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Leadership Team
The leadership team for Community Council of Idaho, Inc. is composed of the agency’s directors and executive management. Together, along with the CEO, they strive to continue to move the agency forward and deliver quality services to the Idaho community.
Ruben Lugo, Chief Operating Officer
Ruben Lugo is the Chief Operating Officer for the Community Council of Idaho. He holds associate of science and bachelor degrees from Boise State University. He has extensive training and certifications in grants management, federal regulation, leadership and program operations.
Ruben has worked in the human services space for almost 30 years and believes that being of service to others helps build strong and resilient communities. His focus is to form strong and adaptable teams who can provide the highest quality services to whomever comes through the door.
In commitment to establishing a high standard of service, Ruben actively seeks out partners throughout the service area willing to build positive relationships for the benefit of our shared communities.
Ruben lives in Nampa and enjoys the opportunities to travel within the state, and the mountain west, to connect with people and the multiple beautiful landscapes that Idaho has to offer.
emanz@ccimail.org
Liz Manz, SHRM-CP, PHR, Human Resource Director
Liz accepted the role of HR Director for Community Council of Idaho in 2022. Her background in HR leadership includes 20+ years in manufacturing, food processing and agriculture. Liz earned her Bachelor of Science degree in HR Training & Development from Idaho State University in 2010. She has been a member of the Society for Human Resource Management since 2006 and is both a SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) through the Human Resource Certification Institute. Liz leads her team of 5 HR professionals serving the needs of CC Idaho across the state.
Korene Gonzalez, Employment and Training Director
In addition to being the Director of Employment and Training, Korene is also the Program and Grant Administrator of the Department of Labor National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) at the Community Council of Idaho. She has over 26 years of effective leadership, program design, resource development and coalition building experience. In 2023 she celebrated 35 years of dedicated service with CC Idaho. She is a member of the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP), the Idaho State Board of Education Taskforce on Hispanic Education, and the Midwest Association of Farmworker Organizations (MAFO).
Shaylee Cutler, Clinic Administrator
Bio Coming Soon
Dr. Joshua Stringam DO, Chief Medical Director
Dr. Joshua Stringam joined the Community Family Clinic as its Chief Medical Director in March 2021. Dr. Stringham is working with the clinic staff to improve and expand services to patients, including Hep C treatment, full OB services, and complete female healthcare. Dr. Stringam truly cares about his patients and seeks solutions to their health problems. One of his beliefs is that preventative care plays a big role in the patient’s wellness. In addition to quality care, he offers management of chronic conditions.
Dr. Stringam grew up in Provo, Utah where he completed his undergraduate education at BYU. He later attended the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM), which is part of Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ. He completed his residency program at Duke University/SRAHEC in Fayetteville, NC. He is a plant-based trained doctor and has 8 years of experience in the health field.
Dr. Stringam loves to spend time outdoors with his wife and 6 children, “I love rock climbing, backpacking, snowboarding, hiking, kayaking, surfing, snorkeling, and anything outdoors.” When asked why he decided to work for Community Family Clinic, Dr. Stringam said: “I decided to work for CFC because CFC has the resources, and I can make an impact in the community of Idaho Falls.
rrony@ccimail.org
Kathy Bayless, Director of Migrant & Seasonal Head Start
Rose-Hermance Rony, Director of Legal Services & Law Attorney
Originally from Haiti, Rose-Hermance Rony moved to the U.S as a teenager. She received a bachelor’s degree in History from La Sierra University, and from Concordia University received both a Master of Arts degree in Curriculum and Instruction and a Juris Doctorate.
Prior to entering law school, Ms. Rony taught elementary and middle school students for over ten years, where she earned a teacher of the year award every year for nine years. While in law school, Ms. Rony was also awarded the 2020 Diversity Leadership, the 2020 Pro Bono, and the 2020 Civility award. She was also a recipient of the Cali Award for Law Practice Technology in 2019.
During her years in law school, Ms. Rony started a National Lawyers Guild chapter at the school, served as the student liaison for Domestic Violence Court and the International Rescue Committee, and was a student ambassador completing over 25 hours of service. Ms. Rony also completed over 300 hours of pro bono services and started a Legal Knowledge class for immigrants to learn more about U.S. laws. Her success in initiating this class was highlighted in the January 2020 edition of Idaho’s Advocate Magazine.
Ms. Rony interned for Legal Aid of West Palm Beach where she translated documents from English to French and Haitian Creole. She also volunteered for the Idaho Legal Aid and the International Rescue Committee, where she received an Intern of the Year commendation for her services. She also participated in both the housing and criminal clinic of her school, served as Guardian ad Litem for ADA county, was the 2020 Deputy Administrative Editor of her school’s Law Review Journal, and volunteered for Judge Ellis for the Parental Right Termination Court.
Ms. Rony is passionate about the plights of immigrants and is dedicated to helping them navigate the complex legal system of the United States. Since law school, she has continued working in immigration and improving her knowledge. She is attending the Idaho Academy of Leadership for Lawyers Program and will graduate in May 2022. She also serves as the Chair of the Idaho AILA Chapter. Ms. Rony is currently licensed to practice in the State of Idaho. She is a member of the Idaho Chapter of American Inns of Court, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Idaho Women Lawyers, and the Haitian Association of Lawyers.
Merissa Douglas, Occupancy & Compliance Specialist
Merissa specializes in affordable housing and housing management, focusing on economic and community development. As a certified Housing Development Finance Professional (HDFP) through the National Development Council, she brings over eighteen years of compliance experience in the tax and finance sectors. Merissa’s expertise supports sustainable housing initiatives and community growth. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 2009, strengthening her financial and analytical foundation.
Though born in Virginia, she considers herself an Idaho native as most of her childhood and adulthood has been spent in Idaho, particularly the Treasure Valley.
Merissa lives in rural Idaho where she raises chickens and rabbits. She also loves graphic and website design and giving back to her community.
tblom@ccimail.org
dsanchez@ccimail.org