Effective Leaders Providing Expert Stewardship

President and Chief Executive Officer

Executive Vice President, Chief Operating & Program Officer

Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer

Chief Financial Officer

Regional Vice President of Programs

Regional Vice President of Programs

Vice President of Operations

Vice President of Philanthropy and External Communications

Senior Director

Bishop Brenda Bos was elected as the Bishop of the Southwest California Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America for a six-year term on June 5, 2021. With a background as a television producer and education from Claremont School of Theology and Pacific Lutheran Theology Seminary, she was ordained in 2014 and has since served in various capacities, including as Assistant to the Bishop for Rostered Leadership for the Southwest California Synod. Bishop Bos, a native Californian, emphasized the church's role in providing compassion and care during challenging times. She lives with her wife and adult son and holds the distinction of being the first openly lesbian bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Rev. Dr. Michael Gibson is the President of the Pacific Southwest District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. He is a native Californian, born and raised in Sacramento. He has a Bachelor of Arts, Humanities, from California State University, Sacramento, CA, and a Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO. In 1996, he earned a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA. President Gibson has served Lutheran churches in Garfield, NJ; Huntington Beach, CA; Lombard, IL; Milpitas, CA; and Costa Mesa, CA. President Gibson states, “My purpose is to awaken within the Body of Christ a local and global perspective on the Mission of God and to influence organizational systems so as to free and empower them for mission fulfillment.” He and his wife Kathy have been married since 1979, and they have two adult sons, Andrew and Tim.

On May 20, 2022, Reverend David C. Nagler was elected to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Pacifica Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) during the synod assembly at the Irvine Marriott in Irvine, California. Bishop Nagler has an extensive pastoral background, having served various congregations and missions. Notably, he has been pastor of Christ Lutheran Church–Pacific Beach in San Diego since 2015, and has also served as a missionary in Madagascar and held pastoral positions in Oregon and California. He holds degrees from Humboldt State University, University of Redlands, and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary.

Acting Chair, Vice-Chair

Ms. Athena Jones Esq. is a dedicated senior attorney within the Federal Government, bringing her extensive background in Ethics and Governance to her public service role. With licenses to practice law in Oklahoma and Texas, she holds the titles of Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Leading Professional in Ethics and Compliance (LPEC). Ms. Jones, a retired Air Force Colonel, served over 26 years on active duty, including her position as the General Counsel of the Air Force and Army Exchange Service. Outside of her legal and military accomplishments, she is an avid traveler, quilter, and reader, and holds membership in the Seven Continents Club for completing half marathons across the globe.

Treasurer

Bringing over 30 years of financial industry experience, Mr. Stephen Helper joins LSSSC with strong global leadership, communication, and analytical skills, poised to contribute to the organization's data-driven direction. A Certified Financial Planner with an MBA from UCLA, he held various roles at Hewlett-Packard for 23 years, and he currently serves as a vice president in the financial department of a major media and entertainment company. With deep community understanding and experience in organizational change, Mr. Helper is well-equipped to address evolving community needs at LSSSC.

Secretary

Rev. Sharon M. Ruff Richter is ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and currently ministers at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pasadena, CA. She began her pastorate in 2018 and has prior experience as a Vicar/Intern at various Lutheran churches. Before her ordination, she worked as a Port and Ship Chaplain and also pursued her artistic endeavors as the Owner/Artist of Paraclete Mosaics in Monrovia, CA.

President, CEO

As President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. LaSharnda Beckwith oversees the strategic direction and execution of the agency’s core mission: Ignited by faith, we live out God’s love by embracing, equipping, and empowering vulnerable individuals, families and communities toward self-sufficiency. Establishing a vision for community impact that works across private, public, and corporate sectors, Dr. Beckwith leads a diverse team of nearly 200 employees across 16 offices in six counties, to improve conditions for underserved and marginalized communities.

Hon. Damon L. Alexander, a Pasadena native and former U.S. Marine, has devoted nearly three decades to public service and leadership. He holds degrees in Political Science, Theology, and Public Administration, and completed leadership training at Harvard University. Alexander made history as the first African American elected to represent San Bernardino’s 7th Ward on the City Council. He is also the founding President of the Inland Empire Chapter of 100 Black Men of America, a Past Commander of the American Legion’s 25th District of California, and a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

With over thirty years of experience in higher education worldwide, Dr. Taiwo Ande currently holds the position of Senior Associate Provost at California Lutheran University, overseeing various academic units. Beyond his university role, he serves as vice chair at River Region Human Services, focusing on providing diverse services in Northeast Florida. He holds advanced degrees from institutions including the University of Ibadan, Keller Graduate School of Management, and Indiana State University, while also leading a Christ-focused group at Redeemed Christian Church of God, Jesus Embassy Los Angeles.

Dr. Danon Carter, Senior Vice President at CBS Academy, brings over two decades of global consulting and operations experience, specializing in leadership development, talent management, diversity and inclusion, and organizational transformation. She holds a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership, a Master of Management, and a Bachelor’s in Computer Science and Black Studies. In addition to leading multi-million-dollar initiatives and transitioning training programs to virtual formats, Dr. Carter teaches business and management courses at California Southern University and Southwestern Assemblies of God University. A published author and advocate of servant leadership, she is committed to empowering others and fostering ethical, inclusive workplace cultures.

Mr. Rick Davis, the Chair of the LSSSC Audit Committee, has over 19 years of experience in the credit union and community banking industries, including 12 years as Director of Analytics at Ventura County Credit Union. He holds a BBA in Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin and served 17 years in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves as a Russian/Serbo-Croatian linguist and Counter-Intelligence Agent. Residing in Simi Valley with his family, Mr. Davis is active in his local church, St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, and enjoys family outings, music, and playing Ultimate Frisbee.

Mr. Rex Evans is a private pilot who works for Amazon Air as a Ramp Ambassador. He previously served as a Supervisory Fire Engine Operator, Fire Prevention & Fire Investigator for the USDA Forest Service. Mr. Evans holds an EMT certification from Mt. San Jacinto Jr. College and attended Allan Hancock College for Fire Management. He resides in San Bernardino.

Mr. Kyle Fryling works as a training specialist at VisionFund, part of World Vision, in Monrovia, CA. In this role he manages staff training on technical and operational topics within 28 microfinance banking institutions globally. Mr. Fryling has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, with an Emphasis in Finance from Seattle Pacific University. He earned a Master of Business Administration, MBA, in International Economic Development from Eastern University in St. Davids, PA. His wife, The Reverend Megan Fryling, is the pastor of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Granada Hills, CA. They have one son and two foster children.

Rev. Nader Hanna is a cross-cultural Bible teacher, missionary, and Executive Director of King of the Nations Ministries, serving churches and communities across Southern California. With over 20 years in full-time ministry alongside his wife, Amy, he has produced and broadcast Christian media to the Arab/Muslim world and led outreach, discipleship, and leadership training programs. Rev. Hanna specializes in spiritual formation, comparative religions, and equipping churches to reach the unreached through culturally informed Gospel communication. He partners with LCMS churches in the Pacific Southwest District and beyond, and lives with his wife and their son, Hadi.

Dr. Tomashu "Kenyatta" Jones is a transformative leader and social justice advocate with over 20 years of impact in education, housing, and healthcare. His executive roles in housing have advanced affordable solutions, while his healthcare work promotes accessible, holistic services. In education, Dr. Jones has taught and conducted extensive research on African American males, specializing in mixed methods and program evaluation. His innovative, community-focused leadership continues to inspire meaningful change across sectors, driven by a deep commitment to equity and lasting impact.

Ms. Susan Kroeger is a Reflective Coach at the Riverside County Office of Education's Center for Teacher Innovation, where she oversees fieldwork for new teachers in California’s credentialing programs. With a 40-year career in education, she previously served as a K–12 teacher, academic coach, and curriculum developer in the Rialto Unified School District. She holds a Bachelor's in English and Government from the University of Redlands and a Master's in Instruction in Economics from the University of Delaware. Actively engaged in her community, Ms. Kroeger serves on the Advisory Council for Central City Lutheran Mission and contributes to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Claremont.

Dr. Terry Paulson is a globally recognized professional speaker known for empowering leaders and teams to harness optimism for personal and professional growth. He holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Fuller Theological Seminary and a Master’s in Lay Theology, and is the author of ten books including The Optimism Advantage and Speak Like a Pro. A dedicated board member of Lutheran Social Services, Dr. Paulson works to uplift disadvantaged communities across Southern California. He is also deeply involved in his local church, New Hope Lutheran in Agoura Hills, CA, where he has served as Council President and contributes to the choir and worship team.

Dr. Laura Steele is a Licensed Psychologist and Marriage and Family Therapist with nearly 30 years of experience in private practice in Orange County, California, specializing in trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Since 2001, she has served as a Professor at Hope International University, where she is also Dean of the College of Psychology and Counseling, having led the development of accredited graduate and doctoral programs. An EMDRIA Certified Therapist, Consultant, and Facilitator, Dr. Steele is passionate about trauma recovery and serves as Executive Director of the EMDR Research Foundation. She is also an AAMFT and CAMFT Certified Supervisor and has contributed extensively to EMDRIA’s leadership and training standards.

Pastor Jenifer Brown is a native of Southern California. She has lived in Inglewood, Hollywood, Canoga Park, Rialto, Los Angeles, Chino, and Fontana. Pastor Jenifer holds a BA in Ethnomusicology from the University of California, Los Angeles, an MDiv from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, and a Certificate of Advanced Theological Studies from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. After receiving her MDiv from Union, Pastor Jenifer served as an ELCA missionary in Japan for 3 years. Before getting ordained in January 2025, she was an elementary and middle school Library Specialist for Fontana Unified School District. Pastor Jenifer serves Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in the city of Claremont and lives in Upland with her two children, ages 12 and 7.