Biographies: Board of Directors

Jack Brooks
Executive Director – January, 2008 - Present
Over 20 years experience as a registered representative and financial advisor.
Board/Chair member of several non-profits throughout the Philadelphia area including:  
Radnor Studio 21, Taste of Radnor Restaurant Show, Ocean City Rowing and Athletic Association, Ocean City Beach Patrol Lifeguard Alumni Advisor, Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory, Wildcat Masters Swim Association.
BS in Hotel and Restaurant Management from James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Frank C. Robert, Jr.
Associate Director – July, 2010 - Present
24 years experience in marketing and pharmaceutical sales.
President of Sykesville Town Council, Chair of many committees.
Church Lay Leader (2004-2007).
Community Leader, including coaching local sports teams in the area.
The College of William & Mary, Bachelors of Art in History and Masters of Education.
Loyola College, MD, Masters of Business Administration

Thomas Black
President of the Board
Chair, Investment Committee
Hockessin UMC Hockessin, DE
Dist: Wilmington
Retired in 1999 as Treasurer of ICI Americas with responsibility for cash management, finance payroll, corporate accounting and investment of all company funds in benefit plans, including pension and 401K.  For the last six years, worked as consultant with small consulting firm providing advice to large corporate and public pension and 401K plans on all aspects of investing funds in these plans.

William Westbrook
Secretary
Kingswood UMC, Newark DE 19711
Dist: Wilmington
Currently serving as the Conference Treasurer in Peninsula Delaware Conf; has been in this position for 12 years.  Prior to coming to the conference, spent 14 years with International Reading Associate in various accounting positions including Controller. 

Peter T. Dinofia
Treasurer
MBA & B.S. in Accounting from Saint Joseph’s University
Treasurer/Director of Administrative Ministries of the EPA Conference of the United Methodist Church since October, 2008.  
Thirty five years experience in accounting, auditing, consulting, and strategic planning with companies such as Cigna and AIG.
CFO of The Associated Services for the Blind, a United Way affiliate, from 1994-1997.  
Treasurer  of the Board for inner City Games Philadelphia 2000-2004.

Donald L. Davis
Lehman UMC, Hatboro PA
Dist:  East
Retired from 34 year career as CPA for Arthur Young and more recently as a Director at Asher & Company Ltd., Philadelphia.
Clients ranged from $500,000 to $100 million.
Chairman of ACTS Retirement-Life Communities, Inc., formerly serving as Vice Chair and Finance Chair.
Graduated from Wilkes University, Wilkes Barre, PA

Rev. Donald L. Schuler
Union United Methodist Church, Bear DE
Dist:  Wilmington
Currently serving as pastor in Peninsula-Delaware Conference.
Former insurance executive and entrepreneur.  
Member of MetLife Advisory Board.
Member of Peninsula-Delaware Board of Pensions/Investment Committee.
Graduated University of Louisville 1962, BS Commerce

Edward Steiner
Avenue UMC, Milford, DE
Engaged in management of family businesses, textile fibers and specialty yarns, and, real estate and petroleum product distribution, since graduation from college.
Former Chair Peninsula Delaware Conference Board of Pensions.
Former Chair of Board of Peninsula United Methodist Homes.
Member of Board of Trustees of PUMH Foundation.
History of community service commitments including Milford City Council, Milford Planning Commission, Advisory Council on Housing for the State of Delaware. Swarthmore College 1960 BS Mechanical Engineering.
Graduated Harvard University 1963 MBA.

Lola A. Sergeant
Tindley Temple UMC, Philadelphia, PA  |
Dist:  Central
Current President of Inspired Creations, a company that manufactures and retails Christian-themed luxury products.
Over 18 years of experience in strategic business planning, marketing, and business management.  
Member of the Board of Directors of the Wharton Alumni Club and Prime Inc.
MBA in General Management from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Cornell University.

Lawrence Pelham
Simpson UMC
Employed at E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. for last 21 years with broad experience in market & product development, customer service, and team leadership.
Six Sigma Master Black Belt Certification.
Lay leader & Adult Education Ministry Chair at Simpson UMC.
Chair of the Wilmington District Board of Building and Relocation.
Member of the Board of Directors for the Methodist Action Program.
MBA from Drexel University, PhiladelphiaMasters Civil/Environmental Engineering from Howard University, Washington, D.C.
B.S. Civil Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ

Rev. Dr. Kent E. Kroehler
First UMC, Lancaster PA
Dist:  SW
Pastor for 40 years, with the last 22 yrs. at Lancaster: First UMC
Served on numerous Boards including:  President of Board of Directors of Cornwall Manor, CCFA 2000-2008, Making Connections Initiative (Wesley Theological Seminary 2005-present, Country Road Ministries Advisory Bd. – 2002- present, President of Lancaster Downtown Ministerium 1986 – present, Shalom Partnership in Lancaster 2008-present.
B.A. Asbury College, KY - 1965.
M.Div Asbury Theological Seminary KY – 1968
Post-grad studies – Lancaster Theological Seminary PA – 1968-1970
D.Min – Wesley Theological Seminary DC – 1972

Ira M. Hoffman, III
Ivyland United Methodist Church
Bucknell University 1977, BS in Chemical Engineering
Harvard University 1986 MBA
President of Hoffman Wealth Solutions in Doylestown since 2007
CFA and PA registered investment advisor.
Chair of Endowment Fund for Ivyland UMC; member of Finance and Stewardship committees as well as church council.

Rev. Steven C. Morton
Hopewell UMC, Downingtown,  PA
Grove City 1977, BA
Duke Divinity School 1983 M. Div.
Senior Pastor of Hopewell UMC
Board of Directors and Finance Committee of Cornwall Manor
Conference Ordained Elder 1986
Past member of  CCFA of EPA

Russ Campbell
Hopewell United Methodist Church
Senior Manager, Institutional Marketing
Vanguard Institutional Asset Management Division
Manage investment marketing team that works with Institutional clients, including nonprofit organizations.
Twenty years in financial services.
The Vanguard Group
 Served as Institutional Relationship Manager with $1 billion in client assets.
 Led High Net Worth investment marketing team.
Vice President-The Monitor Group (financial advisory firm, Washington D.C area).
Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA).  
Currently serving 2nd term on the Board of Directors for United Way of Chester County. Serve as chairman of the marketing subcommittee.
Part of adult education financial ministry at Hopewell UMC (implementation of Dave Ramsey financial program and Willow Creek Good Sense budgeting)

Tammy Bowman
Cedarville UMC, North Coventry
Vice President of Investment for Janney Montgomery Scott’s Pottstown Investment and Retirement Specialists team.]Nineteen years in investment services.Bachelor of Arts in Marketing, Accounting and Business Administration from Alvernia University.Holds Series 7, 63, 65, and Insurance licenses.
Served on Finance Committee for Cedarville UMC for six years with the last two years serving as Chairperson.

Bishop John R. Schol
Presiding Bishop of the Washington Episcopal Area, which includes over 690 United Methodist congregations with more than 200,000 members in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia.
Took office September 1, 2004, after being elected a bishop of The United Methodist Church in Syracuse, N.Y., July 16, 2004.
Obtained a Master of Divinity degree in 1981 and a Doctor of Ministry in 1991 from Boston University School of Theology.

Paul J. Eichelberger
Mt. Carmel UMC in Frederick, MD
CFO/Treasurer of the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the UMC
Came to Conference from Verizon Communications where he was responsible for Fios capital/expense budgets and led several nationally-based reengineering initiatives.
11 years of manufacturing experience with Corning, Inc. in upstate New York.
7 years of service with the U.S. Navy Submarine Force.
Serves as Treasurer for Rebuilding Together, Anne Arundel County

Jamie M. Waldren
St. Louis UMC in Clarksville, MD
Senior partner of the Waldren Group of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Columbia, MD.
Serves as Chief Financial Officer at his practice, which focuses on Wealth Mgmt. and Investment Banking for business owners in the mid Atlantic area with revenues between $10-100 million.

Carla Nealy
Govans Boundary UMC
Chief Credit Officer and Senior Vice President of The Harbor Bank of Maryland.
Responsible for commercial and retail credit quality for a $225 million bank.30 years of  banking experience, including lending, auditing, and marketing.
BS in Finance and Economics.
MBA and Master in Divinity

Dr. Carroll R. Gunkel
B.S. Loyola University (Baltimore); M. Div. Wesley Theological Seminary (Washington, D.C.); Ph.D. St. Mary’s University and Ecumenical Institute of Theology (Baltimore)
United Methodist Minister since 1958; serving in the Baltimore/Washington Conference.
Senior Lecturer in Philosophy and Religion, Hood College (Frederick, MD)

Advisors

Robert B. Shoemaker, Jr., Esquire
Graduated from Bucknell University in 1969 with B.A.
J.D. from Villanova University in 1974.
Member of Moat Court Board Villanova University
Practicing Attorney since 1974
Specialize in Estates and Trusts, Non-Profit and Family Business Law

Tracy Brown
Graduated from Villanova University in 1993 with a B.S. in Business Administration and a Major in Finance.
Executive Assistant for the Foundation since April, 2008.
Background includes many years of experience in Accounting, Accounts Receivable and Credit management and Real Estate management