Our Team
Governing Board
Adrienne Farrar Houël, CEO and President | Greater Bridgeport Community Enterprises.
Experience includes executive leadership in real estate development, international marketing and, more recently, economic development. I have designed, funded and operated workforce development training programs, conducted studies concerning affordable housing as well as funded and built affordable housing projects. She has worked to raise the awareness of the need for energy conservation, hazardous materials and Brownfields remediation in our homes and communities for the past 7 years. In collaboration with key community leaders, she llaid the foundations of the GBCE/The Green Team as an early advocate, researcher and contributor to green business and workforce development.
Specialties: Economic and community development through new ventures start up, affordable housing construction, workforce development in green economy sectors
Serge Karpow, Co-founder & Board Chair
Serge Karpow, PharmD received both his undergraduate BS Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions. His was the first PharmD awarded by St John’s University. After graduate school, Dr. Karpow spent nearly 40 years in the Pharmaceutical Industry in both clinical drug development and medical affairs. Serge has worked in development of antimicrobial, respiratory, cardiovascular, neurologic, oncology and analgesic products. Serge rose to the position of Senior Director of Clinical Research and has been involved with six New Drug Applications and has presented at FDA and other research venues. Currently he uses his clinical drug development knowledge and skills to assist health care providers improve patient care by understanding clinical study results. Serge has been active in many ministries including teen and adult education, ASP, Tres Dias, and Kairos. Serge has served in Kairos Prison Ministry for about 25 years and currently is the State Leader for Kairos Prison Ministry in CT. The topic is the prison reform movement, especially in CT and Kairos Prison Ministry.
Ashley Carr Hampton, Program Director | Domuskids, Inc.
Ashley Carr Hampton is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Director of a program initiative which implements strategies rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy at Domuskids, Inc. in Stamford. Her clinical work includes recognizing and addressing trauma among underserved and marginalized populations. She holds a Connecticut educator certificate in school social work. Ashley earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Connecticut, Storrs, and a Masters in Social Work from Southern Connecticut State University. While in graduate school she focused on the socio-economic disparities of incarcerated peoples and completed a thesis to examine the relationship between childhood trauma and rates of incarceration. In 2020, she was published in Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work as a co-author of the article “Ping-Pong Housing: Women’s Post-Incarceration Trajectories.”
Ashley participates as Co-chair of the Scholarship Committee with Les Treize Inc., a women's business and professional organization that awards college scholarships in partnership with Fairfield County Community Foundation.
Nathaniel Christian, Co-Founder, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer | Castle Oaks Securities
Esteemed general counsel and chief compliance officer committed to providing the highest level of ethical leadership while championing diversity, not only of race, gender and background but also of opportunity and thought. Leverages more than 30 years of Wall Street experience representing clients in primary and secondary capital markets transactions, as well as deep expertise in securitization, structured finance and derivatives, to help organizations increase top-line revenue and bottom-line growth.
Frequently sought after by colleagues and clients as a voice of reason, one willing to tackle difficult challenges head-on using an unwavering moral and ethical compass, and an advocate for the betterment of communities and business. Proudly pursues his passion for augmenting capital formation in underserved and underrepresented communities while building infrastructure to support the poor and disenfranchised in his personal outreach/endeavors.
Meg Felton Staunton, Human Resources Executive
Meg Felton Staunton is a creative entrepreneur, social justice activist and veteran human resources executive. After college, she began her career in retail in the Macy’s training program and after four years left to open a custom swimwear store in Greenwich, CT. That ultimately led to a 25-plus year career in retained executive search and corporate human resources with a brief theatrical stint as producer of an off-Broadway play about motherhood called EVE-olution. In 2013, after the Newtown, CT mass shootings, she was called to action, and along with a friend, spearheaded the March for Change in Hartford, activating thousands to advocate for safer gun laws.
In addition to running Megaworx, her executive search and HR consulting firm, she is currently producing a documentary about the cycle of trauma in the prison system. Having spent the bulk of her career in recruiting, she is passionate about helping the formerly incarcerated get back on their feet, and is honored to join the board of HomeBridge Ventures.
Kelly Laferierre – Chief Business Officer, A-Rod Corp
Kelly Laferriere is an accomplished Business Executive with almost 30+ years experience building businesses and brands and leading cross-functional teams for iconic global enterprises in Sports, Media, and Entertainment-ESPN, Six Flags and presently serves as the Chief Business Officer of A-Rod Corp. Kelly drives the portfolio growth of A-Rod Corp's consumer focused venture and private equity investments across a range of sectors. Kelly earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish with a minor in African American Studies from Georgetown University. She has also served as a member of the Pequot Library Board holding the positions of Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer and Secretary over her 13 years there. Kelly has also been involved as a Board Director for the Southport Area Association, Southport Park and was formerly an Advisory Board Member of the Women’s Sports Foundation.
Kelly is honored to join the board of HomeBridge Ventures. She looks forward to helping drive impact and create opportunities that make a difference for the HomeBridge members and the communities they are part of.
John Santa – Santa Energy
After a 40-year career in marketing, finance and finally as C.E.O. at Santa Energy, John Santa now serves as an independent director for four private corporations. His record as a community activist as well as his ongoing commitment to social justice and community service is substantial.
He currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Sentencing Commission of the State of Connecticut and the board of the Institute for Catholic Studies at Fairfield University. John is a founder of the National Oilheat Research Alliance for which he was instrumental in passing a bill through Congress for its establishment. He is also the grateful recipient of a Paul Harris Fellowship from the Rotary Club International as well as the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Connecticut Department of Correction.
John has been recognized as a prophetic voice in the modern Criminal Justice Reform movement. He began his work in 1998. By 2002 he and his colleagues founded Malta Prison Volunteers of Connecticut - now known as Malta Justice Initiative. For these accomplishments and his untiring dedication to Criminal Justice Reform, John was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree from Fairfield University in May of 2014.
John and his wife, Irene, live in Southport, Connecticut. They are the proud parents of their daughter, Kerstin of Bridgeport and their son, Devin, who lives in Fairfield with his lovely wife Beth and their precious daughters, Alyssa Lyn and Heidi Ann.
Kevin Collins, Retired Financial Executive
Kevin spent over 25 years with Houlihan Lokey a global investment banking firm. He began his business career in commercial banking. Since retiring from Houlihan Lokey he has been an investor in and advisor to a small number of start-up businesses.
Kevin received a Master of Business Administration degree from the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester, and a Bachelor of Science degree in business from the State University of New York at Albany. He and his wife have lived in Fairfield County for the last 36 years.
Kevin’s primary philanthropic interest has been in supporting education, and providing opportunities for people in underserved areas in Fairfield County.
Advisors
Carolyn Stubbs, Board Advisor
Carolyn Stubbs has spent her life serving the physical and mental health of her community. Carolyn was a psychology major at the University of Cincinnati and received her RN from Christ Hospital School of Nursing in Cincinnati, Ohio. She worked as a registered nurse in the operating room in several states as the family moved. Her last surgery experiences were at Mount Sinai Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio and Bridgeport Hospital, CT. After their family was launched, she returned to college and studied addictions counseling. She worked for the APT Foundation in New Haven, CT and Regional Network of Programs in Bridgeport, CT supporting men and women on their recovery from addiction.