A big vision requires a team who leads with clarity. Meet our team!
Leadership Team
Executive Director
Melissa Gehrig
Melissa is in her fifth year as Executive Director with a staff of almost 70 and a $4 million budget. Her previous 11 years at Vision House was 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 grandson, Connor.
Finance Manager
Jeff 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.
Program Director
Helen Bariamichael
Helen has a B.A. in Communications from San Diego Christian College and a M.A. from the University of San Diego in Nonprofit Management and Leadership. Helen has over 10 years of experience in the nonprofit sector and has served local and global Nonprofits and NGO’s as a Community Development Consultant providing program development services by training local and global leaders in how to engage and empower their communities. In her former work, she managed community centers in affordable housing and volunteered on housing boards focused on equipping service providers in their professional development. She is passionate about justice for those on the margins, family, discipleship, and spending time on foot in nature.
Human Resources Manager
Noreen Graham
Noreen has 10+ years of administrative experience in which five of those years were in Human Resources. She received her HR Generalist Certificate from Lake Washington College in Kirkland WA and a Civil Engineering and an AS Degree in Computer Drafting from Iowa Lakes College. She is involved in ministry at Northwest Foursquare Church. Her passion is to see people find freedom in Christ.
Operations Director
James Richey
James has 29 years of leadership 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. He 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.
Development Manager
Venetia Vango
Venetia is a native Seattleite, lives in Renton, and is smitten with her Cavalier Spaniel, Jasper. Before her term as Development Manager at Vision House, she worked in events management at Hopelink, missions in Russia with the Navigators, and retail banking with SeaFirst. Believing generosity to be a part of everyone’s spiritual formation, Venetia delights in helping people on that journey. She loves gathering with friends, gardening, estate sales, and discovering connections with people. Venetia also leads a Bible Study for career women through Crossroads Bible Church, where she has attended since 1981.
Managerial Team
Brianna Baines
Entry Supervisor
Angela Morales
Family Services SupervisorSHORELINE
Teresa Bates
Assistant Development Manager
Dale Murray
Accounting Supervisor
Sherrine Rakish
Child Care DirectorCHILDREN'S VILLAGE - RENTON
Renee Johannsen
Resale Manager
Maribel Rios
Child Care Program SupervisorCHILDREN'S VILLAGE - SHORELINE
Eric Dalke
Operations ManagerRENTON
Meet Our Staff
Alex Ssebugwawo
Maintenance TechRENTON
Alexa Kokosz
YFA & Family Services Admin AssistantRENTON
Alexandra Dillard
Case ManagerRENTON
Angelica Garcia
Director's Assistant & Enrollment CoordinatorCHILDREN'S VILLAGE - RENTON
Carolyn Garcia
Lead Case ManagerRENTON
Cheryl Massingill
Events Coordinator
Dan Phillips
Maintenance SupervisorRENTON
Debbie Gannon
Volunteer CoordinatorRENTON
Derek Balcom
HR & Executive Assistant
Gloria Schnieder
Resale Associate
Hawk Hawkins
Maintenance TechSHORELINE
Jane Gunningham
Entry CoordinatorSHORELINE
Julie Wagner
Administrative & Volunteer CoordinatorSHORELINE
Karen Dalgardno
Administrative Coordinator
Karen Grubb
Family Services AssistantRENTON
Mario Garcia
Youth & Family AdvocateRENTON
Michaela Atencio
Database & Marketing Coordinator
Paloma Andrade-Mora
Child Care Program SupervisorCHILDREN'S VILLAGE - RENTON
Payton Saunders
Entry & Alumni Services Intern
Sabrina Thornton
Case ManagerSHORELINE
Serena Rice
Lead Youth & Family AdvocateSHORELINE
Shannon Ford
Bookkeeper
Tess Brenneman
Family Services Intern
Tireion Turner
Youth & Family Team LeadRENTON
