Mary Sue Scheidler
Current President, member of EH Board since 2008
Prior to her Board involvement, Mary Sue has been a volunteer and supporter of Elizabeth House for the past several years. Her volunteer and philanthropic work includes organizations such as Maranatha High School, Pasadena Christian School, San Gabriel Valley Council of Boy Scouts, Westmont College and International Justice Mission. Mary Sue and her husband are business owners of DPS Software Systems in Arcadia. She is also very involved with her church, Lake Avenue Congregational Church, where she has attended for 36 years, serving on Nominating Committees, Women’s Ministries, Children’s Ministry Team and other outreach ministries. Mary Sue also served on the Board of Maranatha High School from 1997-2003. Mary Sue has served as Gala Committee Chair for the annual Spring Event the past two years.
Anthony Stanley, LLP
Current Vice President, member of EH Board since 2003
Anthony Stanley has served Elizabeth House as a volunteer and board member over the past eight years, and currently serves as Board Vice President. Anthony became involved with Elizabeth House through his church, Sierra Madre Congregational, where he has also served as a volunteer in youth ministry and Sunday school, and with the Men’s Ministry programs. Professionally, Anthony is an attorney and Executive Counsel for The Walt Disney Company in Burbank. Prior to joining Disney, Anthony practiced law with the law firm of Pillsbury Winthrop LLP in Los Angeles. Anthony holds a J.D. degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, and a B.S. from University of California, Davis. Anthony and his wife of 15 years, Jennifer, reside in Altadena with their two children, ages 10 and 12.
Sandra Goergen
Current Secretary, member of EH Board since 2008
As Vice President of Human Resources for Westrec Marinas since 1990, Sandra brings her expertise in the area of human resources. She has been a volunteer for Elizabeth House for the past five years. Professionally, Sandra received her BS degree in Business and Management from the University of Redlands and holds additional certificates in Employment Law. As a Human Resource specialist, she has developed employee handbooks, provided training and supervision in all areas dealing with conflict resolution, employee performance reviews, communication, etc. For the past fifteen years, Sandra has volunteered at several non profit organizations similar to Elizabeth House, providing interviewing skills, employment search skills as well as mentoring and encouragement to single mothers in their path toward self sufficiency. Sandra is a member of Faith Community Church of West Covina.
Diane Apegian, MA
Member of EH Board since 2009
Diane earned her Master’s Degree in Psychology from Pepperdine University. She taught psychology and child development classes at the University of Phoenix for seven years in Pasadena. Not only is Diane a Board Member of Elizabeth House, she teaches Parenting Classes to the residents on a regular basis. She is also on the Liaison Committee at Elizabeth House and participates in volunteer activities at the House. Diane is also very active in her church, Lake Avenue Church where she attends Morning Break Bible Study for women and sings in the praise choir. Additionally, she and her husband host a small group at their home on a weekly basis. Diane also has her real estate broker’s license and handles real estate transactions for family and friends.
Kate Rhymer
Member of EH Board since 2009
Kate heard about Elizabeth House six years ago through a former board member and immediately became one of the our most faithful volunteers in the program aspect, serving as mentor, office help, Gala Committee member. She soon became an advocate of Elizabeth House in recruiting financial support, and led this endeavor through her personal philanthropic giving. Her volunteer work outside of Elizabeth House includes many years of service with Young Life as well as ministry in her local church, Montrose Church. In addition to joining the EH Board this past year, Kate has also taken over the volunteer position of Volunteer Coordinator, overseeing the recruitment, screening, interviewing and supervising process of the many volunteers at Elizabeth House.
Bill Smith
Member of EH Board since 2005
By way of profession, Bill is a licensed general contractor and owner of W L Smith Construction of La Canada, CA. He serves as our Director of Facilities and works hard to maintain and upkeep our property. His involvement with Elizabeth House came in 2004 when he became the Project Manager for our renovation and expansion project. Bill is a long-time member of Lake Avenue Congregational Church where he has served on various committees and overseen building projects. Bill also volunteers his time with Union Rescue Mission of Los Angeles, and Youth with a Mission where he builds houses in Mexico every year. His wife and three children live in La Canada, CA.
George Van Alstine, M.Div.,Th.M
Member of EH Board since 2010
George is senior pastor of Altadena Baptist Church where he has served for the past 38 years. George received his B.A. from Rutgers University, his M.Div and Th.M from Fuller Seminary. George has served on numerous boards and committees, many of which he has chaired, both on the denominational level, school and district level, and many, many civic and local community organizations. Most of these organizations are causes that purpose to bring health, justice, equality, healing, and peace to the marginalized and vulnerable of our community. He has also received numerous awards for his honorable service. George has been a faithful member and officer of the Altadena Kiwanis Club since 1974. He has also authored one book and several
David Medina, MBA,
Current Treasurer and member of EH Board since 2010
David is Manager of US Sales Analysis for Avon Products, and works out of their Pasadena facility. His responsibilities include sales planning, reporting, and management of the Representative 401(a) plan. David joined Avon in 1993, after completing his MBA at USC as a Consortium for Graduate Study in Management fellow. He was an Account Manager for Procter and Gamble, upon receiving his Bachelor degree from USC in 1987. David heard about Elizabeth House through his church, Sierra Madre Congregational where he is leader of his adult Sunday School class. David and his wife Sherry live in Arcadia where they are raising their two young sons.
Tsega Worku, 
MFT
Member of EH Board since 2010
Tsega is a licensed marriage and family therapist, practicing in private practice in Pasadena for the past six years. He is also the Director of Counseling at Lake Avenue Church, where he attends with his family. Tsega graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1997 with a masters degree in Marital and Family Therapy. Having worked as the Assistant Director of Mental Health Services at The Sycamores, a residential facility for children, Tsega brings years of clinical experience and expertise to the program side of Elizabeth House. Tsega had heard about Elizabeth House and yet he became personally passionate when a distant relative experienced life change and significant help through this ministry. Tsega lives in Los Angeles with his wife Kidest and their two daughters.
Nancy Newhouse Porter, LLP
Member of EH Board since 2011
Nancy has a sustained interest in philanthropic enterprises serving the needs of vulnerable women and children. She has made multiple trips to build homes for families in the Mississippi Delta with Habitat for Humanity. She founded “Joining Hearts + Hands,” a non-profit organization whose mission is to establish and fund programs supporting children in Africa orphaned by the Aids epidemic, and children and young women in the United States whose personal circumstances put them at risk. Nancy currently tutors homeless children in Los Angeles through the School on Wheels program.
Nancy has been involved at La Canada Presbyterian Church as a member of the Personnel Committee and in the Youth program as an adult leader. She served on the PTA Executive Board at La Canada High School. Nancy earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Southern California, with magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa honors. A graduate of the UCLA School of Law, she is a co-founding partner of Newhouse Porter Hubbard law firm. The firm has a transactional law practice, primarily representing writers, directors, producers, and other filmmakers in business transactions. She and her husband, Doug, are the parents of three children.
David S. Poole, LLP
Member of EH Board since 2011
David lives in Pasadena and has been married to April for 31 years. They have three adult children, Shannon, Ryan, and Sean and are expecting their first grandchild any day.
David is a partner in the law firm of Poole & Shaffery, LLP. He specializes in civil litigation with a focus in the areas of complex business disputes, labor and employment, real property and environmental law. Prior to becoming a founding partner of the firm in 1998, David was a Deputy Attorney General with the State of California, Department of Justice, in-house counsel with a large corporation and partner in a large national law firm. He has been on the Boards of Maranatha High School (2001-2008); Azusa Pacific University (2009 to present); as well as various church Board positions. David attends Christian Assembly in Eagle Rock.
David B. Gallagher
Member of EH Board since 2011
Dave and Kathy Gallagher have been married for 27 years. They met in High School in Potomac, Maryland and moved to Southern California in 1990. They have three children, Kelly, Patrick, and Molly; 25, 23, and 21 years old respectively. They have lived in La Canada since 1996.
Dave has worked at JPL since 1989. During the course of his career he has been the Integration and Test Manager for the Hubble Space Telescope Repair Mission, Project Manager for Space Interferometry Mission, Project Manager for the Spitzer Space Telescope and his current position as Deputy Director. In addition, Dave has run an Investment Advisory firm for the past 20 years. They have worshiped and been involved at the Montrose Church since 2006. Previously they worshiped at La Canada Presbyterian Church. Dave and Kathy have been involved in Young Life for many years, both as part of Committee and Clubs. Dave was extensively involved in the High School Youth program at LCPC and led a group of boys from 10th grade through college completion. He remains connected with these young men today. Dave and Kathy have been involved in the Young Married Ministry for four years at Montrose Church.