our team

Meredith grew up in the Greater Sacramento Area and developed a love for the community at a young age. She attended Sacramento State and was active in many philanthropic organizations. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, Meredith followed her passion for art and design and earned her Master’s in Fine Arts from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, with an emphasis in fashion design. After many years in the industry, Meredith saw a growing need to help those in need. Utilizing her relationship building skills, Meredith shifted her career path to the non-profit world. Prior to The Gathering Inn, she worked at another local nonprofit where she furthered her knowledge in fundraising, community outreach, and donation coordination. Meredith joined The Gathering Inn in the fall of 2020 as Executive Assistant. In her role, she wore many hats that included church coordination, managing in-kind donations, event coordinating, and helping to develop a new volunteer program. In September 2022, Meredith shifted to the role of Manager of Engagement and Stewardship as she continues to follow her passion of reaching out and inviting the community to be involved in TGI's mission.

Ron Arneson began working for the Gathering Inn in 2006. Since then, he’s filled numerous positions including monitor, church coordinator, and bus supervisor. In 2016, Ron became the Director of Interim Care Programs and is responsible for the management of two facilities that temporarily house medically fragile guests. His tireless work ethic and genuine desire to care for those in need make him the perfect fit for the position. In 2018, Ron received the Placer County Public Health Excellence Award recognizing his dedication to compassionate service for the homeless. Apart from work, Ron enjoys attending a local church, cooking with his wife (mostly the eating part), spending time with his newly married daughter and son in law, and watching his son play high school basketball.

Nicole's career at The Gathering Inn began in 2013 upon the recommendation of a friend who thought she would be the perfect fit. Starting as a part time monitor, Nicole quickly realized that she had found her calling helping those in need and accepted a fulltime position. Soon after, Nicole's role expanded to Lead Monitor. When The Gathering Inn opened a shelter in Auburn, Nicole was given the opportunity to take on the lead monitor position, train new staff, and assist in building the new program. As Nicole continued to excel, she advanced to become a case manager. In this role, she found a new love following individuals from their first day at the shelter and watching their personal growth and transformation as they moved into sustainable housing. As Nicole's skills strengthened, her value was also recognized. So when offered, Nicole enthusiastically accepted the role of interim program director at South Placer Emergency Shelter Program as another growth opportunity. It was at this time her leadership skills and program knowledge set her apart, and she was offered the role permanently. Today, Nicole leads a strong team as South Placer Program Director and looks forward to TGI's future.

Brandy’s passion for helping others and her drive to change the stigma surrounding vulnerable populations brought her to The Gathering Inn in 2017 when she began volunteering. Shortly after starting she joined the team as monitor and then eagerly worked her way through different positions, learning each with enthusiasm as she discovered new ways to assist others. Brandy is now TGI’s Director of Human Resources. She is dedicated to cultivating a culture of teamwork, compassion, collaboration, and communication. She seeks a climate that empowers and motivates others to realize their full potential. One accomplishment Brandy is very proud of is earning her Professional in Human Resources certificate. After months of studying, she passed the test on her first try. Outside of work Brandy enjoys spending quality time with her friends, family, and her pet cat. She also enjoys playing games whether they are live or virtual.

Gabriel has lived in the Greater Sacramento area for his entire life. Since he was a child, he always had a desire to help people. He began learning how to do this by joining the Boy Scouts of America in the first grade and participated as a Scout through junior high school. It seemed natural to pursue a career in law enforcement. Upon graduating from California State, Sacramento, with a degree in criminal justice, Gabe started his career as a probation officer where he served for 19 years. Next, he became a case manager serving inmates within federal prison. In 2021, Gabe joined the team at The Gathering Inn. He believes being part of TGI has been the most rewarding experience of his career. He is grateful and appreciative of the opportunity TGI has given him to advocate for the most vulnerable people in our community.

Clyde was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona where he attended high school and a local Community College. He served on active duty in the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Campbell, KY and oversees in Iraq and Korea. He relocated to California in 2010 and began coaching competitive and high school soccer while working in positions that focused on community-based services. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and later obtained his M.B.A. Clyde briefly worked as a Client Services Counselor for Placer County and assisted with Project Room-Key. Since joining TGI, Clyde has served as a case manager and program director for permanent supportive housing, and now as the program director for the Mid Placer Emergency Shelter.

Megan began in Homeless Services as a peer advocate at the Wellness Center in Auburn through Placer County's Adult System of Care. Megan became driven by the thought of being able to help at least one individual get back on their feet. That passion inspired her to pursue a career in Homeless Services. Megan began working for The Gathering Inn as a case manager in June of 2019. Quickly, her efforts became focused on assisting families obtain resources and permanent housing. Within a short timeframe, Megan was able to successfully assist every family that walked through the door thrive in permanent housing. In November 2020, Megan was promoted to Program Director for South Placer. As director, she strived to continue to help individuals in need by collaborating with community partners, learning new resources, and maintaining a safe environment for both guests and staff.