National Board
Bridge of Hope National Board of Directors
Bethany Shue Nussbaum
Board ChairSenior Development Officer, Mennonite Economic Development Associates
Bethany serves as Senior Development Officer for Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), a nonprofit based in Ontario that empowers vulnerable populations out of poverty through business. Previously, Bethany was Advancement Director for Central Christian School, a private Christian school in northeast Ohio. Bethany holds a MBA in Leadership from Goshen College, recently completed an intensive Year of More program on social and emotional intelligence with Wright Foundation and has a passion for creating community, building relationships and developing others. She lives in northeast Ohio and enjoys reading, writing, spending time with her amazing nieces and nephew and finding God in nature. Bethany says, “So many of my interests and values overlap with the mission of Bridge of Hope. Building relationships and walking with women (and children) who are in need of support, care and connections during a difficult season of their life is a holy calling with a long lasting impact.”
Katie Engle
Vice-Chair/Chair ElectAccount Executive, Lockton Companies
Katie is a graduate of Boston College with a degree in Psychology and Hispanic Studies. She currently works as a Client Executive at Lockton Companies, a commercial insurance brokerage firm in Boston, working with a variety of large commercial and Not for Profit clients. Katie presently serves as Vice Chair and is the incoming Board Chair of Bridge of Hope National. As a mom juggling many different life demands, Katie strongly believes in the power of neighboring and the beautiful ways God works through it. Katie attends a Congregational church in the Boston suburbs where she lives with her husband, Charlie and their two-year-old daughter.
Ben Cattell Noll
Board SecretaryHomeless Services Consultant with ICF International
Ben Cattell Noll is a stay-at-home Dad to his 1-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter and part-time homeless services consultant with ICF International. Throughout his career, Ben has worked in a variety of roles in homeless services including serving as a permanent supportive housing case manager and assistant director for a rapid re-housing program in Washington, DC and as a technical assistance specialist with the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Ben was first introduced to Bridge of Hope as a child when his Mom volunteered to help with fundraising events and is now proud to be serving in his third term on the Bridge of Hope National board where he serves as Board Secretary and Chair of the Cultural Humility Committee. Ben and his wife Laura live in Lancaster City and attend Blossom Hill Mennonite Church.
Steve Hawbaker
Board TreasurerChief Financial Officer, Allegheny Financial Group, Ltd.
Steve, a C.P.A., is the CFO and Chief Compliance Officer of Allegheny Financial Group in Pittsburgh, PA. Steve and his wife Tammy have three adult children and attend Memorial Park Presbyterian Church, where Steve served on the Deacon board and with several other ministries of the church. He served on a local school board for 12 years and on the boards of Community Auto (a car donation organization he helped to form), Foster Grandparents, Western PA Community Accountants, and the IRS VITA program. In his spare time, Steve enjoys his family, music, and physical fitness. Steve is glad to be utilizing his skill set to further the mission of Bridge of Hope.
Colleen Ulke
Executive Committee Member at-largeGraduate Student and Birth Doula with Birth Doulas of Pittsburgh
Colleen is a native Pittsburgher. She graduated from Grove City College with a degree in Social Services and Christian Ministry. She is a graduate student as well as a birth doula with Birth Doulas of Pittsburgh and previously served as Communications Director at the Pittsburgh Kids Foundation. Colleen is excited to serve on the National Board of Bridge of Hope. She believes that the Bible is clear about taking care of those who are in need. She has personal experience with family members who could have greatly benefited from the support that Bridge of Hope extends to young women and their children. Colleen attends Orchard Hill Church in Wexford and is a member of the worship team there. She has been married to her husband, Ayhan, for almost 24 years and has two daughters and a son.
Dr. Samuel R. Benbow, D.Ed.
Associate Professor, Department of Social Work & Gerontology, Shippensburg University of PA
Sam brings a wealth of experience in Social Work; mental health, disabilities, professional development, inclusionary practices and team building. He has served on local, regional, national and international boards within the field of social work practice. He and his wife Bernadette are parents of two young adult daughters. They attend St. Peters AME Church in Shippensburg, and in their spare time enjoy riding motorcycles, and spending time with family and close friends. Sam says “I have experienced extreme poverty and near homelessness growing up in a single parent home in inner city Philadelphia. Growing up, I was blessed to be surrounded by caring people in our church and community who helped raise me to always remember that to whom much is given much is required. Bridge of Hope provides a wonderful opportunity for me to give by being a partner and supportive voice in our collective efforts to help build strong and resilient families.”
Veronica Danielle Hennessy
Customer Cares Specialist, National Reservations Center for Penske
Veronica Hennessy is a Customer Cares Specialist for the National Reservations Center for Penske, in Berks County, PA, where she has worked since 2019. She is a program alumni of Bridge of Hope from 1997-98. She has been actively involved with Bridge of Hope alumni over the years and loves staying connected with other alum via Facebook.
Her sons are now young adults and she is very proud of them. Veronica attends Glad Tidings Church in Reading, PA. Through her work with Penske, she has also served as the Loaned Campaign Specialist for the company with Berks County United Way.
Veronica says, “I am so grateful to Bridge of Hope and am humbled and honor that you would consider me for this important opportunity.”
Lindsay Hueston
Editorial Specialist, National Alliance to End Homelessness
Lindsay is the Editorial Specialist at the National Alliance to End Homelessness, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States. In this role, she manages the development, revision, and publication of the organization’s written materials. Prior to her work at the Alliance, Lindsay worked in communications for NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice and served a year with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest at Real Change News (Seattle, WA). She holds a B.A. in English and French from Saint Joseph’s University. Lindsay has participated in the Contemplative Leaders in Action program through the Jesuits’ Office of Ignatian Spirituality, and enjoys connecting with other young adults about the intersection of social justice and spirituality. Lindsay lives in Washington, D.C.
Pastor Victor Johnson
Pastor of Brownsville Church of God
Pastor Johnson has led Brownsville Church of God in Fayetteville (near Chambersburg, PA) for 39 years. He is a principled, articulate Christian leader who loves people and serves them on both the micro and macro levels. Pastor Johnson is a person with a depth of awareness of cultural humility. Vic served as a bi-vocational pastor, working for Schindler Elevator Corporation for 42 years. He retired as Senior Division Leader in 2013, and now works full-time in pastoral church ministry. Vic and his wife Katherine have been married for 44 years. They are proud parents of three children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Pastor Vic believes that God is at work in our world today reaching out to all generations. He has a deep love for God, for all people, and for the work of ministry.
Josh Keefer
Partner, North Group Consultants
Josh Keefer is a partner at North Group Consultants where he works with leaders and their organizations to discover and achieve their highest potential. Josh’s background in organizational development and behavior, combined with his diverse career-path in business, nonprofit leadership, and ministry, provide a distinct vantage-point to see board work from both a strategic and philosophical perspective. Josh holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Elizabethtown College. He is an active member of the local community and in his spare time, enjoys running, experiencing new cultures, and working on home projects. Josh along with his wife, Laura, daughter, Abigail, and son, Micah, reside in Manheim, PA and attend LCBC Church. The reason Josh gets excited about Bridge of Hope is the powerful use of a simple and replicable model to address and eradicate family homelessness in our communities; these families are our neighbors. And through the model, to embrace and include these families as part of our communities. The heart of this model flows from a place of response to the first and greatest commandment, and very practically allows all of us to more fully live out the second greatest commandment –to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Karen King
Cultivate Manager, Cultivate Lancaster
Karen serves as the Cultivate Manager for Cultivate Lancaster, a non-profit organization hosted by the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce. Her role is focused on business development, strategic planning, community outreach, and overseeing events and marketing. Additionally, as an entrepreneur, she helps small businesses manage financial processes and guides them in understanding their accounting software. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Penn State University and is currently enrolled at Elizabethtown College pursuing a master’s degree in strategic leadership. Karen lives in Lititz, PA (Lancaster County) with her husband Jason and their three daughters. She is a member at Lancaster Evangelical Free Church in Lititz. Outside of work, she finds joy in baking, reading, and spontaneous getaways with family and friends. Karen loves the Bridge of Hope model and is excited to jump in!
Mario Martinez
Managing Member, Wisdom Capital, LLC.
Mario serves as the Managing Member and principal shareholder of Wisdom Capital LLC, a real estate private equity firm that concentrates in purchasing, managing and selling a variety of real estate asset classes. As a Managing Member, Mario also added a brick and mortar real estate investment arm to the company by investing in the construction of multiple development projects in the greater Philadelphia area. During his tenure, Mario has coordinated deployment of millions of dollars in note acquisitions and real estate investments. He has performed extensive due diligence for large portfolio acquisitions and has created a customized online investment management platform.
Originally from El Salvador, Mario holds a triple major in Business Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurial Studies from Eastern University where he currently serves as a Trustee. He and his wife Nicole live in Wayne and enjoy traveling, sports and spending time at home with their dog, Bailey.
Alisa Miller
President and CEO, Kairos Health Systems
Alisa Miller, C.P.A., is President and CEO of Kairos Health Systems. Alisa and her husband live in Haymarket, VA and are the parents of one son. Alisa’s educational and professional background includes nearly 20 years in public accounting for both national and regional firms. The mission of Bridge of Hope resonates with Alisa, having learned the importance of a support network for families from her father’s experience growing up with an abusive parent that routinely forced him, his siblings and mother to be without a home, seeking the kindness of family and friends.
Michael Schwalm
Group Vice President, OMNIA Partners
Mike is Group Vice President at OMNIA Partners and has been in sales for over 30 years. Mike is a natural networker and enjoys his work in sales that includes a national footprint. He and his wife, Jennifer live in Mechanicsburg, PA. Mike loves music and worship leading at their church, Trinity Lutheran Church. Mike and Jennifer have two adult daughters and sons-in-law and are enjoying grandparenting! Mike is passionate about the mission of Bridge of Hope.
Nikki Shingle
Consultant, North Group Consultants
Nikki is a consultant at North Group Consultants. Over the course of more than two decades, Nikki has served purpose-driven professional organizations as a leader and service provider. In her most recent role, she had the privilege of leading a team of financial consultants at Everence, where they served non-profit organizations, businesses, and churches in Central Pennsylvania. Additionally, she contributed to the growth of the organization’s services and the charitable foundation.
Nikki’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Messiah University and a Master of Arts in Organizational Development and Leadership from Shippensburg University. To deepen her expertise, she also earned the CAP (R) Certified Advisor in Philanthropy credential from The American College of Financial Services.
“I am so grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Bridge of Hope community to help single mothers and their families. We all need to be reminded that we are not alone and we are worthy of love. I want to be a part of that!”
Kevin R. Thomas
Kevin has served in the field of education for over 30 years as a teacher, coach, athletic director, dean of students, assistant principal and principal. Throughout that time he displayed a passion for collaborating with young people, attempting to make a lasting impression and help to shape their future. Kevin and his wife, Jaymie live in Gettysburg, PA and have 2 adult children that live in Wilmington, DE and New York City. Kevin and Jaymie are members of Brownsville Church of God and serve on various ministry teams within the church. In his spare time Kevin serves as an Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at Gettysburg College and is an avid bicyclist.
Beth Trout
Vice President of Advancement, Landis Communities
In her role with Landis Communities (Lititz, PA), Beth seeks to builds relationships with current and potential partners of Landis Homes and Landis Communities to help them achieve their philanthropic goals. Through her more than 25 years of professional experience in the nonprofit environment with organizations like the American Heart Association and the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse, Beth has always found meaning in being able to connect to the mission and vision of an organization. Introduced to Bridge of Hope through our Gala Luncheon, Beth was immediately drawn to the service model and impressed by the excellent work being done across the country. Beth is now the co-chair of our Gala Luncheon. She and her husband Jason have 4 young adult and adult children. She and Jason attend LCBC Church.
Reverend Dr. Marsha Brown Woodard, DMIN
Senior Lecturer in Christian Ministries and Director of Supervised Ministries, Palmer Theological Seminary
The Reverend Dr. Marsha Brown Woodard is Senior Lecturer in Christian Ministries and Director of Supervised Ministries at Palmer Theological Seminary, the Seminary of Eastern University, in St. Davids, PA.. She is a member of the Saints Memorial Baptist Church in Bryn Mawr, where she serves as Associate Pastor. She also has ministerial standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Dr. Woodard is passionate in helping people become all that God intends for them and whether that is in the classroom, from the pulpit or in a community organization her work leads to transformed lives and transformed communities. Bridge of Hope helps families to be transformed as they move from homelessness to homes and the opportunity to share in this work is what led Dr. Woodard to join the Board. She resides in Norristown, PA is an avid reader and loves to collect pink elephants.