Dream Team

Melissa Wurz, CHC Director

Melissa has a passion for serving our community and helping people to know their foundation and identity in Christ. She has served as a case manager at SDC for 2.5 years and has helped to permanently house several men and women who have progressed and graduated through programing. Melissa and her husband Michael planted The Edge Community Church and have faithfully served for over 10 years. Her goal and passion is to help individuals to become self sufficient and firm in their identity in Christ.

Germaine Luciano, Executive Administrator

Germaine Luciano-Hatchell

Executive Administrator

Gabrielle is a director with Homeward Bound of Marin, with extensive experience in reducing disparities for low-income families and people experiencing homelessness.

Board of Directors

Germaine has been a participant and facilitator of Solano Dream Center since its conception. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Human Resource Management and is passionate about people both inside and outside the church.

Germaine is the Solano Dream Center Executive Administrator and Solano Dream Center Operations Manager. She has been overseeing the Administrative and Operational functions of Solano Dream Center since 2018. She handles all financial matters such as accounts payable/receivable, communications, program oversight and program training.

Germaine is a wife and mother of four children. Together they all worked and volunteered for The Edge Community Church for over 8 years in various positions and ministries. Her greatest gifts are serving and helping anyone who needs it, along with planning and organizing anything and everyone.

Terry Hatchell, Program Director

Pastor Mike Wurz

Solano Dream Center is led by Bay Area native, Michael Wurz. For over 10 years, Mike has helped this community through homeless outreach, community support, and partnerships with the City of Fairfield, City of Suisun and the City of Vallejo.

His passion is for Solano Dream Center to take individuals exactly where they are at and provide solutions to self-sustainability and self-reliance through individualized plans and guidance. Mike has been married to Melissa for over 15 years, and they have 3 children who have a passion for the community and helping others. Mike’s greatest gift is compassion and passion for the community and its needs.

Dr. Michael L. Hester

Dr. Hester is a retired pharmacist with over 40 years experience in healthcare. He is a graduate of University of California School of Pharmacy in San Francisco. Dr. Hester has attended Liberty Church in Fairfield, California and has been serving his local community for many years through his church. He has been a Board member of Solano Dream Center since 2019 and most recently became a Board Member of Christian Help Center in 2021. Dr. Hester is also an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor with the Touro University College of Pharmacy where he actively engages pharmacy students in the medical care of homeless persons in Solano County. Dr. Hester is also the founder of “Dignity Day” in Solano County, where homeless service providers come together to serve the homeless population in Solano County.

Terry Hatchell began his career serving the homeless community in 2015, managing the Edge Community Church’s Restoration Project. Terry holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management and brings over 20 years of Operations Management experience to the table.

Terry began managing the Transformation Village men’s dorm in August of 2021 and took over as Shelter Manager in April 2022, when Solano Dream Center assumed complete management of the shelter at 2166 Sacramento Street in Vallejo.

Terry’s goal at Solano Dream Center is to help homeless individuals obtain a life of self-sustainability by providing shelter and socio-economic resources.

Pastor Dennis Murphy

Pastor Dennis Murphy and his wife Donna moved their family from Los Angeles, California to Fairfield in 1999. They have four beautiful daughters who share in the joy of serving God.

Pastor Dennis has served as the founding pastor of Solano Dream Center. He has served as the President of the Fairfield-Suisun Ministerial Alliance for seven years, and he serves on the Clergy Action Network for the City of Fairfield.

Pastor Dennis has been serving and ministering to the homeless population for 30 years. As he likes to remind us all, Jesus said, “Whatever you do for the least of these…” he wasn’t just giving a command. Jesus gave us an invitation to be close to Him, because that’s where He is---loving on those in need.

He has embraced every joy and struggle in leading a faithful community while making an impact for Jesus Christ.

Gabrielle Auguste, AMFT

Gabrielle is a director with Homeward Bound of Marin, with extensive experience in reducing disparities for low-income families and people experiencing homelessness. She has demonstrated success in designing and implementing high-impact programs improving the health, education and socio-economic stability for disadvantaged people. Gabrielle has served as the vice-chair of First 5 Marin, and brings a strong voice for our communities in need. Gabrielle earned an Associate of Arts degree from the College of Marin, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Dominican University of California, and a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Francisco.

Michael E. Smith

Michael E. Smith is native to Chicago, Illinois and moved to the Bay Area in 1974 to begin searching for his career. Mr. Smith made history by being appointed as the first African American firefighter for the Monterey, CA Fire Department in 1978, two weeks after marrying his Wife Zella. In 1981 his career path went to the San Jose Fire Department where over the next 13 years Mr. Smith promoted through the ranks to reach Deputy Fire Chief.

History was made two more times as Mr. Smith was appointed as the first African American Fire Chief for the City of Fresno, CA in 1994 and the First African American Fire Chief for the City of Fairfield, CA in 2003. Chief Smith retired in 2008 after serving in the position of Fire Chief for 14 of his 30-year career.

Chief Smith plays an active role in Liberty Church in Fairfield, CA where he has made several trips to Liberia, West Africa as a member of the Mission Team.

Chief Smith and his wife have three children, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren whose lives they enjoy pouring into.