VIENNA, Va. – November 22, 2022 – Shelters to Shutters (S2S) is pleased to announce Margo Drakos, Managing Director at Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation (DRK), has joined Shelters to Shutters National Board of Directors to serve a three year term and assist in the strategic oversight and growth of the organization.
Margo is a former professional cellist turned social entrepreneur, impact investor, and proud Military Spouse. Margo spent the past decade as a founder and tech entrepreneur, working with private and public sector institutions to leverage technology to realize scale, revenue generation, and sustainability. During this time, Margo was CTO and Partner at McChrystal Group, LLC, a global advisory services firm, and Margo co-founded and led her first start-up, InstantEncore, the world’s leading provider of web and mobile technology to the performing arts. In 2011, she was made a Partner at SwitchCase Group, the lead investor in InstantEncore. Margo is also the Founder of ArtistYear, an AmeriCorps program working to address inequities in arts education in K-12 high-poverty schools via a National Service Arts Corps. In 2010, Margo was honored as Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum.
“Shelters to Shutters is a unique solution driving measurable impact for an underserved population across our nation. By leveraging existing assets within the multifamily real estate industry, S2S is creating a path for housing-insecure individuals to regain economic self-sufficiency,” commented Margo. “I am honored to serve on the national board and excited to have the opportunity to support S2S’s journey in service of this critical work.”
S2S partners with over 40 apartment owners and operators across Atlanta, Charleston, Charlotte, Houston, Nashville, National Capital Region, Orlando and Phoenix to place people at risk and experiencing homelessness in onsite, entry-level jobs, and provide them with housing at the same communities where they work. S2S provides each participant with career mentoring, technical training, financial literacy and access to support services to ensure a successful long-term transition. S2S works with multiple referring partners to identify suitable job applicants. The program changes the lives of individuals and families while providing quality, motivated employees for a rapidly growing industry in need of talent.
“Margo’s entrepreneurial expertise and her leadership in the social impact space aligns perfectly with the vision we have for our future and trajectory as an organization,” said David Williams, President and CEO of Shelters to Shutters. “I am thrilled for the opportunity to add her to our leadership team.”
About Shelters to Shutters:
Shelters to Shutters is a national 501(c)(3) organization that transitions individuals and families from homelessness to economic self-sufficiency by providing employment, housing and career training opportunities in partnership with the real estate industry. Across the country, Shelters to Shutters pairs leading property management companies with individuals experiencing homelessness who are ready to work. The result is an innovative program that provides full-time employment and housing opportunities for individuals facing homelessness and a pipeline of high quality, motivated employees for the multifamily housing industry. Shelters to Shutters currently operates in eight major markets: Atlanta, Charleston, Charlotte, Houston, Nashville, the National Capital Region, Orlando, and Phoenix. More information can be found at www.shelterstoshutters.org or by following the organization on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.