Board Members — A Place for Tom:

 

Jennifer Fuentecilla:

Jennifer Fuentecilla is an experienced nonprofit leader with a distinguished record of directing programs across diverse organizations, including the San Diego History Center and Planned Parenthood. She has successfully led educational, outreach, and community-building initiatives throughout San Diego County, consistently strengthening organizational impact and community engagement.

Her mission is to empower children, youth, and adults by creating clear pathways to success—encompassing educational advancement, community health, personal well-being, safety, job readiness, and meaningful civic contribution. Jennifer brings strong organizational development expertise, proven team leadership, effective volunteer coordination, and skilled event and partnership management.

She is committed to fostering programs that elevate individuals and strengthen the community as a whole.

Rev. Dr. Brian T. Parcel:

The Rev. Dr. Brian T. Parcel is an Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church with 27 years of leadership in the California-Pacific Conference. He has served congregations in Pomona and Santa Maria, and for the past 16 years he has been Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church of Chula Vista. He holds degrees from the Louisiana Scholars' College at Northwestern State University and earned both his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Claremont School of Theology.

Dr. Parcel has extensive experience in clergy development, organizational leadership, and church revitalization. He served nine years on the Conference Board of Congregational Development and thirteen years on the Board of Ordained Ministry, where he coordinated training for new clergy through the Residency in Ministry Program. His work centers on building communities of justice, inclusion, and personal and spiritual growth.

He is also an Associate with Griffith Coaching and is licensed by the International Coaching Federation. His coaching and consulting work supports churches, nonprofit organizations, and executives, with a focus on leadership development, organizational health, and strategic management. He looks forward to bringing these skills to A Place for Tom.

Rob Colon-Torres

Rob Colon-Torres is a health law and compliance professional with deep expertise in the regulatory framework governing housing and care for individuals with disabilities, including

California's Title 17 and Title 22 regulations and the Lanterman Act, which protects the rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live and thrive in their communities. This expertise, developed through his work with the Young Adult Institute, gives him a detailed understanding of the compliance standards that govern residential and community-based care settings for people with disabilities.

He also brings broader experience in health law and healthcare regulatory compliance. He has spent most of his career supporting Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in California, strengthening their compliance and operational integrity — developing and implementing compliance, quality, and training programs that meet federal and state regulations.

Rob's understanding of disability rights and residential care regulation is directly relevant to A Place for Tom's mission of building a safe, compliant, and well-supported living environment. Before entering healthcare compliance, he served as a first responder in Oakland for ten years. He holds an undergraduate degree from Portland State University and a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where he concentrated in Health Law and Compliance.

Merle Stethem

Merle Stethem is a dedicated, community-focused professional who brings a rare combination of investigative rigor and hands-on practical skill to A Place for Tom. Drawing on a long career as a federal criminal investigator, he has developed sharp analytical and problem-solving abilities, strong communication skills, multilingual fluency, and a disciplined, level-headed approach to complex decision-making — skills that translate directly into thoughtful, thorough oversight of the organization's operations and safety practices.

He is also a skilled handyman with years of hands-on experience completing DIY projects and home repairs, giving him the practical know-how to help maintain safe, functional, and welcoming living spaces for residents. Between his analytical background and his hands-on abilities, Merle brings both the judgment to assess complex situations and the practical skill to act on them.

He is deeply committed to supporting individuals and families impacted by neurodiversity. As Tommy's godfather, he brings both personal insight and a strong sense of responsibility to advancing the mission of A Place for Tom.

Chris Stethem

Chris Stethem is honored to support an organization dedicated to helping Tommy and others live independent, fulfilling lives. Being Tommy's godmother is both a privilege and an important learning experience in understanding neurodivergence, for her.

As a stay-at-home mom for more than thirty years, she has developed strong skills in crisis management, time management, patience, empathy, and adaptability. Earlier in life, she worked with neurodivergent adults, and she later spent ten years involved in school PTA leadership. These experiences shape her ability to navigate complex situations with compassion and balance.

She looks forward to bringing these skills and perspectives to this organization.

Glen Wauchope

Glen Wauchope is a retired Naval Officer and systems engineer with an MBA, bringing extensive experience in strategic planning, process development, and disciplined decision-making. His professional background equips him with a structured, mission-focused approach to organizational leadership.

As the father of an autistic son who will require lifelong support, Glen is deeply committed to advancing sustainable, long-term solutions for autistic adults. His work with A Place for Tom is driven by a clear objective: to ensure that Tommy—and others like him—can live safely, independently, and with dignity throughout their lives.

Glen's combined expertise and personal dedication strengthen the organization's mission to build stable, supportive environments that endure well into the future.

Jennifer Poast

Jennifer Poast, an internal medicine physician, educator, and founder of A Place For Tom, has devoted her career to caring for under-resourced patients with complex and diverse needs. As the mother of Tom, aunt to two autistic individuals, and healthcare provider to many patients with special needs, she brings a deeply informed understanding of the support required for neurodiverse adults to thrive.

She recognizes that the South Bay region of San Diego remains critically underserved in resources for individuals with special needs. Guided by this reality, Jennifer established A Place For Tom with a clear mission: to create a safe, nurturing, and well-supported living environment where each resident can achieve the highest level of independence possible throughout adulthood.

Her vision is rooted in dignity, opportunity, and long-term stability—ensuring that neurodiverse adults in the community have access to the life-skills education, structure, and compassionate support they need to flourish.

Grace Ning, PhD

Grace Ning is honored and excited to be a part of this organization, which she knows will make a real difference for both the Wauchope family and our community at large. As a licensed clinical psychologist working primarily with underserved adults and adults of marginalized groups, she is passionate about helping individuals navigate life's challenges and achieve their personal and mental health goals. She strives to empower people to make changes while cultivating a sense of self-compassion and acceptance. What she hopes to bring to the organization is her clinical expertise and knowledge.