Staff & Board
Meet the Staff
Jessica Root/Executive Director
Jessica has held varying roles in the nonprofit sector since graduating with a B.A. in Sociology from Mount St. Mary’s University in 2009. She has experience in nonprofit management, development & fundraising, volunteer recruitment & management, finance, and human resources. She recently obtained her Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Organizational Development from Mount St. Mary’s University in 2018. Her personal mission is service to those in need and creating sustainability for faith-based nonprofits. House of Mercy fulfills both of those and she is very happy to be a part of the House of Mercy family.
jroot [at] houseofmercyva [dot] org
Von Barron/Thrift Store & Donation Center Manager
Vbarron [at] houseofmercyva [dot] org
Food Pantry & Client Services Manager
foodpantry [at] houseofmercyva [dot] org
Sofia Crooks/Program Manager
scrooks [at] houseofmercyva [dot] org
Tamara Halstead/Marketing and Development Coordinator
Tamara came to House of Mercy after nearly ten years working as a freelance web designer and developer. Managing her own business, she worked with a variety of industries including churches, non-profits, schools, entertainment, medicine, e-commerce, fashion, and health and wellness. Before establishing her own business, she was a web developer and administrative professional at George Mason University for 1o years in the Volgenau School of Information Technology and Engineering. When she decided to reenter the workforce again, the mission of House of Mercy was a primary reason she joined the team.
thalstead [at] houseofmercyva [dot] org
Eric Sommers/Donation Center Coordinator
esommers [at] houseofmercyva [dot] org
Meet the Board of Directors
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors oversees all operations and strategy of House of Mercy. They are integral to our mission and we thank them for their continued service.
Pictured below (from left to right): Randy Dominick, Jennifer Dominick, Hector Suarez (Resigned), Debbie Wykowski, Paul Marsala, Fr. Francis Peffley, Vicky Marsala, Sandy Dominick, Saundra Buchard, John Buchard
