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From the restaurant to case management, operations to development, the entire Café Momentum team works together to support, train and coach our interns. We surround our interns with an ecosystem of support, providing essential tools and resources, to create real change in these young lives.
FOUNDER CEO
Always one to add a little levity to the conversation, Chad often describes Café Momentum as “taking kids out of jail and teaching them to play with knives and fire.” But levity aside, it’s this charisma and passion to teach life, social and employment skills to Dallas’ most at-risk youth that makes Houser a hit with everyone from philanthropists and dinner-goers to the young people participating in the program. After 17 years as a chef, Chad sold his partnership of Parigi Restaurant to devote his full attention to the role of Executive Director of Café Momentum in 2012.
In the community, Chad has previously served as President of the board of directors for Dallas Farmers Market Friends and as Vice Chair of the El Centro Exes Association (Houser received his culinary training at El Centro) where is also a member of the El Centro College Food and Hospitality Institute “Hall of Fame.”
Recently, Chad and Café Momentum were featured in the Starbucks production of Upstanders Season 2, a series created to shine a light on stories of everyday Americans who are doing extraordinarily courageous things. He has also appeared on The Rachael Ray Show, The Chew, The Hero Effect and Pickler & Ben.
Chad has received multiple nominations from D Magazine for “Best Up-And-Coming Chef” (2010) and “Best Chef” (2011 and 2012). In 2011, he received the Edible Dallas/Fort Worth “Local Hero – Chef” award. In 2017 and again for 2018 Chad has been named in the Best 500 Business Leaders in Dallas.
Chad was also selected as Dallas Business Journal’s “40 Under 40,” and as one of the United States Junior Chamber’s (Jaycee) 2015 Ten Outstanding Young Americans. He has been named to the “Top 50 Under 40” by the Social Enterprise Alliance, an “Urban Innovator to Watch” by the New Cities Foundation, as one of “30 Most Interesting People in the Metro Area” by the Dallas Observer, and one of Good Magazine’s “Good 100,” individuals at the cutting edge of creative impact across the globe.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Margaret Reid Windham serves as Executive Director at Cafe Momentum, overseeing the vision and mission of the organization.
Margaret has been with the organization for 7 years, serving as Chief Operating and Development Officer prior to becoming Executive Director. Before joining Cafe Momentum in 2016, Margaret served as Senior Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations for The George W. Bush Presidential Center. Preceding her work at The Bush Center, Margaret worked with United Way of Metropolitan Dallas as Senior Director of Individual Giving and Team Development, overseeing the Tocqueville Society and Leadership Giving Society programs and previously Margaret worked at Northern Trust as the Vice President, Director of Marketing for Texas, responsible for business development, corporate philanthropy and events.
Before returning to Dallas, Margaret spent seven and a half years working in the George W. Bush White House in Washington, DC. Joining the White House staff as a scheduler to President Bush in 2001 through 2004 when she joined the G8 Summit Planning Organization to manage Mrs. Bush’s spousal program in Sea Island, Georgia. After the 2004 G8 Summit, she worked as a Policy Analyst in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Margaret received her B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin. Margaret and her family live in East Dallas.
CHIEF FINANCIAL AND OPERATING OFFICER
Theda has over 25 years of experience in all aspects of accounting and finance. Throughout her professional career, she has focused on deepening her expertise by taking increasingly responsible positions in various financial functions, including daily accounting processes, budgeting, financial analysis, financial reporting, and coordination of the audit process.
Theda started and built her career in the retail industry. She spent significant time honing her accounting and finance skills in companies such as Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy, Saks Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel and Neiman Marcus. From there, she moved to the food industry, expanding her understanding of restaurant operations, specifically in the franchise industry.
In recent years, Theda has applied her expertise in the non-profit sector, working in mission-driven organizations. In August 2016, she co-founded Bonton Farms in South Dallas with her husband, Daron, and served as its CFO/COO. Theda and Daron moved to Bonton to immerse themselves in the community and better understand their neighbors’ needs. Theda’s pivot to the non-profit sector instilled a sense of purpose in her work. In June 2021, Theda joined the team at Cafe Momentum Dallas.
Theda is dedicated to leading with unwavering integrity and fostering a work environment built on honesty, transparency, and ethical decision-making. By consistently demonstrating integrity in her leadership style, Theda aims to inspire trust and uphold the highest standards of conduct within the team, ensuring a culture where everyone feels valued and respected.
Theda attended Long Island University/C.W. Post Campus in Brookville, NY, on a field hockey scholarship, where she received her BBA in Accounting.
CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER
Dr. Porshia Haymon is the Chief Program Officer at Café Momentum in Dallas. Café Momentum is a nonprofit that provides a paid post-release internship for justice-involved youth. Dr. Haymon’s work focuses on providing mental health services to the youth served, as well as equipping staff with skills to work with this population, while also implementing programing to provide youth with life skills, education, and employment opportunities. Additionally, Dr. Haymon is employed by The Chicago School of Psychology, Dallas Campus as an adjunct professor. Prior to beginning her work at Café Momentum, Dr. Haymon was a Mental Health Clinician for Dallas County at Medlock Residential Treatment Facility and a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology for Richardson ISD.
Dr. Haymon is originally from Mississippi and completed her degrees at Xavier University of LA and Jackson State University. She is a parent of a 13-year-old daughter and enjoys reading and time with family. Dr. Haymon enjoys her current role as an adjunct professor because it provides her with an opportunity to assist future psychologists with expanding their minds and goals as it relates to their role in the field of psychology and her role with Café Momentum because of opportunities to help change the trajectory of kids’ lives, as well as the opportunity to share with the community about the work Café Momentum, is doing.
Aaron “Fuzz” Collins
Chef De Cuisine
Tyreesh Browning
Case Manager
Jordan Criss
Executive Sous Chef
Sandra Cortinas
Office Manager
Enrique Salinas
Case Manager
Michele Mervis
Assistant General Manager
Tracey Hull
Director of Development
Conner Boyett
Service Training Manager
Austen De La Garza
Staff Accountant
Tammy Schienke
Catering & Restaurant Coordinator
Michael Hollis
General Manager
Daniel Crawford
Juvenile Re-entry Program Manager
Laura Beth Lopez
Senior Manager of Events & Marketing
Merry Watson
Dir. of Education & National Education Advisor
Christopher Bowen
Case Manager
Tevin Young
Sous Chef
Meriel Bautista
Pastry Chef
Caleb Patterson
Restaurant Programs Manager