Staff

Reid Carpenter

Founder, Leadership Foundations
Naples, FL

Reid Carpenter is the founder of Leadership Foundations (LF), and served as its president from 2001 – 2008. With almost 50 years of experience in community-based ministry and management, he inspired the movement of Leadership Foundations to “Connect Leaders. Change Lives. Transform Cities.”

Mr. Carpenter began his career in 1961 as the Pittsburgh, PA, area director for Young Life, a nondenominational youth organization. As regional director (1967-75) he pioneered Young Life ministries in Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York State. From 1975-78 he was director of Young Life’s Northeast Division, which included eastern Canada.

In 1978 Mr. Carpenter founded and became president of the Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation (PLF), a faith-based organization. PLF brings leaders together to tackle the biggest concerns of the region through planning and program organization.

Over the next 23 years he initiated collaborative ventures with hundreds of local partners to assist at-risk youth, prisoners and their families, people with inadequate health care, families in need of housing, and individuals with drug addictions. Under his leadership, PLF secured more than $500 million to support these efforts in the Pittsburgh area.

He initiated, organized and helped fund more than 20 organizations, including the Anti-Racism Institute, Pittsburgh Youth Network, CLEAR (Coalition for Leadership, Education and Advocacy for Recovery) and East Liberty Family Health Care Center. Mr. Carpenter and PLF also partnered with World Vision to establish its international distribution center and the local collaboration, the Storehouse.

Mr. Carpenter has been an advisor to many faith-based organizations and business corporations. He has served on various boards and committees, including Communities in Schools, International Urban Associates, National Center for Protection of Children and Families and WQED Enterprises (Pittsburgh PBS affiliate).

He received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Fairfield University (CT), a master’s degree in biblical studies from Young Life Institute, Fuller Theological Seminary (CA), and an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters from Geneva College (PA).

Stephan De Beer

International Development - Africa
Pretoria, South Africa

Dave Hillis

President, Leadership Foundations
Tacoma, WA

Dave Hillis is a twenty-six year resident of Tacoma.  His first fourteen years of service were with Young Life in a variety of positions ranging from Urban Director of Tacoma to Regional Director for the NW and Urban Training Director. 

In 1994 he joined the Northwest Leadership Foundation, which is committed to encouraging, strengthening, and developing leadership for the spiritual and social renewal of the city.  In 1997 Dave took over as the Executive Director.  Under Dave’s leadership NLF grew from a budget of $200,000 with 3 full-time employees to a $2 million, 27 full-time employee organization.  In 2006 Dave transitioned his leadership to Patricia Talton, now President of NLF.  In 2008 Dave was asked to serve as president of the Leadership Foundations. 

Dave received his undergraduate degree from Western Washington University, his Master’s of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary his Doctorate of Ministry from Bakke Graduate University in June 2007.  Dave is an adjunct professor for several higher Ed institutions, is frequently a guest lecturer and teacher at urban ministry and leadership seminars and facilitates an urban theological roundtable.  He has served on the boards of numerous community organizations and urban churches.

Contact Dave at dhillis@leadershipfoundations.org or 253-272-0771.

H. Spees

Vice President, Network Growth & Development
Fresno, CA

H. currently serves as Vice President of Network Growth and Development for Leadership Foundations.

H’s extensive ministry experience demonstrates a heart for people and, particularly, the vulnerable.

Community development assistant with John Perkins and Voice of Calvary in Mississippi (1973-84)

Senior health administrator for a county health department serving rural and urban communities in central California (1984-88)

Youth for Christ director in Fresno and Madera Counties, California (1988-97)

President of One by One Leadership, Fresno’s Leadership Foundation (1997-2003) Senior pastor of Northwest Church in Fresno (2003-2007)

Current board and professional affiliations include:

Pastor-at-Large, First Presbyterian Church, Fresno, California

Christian Community Development Association, National Advisory Board

John M. Perkins and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation for Reconciliation and Development, Board of Directors

Fresno CORAL (Communities Organizing Resources to Advance Learning), Board of Directors

One by One Leadership, Board of Directors

PACT (Peace for All through Community Trust), Fresno, CA

No-Name Fellowship Steering Committee

H. completed his B.A. at Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi, and studied Urban Studies and English at USC and UCLA. H. holds a Masters in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco, and is currently completing doctoral studies at Bakke Graduate University in Seattle, WA.

H. and Terry, his wife of 37 years, live in inner-city Fresno and have built a life around children that includes birth, foster, and adopted kids.

Contact H at hspees@leadershipfoundations.org.

Gloria Meyers

Executive Assistant, Network Growth & Development
Fresno, CA

Gloria has worked in the private sector and, for the last 10 years, served ministries in the city.

Gloria currently serves as Executive Assistant for Network Growth and Development for Leadership Foundations.

Gloria’s previous assignments include serving as Executive Assistant to the Senior Pastor at Northwest Church; as Executive Assistant to the CEO for One by One Leadership; as Business Manager for Central California Parent Magazine; and Business Manager for State Farm Insurance Company.

Gloria, and her husband, Kevin, have lived in Fresno most of their lives. Kevin works in the construction industry. They have 3 children and 2 grandchildren.

Gloria is passionate about seeing the church and people as individuals engaged in a gospel that sees people come to Christ and work for social justice on behalf of the most vulnerable, and inviting people—rich and poor—to see and experience the unconditional love of God through Jesus Christ and the joy and happiness that a relationship with God brings.

Current and past boards and affiliations include: This Is Our City, production team; No Name Fellowship Steering Committee; Hope Rises, a missions organization serving Swaziland, South Africa; Convoy of Hope, leadership team; Christian Women’s Connection, development board.

Contact Gloria at gmeyers@leadershipfoundations.org.

Sarah L. Fortin

Director of Communications & Membership
Minneapolis, MN

Sarah has been with the Leadership Foundations since 2005, and currently oversees membership issues and all media relations for LF, and manages the communications and evaluation systems which drive the training, shared learning, and marketing engines for the LF network.  She has experience in designing and implementing communications plans across multiple sectors.

Prior to serving the Leadership Foundations, Sarah’s professional training was in the legal sector, in the support areas of corporate litigation and bankruptcy law.

Sarah has her Bachelors of Business Administration in Organizational Psychology, and has a strong interest in the interplay between religious culture and political and economic systems.

Sarah serves on the volunteer board of Young Life Minneapolis, which mentors high school youth in the city, where she plans and executes fundraising events, contributes communications collateral, and participates in strategic decision-making for the area.

Contact Sarah at sfortin@leadershipfoundations.org.

Melissa Monroe

Administrative Manager
Tacoma, WA

Melissa Monroe is a 15 year resident of Tacoma. Beginning as a student at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) where she received her B.A. in Psychology and Religion, and then working for the Northwest Leadership Foundation (NLF) the past 11 years.

Melissa has worked for NLF in a variety of different roles and functions. Beginning as NLF’s program administrator for an urban youth program, she has also functioned as NLF’s financial manager and bookkeeper, provided capacity building as a part of NLF’s service to local faith and community based groups and most recently, operated as NLF’s administrative manager. In this role she oversees the administrative team, participates on the fundraising development team and works with the senior associates’ team. She is also currently serving as a part of the Leadership Foundation (LF) administrative team. These operational functions are further augmented by Melissa’s volunteering as mentor for middle school youth, serving on her church’s personnel committee and collaborating with other groups in the city of Tacoma.

Contact Melissa at mmonroe@northwestleadership.org.

Eric Geary

President, Lexington Leadership Foundation
Lexington, KY

Eric Geary is married to wife Kim and is the father of  Elijah who is currently 7 years old.

Eric has been in urban ministry for 19 years, serving in churches, urban youth ministries and non-profit organizations.  Currently, he serves full time as Chief Executive Officer of Lexington Leadership Foundation, a local 501 c 3 organization in Fayette County, Kentucky.  Eric also serves part time on the International Staff team lf Leadership Foundations, raising up developing Leadership Foundations in North America. Eric is also co-founder and managing member of Redemption Properties, LLC, a real estate business providing affordable housing to people coming out of poverty and addiction.

Eric’s life and passion is to raise up leaders to be who God called them to be and live out their purpose in His Kingdom advancement.

Eric utilizes his gifts in Administration and Leadership as a full time ministry leader, trainer and consultant.

Contact Eric at egeary@lexlf.org.