Veterans Village of San Diego Leadership Team

LEADERSHIP

Akilah Templeton

President & Chief Executive Officer

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Akilah Templeton

President & Chief Executive Officer

Akilah Templeton is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD), a nationally recognized non-profit dedicated to ending veteran homelessness.   Since 2020, she has led VVSD’s continuum of services, including transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, VA Grant & Per Diem programs, mental health and substance use recovery, employment support, and prevention initiatives that reach more than 3,000 veterans annually.  She oversees a multi-million-dollar budget and a staff of more than 200 while building strong partnerships with federal, state, and local agencies, philanthropic partners and community leaders.

Akilah has over two decades of nonprofit leadership experience and is a trusted voice in housing, behavioral health, and veteran services.  In June 2021, she testified before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on “Veteran Homelessness in the Wake of COVID-19,” where she called for urgency, flexibility, and sustained investment to meet the rising challenges facing veterans during the pandemic.

She is a respected regional and statewide leader, serving as Vice President of the California Association of Veteran Service Agencies (CAVSA); Chair of the San Diego Continuum of Care Advisory Board; and a member of the RTFH Board of Directors, where she also serves on the Executive and Audit Committees.  She also serves on the California Association of Food Banks (CAFB) Board of Directors and the One VA Community Advisory Board (CAB).

Akilah’s leadership emphasizes equity, innovation, and collaboration.  She has been a driving force in reducing disparities in veteran homelessness, particularly among Black veterans, and in advancing trauma-informed, low-barrier models of care.  She is committed to strengthening partnerships across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to achieve “functional zero” for veteran homelessness in San Diego and beyond.

She has been recognized five times by the San Diego Business Journal as one of the region’s most influential leaders and is a sought-after speaker on topics including veteran policy, equity in homelessness systems, nonprofit governance, and transformational leadership.

Kena Liggins-Tompkins

Chief Financial Officer

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Kena Liggins-Tompkins

Chief Financial Officer

As the Chief Financial Officer, Kena leverages a wealth of expertise to drive VVSD’s strategic financial initiatives. With a keen eye for detail and a strong analytical mindset, she advises the CEO and senior management on crucial matters of financial planning, budgeting, and cash flow. A skilled communicator, Kena effectively bridges the gap between management and the board and audit committee, ensuring that critical financial insights are clearly articulated at board meetings. Committed to fostering a culture of fiscal responsibility, Kena tirelessly collaborates with leadership to shape VVSD’s goals and maximize organizational impact.
20+ years Senior & Executive Level Management in the areas of fiscal, operational and project management, financial strategic planning, leadership, and development, change management, and over $85 million in multi-revenue stream management within for-profit and non-profit industries. Kena thrives on driving fiscal excellence and organizational growth. In her previous role as Regional Financial Controller, Kena skillfully navigated the financial complexities of twelve sports and event venues, optimizing resource allocation and maximizing revenue streams. Also, her extensive experience with diverse grants aimed at bolstering Veteran Services Programs highlights her passion for dynamic nonprofit management. Committed to operational efficiency and precise accounting practices, Kena embrace challenges and exceed expectations on every frontier.
Kena has experience with creating and managing multi-million-dollar budgets, developing efficient workflow streams utilizing lean manufacturing methodologies and Key Performance Indicators. Experience with contract and grant compliance related to the Management of Business Oversight Principles and Policies with the Federal Government. As well as leadership oversight for small and large Finance/Accounting departments in for-profit and non-profit industries.
Kena is a seasoned project team leader with a passion for operational efficiency, adept at implementing cost-effective processes that elevates organizations operating income. Leveraging her expertise in lean manufacturing and meticulous analysis of time studies, Kena have successfully streamlined operations by identifying waste and enhancing productivity. Kena develops actionable insights that drive improvements across organizations. Kena’s commitment extends to efficiently training staff and managers on fiscal management, ensuring a nimble approach to resource management by establishing clear measurement baselines, she enables organizations to assess advancements and make informed decisions for continuous growth.

Shari Finney

Vice President, Human Resources

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Shari Finney

Vice President, Human Resources

Shari is thrilled to bring her more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit management and clinical experience to the clinic, with a long history of deep ties to the local community.
Shari has spent many years in nonprofit service in San Diego. For eight years she served on the Board of Directors of the Regional Task Force on the Homeless, as well as the Social Action Collaborative. Additionally, she served on the Council to End Homelessness during its inception. She also received commendations from the Mayor of San Diego from 2009 to 2014 for excellence in treatment programs; recognition for innovation from the United Way of San Diego for creating the Recuperative Care Unit for medically fragile homeless and in 2007 she received the San Diego Business Journal’s Woman of the Year award.
A licensed marriage and family therapist, Shari received her Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego. Prior to her appointment to the Cohen Clinic, she was the Executive Director of Peninsula Shepherd Center and prior to that was the Vice President of Clinical Programs for San Diego Rescue Mission. She enjoys utilizing her skillset and experience to manage effective treatment programs that assist veterans in attaining recovery, self-sufficiency, and healing.
Having grown up with a father who served in the Air Force and in a military city, Shari knows it is an incredible honor to provide care to those who served our country. She also understands the endless stress and sacrifice military families experience and looks forward to providing care for all military family members, including children and spouses.
Shari currently resides in San Diego with her family. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, swimming and playing with her dogs.

Kimberley Monday

Vice President, Development & Communications

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Kimberley Monday

Vice President, Development & Communications

Kimberley Monday is a seasoned entrepreneur, corporate strategist, and nonprofit development leader with over 25 years of experience in financial growth, fundraising, public relations, communications, integrated marketing, and brand elevation for mission-driven nonprofit organizations and corporations.
As Vice President of Development and Communications at Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD), she leads fundraising, donor relations, marketing, and public relations, securing government and corporate grants, major gifts, and individual giving to support homeless veterans and their families. She has worked extensively with organizations focused on homelessness, mental health, veteran services, and youth empowerment, helping them scale impact through strategic storytelling and donor engagement.
Beyond her nonprofit leadership, Kimberley is an entrepreneur and founder of three successful businesses:
• Monday Group – A nationally recognized marketing, PR, and event management firm serving corporate and nonprofit clients nationwide.
• American Pet Food Manufacturing – A private-label pet food company partnering with Petsmart, Blue Buffalo, and 2,000+ retailers nationwide.
• Monday Naturals – A health and wellness brand for humans and pets, focused on natural products.
Kimberley has held executive roles leading multi-million-dollar brand partnerships and revenue growth through high-impact marketing, advertising, public relations, and communications campaigns. Her global client portfolio includes NHTSA, Mercedes-Benz, ESPN, Coca-Cola, Google, NASCAR, Pfizer, Hewlett-Packard, Aveda, McDonald’s, and Petco.
She holds a B.S. in Workforce Education and Marketing from Southern Illinois University and is a champion of transformational growth, bridging corporate development, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit impact.
In her free time, she enjoys beach outings, long walks with her dog, traveling, cooking, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Shuna Ball

Regional Clinic Director, CVN

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Shuna Ball

Regional Clinic Director, CVN

As Regional Clinic Director, Shuna Ball provides executive leadership and strategic oversight of all clinical operations across the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinics at VVSD in San Diego, Oceanside, and Los Angeles. In this role, she ensures the delivery of high-quality care to active-duty service members, Post-9/11 veterans, and military families. Shuna brings over two decades of experience supporting the military community through a range of clinical, operational, leadership, and volunteer roles across diverse settings.
A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Shuna holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Southern California Seminary’s School of Behavioral Sciences and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Averett University. She also holds a professional teaching certification from the University of West Florida, reflecting her commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
Shuna began her counseling and leadership journey by facilitating support groups for military spouses in San Diego, where her passion for service and advocacy took root. Clinically, she specializes in working with individuals, couples, families, military populations, and older adults. Her areas of expertise include depression, anxiety, trauma, stress management, marital conflict, career transition and development, and severe and persistent mental illness. She is trained in evidence-based practices and is dedicated to delivering high-impact, person-centered care.
Her leadership portfolio includes utilization management, clinical consultation, professional development, and systems-level consultation. She is skilled in building and sustaining collaborative community partnerships and cultivating clinical teams through mentorship, training, and operational excellence.
A proud Navy veteran, Shuna served honorably as a Hospital Corpsman at both Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms and Marine Corps Base Quantico. She is also the spouse of a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer who served honorably for 23 years. Her deep, personal connection to military service is grounded in a family legacy of proud and honorable military tradition.
Outside of her professional role, Shuna enjoys spending quality time with her family, exploring new destinations, and appreciating good food. She is also committed to lifelong learning and continuously seeks opportunities to strengthen her leadership and clinical expertise.

Sabrina Paul

Executive Assistant to the President & CEO

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Sabrina Paul

Executive Assistant to the President & CEO

Sabrina Paul serves as Executive Assistant at Veterans Village of San Diego, where she supports executive leadership and the Board of Directors with high-level administrative and organizational management. She brings more than two decades of experience spanning nonprofit, healthcare, and the pharmacy benefit management (PBM) industry, where she specialized in client management, fraud, waste, and abuse (FWA) auditing and compliance. Known for her resourcefulness, attention to detail, and strong communication skills, Sabrina helps keep everything (and everyone) running smoothly.
Outside of work, Sabrina is a proud grandma to two beautiful grandbabies, who keep her laughing and on her toes. She’s also a big fan of old school hip hop, and the San Diego Padres!

DIRECTORS

Dustin Potash

Site Director

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Dustin Potash

Site Director

Dr. Dustin Potash is a U.S. Army veteran who began his military service in 2002. He deployed to Iraq in 2003 with the 101st Airborne Division as an artilleryman and later re-enlisted as a Mortuary Affairs Specialist, serving honorably until 2014. After his discharge, Dr. Potash faced homelessness and relied on community services to rebuild his life. Determined to overcome adversity, he pursued higher education, earning a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, a master’s in Public Administration, and a doctorate in Strategic Leadership.
A 100% disabled veteran, Dr. Potash has dedicated the last 15 years to supporting the veteran community, holding leadership roles in several nonprofit organizations. His journey from service member to scholar and advocate exemplifies resilience, purpose, and a deep commitment to those who have served.

Rosemarie Ortiz

Program Director, Veteran Housing Solutions

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Rosemarie Ortiz

Program Director, Veteran Housing Solutions

Bio Coming Soon

Cheryl Nguyen

Controller

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Cheryl Nguyen

Controller

Cheryl Nguyen is the Financial Controller for Veterans Village of San Diego. She has a strong background in financial reporting, financial statement preparation, corporate finance, risk assessment, financial planning, budgeting, and leadership. She leads the Finance/Accounting team and supervision of all areas including project management, developing recommendations for process improvements and operational efficiencies. She possesses over 25 years of professional experience in the non-profit and for-profit sectors with strong attention to details and analytic problem-solving abilities. Throughout her career, she promoted strong organizational culture on integrity, honesty, and transparency. Cheryl holds a degree in Business of Science in Finance from California State University of San Marcos.

Rafael Uno

Facilities Director

Bio Coming Soon

Rafael Uno

Facilities Director

Bio Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Senior Operations and Compliance Manager

Coming Soon

Senior Operations and Compliance Manager

Bio Coming Soon