Bonnie Bessor, Executive Director
Bonnie Bessor joined Rebuilding Together Baltimore as Executive Director in 2004. Immediately prior, she worked at Associated Catholic Charities as a development officer for homeless service programs in Baltimore. She has also worked in housing and poverty advocacy organizations as a legislative advocate, community organizer, AmeriCorps program director, and volunteer manager. She began her career by serving people with chronic mental illness. She holds a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Maryland. She is also a graduate of the Weinberg Fellows Program.
During her tenure at Rebuilding Together Baltimore, Bonnie has been instrumental in growing the staff, budget and services of the organization, tripling the budget and increasing the staff from one full-time person (herself) to a team of five. In that time, the organization has also expanded to include a robust energy efficiency program as well as year-round services. Bonnie serves on the advisory board of Baltimore County Volunteers, the volunteer engagement program for Baltimore County, Maryland. In 2011, she was honored as one of Baltimore’s Top Neighborhood Moms and was also awarded Executive Director of the Year by her peers in the Rebuilding Together affiliate network. She is an officer in her community association and lives in Baltimore with her husband Les and their rescued dog and cat “Iggy” and “Rosie”.
E-mail: Bonnie@RTBaltimore.org
Jim Diel, Project Manager
Jim Diel joined Rebuilding Together Baltimore in 2008 as a member of the CapacityCorps program, and was hired as full time Project Manager in August of 2009. Before joining the CapacityCorps, Jim served in the AmeriCorps as a carpenter for Opportunities in Industrialization Center of Washington. His service with O.I.C. consisted of new home construction for low-income homebuyers and weatherization of low-income homes in Washington State. Prior to his service in the AmeriCorps, Jim attended the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater for Sociology with an emphasis on Social Inequality, and Environmental Studies with a focus on Sustainable Institutions and Communities. While attending UW-W, Jim launched a successful student organization that promoted social and environmental sustainability on campus and within the community by utilizing the Natural Step Framework for sustainability. Jim enjoys snowboarding, reading, and long walks on the beach.
Email: Jim@RTBaltimore.org
Eric Park, AmeriCorps Service Coordinator
Eric Park joined the Rebuilding Together Baltimore team in August 2012 as the AmeriCorps Outreach Coordinator. As a national service member of Rebuilding Together CapacityCorps, Eric has made a commitment to serve low-income homeowners in Baltimore for an eleven-month term. Eric completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Public and Urban Affairs from Virginia Tech. He hopes to blend his previous service experience with his understanding of urban public issues to make a lasting contribution to Rebuilding Together Baltimore. He is thrilled to explore this amazing city and grow from serving the Baltimore community.
Email: Eric@RTBaltimore.org
Clara Heck, AmeriCorps Outreach Coordinator
Clara Heck, AmeriCorps Outreach Coordinator
Clara joined Rebuilding Together Baltimore in August 2013 as the AmeriCorps Outreach Coordinator. A native of the Baltimore area, Clara spent a summer watching the O’s and interning at the Baltimore City Health Department Healthy Homes Bureau, which eventually led her to RTB. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and English Literature. During her undergraduate career, Clara also studied abroad in Argentina, South Africa, and China, and volunteered with an international service program working in health clinics in Costa Rica. Service, Baltimore, and healthy housing have always been important to Clara, so the RTB was the perfect fit.
Email: ClaraRTB@gmail.com
Candace Handy, Office Asssistant
Candace Handy, Office Assistan
Candace Handy joined Rebuilding Together Baltimore in November 2012 as an office assistant. She is currently a student at Towson University majoring in Molecular Biology. Candace was born and raised in Baltimore, and has been very active in her community through her work with non profits in the past. Candace enjoys music, organizing, and spending time with family and friends.
Email: CandaceRTB@gmail.com
Gail Dener, Volunteeer Office Assistant
Gail Dener, Volunteeer Office Assistant
Gail Dener joined Rebuilding Together Baltimore in March of 2012, a few months after retirement from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Looking for a rewarding volunteer job where she could continue to be of service, RTB was a perfect fit. Prior to joining RTB, she held a position as a clinical pharmacist at the VA hospitals in Perry Point and Fort Howard, Maryland, as well as Memphis (TN), Richmond (VA) and Buffalo (NY), where she earned her pharmacy degree in 1972. Currently she lives with her husband, Perry Evans, and rescued Shih Tzu dogs, Murphy and BooBoo, in Parkville, where she stays out of her husband’s hair by enjoying scrapbooking, trips to New York with friends and gardening.
