John McKenna, Board Chair, Development and Finance Committee

Born and raised in Baltimore, John attended St. Clement’s Elementary, Mount Saint Joseph High School and Loyola College, attaining a MBA degree in marketing and finance in 1981. As such, John attributes his success to the Sisters of Providence, The Xaverian Brothers and the Jesuits. As a young adult, John was active in the “Search for Christian Maturity” program of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, serving on several weekend retreat teams. He is a member of Church of the Resurrection in Ellicott City where he served on the Pastoral Council for four years. John also lectors at St. Joseph Monastery in Irvington.

John is Vice President of Maryland Glass & Mirror Company in Baltimore. While raising two sons, John became very active in coaching baseball and basketball, stressing to young people the importance of developing life skills while having fun playing sports. John’s interests include playing guitar, travelling and sports. He lives with his wife, Donna, and sons Ryan and Matt in Ellicott City, MD.

Tom Yoo, Board Member, Programs

Tom graduated from John Hopkins University’s engineering program with a Bachelors of Science. For the past 10 years he has worked as an engineer for the State of Maryland. Relocation of the State office in 2002 to the area of southwest Baltimore brought him into an area plagued by heroin addiction, with rampant a prostitution trade that funds the addiction of these users. Through the efforts of his church, Bethel Korean Presbyterian in Ellicott City, Tom created HOPE (Helping. One. Prisoner. Escape) Ministry was formed in January 2005 to bring love and hope to the women trapped in the life-ruining grip of addiction.

Through bi-weekly street outreaches, holiday outreach events, and weekly meetings, women and men in the area are encouraged and supported to take steps to get free from the prison of addiction, through getting addicts to detox, then onto a 6 month to 1 year inpatient program called The Answer, Inc. located in Baltimore.

HOPE Ministry currently has owns and operates two rowhouses near Wilkens Ave. and Payson St., that provide for outreach, community, and ministry needs.

Linda Blackiston, RDH, BS Events Committee Chair and The Samaritan Church Committee

Linda received her Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, Dental School, University of Maryland after she and her husband owned a deli, bakery and catering business for nine years. After selling the business Linda pursued her dental hygiene degree. Linda is currently Manager of Professional Education in the Mid- Atlantic for Philips /Sonicare.  She is an industry author writing and lecturing nationally on women’s health issues, pediatric dentistry, teenage issues, and other dental related topics. She continues to practice dental hygiene part-time in the Baltimore area.

Linda has a passion for volunteering and has served underprivileged areas in the US and Mexico.  She works with Mid Atlantic PANDA (Prevent Abuse and Neglect Through Dental Awareness) providing free continuing education courses to dental professionals.  She worked with the student ministry at her church for 10 years mentoring students and traveling to underserved areas providing much needed services.   Linda and her husband mentored couples prior to marriage for several years and for almost 30 years she has served on the food and hospitality committee of the church.

Linda has been married for over 32 years has two grown daughters and a beautiful granddaughter. Her favorite thing in the world is to cook for a house full of family and friends.

Christian Metzger, Development and Finance Committee

Charles Gilbert, Farm and Food Committee

Derrick Purcell, CCC, PCII,  Executive Chef, The Maryland Science Center and Chair of TSW Vocational Programs,  member of the Farm & Food Ministry

Chef Derrick has used his talents to foster an impeccable reputation within the catering industry. His commitment for cooking has established the Maryland Science Center, located on Baltimore’s famed Inner Harbor, as a renowned location that sets the standard for culinary excellence and creativity.

Chef Derrick’s love for cooking began at age three, and was developed at The Culinary Institute of America with dual certification through The Culinary Institute of America and The American Culinary Federation.  He was awarded his Pro Chef II certification in 2009. Chef Purcell is an Advisory Board Member of the Baltimore International Culinary College as well the Maryland Food Council.  He has showcased his talent for such celebrities as Tommy Hilfiger, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, and former President Bill Clinton.   Chef Purcell has led teams of over 90 chefs for world class events such as Volvo Ocean Racing Team, ABN/AMRO and Red Bull FlugTug to name a few.

Derrick chairs our Vocational Programs Committee and sits on the Farm & Food Ministry Committee.  TSW is thrilled to have a chef of such passion about food to be directing the culinary arts program our women will experience and ensuring that the love of food starts from seed, all the way to the table.

When he’s not cooking, he loves spending time with his wife Maria and four daughters Mia, Miah, Candace and Madison.  He and his wife are passionate about God’s grace in their lives and serve the Lord as National Capital Region Church Plan Leaders for Family Life Marriage Ministries and as active, faithful members of Mount Zion Baptist Church.

We are currently recruiting for additional Board positions.

LEAD VOLUNTEERS and STAFF

Jeanne L. Allert, Executive Director

Jeanne has an eclectic career history: from high school English teacher, to instructional designer, to technology director, to Internet consultant.  She currently owns and manages a successful consulting practice that serves non-profit organizations, municipal governments and faith-based organizations in their use of Internet technologies.  She is also an international public speaker, technical trainer, industry author, and has served as adjunct faculty for several universities.  Jeanne holds a Masters of Education degree and is currently on the slow road to pursuing a Doctor of Divinity degree, specializing in Urban Ministry and Ecumenical Relations.

Jeanne raised her own daughter as a single parent and knows all-too-well how critical it is to have “a village” help raise our children, She and her daughter are regular volunteers at a Baltimore City soup kitchen; participates in an Inner City outreach to women; is a volunteer for two churches; and is always mobilizing communities for charitable endeavors.  In her “spare” time, Jeanne is renovating her own 140-year historic home.

Jeanne founded The Samaritan Women and today serves as Chair of the Board and acting Executive Director. Her passion for TSW is to see the evidence of God’s grace manifested in the lives of every person who comes here.

Christopher L. Spoonire, Director of Operations

Chris was born and raised in Carroll County, MD. After high school graduation he joined the military, serving over 9 years in the engineering and transportation field. He received an honorable discharge and continued his work managing in various construction trades. This led to his current position with the State of Maryland as a Maintenance Supervisor where he has oversight for 11 State buildings serving youth with special needs. His diverse technical and mechanical background has proved invaluable to The Samaritan Women as Chris currently serves as our Director of Operations. He is responsible for overseeing all projects associated with property and building use, expansion and maintenance.

Chris has passion for hands-on ministry work and has been actively involved with local missions committee, disaster relief in Louisiana and Texas, and helping other organizations such as Hosanna Ministry near Pittsburgh, PA. He currently attends Street Church, a weekly worship experience in the drug-and crime-ridden streets of Baltimore's East Side. Chris’ interest is in helping people grow in Christ through serving and mentoring. His strives to live by the motto “Approach each day as a mission trip“ and to help people believe that giving up is NOT an option.

Glenn Spindler, Director of Culinary Education and Food Ministry

Glenn started his career at the Western Vocational Technical Institute, hoping for a spot in the welding class so he could help in his family’s sanitation business. By God’s design, he was put in a cooking class instead, under the instruction of a key mentor. After graduation he joined the Army and learned how to cook on a larger scale. His passion for cooking was now set and after military service, Glenn worked in Maryland for several restaurants and hotels. Success led him astray, however. Although he had the thrill of working for a catering business in the music industry, working for such bands as Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, and the Rolling Stones, Glenn also had to face the harsh reality that his lifestyle led him to a serious cocaine addiction.

Twenty-three years of drug use culminated in Glenn finally going to his knees. On Dec 27,1997, on the floor of a crack house, Glenn reached out to the Lord in desperation and was lifted up. From that moment, he began the long road of recovery. God returned Glenn to his passion and occupation in cooking, but now with a sense of renewed purpose. He became Corporate Chef in the Contract Food service industry and then became Sales Executive and Corporate Chef with Keany Produce Company, where he still works today. Glenn also is collaborator and head of Research and Development for Chesapeake Gard’en Soup Co.

Glenn’s passion for The Samaritan Women is twofold: to minister to the homeless and hungry through our farm and food programs, and to develop our culinary arts and food service curriculum to teach our residents about the joys of cooking and eating well.

Roy Skeen, Manager of Farm Production

Roy Skeen was born and raised in Baltimore and learned how to garden from his grandfather and namesake Roy Ritter. He has spent the past five years getting his hands dirty and continuing his education on raising food. He worked for one year as an Assistant in the Urban Agriculture Office of the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension, before starting his own business, Skeen’s Greens, specializing in Edible Landscaping. Last fall he participated in the Baltimore County Young Farmer program at Calvert’s Gift Farm in Sparks, MD, where he learned by doing with Jack and Becky Gurley. His work has taken him to the isles of the Caribbean and the heart of Baltimore City, establishing gardens small and large. This year Skeen’s Greens will be selling produce grown on the grounds of TSW at the new Sunday market in Catonsville and the University of Maryland Medical Center market on Tuesdays. He hopes to continue to learn from the earth and all who share this work. .

Gary Ashbeck, Agricultural Initiatives

Photo: Bruce Weller for the Open Society Foundations

Daisy, Mascot and Director of Security

Daisy is TSW's mascot and Director of Security.She is vigilant to a fault, particularly if there is a chance that pizza crust might fall from someone's hand. Daisy's official duties include greeting all volunteers, barking at the people she knows, and monitoring the chickens and ensuring their compliance with corporate policy and fence parameters. Daisy has a curious oblivion to deer and fox, but is wildly attentive to water bugs.  Daisy is most often found dragging 20 paces behind Jeanne, back and forth, all day long, between the two properties until one of them has had enough - usually Daisy.

We are currently recruiting for lead volunteers who have a passion for serving in the role of Volunteer Coordinator, Events Coordinator, Public and Church Relations.