Leadership Team
Audra Hamernik
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Audra Hamernik joined Nevada HAND as CEO in 2019. Over the past 30 years, Audra has been an industry leader in real estate, financial services, social impact investing and lending, and business leadership in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. She came to Nevada HAND from the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) where she served as Executive Director, leading a 300-person team that financed over $18 billion in asset-based loans leading to the creation of over 250,000 units of affordable housing. Prior to her time at IHDA, Audra founded and served as Principal of A. Hamernik & Associates, Inc., leading the company’s development in affordable housing finance. Audra has also served as Executive Director of Bluestem Housing Partners, a nonprofit housing developer. She holds a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois.
Audra is deeply committed to community service and holds several leadership positions across many civic organizations. She is a member of the NeighborWorks Capital Loan Committee, the City of Henderson Housing Advisory Committee, the CEO Exchange, the Nevada Housing Advisory Committee, the Nevada Advisory Council on Federal Assistance, the Vegas Chamber’s Executive Women’s Council, and the National Association of Homebuilders Affordable Housing Steering Committee. She is an appointee for the Legislative Committee of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition and serves as a Board Member for the Nevada Housing Coalition and the Southern Nevada Homelessness Continuum of Care. She was named the 2021 Newcomer of the Year by Vegas Inc. and was honored as a Top 100 Women of Influence by MyVegas Magazine. Audra has a passion for advancing opportunities for the underserved through public-private partnerships that expand housing, fostering community and economic opportunity, and growing businesses and teams.
Megan Schimick
Chief Financial Officer
Megan Schimick is Nevada HAND’s Chief Financial Officer, responsible for the financial and accounting reporting of the organization. She joined Nevada HAND in 2016 as Controller and was promoted to Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Nevada HAND, Megan began her career with Kafoury, Armstrong & Co in 2000. She served as a Partner with Eide Bailly LLP (formerly Kafoury, Armstrong & Co.), overseeing the Las Vegas tax department. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, as well as a Master of Science degree in Taxation from Golden Gate University. She is CPA licensed in the state of Nevada.
Tim Veenstra
Chief Operating Officer
Tim Veenstra joined Nevada HAND in April 2020 as the Chief Operating Officer, bringing 20+ years of affordable housing experience to the organization. Tim recently served as Director of Asset Management at the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), where he was responsible for the long-term performance of over 100,000 units, a loan portfolio of $1.2 billion, and rental assistance administration for 5,000 households. Prior to his tenure at IHDA, Tim spent 20 years working for the Chicago Housing Authority’s Plan for Transformation in a variety of positions, including Deputy Chief Housing Officer, leading a team of 77 employees that oversaw daily operations of 23,000 public housing units and contracts of $180 million annually with 1,050 contract employees. He also developed over 1,500 units of award-winning mixed-income housing, leading community-based working groups in a variety of diverse settings. Tim was a Graduate Fellow in the National Science Foundation’s Urban Poverty Program, where he studied trends in housing quality, material well-being, and educational outcomes, earning an Master of Arts degree in Human Development and Social Policy from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago.
Waldon Swenson
Vice President of Corporate Affairs
Waldon Swenson joined Nevada HAND in October of 2019 as Vice President of Corporate Affairs. He brings 10+ years of experience in institutional advancement; foundations in communications and strategic planning; and special expertise in governance, fundraising, crisis management, and organizational change. He most recently served as the Director of Communications and Marketing for the Illinois Housing Development Authority. Before joining the Authority, Waldon served as Director of Government Affairs for Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner. Prior to this, Waldon served as Deputy Campaign Manager for Congressman John Shimkus (IL-15). He has led campaign operations for multiple State House and State Senate races, and in 2019, he was named one of Chicago’s 30 Under 30 by the Publicity Club of Chicago. Waldon is a member of NAIOP and the Nevada Housing Coalition, and he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Communication Studies from Eastern Illinois University from Eastern Illinois University.
Tracy Wortham
Vice President of Human Resources
Tracy Wortham joined Nevada HAND in April 2020 as the organization’s Vice President of Human Resources, where she leads the human resources function for the 300-person organization, including 34 site teams. Tracy has more than 20 years of human resources experience in the public and private sectors, helping to shape culture, benefits, leadership development, diversity initiatives, employee relations, ethics and compliance, and staffing management. Prior to Nevada HAND, she was the Director of Human Resources at the Illinois Housing Development Authority and several large public and private entities, including Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and RR Donnelley and Sons, an integrated communications company. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Governors State University and holds active memberships in the Society of Human Resources Management, Profit Sharing Council of America, and Plan Sponsors of America.
Bob Feibleman
Executive Vice President of HAND Construction
Bob Feibleman oversees all of Nevada HAND’s construction activities, including design, engineering, and entitlement processing. He joined Nevada HAND in 1998. Bob has more than 40 years of construction and development experience. Prior to joining Nevada HAND, he was the construction manager for Pacific Harbor Capital (PHC). Bob holds a bachelor’s degree in real estate finance with a minor study in architecture from the University of Oregon. He has held general contractor licenses in California, Oregon, and Nevada.
Ralph Murphy
Senior Vice President of Real Estate Development
Ralph Murphy is the Senior Vice President of Real Estate Development for Nevada HAND in Las Vegas, NV. Ralph has more than 40 years of experience in real estate development, and in his role at Nevada HAND, he oversees the acquisition, financing, and development of the organization’s real estate portfolio. Prior to joining Nevada HAND, Ralph held several executive level positions at various real estate development organizations throughout Nevada and California. Throughout his career, he has developed over $300 million of office and industrial buildings, apartment communities, and retail centers. Ralph has negotiated commercial office and retail leases totaling over three million square feet and has concluded over $200 million of real estate acquisition and disposition transactions. Ralph holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering with an emphasis in business economics from Northwestern University.
Kathy Carpenter
Vice President of Asset Management
Kathy Carpenter is responsible for maximizing returns and property values for the owners and investors of Nevada HAND properties. She joined Nevada HAND as Controller in 2011. Kathy has over 30 years of accounting and finance experience with companies such as International House of Pancakes, Inc., Cheesecake Factory, Inc., KPMG Peat Marwick LLP and On Stage Entertainment, Inc. Prior to joining Nevada HAND, Kathy served as the Controller for Sysco Las Vegas, Inc., a leading distributor of food and restaurant supplies in Nevada and Utah. Kathy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Utah.
Cathrine Helton
Vice President of Assisted Living
Cathrine Helton joined Nevada HAND in 2023, bringing over 26 years of experience to her role as VP of Assisted Living at Nevada HAND. Most recently Cathrine was Regional Director of Operations at Milestone Retirement Communities, and she has previously served as Executive Director of Century Park Associates and a Practice Specialist at Kidney Specialists of Southern Nevada. Cathrine holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Healthcare Management from American InterContinental University, and she is an LPN and Certified Dementia Practitioner. Cathrine approaches her work with empathy, integrity, and excellence, setting a high standard for leadership and operations in the field of senior living.
Ryan Nolan
vICE PRESIDENT OF CONSTRUCTION
As Vice President of Construction, Ryan Nolan manages Nevada HAND’s residential projects. His responsibilities include oversight of bids and budgets, day-to-day field operations, safety and compliance, subcontractors, the entire timeline of project milestones, and all associated personnel. Ryan joined Nevada HAND in 2017, serving as Assistant Project Manager for HAND Construction, and progressed to the role of Project Manager before being named the Director of Maintenance and Safety in October of 2021. He was promoted to Vice President of Construction in January 2023. His background includes more than 15 years of experience in construction, project management, and maintenance. Prior to joining Nevada HAND, Ryan worked for the United States Air Force, serving as the HMU Training Manager, along with leading engine maintenance teams on combat search and rescue helicopters. He earned his Master of Science in Project Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from DeSales University, and his Associate’s degree from the Community College of the Air Force. He resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, with his wife and four children.
Erica Arthur
SENIOR vice president of property management
Erica Arthur joined Nevada HAND in 2023, bringing to her role over 30 years of experience in Southern Nevada. Erica’s areas of expertise include property management (ranging from LITHC to high-end market rate communities), operational efficiency, strategic planning, budgeting and finance, client stewardship, new revenue development, risk management, and capital improvement projects. As a manager, Erica has a track record of building strong teams and cultivating and retaining excellent leaders on her staff. In her most recent prior role as Senior Vice President at Ovation Property Management, Erica oversaw 40 assets across 35 locations with 10,000+ units of market-rate and affordable housing in Las Vegas and Henderson. Erica holds a Real Estate License and Property Management Permit; she is also a four-time Apartment Association President and a two-time Property Management Company of the Year award winner.
Rhea Arzadon
VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY
Rhea joined Nevada HAND in 2018, serving as an Associate in Fundraising and as a Project Coordinator in Real Estate Development. In 2019, she was promoted to Project Manager in Operational Excellence, and subsequently was promoted to Director of Strategic Initiatives and then VP of Business Operations and Technology. In her role, she works collaboratively across departments to formulate innovative process improvements and ensures efficiency in business practices and procedures. She is the Chair of Nevada HAND’s IT Committee and has an extensive background in finance, data analytics, project management, and business operations. She holds a degree in Business Administration and Management and is a graduate of Leadership Advance through the Vegas Chamber’s Leadership Foundation of Greater Las Vegas
Christina Kennerson
VICE PRESIDENT of Compliance
Christina Kennerson joined Nevada HAND in 2018, bringing over 23 years of experience in affordable housing compliance and training to the organization. Prior to joining Nevada HAND, Christina worked for The Related Companies for 19 years where she held several leadership roles in the areas of affordable housing compliance and training and development.
Christina is responsible for ensuring the highest level of compliance in all affordable housing programs applicable to Nevada HAND communities, including LIHTC, HOME, HTF, Section 8, and RAD programs. During her time at Nevada HAND, Christina has developed a comprehensive compliance training program for new and existing employees to help ensure employees understand the rules and nuances of all affordable housing programs necessary for a successful career in affordable housing.
Christina holds several professional designations including Housing Credit Certified Professional, Tax Credit Specialist, Certified Occupancy Specialist, Blended Occupancy Specialist, HOME Compliance Specialist, and Fair Housing Specialist. She also serves as the Fair Housing Officer for Nevada HAND.
Jackie Bañales-Garcia
vice president of Property Management
Jackie Bañales-Garcia is responsible for oversight of the daily operations across the Nevada HAND affordable housing portfolio. Jackie joined Nevada HAND in July 2014. She has more than 20 years of experience in residential and commercial real estate and property management with 13 years of them being in affordable housing in Las Vegas, NV, Denver, CO and Las Cruces, NM. Jackie studied business administration at the University of Texas at El Paso and was a licensed real estate agent for the state of New Mexico. She holds a designation of Certified Occupancy Specialist and Advanced HUD Occupancy Certification.
Kristin Friedli
Controller
Kristin Friedli is Nevada HAND’s Controller, responsible for the financial and accounting reporting of the organization. She joined Nevada HAND in 2016 as Assistant Controller and was promoted to Controller in 2018. Prior to joining Nevada HAND, Kristin began her career with Kafoury, Armstrong & Co in 2008, later becoming Tax Manager with Eide Bailly LLP (formerly Kafoury, Armstrong & Co). She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Kristin is CPA licensed in the state of Nevada.
Brittani Gray
VICE PRESIDENT OF RESIDENT SERVICES
Brittani Gray oversees Nevada HAND’s nationally-certified Resident Services program, offered on-site at all senior and family communities, and supervises a team of professional Resident Services Coordinators. After four years serving as Assistant Director of Resident Services at Nevada HAND, Brittani was promoted to Vice President in 2024. She brings over a decade of social service advocacy experience to this role, including managing programs that address critical areas such as education, health and wellness, economic stability, and resident engagement. Brittani holds a B.S. in Elementary and Special Education from Grand Canyon University and earned her Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Northcentral University. She holds a range of professional certificates including Crisis Prevention De-Escalation Facilitator, Mental Health First Aid, Disease Management and Prevention, and Suicide Prevention. As a leader, Brittani prioritizes collaboration and accountability among team members and strong relationships with residents to ensure that Nevada HAND’s Resident Services program address the diverse challenges residents face.
