Young Detroit Builders Staff
Angela Wilson
Interim Executive Director
As interim Executive Director, Wilson will oversee all program and financial efforts until the position is permanently filled. Born and raised on Detroit’s eastside, Wilson has more than 30 years experience in the non-profit sector and community development. At age 14, Wilson began volunteering for her neighborhood block clubs. She has a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Wayne State University in social work. Prior to becoming interim E.D. this past August, she was on the YDB Board of Directors for 10 years. Her past work experience includes being the founding director of Youth on the Edge of Greatness, Director of Economic Development for the Warren Connor Development Coalition and executive assistant to former Mayor Dennis Archer for two terms.
awilson@youngdetroitbuilders.org
Cheryl Haskett
Financial Director
Cheryl Haskett is our Financial Director at Young Detroit Builders. With more than 25 years of experience in the non-profit sector, Haskett has been a part of the YDB team since February 2003. Prior to coming here, she worked as a financial consultant. As part of YDB’s administrative arm, she handles all of the organization’s financial matters, including bills, invoices and paychecks. In addition to working at YDB, Haskett is on several boards of various organizations including the Michigan chapter of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. (Michigan Chapter) and the NAACP.
Jerry Pauzus
Construction Manager
As YDB’s Construction Manager, Pauzus is responsible for overseeing all job sites/projects, determining work hours and seeing that projects are completed. A graduate of Eastern Michigan University, he worked as a carpenter for 32 years before retiring. During his time as a carpenter, Pauzus worked with Detroit Public Schools, helping young people gain apprenticeships in construction. That love and passion for helping Detroit’s youth is what prompted him to come to YDB eight years ago. Since then, he has been focused on making sure students have an opportunity to get into the trades and transform their lives for the better.
jpauzus@youngdetroitbuilders.org
Jeffrey Portis
Job Developer | Project Coordinator
Jeffrey Portis is YDB’s Job Developer/Project Coordinator. As job developer, his main responsibility is to help students, as he plainly puts it, “find, get and keep a job.” As project coordinator, Portis manages all projects related to the YouthBuild Detroit program, including Detroit-Based Contractor Incubator Assistance Project, which provides services to low-income contractors. Prior to his current position, Portis wore several career hats, including one as an attorney, Borders Books manager and owner of his own landscaping business. His dedication to helping young adults find and maintain work stems from his belief that meaningful employment is “a basic human right.”
jportis@youngdetroitbuilders.com
Derrick Tagger
Construction Trainer
Tagger has a 15-year relationship with YDB, the longest of any of the staff members, and not just as a construction trainer. In fact, he was just like our students; dropped out of high school and was ready to take charge of his life. Tagger was in the first cycle in 1996 and discovered he had a love for construction and working with his hands. After working a few years in the construction industry, Tagger came back to YDB in 2003 as a trainer and has been here since. He provides on-the-job construction and vocational instruction for our students, helps them earn their NCCER and first-aid certifications.
dtagger@youngdetroitbuilders.com
Gil Hall
Construction Trainer
Before coming to YDB in 2006, Hall served four years in the Marines; including one tour in Iraq. His military background provides students here discipline and a can-do-it attitude. Besides his stint in the Marines, Hall has always had a passion for construction; having worked in the construction industry for more than 15 years. Being able to work with students, Hall’s passion is even that much stronger. His job responsibilities include teaching on-the-job construction and vocational training, prepares students for NCCER and first-aid certifications.
ghall@youngdetroitbuilders.com
Dennis Booker
Teacher
With more than 30 years of teaching experience, Booker has spent six of those with Young Detroit Builders. He teaches reading, science and social studies; preparing students for the GED exam. Besides being an academic instructor, Booker is also a mentor and motivator. A native of Grand Rapids, Booker emphasizes cultural and social awareness to the students. In discussing his love for teaching, he goes by the saying, “If you want to become a rich person, find a need to fulfill it. If you want to be a happy person, find a person to teach it.”
dbooker@youngdetroitbuilders.com
Stefany Hobson
Teacher
Hobson came on board as YDB’s Math Teacher in September 2008. Hobson helps prepare students for the math portion of the GED and ACT exams. She is a graduate of Wayne State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a specialization in accounting. While at Wayne State, Hobson worked as a research assistant and peer mentor. She used her work experience, math knowledge and her own obstacles as a youth to instruct and inspire her students at YDB. Hobson is currently pursuing an MBA from Wayne State University. She hopes to be apart of YDB for years to come.
shobson@youngdetroitbuilders.com
Ernest Thompson
Case Manager | Counselor
Thompson joined Young Detroit Builders in 2008 and is our other case manager/counselor. He provides supportive services for students and assists with recruitment. In addition to his job responsibilities at YDB, Thompson has dual-employment with the Partnership for Permanent Supportive Housing (SHP). There, he instructs “Money Management” courses and assist in finding affordable housing for clients. A native of Detroit, Thompson was inspired to become a social worker by his uncle, who also worked with at-risked youth.
Lauren Cotton
Case Manager | Counselor
A member of the YDB staff since October 2009, Cotton is one of our case managers/counselors. Her responsibilities include seeking and providing supportive services for students, conducting individual and group sessions with them and AmeriCorps hours/grant reporting. In addition, she teaches “Life Skills” classes where students learn about proper nutrition, STD/AIDS and pregnancy prevention. A graduate of Michigan State University, Cotton has a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Cotton’s goal is to help her students gain the necessary skills so they can be successful in life and give back to their community.
Full-Time AmeriCorps Staff
Michael Centi
Tutor | Volunteer Coordinator
Centi came on board as a full-time AmeriCorps member in January 2011. As Tutor/Volunteer Coordinator, Centi recruits volunteer tutors to work with students in various academic subjects and gives classroom instruction to students in all subjects. In addition, he administers TABE testing for applicants and prepares students for the GED exam. A 2009 graduate of Michigan State University, Centi holds a History degree and teaching certification in Social Studies and English.
mcenti@youngdetroitbuilders.org
Tavun Debold
Construction Crew Leader
Similar to Derrick, Debold was also a student of YDB; enrolling in cycle 11 in 2008. After completing the program, he went on to work various jobs, studied at Wayne County Community College and eventually started his own landscaping company in 2009. He was hired as a full-time AmeriCorps staff member in January 2011. As Construction Crew Leader, Debold assists the construction trainers with projects and makes sure our building stays tidy.
tdebold@youngdetroitbuilders.org
Jaclyn Pylvainen
Learning Center Specialist
A native of Crystal, Minnesota, Pylvainen graduated from Central Michigan University in 2009 with a Bachelor’s in History & Native American Studies. She joined the YDB family in April 2011. Her career goal is to become a social worker and as a full-time AmeriCorps staff member at YDB, she is on her way to reaching that goal. As Learning Center Specialist, Pylvainen administers TABE testing for applicants, is the administrative office coordinator, helps with student recruitment and helps instruct “Money Management” courses.
jpylvainen@youngdetroitbuilders.org
Brittany Smith
Community Partnership Specialist
As Community Partnership Specialist, Smith works as the PR/community outreach arm of YDB. She maintains all of YDB’s social media websites, develops content for press releases and e-newsletters; and is the organizer for the 8th Annual Showdown in Motown. In addition, Smith works coordinates community service projects for students. She began her term as a full-time AmeriCorps member in February 2011. Smith graduated from Michigan State University in 2010 with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism.