Urban Corps of San Diego County
Leadership Team
Rhody Soria
Chief Executive Officer
Rhody Soria is the Chief Executive Officer of Urban Corps of San Diego County. He joined Urban Corps in November 2025.
Rhody has over 30 years of experience in the corps movement. He began his journey as a corpsmember with the California Conservation Corps, (CCC) later joining Caltrans before returning to the CCC to lead their fire crew at the Camarillo Center. From there, Rhody continued to grow within the organization to become supervisor, manager, director and eventually district director for the Inland Empire. At the CCC, he led several milestone initiatives — establishing the first all-female fire crew, launching the CCC’s first all-veteran corps crew and forestry corps crews, and helping CCC teams become the nation’s first “shovel-ready” project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Rhody’s leadership is rooted in his lifelong dedication to creating pathways for young people. He brings to Urban Corps not just decades of executive experience, but a deep understanding of the promise and purpose of the corps model—and its lasting impact on both individuals and communities.
Arturo Perzabal
Chief Operating Officer
Arturo Perzabal serves as Chief Operating Officer at Urban Corps of San Diego County, bringing a wealth of experience and leadership to the organization. With a strong background in civic and social service operations, Arturo has spent over a decade driving impact across diverse sectors including landscaping, construction, grants management, sales and recycling commodities.
Arturo is results-oriented and highly skilled in operational logistics, labor relations, customer service and team development. He is known for his collaborative leadership style, effective communication and commitment to ethical practices and integrity in the workplace. As a dedicated team player, he consistently promotes a positive and productive environment rooted in Urban Corps’ mission to serve the community.
Arturo holds a master’s degree in corporate finance and a bachelor’s in accounting from CETYS Universidad, a respected private institution in Baja California, Mexico. His combined expertise in financial management and operational leadership plays a key role in advancing the organization’s goals and long-term sustainability.
Marissa Cassani
Director of Human Resources
Marissa has more than 15 years of experience working with San Diego’s youth and young adults.
Marissa began her career at Urban Corps in 2014. Her dual role as District Manager for the Barrio Logan Maintenance Assessment District (MAD) (a multi-year contract awarded to Urban Corps by the City of San Diego) and Executive Associate to the Chief Executive Officer combined and showcased her leadership, administration and management skills with her passion for youth, program development and community service.
After serving as Senior Program Director for two years, Marissa transitioned into her current role as Director of Human Resources, where she has led the department for the past two years. As a member of the Executive Team, she oversees all HR functions including talent acquisition, employee relations, compliance, performance management and staff development. Marissa plays a key role in shaping organizational culture, fostering employee growth and ensuring that Urban Corps continues to be a workplace where both staff and Corpsmembers can thrive.
Prior to joining Urban Corps, Marissa worked at the state-run California Conservation Corps, assisting with education and career development of Corpsmembers enrolled in the program. Her dedication, tenacity and passion for youth also propelled her to Access, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides access to education and workforce training for youth and young adults.
Brenda Figueroa
Director of Corpsmember Development
Brenda Figueroa serves as the Director of Corpsmember Development at Urban Corps of San Diego, leading initiatives that equip young adults with the tools, training and support needed to thrive. A proud former Corpsmember with the California Conservation Corps, Brenda has dedicated her career to the Corps movement, working to empower underserved youth and create pathways to education, employment and personal growth.
Her experience includes working with the Workforce Partnership’s ACCESS program to connect young adults with career opportunities and resources, as well as serving as Corpsmember Student Services Coordinator for the Urban Corps Charter School, where she supported students in overcoming barriers to success. Brenda’s leadership is grounded in firsthand experience, a deep understanding of youth development and a passion for transforming lives through service, mentorship and opportunity.
Dan Thomas
Executive Director, Urban Corps Charter School
Dan began his career in teaching and educational leadership more than 30 years ago after obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in Science and Technology from Mississippi State University. Dan joined Urban Corps of San Diego County as a teacher in 2001. His classroom experience includes a variety of subjects and instructional methods geared to meet the diverse learning needs of students of different ethnic, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds ranging from pre-teens to young adults.
As Urban Corps’ onsite charter school grew in student population, Dan transitioned into educational leadership. He obtained his Administrative Services Credential in 2010. In 2011, he helped transition the school into a stand-alone non-profit under its current charter through the Mono County Office of Education, simultaneously obtaining Public Charter School Grant Program funding. Under his leadership Urban Corps Charter School obtained e-Rate funding eligibility in 2011, became WASC Accredited in 2012, began the National School Lunch Program in 2013 and added campuses in National City and Vista serving the youth of the California Conservation Corps in 2014.
In this time, the school also adopted an intensive wrap-around student support services department known as Corpsmember Development which aids students in career planning, job placement and life skills through counseling and case management accessing additional resources from a plethora of community partnerships. When Dan started at Urban Corps in 2001, he was the single teacher serving 70 total students and teaching a class of 10-15 each day per week. Today, Urban Corps Charter School attendance has grown by 250% and the school now boasts 15 credentialed teachers (including administrators), 17 classified and support staff and five permanent volunteer aides serving a student body of between 150-200 Corpsmembers attending school one day per week.
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