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Our Team

Rania Mankarious, Chief Executive Officer
Mankarious Rania 7091 resized smaller Houston Crime Stoppers
Rania Mankarious, MA, JD

CEO of Crime Stoppers of Houston

 

Rania Mankarious serves as the CEO of Crime Stoppers of Houston after beginning as an intern with the organization in 2006.

During her tenure, Mankarious created the first-ever Crime Stoppers Safe School Institute – a full suite, direct service program that became the hub of all things school safety related. She also launched the organization’s first webinar series with local, statewide, and national experts as well as Parents Against Crime, the critically important Fallen Hero Program, the Victim Services and Advocacy Program and expanded the Safe Community Program.

Under her leadership, Crime Stoppers also built a headquarters that is the first Crime Stoppers building worldwide and is named the “The Dave Ward Building, Crime Stoppers of Houston”.

Mankarious is an active contributor to many publications, including columns in The Buzz Magazines, The Bark Blog, and a national adviser for Safe and Sound Schools. She has been seen and heard on local and national radio and television, including ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and across additional platforms as a legal, family, crime, mental health, and parenting expert. Recently, she launched a weekly “CrimeTip Tuesday” series with CW39. In September 2020, Mankarious created The Balanced Voice Podcast, which has featured a number of local and nationally recognized guests including Greg Kelley, Shepard Smith, Matthew McConaughey, Dave Ward, Tamron Hall, and many others. Mankarious serves on the Advisory Council for the Organization for Social Media Safety.

Mankarious has received many honors including: CW39’s Winner of their Remarkable Women; Visionary Leader in the fight against human trafficking; Most Stylish People by the Houston Chronicle; Houston Business Journal’s Outstanding Nonprofit Business Leader; a Houston Hero by the International Chamber of Houston; Top 30 Most Influential Women of Houston; Houston Moms’ Blog “Houston Mom of the Year”; Houston Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business; Houston Hero by the Houston Chronicle; Prime Living Reader’s Choice Award for Best Dressed Texan; Lights Camera Action’s Mother’s Day Honoree; and Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women.

Mankarious received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Theology and Pre-Medicine from Boston College, a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Gordon Conwell and a Doctor of Jurisprudence completed at the University of Houston Law Center.

Nichole Christoph, Deputy Director

Deputy Director Nichole Christoph’s career as an administrator spans nearly two and half decades in both private and public sector management. Having joined Crime Stoppers of Houston in 2012 as an Office Manager, Nichole rapidly ascend the organizations ranks, and was appointed Deputy Director in 2013. Prior to joining Crime Stoppers of Houston, she held post at Harris County Protective Services for Children and Adults for over ten years.

Citing a passion for helping other and a dedication to serving the community, Nichole proudly joined the Crime Stoppers of Houston Executive Staff. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends in her spare time.

Cabell Wood, Senior Director of Development and Programming

Cabell Wood joined Crime Stoppers of Houston in September 2012 as Director of Development and is now the organization’s Senior Director of Development and Programming. She oversees major gifts, annual special events, corporate and foundation relations and annual giving programs. Cabell has eight years of experience in fundraising, development and special events for local non-profit organizations. Before coming to Crime Stoppers, she was Manager of Corporate Relations and Special Events for Sheltering Arms Senior Services, a division of Neighborhood Centers Inc. Cabell brings with her an expertise in fundraising and development and looks forward to furthering the mission to solve and prevent crime in the greater Houston area. A native Houstonian, Cabell graduated from The Kinkaid School prior to entering Vanderbilt University, where she graduated cum laude in 2005.

Tania Cruz, Marketing and Communications Director

Tania Cruz joined Crime Stoppers of Houston in April 2015. As Marketing and Communications Director, she brings over 15 years of non-profit development, community relations and marketing experience. She is responsible for managing, developing and growing all aspects of marketing and communications that directly impact the Crime Stoppers’ mission, outreach and fundraising efforts.

Before joining Crime Stoppers, Tania was PR and Events Manager for Susan G. Komen Houston. She attended the University of Houston where she earned a BS in Health Education and Sociology Minor. In her spare time, she loves attending her son’s baseball and soccer games, volunteering at charity events, hosting family gatherings and tailgating at football games with family, friends, and colleagues.

Paige Hollek, Special Events Director / Development Manager

Paige Hollek joined Crime Stoppers of Houston in September 2016 and is our Special Events Director and Development Manager. Paige oversees the Safe School and Safe Community programs to ensure execution and growth, communicating with both programs to plan and seek out advancement. Her role also includes gathering and hosting the programs statistics and final reports. Paige is also responsible for planning and overseeing our program and fundraising events. She manages the logistics and preparation of all events.

Prior to Crime Stoppers, Paige had several years of experience in non-profit coordinating and intern experience with the media. She graduated with a BS in Communications and Journalism from Texas A&M University.

Andy Kahan, Director of Victim Services and Advocacy

Andy Kahan joined Crime Stoppers of Houston in June 2018 as its first-ever Director of Victim Services and Advocacy.

Prior to Crime Stoppers, Andy served as the Victim Advocate for the Mayor’s Office and Houston Police Department for 26 years before retiring and joining Crime-Stoppers of Houston to resume his career as a Victim Advocate. Andy Kahan received his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in 1983 from the University of Houston. He worked as both a Parole and Probation Officer before becoming the first victim advocate in the country to work in a Mayor’s Office. His responsibilities included working with local crime victim’s rights organizations to facilitate the pooling of resources and the exchange of information, accompanying and representing victims before the Parole Board, putting crime victims in touch with local crime victims support and advocacy groups, and court accompaniment.

Mimi Zarenchansky, Strategic Operations Director

As of March 2013, Mimi Zarenchansky has been working with the great team at Crime Stoppers and learning so much about the nonprofit world. After graduating from Stephens College with a B.S. in Communications: Emphasis in Media Production, Mimi worked in the cable television industry for 2 years. She was able to produce her own cable real estate show while also working in the billing and traffic side of the advertising department of the cable company. She was then given the opportunity to learn the international import/export business from her father. Upon moving back to Texas, Mimi spent 10.5 years learning and living the import/export business and representing companies such as Maytag, Bissell, Dirt Devil, and more to the country of Argentina. They were then afforded the opportunity to represent a sugar substitute to the United States from Argentina and enjoyed that journey for many years. After that Mimi was ready for a new start and began working at Limb Design as their Traffic and Production Manager/ Director of Operations and was fortunate to have the opportunity to learn so much about the graphic design industry from the three principals over a 5.5 year period.

Jenna Fondren, Statewide Director, Safe School Institute

Jenna Fondren joined Crime Stoppers of Houston in June 2017 as Community Education Specialist, and now serves as the Statewide Director of the Safe School Institute. She oversees the Safe School Institute’s day to day operations, ensuring that students and school staff receive the most current and impactful crime prevention presentations and safety tips. She establishes and maintains relationships with school safety personnel across Houston and across the state of Texas. Works with community partners to expand the need for safe schools, updates and writes curriculum, as well as records statistics and program results.

Jenna plays an active role in promoting safety for school communities through her work with different prevention, non-profit, and local law enforcement groups. She works closely with the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children, David’s Legacy Foundation, The Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan, Region 4 Education Service Center, Texas Education Agency, Houston Rescue and Restore Coalition, Children’s Assessment Center, and ISD Police Departments. She believes through collaboration and partnership; the Safe School Institute provides students with the tools necessary to never become a victim of crime and make informed decisions.

Jenna is a native Houstonian. She graduated from the Kinkaid School before attending The University of Texas at Austin where she earned a Bachelor’s in Sociology and minored in Business.

Sydney Zuiker, Director, Safe Community Institute

Sydney Zuiker joined Crime Stoppers of Houston in February of 2018 as a Youth Outreach Specialist and now serves as the Director of the Safe Community Institute and the Executive Producer of The Balanced Voice Podcast with Rania Mankarious. She oversees the overall growth and development of the Safe Community Program, Victim Services Program, The Glenda Gordy Research Center, and The Balanced Voice with Rania Mankarious. She establishes and maintains relationships with community members, law enforcement officials, partner organizations, and elected officials across the state of Texas to ensure public safety remains at the forefront of our community. She ensures accurate and unbiased data about crime trends and public safety are easily accessible to the public and the community is provided with critical safety education.

Sydney plays an active role in promoting community safety and victim services through her work with local and national partners, as well as her involvement in many coalitions including: Advocates for the Children of Texas, Demand Disruption, Houston Rescue and Restore Coalition, University of Houston Bauer College of Business Managing HR Program, Houston Area Against Trafficking, the Children’s Assessment Center, the 2026 World Cup Bid Committee Human Rights Stakeholders Group, Houston Christian University, and Kindred Exchange.

Originally from Austin, Sydney received her Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin and her Master of Legal and Forensic Psychology at the University of California Irvine. She is also a Houston Business Journal 40 under 40 honoree, a two-time President’s Volunteer Service Award gold medal recipient, and MLFP Diversity Scholarship recipient.

Kaitlynn Frey, Safe School Institute Manager

Kaitlynn Frey joined Crime Stoppers of Houston in October of 2019 an Education Specialist and is now the organization’s Safe School Institute Manager. Kaitlynn uses prevention and awareness programs to educate students ages kindergarten through high school, school administration staff, and community members throughout the Greater Houston Area. Originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, the military life moved her all over before she settled down in Louisiana where she would graduate high school, leaving as a Corvias Scholarship recipient and later, college. She graduated from University of Louisiana Monroe where she received a BS in Elementary Education and a MS in Forensic Psychology. She served on SEE AmeriCorps and Carmel Hill Foundation where these non-profit organizations focus on synergy, children and education. Before moving to Houston and joining Crime Stoppers, Kaitlynn was an elementary school teacher for Lufkin ISD and Houston ISD. She hopes to use her past experiences, as well as the resources Crime Stoppers provides to educate students on how they can stay safe, and thrive in Houston.

Ernesto Reyes, Statewide Safe School Institute Manager

Ernesto joined Crime Stoppers in 2021 as an Education Specialist and now serves as the Statewide Manager of the Safe School Institute as it continues to expand across the state. Ernesto uses crime prevention and safety awareness programming to educate students ages kindergarten through high school, school staff, parents, and community members throughout Texas.

As a native of Dickinson Texas, he is a graduate of Dickinson High School and went on to attend Texas A&M University where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology. He has over 9 years of experience in nonprofits working to increase visitor engagement and in creating memorable educational activities. He has worked to inspire a deeper appreciation for music, science, and history in various roles with organizations like The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, Moody Gardens, Artist Boat, and Dickinson ISD.

He hopes to use his past experiences and the many resources that Crime Stoppers offers to fuel and foster new and engaging crime prevention programming to underserved students, teachers, administrators, and families throughout Texas.

Joshua Webb, Safe Community Institute Manager

Joshua Webb joined Crime Stoppers in July of 2021 as a Program Coordinator. Joshua uses his skills in curriculum development, community outreach, and project management to support the development, growth, and execution of Crime Stoppers programming. With several years of experience in non-profit operations and youth development, Joshua strives to elevate the quality of programming offered and empower the citizens of Houston to prevent and solve crime in their own communities.

Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, Joshua has spent his career providing youth with the skills and resources needed to excel in the classroom, enrich their communities, and become successful professionals. As an undergraduate student, he worked with the First Star program in Chicago, an organization that seeks to equip foster youth with the skills needed to successfully transition into college and adulthood. After graduating from college, he served with the Center for Leadership Development, an organization with the mission of fostering the development of minority youth in Central Indiana by providing experiences that encourage personal development and educational attainment. Joshua graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a BS in Human Services and is currently pursuing his Master’s in Social Work.

Teresa Salazar, Education Specialist

Teresa Salazar began working as an Education Specialist with Crime Stoppers of Houston in February of 2022. Teresa not only brings valuable educational experience to the Crime Stoppers’ team, but her bilingual abilities allow our programs to reach both English and Spanish-speaking audiences. She hopes to utilize prevention and awareness programs throughout the Greater Houston area to educate kids from kindergarten to high school, along with school staff, parents, and community members.

Prior to joining Crime Stoppers, Teresa worked for Humble ISD and Cleveland ISD as an elementary school teacher for two years, as well as volunteering at her church as a Sunday School kindergarten instructor. She aims to leverage her previous experiences, as well as Crime Stoppers’ resources, to empower students in safety and success.

Teresa is a native Houstonian and obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Houston-Downtown. In her spare time, Teresa enjoys spending time with her family and creating memories.

Addie Carlson, Statewide Education Specialist

Addie Carlson joined Crime Stoppers of Houston in February 2023 as a Statewide Educational Specialist. She will be supporting the growing needs of the Crime Stoppers Safe School Institute as it expands statewide. 

Addie was born and raised in Austin, Texas and has also lived in San Antonio. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin where she earned a Bachelor’s in Sociology, with a minor in Business and Africa & African Diaspora Studies. Before joining Safe Schools Institute, she was a primary teacher and completed a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education. 

Cally Conklin, Statewide Education Specialist

Cally joined Crime Stoppers in January 2023 as a Statewide Education Specialist.  She will be supporting the growing needs of the Crime Stoppers Safe School Institute as it expands statewide. 

Cally is a native of Dripping Springs, Texas.  After graduating from The University of Texas at Austin with a BA in English, Cally graduated from Texas A&M University School of Law.  She worked for Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas in Dallas as a staff attorney who represented victims of domestic violence.  After spending some time working in the private sector as a free-lance writer and an attorney, she is very excited to be back in the nonprofit world. 

Juliana Aguilar, Statewide Education Specialist

Juliana Aguilar joined Crime Stoppers of Houston in October 2023 as a Statewide Education Specialist. She will be supporting the growing needs of the Crime Stoppers Safe School Institute as it expands to the DFW area and beyond. 

Juliana is from Dallas, Texas where she graduated from the University of North Texas in Denton. She earned a Bachelor’s in Spanish and Education. Before joining Safe Schools Institute, she was a high school Spanish teacher for Plano ISD. She hopes to spread knowledge and awareness to students, educators and parents. 

Sam Rind, Data Analyst

Sam Rind joined Crime Stoppers of Houston as a Data Analyst at The Glenda Gordy Research Center. She overseas day to day data analytics and works to improve the crime index report that helps the community understand crime data in Harris County. She works to enable public and partner access to unbiased data sets, and support data driven decisions to internal stakeholders.

Sam graduated from Portland State University where she received a Bachelors in Computer Science. She plays an active role in the local tech space, with a special interest in advocating for women in tech and women in STEM. She has a background in working for non-profits where she served as a Software Engineer to help modernize ticketing systems for the Arts and Theatres. She also has a special interest in reducing crime by leveraging cutting edge technology and is continuously striving to make both online and physical spaces a safer place for people to use through equitable, secure, and accessible practices.

Ryan Barnes, Junior Data Engineer

Ryan Barnes joined Crime Stoppers as a Junior Data Engineer at the Glenda Gordy Research Center in the summer of 2023. In this capacity, Ryan assumes a crucial role in the development of the back-end infrastructure used by the Glenda Gordy Research Center to streamline the data acquisition process from various sources. His primary responsibility lies in crafting scalable and efficient solutions to data-driven challenges while maintaining the integrity and quality of the data being acquired.

Ryan is a graduate of Houston Christian University, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. He possesses a strong foundation in object-oriented programming and system design, skills honed through participation in multiple full-stack projects during his academic studies. Ryan has a vested interest in developing tools using modern technologies that will allow for a more in-depth understanding of crime data. Through his work, he aspires to create an accessible platform that empowers everyone to gain a better understanding of the data presented by Crime Stoppers.

Stuart Hudson, Bookkeeper

Stuart Hudson joined the Crime Stoppers team in March of 2013 and takes care of all things financial for the organization.

In addition to Crime Stoppers, Stuart provides bookkeeping services to the I Am Waters Foundation, Yale Club of Houston, Health Outreach to the Middle East, Worldwide Institute of Medical Education, and the Arabic Church of Houston. She has also held numerous volunteer leadership positions such as Secretary of the Board of Bellaire Christian Academy, Treasurer of the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, President of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Charitable Foundation, Treasurer of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumnae Association and founding board member of Veritas Christian Academy.

Stuart holds a BS degree from Louisiana State University and is a certified Quick Books user with over 20 years of experience in bookkeeping for non-profit organizations as well as small businesses.