Management Team

KATHLEEN KRENEK, Executive Director

Kathleen Krenek assumed the position of Executive Director of Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence in July, 2001. She brought 31 years of non-profit leadership experience with her, including 16 years in domestic violence prevention and intervention. After working at the local level, Kathleen became the Public Policy Director for the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence, where she moved several pieces of significant legislation through the state House of Representatives. Most significantly, a bill that secured the largest funding increase for domestic violence services in Wisconsin history. From there she moved to the national level to work as Director of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, where she led policy development and technical assistance to battered women’s programs across the country.

Kathleen has written numerous papers dealing with topics including poverty, welfare reform, incarcerated battered women, and battered women who kill. In 2001, she published “The Transformation of the Battered Women’s Movement”.

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PATRICIA BENNETT, Director of Programs

Patricia Bennett is the Director of Program Services at Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence. Ms. Bennett started her work in the anti-domestic violence field as a volunteer on Next Door’s 24-hour crisis hotline in 1995. Ms. Bennett was hired as a case manager at the shelter 15 years ago and was promoted to Manager of Advocacy where she held that position for more than 5 years before being promoted to her current position. Ms. Bennett serves on several coordinating councils and is a leader in the community working to end violence against women and girls. She is a Board of Supervisors-appointed councilmember for the Santa Clara County Domestic Violence Council, the chair of the Police-Victim Advocacy Committee, is a member of the City of San Jose Family/Domestic Violence Advisory Board, the Membership Chair for the South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking, and is an Executive Board member for the Domestic Violence Advocacy Consortium of Santa Clara County.