Jackson was past president of the Wimauma Community Development Corporation, formally the Wimauma Citizen’s Improvement League. She is a founding member of Homes for Hillsborough, now known as Florida Homes Partnership. She has served on the FHP Board since 1995.
Mr. David Goldstein has worked for the Pasco County Attorney’s Office since 1998. In that same year, he joined the FHP Board of Director. He is the Chief Assistant County Attorney and has handled land use and development. Since 1996, Mr. Goldstein has served FHP as Pro Bono Counsel, and prior to serving on the FHP Board, he was an attorney for Annis and Mitchell for six years specializing in land use.
Ms. Gleason is the senior staff assistant at Hillsborough Community College (HCC), SouthShore Campus. Active in various community organizations, she was voted onto the FHP Board of Directors November 2016.
Mr. James (Jim) Mathias attended Kaiserslautern American High School where he specialized in math. A graduate from the University of Maryland’s Graduate School – Kaiserslautern, Germany, Jim earned a degree in general studies.
He has worked in the construction, maintenance and home repair industries for over 15 years. In addition to collaborating with and managing contractors and subcontractors, Jim is proficient in painting, carpentry, cabinetry, wood framing, landscaping, electrical, plumbing, and other building-related skill-sets.
His most recent employer was with the Summerfield Master Community Association. Among his many duties, Jim was responsible for conducting routine inspections of multiple landscaped communities and equipment, performing preventative maintenance, making basic repairs and verifying blueprints.
Jim was hired by Florida Home Partnership on September 10, 2018 as the Construction Coordinator. In this position, he guides families during the construction phase of the Self-Help Homeownership Program and will work in other FHP affordable home building initiatives.
Mrs. Garner joined Florida Home Partnership on March 11, 2015. She performs detailed financial and grant management activities. She has twenty years of accounting experience and she has an Associate’s degree in Accounting from Las Vegas College in Nevada. Mrs. Garner also has eight years in non-profit accounting experience working for HELP of Southern Nevada, which is a social service agency that focuses on Housing, Emergency Services, Life Skills and Prevention.
Leonardo Diaz is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in Executive Leadership, Residential Mortgage Lending, Community Development, and Affordable Housing. He currently serves as First Vice President of Community Mortgage at Valley Bank, where he leverages a broad network of community, civic, and social organizations to drive impact throughout the states of Florida and Alabama. With a deep commitment to economic development, Leo has partnered with numerous nonprofits, civic associations, state entities, and diversity groups. In addition to his professional roles, Leo serves on various boards, including chair of the Camino Loan Fund for the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama and Tampa Bay Neighborhood Housing Services in Pinellas County. His work is a reflection of his dedication to community growth and empowerment.
Mary Bernardino joined FHP in 2000 bringing with her over 16 years of banking experience. She had known the founder of Florida Home Partnership, Dorothy Duke, personally and began her journey with FHP as the Executive Director’s Administrative Assistant. In 2003 Mary moved into the Sales Department as their first Loan Specialist since the organization was founded. In 2016 Mary was promoted into the Finance Department as their Loan Closer coordinating all of FHP’s loan closings. She enjoys the flexibility of both internal and external relationships with every entity and continues her participation in company’s events, presentations, and trainings, helping as well as learning the growth of homeownership in today’s market.
Ms. Bishop joined FHP in 2006 bringing five years of construction accounting/bookkeeping experience. Ms. Bishop provides back-up support for both the Finance Manager and Construction Supervisor which includes the processing of invoices for payment (coding, matching to purchase orders & attaining proper approvals), process check runs for subcontractors, data entry, research vendor correspondence, preparing budget comparisons/reports, processing construction draw requests and preparing bank deposits.
With over 25 years of employment with local government in housing, budget and finance, Mr. Snyder brings a wealth of experience to FHP since joining in 2005. Mr. Snyder provides professional financial management specializing in the provision of Self-Help Rural Housing programs in coordinating the financial development and operational resources for subdivision development and grant program tracking and compliance. Mr. Snyder oversees and directs finance staff in the accounts payable and grant disbursement procedures while maintaining and managing all General Ledger, Chart of Accounts as well as preparing the balance sheet and financial reports of FHP ensuring the integrity of all financial data and adherence to GAAP accounting principles.
Mr. Snyder came to FHP after utilizing his experience as a consultant for a year after leaving the City of Tampa, Housing and Community Development (“HCD”). While at HCD, Mr. Snyder acted as the Assistant Manager from 1999-2004 and the Chief Underwriting Supervisor from 1994-1999. During his time with HCD, Mr. Snyder assisted with management of CDBG, HOME, SHIP, ESG and HOPWA grant processing exercising considerable initiative and independent judgment in developing policies, overseeing program implementation, coordination of staff assignments and instruction in program procedures. Mr. Snyder was responsible for the development of the Division’s annual budget and financial administration of a $12 million affordable housing and community redevelopment grant program.
Since 1995, Mr. Snyder has served in the capacities of Treasurer and Recording Secretary for the Lake Magdalene Estates West Special Dependent Tax District which is a subdivision taxing district operated under the authority of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. In addition, Mr. Snyder is presently serving a three-year term on the Hillsborough County Affordable Housing Advisory Board as a representative of a non-profit affordable housing developer. The Affordable Housing Advisory Board advises and makes recommendations on issues affecting housing development, and to assist the County in developing new programs and policies in order to foster the development and preservation of attainable and affordable housing. The Advisory Board of 20 members represents various interests from the real estate, local government, housing, and development sectors.
Julia Sarmiento-Cohen is currently the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Supervisor in the Division of Innovation in Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS). HCPS is the eighth largest school district in the nation serving over 200,000 students. Julia earned her bachelor’s degree in English and American Literature in 2005, and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership in 2015, from the University of South Florida. In 2006, Julia began her teaching career in HCPS as a high school English and Television Productions teacher and has worked in the district as a Student Success Coach, Coordinator and now as a supervisor. Julia has worked with several community partners to implement education initiatives district wide. She believes that “educating the whole child and teaching the necessary social and emotional learning skills in schools is critical to student success.”
Julia has received several awards for her leadership and dedication to education in the community such as: The Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year Award from Hillsborough County Public Schools, the OLE´ (Outstanding Latina/o in Education) Award from, The University of South Florida, The Dorothy Duke Outstanding Community Service Award Recipient, from Florida Home Partnership and the District Leader of the Year award from the Hillsborough Association for School Administrators (HASA). Julia was raised in Wimauma, FL, is married with 2 children and continues to advocate for education in her community. She joined the FHP Board in 2006.
Mr. Don Shea has been a member of the FHP Board since 2005 and has worked in the public sector of Affordable Housing Programs in the Tampa Bay Area for the past 38 years in executive management positions with the City of Tampa from 1972-1979, Consulting from 1979-1991 and Hillsborough County from 1991-2004. In 2004, Mr. Shea joined the North Tampa Housing Development Corporation as the Director of Contract Administration for the State of Florida Performance Based Contract Administration for all the Project Based Section 8 properties in the State. In addition, he is the Director of Business Operations for Related Entities of the Tampa Housing Authority. Mr. Shea has served as the Director of Federal Programs in Hillsborough County, including oversight of all funding from CDBG, HOME, SHIP and Section 8. Mr. Shea has served as the Executive Director of the Hillsborough County Housing Finance Authority and before joining NTHDC was the affordable housing policy and planning advisor for the office of the Hillsborough County Administrator. Mr. Shea is also recognized as an expert in the fields of land use, zoning, community redevelopment and housing regulatory standards.
Ms. Sandy Council worked with Dorothy Duke to acquire the vacant land for Homes for Hillsborough’s (now FHP) first subdivision, Homes for Ruskin. A graduate of Florida Southern College (1966) with a degree in education, Ms. Council taught first grade at Ruskin Elementary until 1972 and retired from teaching by 1976. An astute business woman, Ms. Council launched several businesses to include the New Horizon Group, Inc., Sun City Center Homes and co-founder of the Ruskin Redneck Trading Company. Having served various leadership roles throughout Ruskin area, Ms. Council is the president of the Ruskin Community Development Foundation. She joined the FHP Board in 2011.
Mr. Tom Ludwig worked 31 years for the IRS. A graduate from Eastern Illinois University in accounting, Tom held a variety of positions to include the Excise Tax National Fuel Policy Manager and Chief of the Bank Secrecy Act in Small Business Self-employed Division. He had responsibility for the Bank Secrecy Act laws in the 50 states and U.S. territories. Mr. Ludwig has worked extensively with various federal agencies, Congressional leaders and staff. Now retired from the federal government, his extensive knowledge on taxes and federal regulations will benefit FHP with its financial management and audits. Mr. Ludwig currently lives in the Brandon area. Tom joined the FHP Board in 2011.
Patricia Nicholson brings over 25 years of experience in the mortgage and finance industries. Her extensive background includes leadership roles at Newrez Home Loans as a Branch Manager and previous positions as a Mortgage Loan Originator at Synovus Bank and Wells Fargo. Patricia is passionate about leveraging her expertise to expand affordable housing opportunities and support community development initiatives.
Eric Isenbergh has been involved in the residential building/development industry his entire career. Over the last 45 years, he has been involved in more than 40 developments in South, West and Central Florida, marketing, developing and building over 3700 homes. In just over 5 years after moving to the Tampa Bay region, Mr. Isenbergh developed and built over 1700 townhomes and condominiums, which generated over $230 million in revenue, and his company was ranked #14 and #11 in the Builder Top 25 as reported by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. His current projects include 55+ active adult communities in the Tampa Bay area.
He is a Florida State Certified General Contractor, Past Vice Chairman of the Hillsborough County Affordable Housing Advisory Board (serving four terms), Past President and Life Director of the Tampa Bay Builders Association, Past VP and Life Director of the Builders Association of South Florida, Past Area VP and Life Director of the Florida Homebuilders Association and Past Director of the National Association of Homebuilders.
In addition, Mr. Isenbergh and his companies have received numerous awards including the 1994 Builder of the Year for the Builders Association of South Florida, 2004 Builder of the Year for the Tampa Bay Builders Association, Eagle Awards from the Florida Homebuilders Association and Tampa Bay Builders Association, several Florida Achievement in Marketing Excellence awards, Parade of Homes awards, Best of South awards and Florida’s Aurora Award. He joined the FHP Board in November of 2014.
Mr. Ortega joined FHP staff in 2004. He along with his wife and 2 sons built their home through the USDA Self-Help Homeownership Program in 2003. Mr. Ortega is a U.S Army Veteran (Specialist E-4). With his 11 years of military experience, he has gained a deep understanding of the importance of teamwork and integrity. He utilizes these and other skills learned from the military as he provides technical assistance and supervision to the homebuyers including purchasing/receiving building materials and supplies for the homebuyers.
Ms. Dickinson joined the FHP staff in 2008 after she, as a single mother, and her 2 young daughters built their home through the USDA Self-Help Homeownership Program. Ms. Dickinson is a U.S Army Veteran (Private First Class) , and utilizes her military training of teamwork, dedication, determination and discipline to assist with construction management and providing technical assistance and supervision to new homebuyers. A Certified Storm Water Management Inspector (2015), Ms. Dickinson is also involved with scheduling, purchasing and receiving building materials and supplies for distribution to vendors and homebuyers. In 2014, Yvette and her two daughters were featured in Rural Voices, a national magazine published by the Housing Assistance Council (a Washington, D.C. based organization that’s committed to providing funding for affordable housing in rural communities).
Sara Adams serves as the Housing & Finance Manager at Florida Home Partnership, a role she has steadily grown into since joining the organization in 2011. With more than a decade of experience in affordable housing administration, housing finance, and client services, she is deeply committed to helping families achieve successful and sustainable homeownership.
Sara began her career at Florida Home Partnership with a strong background in customer service and administrative support. Over the years, she has become a trusted resource for clients and community partners alike. She takes great pride in guiding individuals and families through the application process for USDA’s Mutual Self‑Help Homeownership Program, as well as state and local down payment assistance programs. Her approach ensures every client feels supported, informed, and confident throughout their journey.
In her current role, Sara oversees housing and financing activities with a focus on program management, financial coordination, compliance, and client‑focused service delivery. She works closely with lenders, government agencies, and community partners to ensure housing solutions are financially sound, program‑compliant, and aligned with organizational goals.
Sara is a HUD‑Certified Housing Counselor and a USDA Section 502 Loan Packager. These credentials reflect both her technical expertise and her passion for expanding access to affordable homeownership opportunities. She is known for her attention to detail, collaborative spirit, and unwavering dedication to strengthening communities through stable, sustainable housing.
Mrs. Duarte joined FHP in 2006 bringing with her seven years of clerical experience. Mrs. Duarte assists the Home Loan Manager and Loan Specialist II with home sales and homebuyer counseling goals by interviewing, pre-qualifying credit counseling applicants for the self-help affordable housing program. Mrs. Duarte also prepares closing documents for the various state and local down payment assistance programs. She also assist in managing the model home center for Bayou Pass Village IV. Mrs. Duarte came to FHP as a homebuyer through the self-help housing program.
Daniel Mayta Davila is a compassionate and community-focused professional who has made a career out of supporting others. Currently serving as a Housing Specialist at Florida Home Partnership, he assists individuals and families in securing stable housing, empowering them to build brighter futures.
Over the years, Daniel has gained a wide range of skills from working across diverse industries, including pharmacy, sales, insurance, and workforce development. This broad experience has shaped him into a highly resourceful, solution-oriented professional who thrives in fast-paced, people-centered roles.
His strengths in communication, document processing, and problem-solving allow him to navigate complex systems and deliver consistent results. His greatest motivation comes from his partner and their three children—who inspire him to lead by example and create a legacy of strength, integrity, and opportunity.
Whether in the office or in the community, he brings purpose and heart to everything he does.
Community Association Manager – CAM 28387
Vanessa Josey joined Florida Home Partnership in 2003, bringing to the organization over ten years of experience in administration, marketing, and business development. Vanessa is a visionary leader with a passion for affordable housing; she currently serves on the FHP Executive Team as their Chief Operating Officer.
Vanessa manages daily business operations at FHP while working closely with each department head to ensure that company resources are allocated effectively and all processes are streamlined to support the company’s continued growth. Additionally, she is responsible for overseeing all advertising & marketing on the web, social media, and in print and has extensive experience navigating a variety of strategies, businesses, and policies.
Vanessa serves on several community-based boards and is a State of Florida Licensed Community Association Manager and Realtor.
Michael (Mike) Morina attended the College of William and Mary, where he earned a B.A. in Economics. He also earned a Master’s Degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology in City Planning. Mr. Morina began his professional career as a research analyst for the Urban Land Institute in Washington, D.C.
After spending 12 years in commercial real estate development, he founded the Alliance for Affordable Housing, a 501 c (3) corporation that developed master-planned subdivisions, built new homes, and processed first time homebuyer loans throughout
the greater Tampa Bay area to include the Counties of Hillsborough, Pasco, Manatee and Sarasota.
Mr. Morina brings over 35 years of experience in all facets of affordable housing and was hired as the executive director of FHP on April 2, 2018.
