STAFF
Gary Casady - Executive Director
Gary has more than four decades of experience in leadership and management related to serving youth and families. He and his wife Linda have been married 45 years; have three adult sons and eight grandchildren. For nine years they worked in the bush of Eastern Kenya where Gary was the Regional Coordinator for Theological Education by Extension. This resulted in 28 centers and the establishment of a TEE Committee composed of national leadership. After Kenya Gary pioneered work in Lesotho in education, literacy, trade schools and AIDS education leading a team of expatriates and nationals in outreach to remote areas. Subsequently, he worked as International Coordinator, mobilizing, training, managing and mentoring teams in extremely remote and harsh settings in many African countries.
Prior to his 18 years in Africa, he served 10 years as Associate Pastor of Christian Education and Youth where he led sizable staff, volunteers and interns as he directed camps and established and managed The Corvallis Youth Center and Son City Outreach.
Most recently, he has served in Peacemaker Ministries as an advocate for youth
and families, volunteered as a Mentor Mediator at Six Rivers Dispute Resolution
Center, and assisted The Next Door Independent Living Program with life skills training, activities, mentoring, and supervision of youth. Gary's financial support is provided by donors through InFaith Ministries, allowing him the freedom to serve the community full-time.
Gary seeks to care for his teams as he would a family, encouraging, challenging, and empowering them to be the best they can be. In this way he models community and family. With God’s help, he aims to do what he can to multiply his vision of serving others to wholeness – physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally. He does this primarily by multiplying himself in the lives of others who catch his vision as they work together to see individuals and families restored.
His outstanding work has gained him national, state, and local recognition. In 2013, Gary was awarded the Shannon Steward Award of Excellence from the Oregon Mediation Association, and the Volunteer of the Year Award from The Next Door. In 2014, Gary received the “Outstanding Volunteer Award” by The National Association for Community Mediation.
Gary founded Youth Empowerment Shelter in 2014, with the help of several like-minded individuals who became the first members of our Board of Directors. He studied at Colorado State University, BS in Wildlife Biology;
Western Seminary, MDiv Christian Education; Trinity Evangelical
Divinity School, work towards D. Min.
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Prior to his 18 years in Africa, he served 10 years as Associate Pastor of Christian Education and Youth where he led sizable staff, volunteers and interns as he directed camps and established and managed The Corvallis Youth Center and Son City Outreach.
Most recently, he has served in Peacemaker Ministries as an advocate for youth
and families, volunteered as a Mentor Mediator at Six Rivers Dispute Resolution
Center, and assisted The Next Door Independent Living Program with life skills training, activities, mentoring, and supervision of youth. Gary's financial support is provided by donors through InFaith Ministries, allowing him the freedom to serve the community full-time.
Gary seeks to care for his teams as he would a family, encouraging, challenging, and empowering them to be the best they can be. In this way he models community and family. With God’s help, he aims to do what he can to multiply his vision of serving others to wholeness – physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally. He does this primarily by multiplying himself in the lives of others who catch his vision as they work together to see individuals and families restored.
His outstanding work has gained him national, state, and local recognition. In 2013, Gary was awarded the Shannon Steward Award of Excellence from the Oregon Mediation Association, and the Volunteer of the Year Award from The Next Door. In 2014, Gary received the “Outstanding Volunteer Award” by The National Association for Community Mediation.
Gary founded Youth Empowerment Shelter in 2014, with the help of several like-minded individuals who became the first members of our Board of Directors. He studied at Colorado State University, BS in Wildlife Biology;
Western Seminary, MDiv Christian Education; Trinity Evangelical
Divinity School, work towards D. Min.
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Kathy Heitkemper - Bookkeeper
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Henry Kelly - Daytime House Parent
Henry was born and raised in The Dalles Oregon. He was a wheat farmer from 1979 through 1999. He has been a member of Wasco County Youth Services Committee, a Petersburg School board member, treasurer of the Columbia Rural Fire Protection District, volunteer coach for Wasco County Parks and Rec.
Henry worked for almost eleven years as a child counselor at Mid-Columbia Child and Family Center, a psychiatric day treatment center for emotionally troubled children. After the center closed Henry went to work in the T.O.O.L.S. (Taking Ownership of Life Skills) Program as a Group Life Coordinator in a residential Program for youth who are in the care and custody of Oregon Youth Authority.
Henry Likes family time, cribbage, Ping-Pong, gardening, biking, the great outdoors. Henry was one of our first staff members, coming on in the summer of 2016.
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Henry was born and raised in The Dalles Oregon. He was a wheat farmer from 1979 through 1999. He has been a member of Wasco County Youth Services Committee, a Petersburg School board member, treasurer of the Columbia Rural Fire Protection District, volunteer coach for Wasco County Parks and Rec.
Henry worked for almost eleven years as a child counselor at Mid-Columbia Child and Family Center, a psychiatric day treatment center for emotionally troubled children. After the center closed Henry went to work in the T.O.O.L.S. (Taking Ownership of Life Skills) Program as a Group Life Coordinator in a residential Program for youth who are in the care and custody of Oregon Youth Authority.
Henry Likes family time, cribbage, Ping-Pong, gardening, biking, the great outdoors. Henry was one of our first staff members, coming on in the summer of 2016.
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Krystal Phillips - Night Attendant
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Krystal lives in Goldendale, Washington, where she grew up. She holds an associate’s degree in Agribusiness and loves animals. She has spent most of her life working with horses in one way or another, training, wrangling, showing, or managing on ranches and work crews, including working with them with Teen Challenge. In 2014 Krystal took a position in the T.O.O.L.’s program at Northern Oregon Region Correctional Facility. Krystal’s love for animals has led her to a rescue effort to save horses destined for destruction. To do this she goes to livestock auctions where horses are being sold and finds homes for ones that might otherwise be sold for meat. She currently owns seven horses which she trains and shows at local fairs and events. The dog pictured here with Krystal is named Boone, and Krystal was trying to help find a home for him. Krystal was one of our first staff members, joining us in 2016. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * |
Marhia Peterson - Youth Advisor
Marhia was born and raised in Hood River, OR. She has worked in childcare and home care for seniors since high school. After high school she moved to eastern Oregon. She spent four years working for the Hermiston School district before moving back to the Gorge. After working various temp jobs she decided to go back to her roots and obtain her Certified Nursing Assistant License. Marhia currently does home caregiving and childcare during the week and is the Weekend Night Attendant at Y.E.S.
Some of Marhia's interests outside of work include reading, writing, discovering new music, hiking and most of all, spending time with her beautiful little family.
Marhia joined the Y.E.S. crew in the spring of 2018.
Some of Marhia's interests outside of work include reading, writing, discovering new music, hiking and most of all, spending time with her beautiful little family.
Marhia joined the Y.E.S. crew in the spring of 2018.
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Jessica Lamoreau - Youth Advisor
Jessica moved to The Dalles a few years ago after living on the coast her entire life. She attended George Fox University in 2003-2005 and went on to graduate from the University of Phoenix in 2017 with a Bachelor's Degree in Health Administration She has been a youth leader at various church youth groups for many years and is currently a small group leader for Teen Community Bible Study. She enjoys being at her church, experiencing new things, traveling, going to concerts, and attending youth sports games (Go Riverhawks!). She also likes spending time with her 3 young, rambunctious kiddos and Jake, her husband of 12 years.
Jessica joined the Y.E.S. staff in May 2019
Jessica joined the Y.E.S. staff in May 2019
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Sylvia Hurtado - Program Manager & Outreach
Sylvia has developed and managed multicultural events, tutors, young adult leadership teams, youth mentoring and adult learners. She has also served on the Community Advisory Council for a free clinic for those in need of health care while also providing medical interpretation for patients that speak Spanish. Her degrees include a Bachelor of Arts from Willamette University with a double major of Latin American Studies and Spanish, also an MBA from George Fox University with the focus of Strategy and Leadership. She enjoys creative arts such as music, writing lyrics, photography and cultural culinary adventures. She has a variety of dessert making masterpieces in her repertoire. She truly enjoys providing youth with opportunities and new experiences that they might not have had the chance to be a part of in the past. Sylvia joined the Y.E.S. staff in May 2019.
