Executive Director

Melissa Gehrig

Melissa is in her sixth year as Executive Director with a staff of nearly 70 and a $4 million budget. Her previous 11 years at Vision House were spent serving as Human Resource Manager. She has a passion for Leadership and Organizational Development with a focus on Servant Leadership. Melissa obtained a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from the University of California and an MA in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University. Melissa loves to travel, read, play golf, but most enjoys spending time with her husband Steve, their four kids and spouses, and two grandchildren.

Finance Manager

Jeffrey Darr

Jeff has 32 years of experience in accounting and finance. He has a BS in Business Administration majoring in Accounting from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. For 9 years Jeff worked as a CPA in public accounting serving a diverse client base including several non-profit organizations. The following 20 years he worked in investment banking for a fixed income broker dealer. His responsibilities included technical support to institutional accounts, compliance, and office administration.

Operations Director

James Richey

James has more than 29 years of leadership experience working at a Christian non-profit in many different roles. He has led before and after school programs, run camps and retreats, and at times led a staff of over 100. He has done volunteer work with children in 4H and WA Junior Poultry and has been President of Christian Camping Conference Center Association North West.  James enjoys working with people as well as teaching CPR and First Aid for the Red Cross. He has a B.A. in Elementary Education from Western Washington University.

Accounting Manager

Ashley Samuel

Ashley grew up in South Carolina and was raised in a Christian home. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Strayer University in Atlanta, GA and has over 15 years of accounting and customer service experience where she worked with several for-profit companies to develop efficient protocols and implement state-of-the-art technology strategies for various accounting platforms. As a result, her innovative ideas and metrics have taken entities to new levels. Ashley brings her years of experience, a love for Christ, and a compassion for the local community to now serve the non-profit sector.

HR Coordinator

Derek Balcom

Development Operations Officer

Teresa Bates

Teresa has been on the Development Team at Vision House for three years. Along with managing the fundraising department, her passion is people. She takes great delight in building relationships within the community to meet the financial goals of the organization. She has a heart for ministry and prior to Vision House served as the Women’s Director at a large church in Renton. In her spare time she loves spending time with her husband of 29 years and her two adult children, her greatest accomplishments. Teresa is a certified Life Coach and has a BA in Vocal Performance from Western Washington University. As a native Washingtonian she longs for the sun and often daydreams about being on a beach in Maui.