Project Quest, Inc.
Meet the Team
We are Team Quest
“We’re a lifeline for the people in our community who are ready to change their lives.”
Invest in your future.
Francisco
is the President & CEO for Project QUEST. As President & CEO he is responsible for all facets of Project QUEST’s service delivery, community engagement, financial health, contractual commitments and organizational culture. The CEO partners with the Board to provide executive leadership and strategic directions for the organization. As a first-generation college graduate and the son of immigrants, Francisco embodies the transformative power of education. With over 25 years of combined experience in public policy, local government, education, corporate social responsibility, and nonprofit leadership, Francisco is committed to advancing opportunities for all. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego, and a Master’s in Public Administration from California State University, Los Angeles. Francisco and his wife have two daughters, a rising college sophomore and high school freshman. He is a very proud Girl Dad.
Lelani
Mary
is the Director of Accounting and Finance, brings 30+ years’ experience in Accounting, Non-profit and Auditing. She received her Bachelors of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Our Lady of the Lake University. She received her Certified Fraud Examiner’s License in 2010. She enjoys fishing and photography.
Hugo
is Program Manager for Intake Services, has over 20 years of workforce development experience, having worked with youth and adults. Hugo earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of the Incarnate Word. Hugo loves traveling and watching horror movies with his family.
Ruby
joined Project QUEST, Inc. in 2010 as a Public Ally through the AmeriCorps program after graduating Cum Laude from St. Mary’s University. She then began as a career advisor with Project QUEST in 2012 and served under various career tracks, to include Nursing and Information Technology. Ruby is currently serving as a Program Manager. Ruby’s passion is to thrive within an organization that values community, leadership, and the empowerment of individuals that works towards making a substantial change within the community. One of Ruby’s hobbies is music, and loves going to concerts.
Naomi
is a passionate advocate for continued education and helping underserved populations obtain living-wage careers. Naomi entered the nonprofit field upon receiving her Bachelor of Sociology from The University of Texas at San Antonio and later obtained a Master of Science degree from Our Lady of The Lake University. Naomi has served in the nonprofit sector for almost a decade and is currently in the role of Workforce Planning Analyst. Free time includes time with family, cooking, continuous learning, travel, art, and getting outdoors with her dogs.
Maria
has been working for Project QUEST for 27 years. She has been a Career Coach for 20 years. Being a Coach has been the best part of Maria’s job. She loves to give academic guidance to all those in need. Maria works with the San Antonio College Registered Nurses and those in prerequisites. Born and raised in the heart of the Westside of San Antonio, she graduated from Lanier High School, attended St Mary’s University, where her major was in Public Justice. Maria’s hobbies are going to her son’s baseball games, camping, listening to music and dancing.
Terry
has worked at Project QUEST for 23 years. She has held many positions since starting at Project QUEST to include Case Aide, Receptionist, Testing Administrator, Intake Worker, Eligibility Specialist, Assessment Specialist and currently Certification Specialist. As a Certification Specialist, her main role is to determine funding eligibility for applicants. She loves what she does and feels great satisfaction in knowing that she has certified someone who will potentially be earning a living wage and will be able to support their family. When not working, Terry spends her time with her family and enjoys watching Netflix and Hulu movies.
Yolanda
is a Career Coach who has been with Project QUEST for twenty-one years and counting. She partners with Alamo Colleges to provide career guidance and financial assistance to participants with navigating program services, needs-related resource connections and entry into employment in targeted sectors to reach their career goals. Many of her students have graduated and went on to become successful in the medical and technical industries. Yolanda is certified under The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals. She also participates in The St. Phillips College Advisory Board and has been doing so for over 5 years. Ms. Williams volunteers regularly with The San Antonio Food Bank as well as with smaller local community programs. She is a native San Antonian and her hobbies include gardening, interior decorating, and spending time with her family.
Jessica
was born and raised in the San Antonio area. She attended the University of Texas at Austin for a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Studies with a concentration in organizational communication. For over 10 years she has enjoyed guiding QUEST participants as they find success during and after training. In her spare time she loves to spend time with her family and being outdoors.
Amanda
is the Candidate Outreach Coordinator, has been with Project QUEST for 5 years. She cares deeply about the opportunity to get the word out about Project QUEST in the San Antonio community. Amanda earned her BA in Sociology and Anthropology at University of Texas at San Antonio. She is certified as a Master Advisor through the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning. Amanda ran an art gallery for 7 years as part of the Second Saturday art walk. She is a lifelong learner who loves to read, explore, and support local artists.
Adrienne
is the Marketing Communications Coordinator, and brings 15+ years’ experience in Marketing & Business Operations Management. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing at The University of Texas Permian Basin. Adrienne has a passion working with small businesses to find their niche, sharing a 360-degree view of company-wide operations. She loves reading, painting, rescuing/fostering dogs, spending time with friends, and traveling.
Kelly
is our Career Coach overseeing the Trades program. He has been at Project QUEST for four years. He brings a diverse background which includes working in the corporate industry, ministry, retail and social services. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and a Master’s Degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been very active in church work and volunteering in the community. He enjoys spending time with his family, being outdoors, running, traveling and baseball.
Christian
is a Career Coach supporting the SAC RN Program. Christian received a Master of Science in Social Work degree from The University of Texas at Austin. She has over 10 years of experience working with non-profit organizations in the San Antonio area and has a passion for helping others reach their full potential. Christian enjoys reading, spending time with family and traveling.
Covell
is a Grants and Donor Relations Coordinator and helps coordinate the vast landscape of grants
and develops relationships with those who support Project QUEST participants. He received his Bachelor
of Arts in Non-profit Management and Leadership from Westminster College- Fulton, Missouri. Covell
has a passion for giving back to his community, which is what drew him to fundraising and Project
QUEST. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, volunteering, being outdoors, and traveling.
Laura
Laura Torres currently serves as the Project QUEST Alumni Relations and Career Transitions Coordinator. Laura has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Texas Lutheran University and a Master of Science in Applied Sociology from Texas State University. Laura has a passion for nonprofit organizations and she enjoys engaging Project QUEST Alumni to achieve their personal and professional goals. Laura loves to laugh, listen to podcasts/audiobooks, and enjoys spending time with her family and their two dogs, Hinto and Dwolfg.
Isidra
is a Candidate Care Specialist for Sourcing, she was born in San Antonio and raised in South Florida. Fourteen years ago Isidra relocated back to her roots where she enjoyed spending the last twelve years with her grandmother. Isidra has 20 plus years in the administrative field, she has worked as an independent contractor thorough out the City of San Antonio the past 10 years. Isidra is pursuing her associates degree in Criminal Justice at St. Philips. Project QUEST is the first nonprofit organization she has ever worked for and she has truly made it her mission to follow the mission that Project QUEST strives for to serve the community. Isidra enjoys reading books, outdoor trails, exploring coffee shops and spedning time traveling to different beaches with her husband and three children.
Felipe
has been working with Project QUEST as an Accountant since May 2021. His key role involves processing payments on behalf of the participants of Project QUEST. He joined the organization because he believes everyone deserves a chance in education. As one of the first to graduate from his family, Felipe graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting from Western Governors University-Texas and possess a strong background in consumer finance. In his spare time, Felipe enjoys Marvel Comic Universe movies, solving Sudoku puzzles, and spending time with his spouse and two miniature schnauzers.
Casandra
is a Candidate Care Specialist who joined QUEST February 2021. She was born and raised in McAllen, TX. Before her career at QUEST, Casandra was a recruiter for 13 years and loved helping employees get back on their feet. Casandra has helped in many different departments within her time at QUEST and enjoys helping wherever she is needed. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, dancing and spending time with her family.
Felicia
is an Associate Career Coach, and brings over 10 years of serving the San Antonio working for non-profits. She also served for over 10 years in the U.S. Air Force as a weather observer then forecaster. She received her Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and Master of Health Administration from the University of Phoenix. Her passion for helping others has guided her during her entire life and hopes to continue doing so as a career coach.
Reynaldo
is an Assessment Specialist who strives to give applicants the best experience. He graduated from the University of Texas of San Antonio with a BA in History. Reynaldo has worked as a recruiter and this experience has served him well when interviewing potential Project QUEST candidates. His south side of San Antonio upbringing has made him passionate about giving back to the community. Through his dedication to Project QUEST’s mission he was able to enroll the first three participants in the city into the Ready to work initiative. Reynaldo leans on the strong connections he has made within the organization and is always looking to better himself. He enjoys spending time downtown and traveling to new cities.
Nohemi
is a committed Social Worker who dedicates herself to serving diverse individuals, families, and communities. Her fervor lies in empowering individuals to dismantle the barriers perpetuating intergenerational cycles of disadvantage. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mexican American Studies with a specialization in Sociology form the University of Texas at San Antonio and is currently advancing her expertise through a Master of Social Work program. Beyond her professional pursuits, Nohemi finds joy in amassing an electric collection of coffee-making gadgets, indulging in word searches, and indulging in the guilty pleasure of reality TV.
Diana
is Participant Services Assistant with over 15 years of customer service experience. She is working towards her first college degree in Business Management (first in her family too!) and she cites fellow Project QUEST staff as great motivators of this educational goal. She keeps the office laughing, and greets each applicant with a smile and warm welcome. Diana loves to travel, spend time with her children, and read.
Kayla
is an assessment Specialist who has four years of excellent customer service and team leadership. She received her Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice in 2021 from St. Mary’s University which sparked her passion for assisting the community of San Antonio. Kayla’s goal is to provide the tools and guidance necessary to help the underserved population flourish in living wage careers. In her free time, she enjoys game nights with her friends, reading and spending time with her family.
Jessica
is an Employment Coordinator who joined QUEST February 2022. She was born and raised right here in San Antonio, she is a proud Huskie, and a graduate of Holmes High School. Jessica’s passion in life is to bring joy to people’s lives through service. She carries on in life with one thing in mind, “How can I help someone and make them feel loved today?” Before her career here at QUEST, Jessica was in the dental field for eight years and loved helping her patients. Jessica’s nerdiest fact is nothing puts a smile on her face like talking about dental health. QUEST has allowed her to develop new relationships with participants, employers and community partners to achieve the Mission to Empower Participants with quality employment through skills training. She is looking forward to continuing her education to serve the team and participants.
Kaiulani
is a Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP) who is passionate about bettering the community through education, development, learning, and awareness. Kaiulani is dedicated to the mission of Project QUEST and aims to help in providing Hope, Dignity, and Empowerment to all that come to Project QUEST. She loves dancing hula, playing tennis and spending time with her family.
Latisha
is a Career Coach dedicated to serving her community. Latisha brings perspective from both the non-profit sector and service industry with her, and intends to provide a vision of resiliency among those seeking positive change in both personal and professional aspects of their lives. Latisha received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from The University of Texas at San Antonio. She enjoys traveling, spending time with her loved ones, powerlifting, and personal development.
Gilbert
currently serves as an Assessment Specialist at Project QUEST. He is a native San Antonian and first-generation college graduate earning a bachelor’s of Social Work from St. Edward University. A proud product of the San Antonio non-profit’s such as Project Stay, ASKEW & Say Si, he now ism to give back to the community which empowered and supported him. In his spare time he enjoys tennis, supporting local artists and the LGBTQ+ community and being there for his friends and family.
Chelby
was born and raised in San Antonio. She graduated from Texas A& M University with a psychology degree. After graduating, she entered into management. She quickly prospered based off her understanding of training and creating relationships with her teams throughout Texas, California, and Colorado. Five years later, she started her MBA at Texas Women’s University in Denton. Upon her graduation, she connected with an employment agency. While working there, she learned there was such a huge need and disparity throughout our community. As a Career Coach, she is adamant about creating awareness, training, assisting, and facilitating the Project QUEST participants into their careers. Chelby and her husband enjoy family outings with their fur babies, playing golf, going to the river/lake, and visiting the local music scene.
Consuelo "Connie"
a Candidate Care Specialist who joined QUEST in February 2022, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her role. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, she has deep roots in her community. With over 35 years of customer service experience, Connie has hones her skills and become a subject matter expert, particularly in the area of employment engagement.
Her dedication to her work and her ability to connect with people make her a valuable asset to the team. Connie’s role involves ensuring candidates have a positive experience throughout the hiring process, and her passion for customer service shines through in her interactions.
Outside of work, Connie is a proud mother and grandmother who cherishes spending time with her family. Her commitment to excellence in both her professional and personal life is evident, making her a respected and admired member of the QUEST team.
Julio
started his education journey in 2012 when he enrolled at St. Phillip’s College to be an Aviation Technician. With the help of Project QUEST, he was able to obtain his associate degree and certificates. After graduation he went into the nonprofit sector with the goal of continuing his education. He attended the University of the Incarnate Word, graduating in May of 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Science and a minor in Human Resources. As a QUESTer he strongly believes that education is important and that everyone and anyone should have the opportunity to better their lives and the communities they live in. He strives to be an example that anything in life is obtainable no matter your background, culture, or education level.
Ricardo
is an Employment Coordinator who joined QUEST in January 2023. He was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona and has been in San Antonio since 2017. Ricardo is a certified fitness professional and a certified human resources analyst. He is passionate and driven by helping others achieve their goals. Before his career here at QUEST, Ricardo was in Hospitality Management for ten years, most recently with Marriott. He volunteers on Sundays at church with the first impression team. Ricardo enjoys spending time with his family, friends. He enjoys outdoor and sports activities.
Victoria
is an Outreach Coordinator with Project QUEST and is passionate about promoting initiatives that proffer solutions. She was born and raised in West Texas and received her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Texas State University in 2020. She enjoys playing sports, walking nature trails, and spending time with her pet kiddos. Victoria believes that “the service to others is the rent you pay for your room on earth”-Mohammed Ali
Annette
is a Career Coach with over 10 years of experience working with nonprofits and helping individuals overcome obstacles that are holding them back from living their best lives. With a degree in Human Services and additional certifications in emotional and childhood trauma, Annette’s coaching is rooted in empathy, authenticity, and collaboration. Her passion for helping others has driven her to be a lifelong learner and seek out new knowledges, tools, and strategies to empower those she works with. She believes that everyone has the potential to heal and grow, and her role is to provide a supportive, non-judgmental space to help those she works with overcome their challenges and achieve their goals.
Emily
is a Candidate Care Specialist, started with QUEST in January 2023. She has 10+ years in customer service experience. She received a certification of completion in Leadership and Development and a certification as a Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) in 2022. She has always believed in helping out those around her or in her path. Her future goals are to one day become a Career Coach or Life Skills Coach and continue to be there for others. She enjoys takings quiet, peaceful fishing trips with her fiance and 2 dogs.
Karissa
Check back soon…
Beatriz "Betty"
is a Career Coach with Project QUEST and is passionate about serving the community by providing qualified workforce individuals into San Antonio. Originally from California, Betty is currently finishing her MBA concentrating in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. Prior to joining Project QUEST, Betty served as a military counselor overseas in Europe providing genuine hope and assistance to our troops. In her free time she enjoys traveling, her family, and volunteering always giving back to the community.
Rasyne
is a Project QUEST Career Coach for San Antonio College Registered Nurses. Rasyne received her Bachelor of Science in Social Work at Abilene Christian University. She has over 8 years of experience as a social worker. Rasyne is passionate about advocating for others, empowering them to break down barriers so that they can reach their goals and become the best version of themselves. She enjoys doing anything creative, volunteering at her church, personal development, karaoke and most of all laughing.
Nadia
is a devoted Candidate Outreach Coordinator, bringing a unique background to her role. Originally from Buffalo, NY, she grew up in Indianapolis, IN, experiencing different environments that have fueled her drive to inspire underrepresented individuals. Nadia is passionate about helping others overcome barriers, adversity, and stereotypes to achieve their goals. Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and a concentration in Communication Studies, Nadia is well-equipped to connect with and support candidates from diverse backgrounds. Beyond her professional commitments, she values spending quality time with family and friends, emphasizing the importance of personal connections. Nadia also enjoys traveling, creating content, and cooking. In her role as a Candidate Outreach Coordinator, Nadia Tillman contributes a unique perspective and a genuine commitment to the betterment of diverse communities and individuals, making her an asset to the organization she serves.”
Bernardo "BJ"
is an Assessment Specialist who strives to give applicants the best experience possible. He was born and raised in San Antonio and has seen the needs of his community grow, which pursued him to work for Project QUEST to help the underserved. With more than two decades of experience in customer service and administrative management, he has honed his skills as an Assessment Specialist. In addition to his professional pursuits, he finds immense joy in spending quality time with family, visiting amusement parks, golfing and outdoor activities.
Diana
is a Candidate Care Specialist who joined QUEST in February of 2023. Diana has 8 years of experience in the hospitality industry. This is her first time serving the community through a non-profit and has found great value in her time learning about her role and the community she is serving through the applicants she gets to speak every day. Diana’s goal is to continue learning and growing in service at QUEST. In her spare time, Diana enjoys a good cup of coffee, anything artsy, spending time with friends or spending quality time with her two cats (or anyone else’s cat).
