Family Promise Staff

CHERY CAREW

Board President

Chery is the Office Manager for Carew & Company Marine Survey.  Has been a major leader of Family Promise OSB since its inception. Served on the Regional Women's Board as communication chair for the Christian Church. Has served as leader for many women's events at the regional and national level and has been an elder and chair of her congregation. Was employed by First Christian Church as the Youth & Education Director.

LYNNE HOOK

Board Member

Lynne has been a member of American Martyrs Church since 1995.  She has served in many leadership positions there.  Lynne motivated AMC to sign on as a host congregation for FPOSB and coordinated the ministry for several years.  Lynne has been practicing employment law in Los Angeles for over 25 years and founded Employer Lawyer PC in 2020.  She also serves on the boards of the Dan Murphy Foundation, Notre Dame Academy of Los Angeles, and St. Frances X. Cabrini Catholic School.  Lynne is married and has two children.

PATRICIA ANAYA

Board Member

Patricia graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in Sociology and Pre-Law. During the academic school year, Patricia assisted the Chair of the Sociology Department in research and the publication of a book about Homelessness in America called No More Kin: Exploring Race, Class, and Gender in Family Networks. Recently, Patricia served as a volunteer and committee member of the Family Promise volunteers at St. James Church in Redondo Beach.

FRANK HANZEL

Treasurer

Frank is a five-year volunteer of Family Promise of the South Bay having served multiple host and support congregations. He is a retired manager of technology, product development, and product planning at Xerox Corporation. Frank currently serves on the Finance Committee of Family Promise board. A member of Manhattan Beach Community Church, he also serves as the Treasurer of PFLAG Manhattan Beach/South Bay.

LORI EASTMAN

Board Member

Lori was a part of the founding board and after taking a sabbatical, returned in 2020.

LYNN FADALE

Board Member

Six years retired after being a Court Reporter for 32 years.  One of the original founders of the Redondo Beach Ten Thousand Villages Store in Riviera Village.  Currently on their board.  Also an active volunteer in the store.   Presently help  PJ Murphy as co-coordinator for FP at Amerian Martyrs Church.

TED ODEN

Board Vice President 

Ted is an associate pastor with the First Christian Church of Torrance.  He has been involved with part-time bi-vocational ministry since 2005, serving as Minister of Contemporary Worship, and most recently Minister of Adult Education. Ted is also a retired aerospace industry IT Professional, where his role was as an internal customer account manager.

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Ted has been married to his wife Janie for 39 years and has two grown sons, one daughter in law and one granddaughter. Over a ten-year period when his sons were in grade school and middle school, Ted coached AYSO soccer, Little League Baseball, Parks and Rec Basketball and Flag Football. Ted has been involved in church leadership for over 40 years, serving in numerous lay leadership roles before earning a certificate in ministry from the Pacific School of Religion and entering part-time vocational ministry. Ted currently volunteers as an adaptive ski instructor with both the United States Adaptive Recreation Center in Big Bear and the Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra at Mammoth Mountain, CA.

NANCY LEWIS

Board Member

Nancy works as a non-profit professional and has been on the board since 2018.

JEREMY DAVISON

Board Member

Jeremy is excited to be joining the Family Promise and to help keep hope alive in the hearts of our South Bay brothers and sisters.  He is a member of an affiliate church, San Pedro United Methodist, and currently sits on their leadership team.  He currently works in auto insurance claims, resolving losses and getting people back on the road.  Jeremy enjoys music and reading and has a passion for learning more about how to be strengthening our community.

GERRY JACOBY

Board Member

Gerry has lived in the South Bay for over twenty-five years. She retired in 2017 after a forty-two-year career in elementary education. She served as teacher, principal and most recently as CEO of Value Schools, a charter school organization whose mission is building and operating schools for K-12 students in the downtown Los Angeles area. She and her husband Paul have two grown daughters and two wonderful grandchildren. Gerry is active in a variety of ministries at American Martyrs Parish.

NANCY JOHNSON

Secretary

Nancy is retired from Toyota Motor Sales, USA with a 28-year career in Procurement. She is currently working part time as a consultant for ITG Automotive. For several years, she has held leadership positions at First Christian Church, Torrance including active participation in the Family Promise host weeks at the church. Co-chaired the 2020 virtual Empty Bowls event and will be serving on the Family Promise Board as Secretary.

BRENDA CHANDLER

Board Member

Brenda is originally from Edgefield, South Carolina.  She currently resides in Long Beach with her teenage daughter, Jordan. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration, Financial Management.  She also has an “Associate's degree” in Fashion Merchandising from Brooks College. She has spent over 25 years in retail management. 
She currently serves as Vice President for the Long Beach Unified School District PTA

JAMES KOONTZ

Board Member

James is committed to inclusivity and the life-long success of people with disabilities as curriculum and program coordinator for students with intellectual and moderate-severe disabilities in the Los Angeles Unified School District. After earning a degree in social welfare at UC Berkeley, and multiple credentials at CSU Dominguez Hills, James researched elementary teacher impressions of the long-term expectations of students with severe disabilities while earning his doctorate in education at UCLA. Previous work in LAUSD includes teaching and district-level support of students with autism, integration of students with severe disabilities into neighborhood schools, and preparation of students with disabilities to leave high school prepared for successful participation in college and work environments. In addition to a focus on students with disabilities, James loves technology, serving his community, and spending time with family.