Administrative Staff

Jeremy Toevs is a HUD-approved Housing Counselor and holds multiple certifications through the NCHEC program by NeighborWorks America, including Homeownership Counseling, Foreclosure Intervention and Financial Capabilities. He specializes in trauma-informed, client-first approaches that meet people where they are and support them in achieving long-term success.

Since joining Open Door in 2006, Jeremy has developed and managed housing programs that have become the backbone of ODHW’s service model. Drawing on his earlier career in financial services and asset protection, he brings a deep understanding of how economic stability and housing security go hand in hand. He has expanded community partnerships, strengthened ODHW’s financial education and counseling efforts, and worked to ensure that every service the organization provides reflects equity, accountability, and compassion. His leadership is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves more than just a roof over their head—they deserve the dignity, tools, and support to build a life they’re proud of.

Outside of work, Jeremy finds joy in backpacking, lending a hand to others when he can, and exploring life’s adventures with his wife and two kids. Whether on the trail or in his community, he leads with curiosity, integrity, and above all heart.

Alex Devin is Director of Special Projects and Initiatives at Open Door HousingWorks, where Alex designs innovative, equity-focused programs addressing homelessness, housing instability, and housing insecurity. With over a decade in nonprofit and government roles, Alex has expanded services, improved organizational efficiency, and built partnerships serving houseless and housing insecure individuals. Grounded in racial equity, Alex ensures every initiative delivers lasting, meaningful impact for the community.

Emily Valladares is the Director of Shelter Operations at Open Door HousingWorks. She is a solution based leader whose work is driven by compassion, community, and a commitment to change. Her journey with ODHW began in Outreach, where she quickly demonstrated a deep understanding of what it means to truly meet people where they are, both physically and emotionally.

With a heart for service and a talent for building effective, person centered systems, Emily rose through the ranks, now serving as Director of Emergency Solutions, she has played a key role in expanding shelter access and strengthening crisis response. Emily oversees multiple shelter programs with a strong focus on dignity, safety, and long-term stability.

Emily brings more than operational leadership to ODHW, she brings vision. Her work is grounded in the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to rebuild, and that lasting change happens block by block, person by person, and case by case.

Beyond individual services, Emily is passionate about transforming entire neighborhoods. She works to make every space more compassionate, more connected, and more responsive to the needs of those often overlooked. Her leadership helps restore empathy in environments where urgency too often overshadows humanity.

To Emily, this work is more than a career, it’s a calling. And at Open Door HousingWorks, we are proud to have her leading the way in our efforts to address homelessness with dignity and lasting solutions.

Since joining Open Door HousingWorks, Tarah Wrenn has consistently served in leadership capacities, helping to shape and strengthen the organization from the ground up. She’s played a key leadership role in driving organizational growth, with a strong focus on performance management and employee relations.

In a startup-like environment, Tarah has supported nearly every department—including outreach, case management, shelter operations, data quality, workforce development, finance, human resources, and the Access Center—bringing a consistent people-first approach to every challenge. She’s helped build ODHW from the inside out by implementing performance standards, coaching staff, and fostering a culture of accountability, trust, and continuous improvement.

Whether managing team dynamics, addressing employee concerns, or developing new systems to support staff success, Tarah has worked to ensure that the ODHW teams are supported, aligned, and empowered to do their best work. Her work has been rooted in the belief that strong internal culture directly translates to stronger community impact. She takes pride in having helped lay the foundation for a stronger, more sustainable organization—one that’s better equipped to serve our community every day.