Meet The Team

Community Program Manager

Rachel is a dedicated leader who brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her role as a Manager of the Trauma-Informed Peer-Led Reentry (TIPLR) program.

Community Navigator

Camron Colts

Cam works to provide guidance, support, and connections to resources. His work focuses on building trust, reducing barriers, and supporting community members on their path toward stability and empowerment.

Assistant Director - TIPLR

Tamir Bell

Tamir is the Assistant Director of TIPLR and an exceptional leader who brings focus, compassion, and a strong commitment to supporting system-impacted individuals through peer-led reentry.

Data Analyst, Grants & Quality Assurance Manager

Ceci Esquivel

Ceci helps ensure that the organization’s programs are supported by accurate data, strong reporting systems, and clear grant compliance practices. Her work helps document impact, strengthen accountability, and support data-informed decisions across programs serving justice-impacted communities in Michigan.

Development Director

Charles Pugh

Charles Pugh serves as Nation Outside’s Development Director, bringing extensive experience in fundraising, media, and community engagement. He is dedicated to building sustainable partnerships that expand opportunities for system-impacted individuals and strengthen the organization’s long-term impact across Michigan.

Director of Finance

Simon Hatley

Simon is an astute financial leader who brings professional expertise in fiscal management and lived experience to Nation Outside, ensuring our resources are stewarded with both precision and purpose.

Assistant Director of Southwest/Central Michigan

Tenee Gildea

Tenee is a passionate and dedicated team member at Nation Outside, whose commitment to this work shines through in everything she does. Her role is more than a job—it’s a calling that fuels her fire and feeds her soul.

Deputy Director

Rick Speck

Rick Speck is a seasoned leader in reentry and criminal justice reform, bringing both lived experience and professional expertise to his role as Chief Programs Integration Officer.

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Executive Director

Cecilia Zavala

Cecilia brings lived experience, servant leadership, and a deep commitment to building a movement led by those directly impacted by the legal system.

Our Board

Meet Our Dedicated Board of Directors

Collin McDonough

Board Chairperson

Senior Advisor, Data for Progress

Allan Wachendorfer

Board Vice Chairperson

Program Manager, Vera Institute of Justice

Sheneelia Logan

Board Treasurer
CEO, Detroit Edge Management

Christopher Hood

Board Secretary
Consultant, City of Detroit

Monica Jahner

Member at Large

Program Director, A.R.R.O., Northwest Initiative

Ken Toll

Member at Large

Operations Director, Michigan Workforce Development Institute

Dana Watson

Member at Large

Health Equity & Social Justice Coordinator, Ingham County Health Department

Gabe Blauer

Member at Large

Leadership & Organizational Strategy Consultant

Mira Edmonds, JD

Member at Large

Director, Juvenile Justice Clinic

University of Michigan Law School

Douglas Winkler

Member at Large

Governance & Compliance Advisor

Dr. Megan Threats, PhD, MSLIS

Member at Large

Assistant Professor, University of Michigan

Dr. Ashley Nellis, PhD

Member at Large

Criminal Justice Policy Scholar, American University

Apply Today

Join our mission-driven team and help us build a future led by system-impacted voices. Whether you're bringing lived experience, professional expertise, or a passion for justice—there’s a place for you at Nation Outside. Apply today and be part of the change.