BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Terry Paulson, PhD
Chair, Board of Directors

Terry is a professional speaker who travels throughout the nation and across the world, assisting leaders and teams on how to leverage optimism to make change work, both professionally and personally.

He received the PhD in Clinical Psychology from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Masters in Lay Theology, also from Fuller. He is the author of ten books, including,
The Optimism Advantage, Speak like a Pro, Can I have the Keys to the Car? and They Shoot Managers Don’t They?

His commitment to Lutheran Social Services is obvious when he speaks of his personal objectives as a
member of the board: “To influence individuals, churches and corporations through communication and leadership, to serve the
disadvantaged in Southern California.”

Terry is a member and past Council President at New Hope Lutheran Church in Agoura Hills, CA, sings in the choir and is a member of the Sunday worship team.

Andrew H. Mansmann, CPA
Vice Chair, Board of Directors

Andrew is the Sr. Manager of Operations Finance at Amgen in Thousand Oaks, CA. Prior to that he was the Director of Accounting and Finance for Dental Lab Holdings, LLC in West Hills, CA.

He is a specialist in people and process-oriented operational accounting, with an entrepreneurial spirit combined with a proven track record of successfully partnering with senior executives to measure and achieve financial goals and objectives.

Andrew has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics, with an Emphasis in Accounting from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is also a Certified Public Accountant.

He says, “I believe that the combination of my Christian beliefs, and my people and process focus, will allow me to further support and guide LSSSC in 2020 and beyond.”

Andrew and his wife Carol have two teenage daughters along with Andrew’s two older sons, Davis and Chase. Andrew and family are members of New Hope Lutheran Church in Agoura Hills.

Rick Davis
Treasurer, Board of Directors

Rick serves on the LSS Finance Committee. He has been the Director of Analytics for the Ventura County Credit Union for 12 years. Overall, he has worked for over 19 years in the Credit Union industry and with Community Banks. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from the University of Texas at Austin, TX, majoring
in Accounting.

He served for 17 years as a Non-Commissioned Officer in the United States Army, and in the U.S. Army Reserves, as a Russian/Serbo-Croatian linguist and Counter-Intelligence Agent.

Rick and his family reside in Simi Valley. He has a son in seventh grade, a daughter in college, and another daughter working as a nurse. He attends St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in Simi Valley. In his free time he enjoys family excursions, music and Ultimate Frisbee.

Rev. Sharon M. Ruff Richter

Interim Secretary, Board of Directors

Pastor Richter serves Trinity Lutheran Church in Pasadena, CA. She was ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in July 2018 and began her pastorate in Pasadena that same year.

Prior to her ordination, Rev. Richter was a Vicar/Intern at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Santa Monica, CA, from 2016-2017. She served as a Vicar Under Contract at Zion Lutheran Church, Nesquehoning, PA, and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Summit Hill, PA, from 2015-2016.

From 2013-2015 she worked as Port and Ship Chaplain at the Seamen’s Church Institute of Philadelphia and South Jersey, Philadelphia, PA. In this role, she visited ships in port to provide non-denominational and interfaith pastoral care and be a listening presence to merchant seamen.

Before being called into parish ministry, Rev. Richter was the Owner/Artist of Paraclete Mosaics in Monrovia, CA.
She refers to this role as Avocational and occasional mosaic artist (2016-Present).

Bruce Dannemeyer, Esq.

Bruce has worked as an attorney for 36 years, practicing business and real estate litigation. He is currently Of Counsel with The Dreyfuss Firm in Irvine, CA. Previously he was a partner at Palmieri, Tyler, Wiener, Wilhelm & Waldron, also in Irvine.

In addition to his work in the Private Sector, he served in the Public Sector. Bruce worked for three years in the United States Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C., and served as a Temporary Judge for the Orange County Superior Court.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts, with High Honors, from Valparaiso University, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley (Boalt Hall).

Bruce is an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Irvine, and served on the Floor Committee for Administration and Structure, at the 2004 National Convention of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS).

Kyle Fryling

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 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 pastor of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Granada Hills, CA. They have one son and two foster children.

Mr. Fryling states: “My desire to serve on the board of LSS is inspired by Micah 6:8: ‘To act justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with God.’ I believe that LSS is situated in locations and has relationships where we can serve our neighbors and community, and I’m thankful to be a part of this good work.”

Stephen Helper

Stephen comes to LSSSC with over 30 years of diverse experience in the financial industry. Stephen’s blend of global leadership, exceptional communication, and analytical skills is an invaluable tool for Lutheran Social Service’s new era of results and data-driven direction.

Stephen is a Certified Financial Planner with an MBA from UCLA and a bachelor’s degree from UCI. Stephen spent 23 years with Hewlett-Packard, beginning as a financial analyst and finishing as the Global Enterprise Credit Director. Stephen currently works as the vice president of the financial department for a large media and entertainment company. Stephen also serves as a guest lecturer and a volunteer with CSU Fullerton’s Mihaylo School of Business.

Having spent the better part of his life and career in and around Orange County, Stephen brings to LSSSC both a deep understanding of the issues faced in the community and the solutions that can drive change, and his rich experience in managing complex organizational change, at a time when the needs of our communities are ever-evolving.

Rev. Nader Hanna

Nader was born and reared in Egypt, a Muslim Arabic-speaking country. He is currently serving as a vicar at Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Huntington Beach, CA, and will be fully certified with the Missouri Synod in the very near future.

In that capacity he will continue his work as an evangelist and itinerant preacher, working closely with local churches, teaching them more about Islam, and training them on how to reach Muslims in their communities, with the message of God’s love and salvation in Christ Jesus.

Nader is a regular guest speaker at several Christian Arabic TV networks, and has traveled to preach the Gospel in Africa, Asia and Europe. Nader and his wife, Amy, have shared in ministry for 20 years, producing and broadcasting Christian TV and radio programs throughout the Arab/Muslim world. They have a 17-year-old son, Hadi.

Athena Jones, Esq.

Athena Jones is currently a senior attorney working for the Federal Government. She feels called to public service and has a strong background in Ethics and Governance. Ms. Jones is a Certified Fad Examiner (CFE) and a Leading Professional in Ethics and Compliance (LPEC). Ms. Jones, licensed to practice law in Oklahoma and Texas, graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a B.A. in English; Oklahoma City University with a Juris Doctorate; and Texas Women’s University with an MBA. Ms. Jones is a retired Air Force Colonel who served over 26 years on active duty. She served in a variety of assignments all over the world. Her last position was the General Counsel of the Air Force and Army Exchange Service.

Although Ms. Jones grew up in California and Wisconsin, she spent all her summers growing up on small farms in Oklahoma. Ms. Jones recently celebrated her 42^nd wedding anniversary. She and her husband Gordon enjoy three kids and five grandkids. Ms. Jones also enjoys, travel, quilting and reading. Another hobby has been completing half marathons. She is currently a member of the Seven Continents Club (SSC) having completed a half marathon on each of the continents.

Susan Kroeger

Sue works as a Reflective Coach in the Center for Teacher Innovation at the Riverside County Office of Education. Since 2009 she has supervised the fieldwork of beginning teachers in charter and private schools for the California State, and Induction/Clear Credentialing Programs.

From 1969-2009, Sue was a teacher and academic coach for the Rialto Unified School District, a K-12 classroom teacher, curriculum developer and academic coach. She was a part-time instructor at the University of Redlands, California State University, San Bernardino, and the University of California, Riverside.

She has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Government from the University of Redlands, and a Master of Instruction in Economics from the University of Delaware.

Sue is a member of the Advisory Council for Central City Lutheran Mission in San Bernardino, and a member and former congregational president of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Claremont, California.

Chaplain (COL-Ret.) Scottie R. Lloyd

Scottie served over 35 years as pastor and military chaplain in the ELCA. He received a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia, a Master of Divinity from Christ Seminary-Seminex, a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, and basic and advanced accreditation with Clinical Pastoral Education from Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, MD.

He pastored Ascension Lutheran Church, Emerado, ND, and the Lutheran Church of our Savior in San Bernardino, CA, from which he retired in 2019. As chaplain, he served throughout the U.S., as well as in Germany, Belgium, Holland, Haiti, Kuwait and Qatar.

He was the Director of Personnel and Ecclesiastical Relations for the Army Chief of Chaplains at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

Scottie and his wife, Karen, have been married 43 years, are parents of two sons, and proud grandparents of Aria and Ian.

Victoria Villa, MSW

Victoria is currently the Associate Clinical Intake Coordinator for Our House Grief Support Center in Los Angeles. She completed her BA in Sociology with a Certificate in Peace and Social Justice Studies and a minor in Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies from California State University, Long Beach. She then went on to receive her Master of Social Work Degree from CSULB. In addition to grief support, Victoria has a diverse background of community work in homeless services, working with senior citizens experiencing memory impairment, and educational equity.

Victoria was raised in the ELCA faith. She attended St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Gardena for many years before becoming a member of First Lutheran Church of Inglewood. During her time with both congregations, Victoria has taught Sunday school, developed programs for children and young adults, and organized events to serve the surrounding communities and foster connection.

Bishop Brenda Bos, Southwest CA Synod, ELCA

The Rev. Brenda Bos was elected to serve a six-year term as Bishop of the Southwest California Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America on June 5, 2021. The election took place during the 33rd Assembly of the Southwest California Synod, which was held online with live and recorded participation throughout the synod territory.

“This is such a critical time for the church,” said Bishop-elect Bos during her address to the assembly. “Our world is struggling to find peace and meaning. We have a unique gift to offer people: compassion, care, deep listening. I am humbled to serve along with the 33,000 Lutherans in our territory. Lutherans have a long history of education and service, and I hope to bring people together with hope and healing.”

A native Californian, Pastor Bos was ordained in 2014 in her home congregation of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in North Hollywood, a congregation known for its welcome of LGBTQ people. She attended Claremont School of Theology and Pacific Lutheran Theology Seminary, receiving a Masters of Divinity and Certificate of Theological Studies. Before entering the ministry, Bishop-elect Bos was a television producer at Warner Bros. studios, working on sitcoms such as “The George Lopez Show” and “The Golden Girls.” She holds a bachelors degree in Broadcasting from Pepperdine University.

Most recently, she has served as the Assistant to the Bishop for Rostered Leadership for Southwest California Synod. She also served Christ Lutheran Church in San Clemente, where the congregation advocated for the rights of unhoused persons, seniors and those living with addiction. She has also served congregations in Santa Monica, Canoga Park and Danville, California.

Bishop-elect Bos lives with her wife and adult son. She will be the first openly lesbian bishop to serve the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Rev. Dr. Michael Gibson, Pacific Southwest Region, LCMS

Dr. 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.

Bishop David C. Nagler, Pacifica Synod, ELCA

The Rev. David C. Nagler, San Diego, was elected May 20, 2022 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Pacifica Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, May 20-21, 2022 at the Irvine Marriott in Irvine, Calif.

The bishop has served as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church–Pacific Beach in San Diego since 2015. Prior to that, he served as pastor/CEO of Central City Lutheran Mission in San Bernadino, Calif., from 2012 to 2015; pastor of Nativity Lutheran Church in Bend, Ore., from 2004 to 2012; and pastor of Christ Lutheran Church–Pacific Beach from 1998 to 2004. Nagler served as a missionary with the Malagasy Lutheran Church in Madagascar from 1996 to 1998 and as associate pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Encinitas, Calif., from 1993 to 1996.

Nagler earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif., in 1986 and his Master of Arts degree from University of Redlands in Redlands, Calif., in 1989. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, Calif., in 1993. Pacific is one of seven ELCA seminaries.