INTEGRITY: Doing what’s right, even when no one’s watching.
COOPERATION: Working together to make lasting change.
ACCOUNTABILITY: Taking responsibility for our mission and each other.
RESPECT: Treating every person with dignity and empathy.
EMPATHY: Listening and leading with compassion.
Nancy Ramey, Chairperson
Eric Ebbert,
Vice Chairperson
Michael Kindt, Treasurer
Phil Beauchamp
Kevin Barfield
Clay Biddinger
Adam Bouchard
Haley Crum
Tom Free
Dick Funk
Wanda Fyfe
Carol Hague
Donald Hall
Lanette Kirby
Dr. Fred Lenz
Jim Martin
Rev. David McAbee
Peter Seriano
Kyle Shulman
Kate Tiedemann
Tom Whiddon
Barbara Green, Founder
Ashley Lowery, President & CEO
Katerina Gerakios-Siren, EVP of Operations
Michele Backus, VP of Finance
Satina Thomas, VP of Housing
Tawny Swain - Castle, VP of Clinical Services
Service Center
Vertical Garden
Veterans Clubhouse
Fairburn Veterans Apartments
HEP West
Veterans Apartments
Empowerment Garden
Workforce
Development Center
Emergency Shelter for Families
Everybody's
Tabernacle Church
Kitchen & Dining Hall
Emergency Shelter
for Men & Women
HEP Thrift Store
Coming Soon! Expanded Dental & Wellness Clinic
The Salon at HEP
Baty Villas Permanent
Supportive Housing for Families
Additional Off-Campus
Housing
HEP’s work has been recognized across Tampa Bay and beyond for our innovation, impact, and compassion.
INCLUDES:
Downloadable Media Kit, Logo and Brand Assets, Press Contact
Eric is the CEO of ProVise Management LLC and is a CFP professional. He earned a Master’s in Business Administration from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a BA in Economics from Hamilton College.
He recently completed a term as a Chairman of The Forman School, a Connecticut college prep boarding school that teaches bright students who learn differently. He has been a member of the Charles Schwab Advisor Services Advisory Board and was a gubernatorial appointee and vice chairman of the District 6 Community Health Purchasing Alliance. In the community, he is a past member of the board of The Spring of Tampa Bay and The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay’s Professional Advisory Committee.
Michael Kindt is a Certified Financial Planner professional. Formerly a partner in a national CPA firm, now non-practicing, he brings 32 years of tax planning experience to Morgan Stanley.
Today, Mike pairs his CFP education with his experience as a former CPA to analyze a client’s financial condition and provide proactive planning solutions.
Mike is a Florida native and holds a B.A. degree in Accounting from The University of South Florida. He also serves as a Board Member of Charity Works, Inc., a non-profit that aids charitable organizations in acquiring and managing their funding resources efficiently. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the Florida Institute of CPAs.
Now retired, Mr. Beauchamp served Morton Plant Hospital and Morton Plant Mease HealthCare as President and CEO for over a decade.
In addition to his career with Morton Plant Mease, Mr. Beauchamp has served a number of organizations throughout Florida including Ruth Eckerd Hall, American Red Cross of Tampa Bay, and the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Beauchamp held the rank of captain in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps.
Mr. Beauchamp holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Rhode Island and a Master of Hospital and Health Care Administration from the University of Minnesota.
Kevin is VP of Global Equities at Raymond James Financial, focusing on program management and new product development within the global equity department.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in Management of Information Systems and a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Florida.
Kevin was introduced to HEP in 2018 by his wife, who worked in HEP’s marketing department at the time. It did not take long before Kevin became invested in the HEP community and passionate about the mission. In 2023, Kevin joined the HEP Resource Committee. Kevin also is a founding member and Chair of HEP’s NextGen Committee for young professionals.
Mr. Biddinger earned his BS in Business Administration from Rollins College.
He is the founder of Kenyon Energy: a provider of sustainable energy services across the nation. Mr. Biddinger currently serves as the company Chairman.
In addition, Mr. Biddinger serves as Chairman/Managing Partner of the Biddinger Family Foundation and his family partnership Tomstemark, LP. He has served as a Board Member to Florida Doctors Insurance Company, CMR Associates, LLC, and Florida Banks, Inc., and is a member of the Society of International Business Fellows (SIBF).
Adam is a Senior Vice President at Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA), an insurance agency.
He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida in 2004, and has since earned the professional insurance designation of Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI). He is currently working towards the completion of his Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation.
Adam is a graduate of Leadership Pinellas. He is active and involved in several trade associations that support the interest of our clients in both the PEO and the nonprofit industry.
Haley is the Co-President of FrankCrum and President of FrankCrum Staffing, a company that offers professional employer services to businesses of all sizes.
Haley also leads FrankCrum Staffing as President, an enterprise that has served both hiring managers and job seekers for more than 39 years. Haley earned her law degree from Stetson University College of Law and serves as in-house counsel. She is a member of National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) Board of Directors, as well as a member of Florida Association of Professional Employer Organizations (FAPEO) and the American Staffing Association (ASA).
Tom is a graduate of Presbyterian College, where he received a B.S. in Sociology and was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He went on to earn a degree in social science education from the University of South Florida.
He helps the Make a Difference Fishing Tournaments, providing fishing experiences for physically and mentally challenged children and adults. Additionally, Tom serves on his alma mater’s Board of Trustees, Julie Weintraub’s Hands Across the Bay, and the Board of Hope Walks. Tom previously served on the Boards of Ruth Eckerd Hall, 50 Legs, and Thornwell Children’s Home. Free retired from the Safety Harbor Fire Department in 2016.
Mr. Funk attended Ohio State University on a full merit scholarship from the U.S. Navy and graduated with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1967. He was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps and received several awards after serving in Vietnam, including a Meritorious Unit Citation and Navy Commendation with Combat “V”.
Mr. Funk later worked in the construction industry in fields to include land acquisition, planning, zoning, developing, building, and selling. He is a class “A” Certified General Contractor.
He and his wife continue their philanthropic work via the Dick and Joyce Charitable Fund.
A former police officer with the Clearwater Police Department, Mrs. Fyfe is a founding member of HEP. She has also served as a volunteer director of Kids Who Care.
She has also worked with Plus One giving society, focused on empowering women and girls to make a difference in their community.
Mrs. Fyfe serves of the following HEP Board committees: Building & Grounds, Directors & Governance, and the Otis C. Green Memorial Golf Tournament Committee. She is also an Endowment Trustee.
Carol Hague served as a legal administrator for 40 years, serving as Chief Operating Officer at Johnson Pope Bokor Ruppel & Burns, LLP for the last 22 years of her legal career. She was an adjunct instructor at St. Petersburg College for 30 years. In 2013, as a Board Member of the Chamber, Carol was instrumental in founding ACHIEVEHERS professional women’s group.
In retirement Carol serves as a volunteer Board Member for Jolley Trolley of Clearwater and West Coast Players.
In January 2026, Carol was honored with the title of Ms. Clearwater at the Amplify Clearwater Annual Meeting.
Mr. Hall served 33 years with the Clearwater Police Department, retiring at the rank of Deputy Chief of Police. He completed numerous senior management courses, and holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Troy State University and a Bachelors Degree in Criminology from Florida State University.
In addition to the Police Department, Mr. Hall served his country in the United States Naval Reserves for 20 years, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Mrs. Kirby received her Bachelor of Business Administration from Ohio University, majoring in International Business and Finance.
Mrs. Kirby is the Founder and President of Solutions for Life’s Events started in 2021 to help people get their life organized, and affairs in order. She is a Premier Program Investment Advisor, specializing in managing financial portfolios of premier clients.
Mrs. Kirby has been an HEP Board Member for more than a decade, and she serves as President of the Board at Everybody’s Tabernacle Church.
Mr. Martin joined the firm of Macfarlane, Ferguson, and McMullen in 1974. Throughout his practice he has specialized in jury trials defending healthcare organizations and corporate employers. He has served on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Hospital Attorneys and was Chairman of the Florida Hospital Association of hospital attorneys.
He is currently Director Emeritus and past Chairman for the Morton Plant Mease Healthcare Foundation, and past President and Board Member of the Chapel By The Sea and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Mr. Martin is an instrument-rated, single and multi-engine land and seaplane rated pilot, a US Coast Guard Certified Captain, and a certified scuba diver.
Reverend David McAbee, a founding member of HEP, is the Senior Pastor of Everybody’s Tabernacle since 2005, and has been involved with the church for over 52 years.
Along with his wife Patricia, Reverend McAbee is also the President and Founder of David McAbee’s Ministries created in 1989. David McAbee’s Ministries has served over 83 nursing homes throughout the years with song and words of encouragement.
Mr. Seriano is a financial professional and community leader dedicated to helping individuals and families achieve long-term financial security. He serves as a Senior Financial Planner at ProVise Management Group. He is a graduate of the University of South Florida.
He became involved with HEP in 2023 through the organization’s Golf Committee, where he secured the event’s first-ever Corporate Title Sponsor. Peter also serves on HEP’s Resource Committee.
In addition to his work with HEP, Peter serves on the Connections Board for Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay to equip students with essential financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurial skills.
Born in a rural village in Germany, Kate Tiedemann immigrated to the United States at age 18, speaking no English and having no formal education beyond 8th grade. Her first job was on the household staff of New York Governor Thomas Dewey. Fortuitously, one of the clerical positions that followed was at a surgical instruments business that exposed her to what would become an illustrious, storied career.
Philanthropy has become her second career, supporting numerous Tampa Bay charities with transformational gifts.
Mr. Whiddon is a retired Advisory Director of Berkshire Partners, LLC., Former Advisory Director of Berkshire Partners, LLC (private equity firm), Boston, Mass., (2005-2013). He earned his undergraduate degree from The University of Alabama.
At the community level, Tom has been a member of the Board of Trustees for the BayCare Health System (two years as Chairman), Board member of Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and has served on the HEP Board of Directors since 2022. He has been an active Volunteer at HEP in various capacities and is also a member of HEP’s Finance Committee.
Barb has dedicated her entire life to going above and beyond for those less fortunate. From serving meals out of her home (still located on campus) before HEP’s kitchen was established, to cleaning the bathrooms of HEP’s very first dorms. Today, because of her hard work, HEP spans a beautiful 8-acre campus.
Barb and her husband, the late Rev. Otis C. “Preacher” Green, began their mission to end homelessness in the late 1970’s at the Clearwater church, Everybody’s Tabernacle, where Otis was the pastor. A family with three children within the congregation was in need of a home, after the father got injured at work. Barb and Otis allowed the family to live in a house they owned rent free, while they got back on their feet. Word spread about the charitable acts of the church and soon, Barb and Otis were running a large shelter program, providing food and housing to those in need. In 1986, Barb and Otis founded HEP, Inc. to better meet the immediate needs of a growing number of homeless individuals and families in Pinellas County.
Today, Barb is just as committed to helping individuals break the cycle of homelessness as she was when HEP first began. Barb works in the development department of HEP, after stepping down as President and CEO in 2013. She has a superior standing in the community and has been awarded numerous accolades for her devotion to the local homeless community. Barb received Sertoma’s International Service to Mankind Award in 2016, the William E. Hale Community Spirit Award in 2014, the Pinellas County Homeless Leadership Network’s Champion of Homeless Adults and Children award in 2012, and the Pasco Homeless Coalition’s Community Champion Award in 2011. Originally from Alabama, Barb currently lives in Clearwater.
Ashley holds a B.S. in Marketing from the University of South Florida – Kate Tiedemann College of Business, St. Petersburg. She graduated in 2012 and was a member of the National Honor Society. Before assuming her current position with HEP in 2017, Ashley served as Marketing Coordinator, Director of Marketing and Director of Development & Communications. Having started with HEP at an entry-level position, and working her way up allowed her to gain thorough understanding of the ins and outs of the organization and gives her a unique perspective in her current role as President and CEO.
Ashley currently serves as a member of the Homeless Leadership Alliance’s Provider’s Council, as well as serves as a Board Member for the Pinellas Continuum of Care as a Service Expert. She is also an advisory board member and financial supporter of EmpowHERment, a women’s empowerment group focused on meeting the financial, mental and emotional needs of women across all backgrounds.
Ashley is an Alum of Leadership Pinellas Class of 2016, as well as a past Achievements Director on the Board of Directors for Ad 2 Tampa Bay, a national club for young professionals in the advertising industry. She is also a former member of the Steering Committee for AMPLIFY Clearwater’s AchieveHERS, a women’s networking group in Clearwater.
Ashley has been personally acknowledged as a Tampa Bay Business Journal “40 Under 40” Awardee in 2021 and named “Best CEO” in Creative Loafing’s “Best of the Bay” contest in 2024.
Ashley has a strong passion for serving the homeless population and for fundraising for HEP’s Mission. She considers herself fortunate to have the opportunity to dedicate her career to helping improve the lives of the individuals, veterans and families HEP serves in our community.
In her free time, she enjoys working out, baking, going to the beach and traveling. Ashley and her husband, Mat, currently reside in Seminole with their two children, Estella and Valen.
Katerina Gerakios-Siren holds two master’s degrees from the University of South Florida, with concentrations in Advanced Finance, Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship.
Prior to joining HEP, Katerina gained extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, having held roles with the City of Clearwater, Pinellas County Government, IBM, and the telehealth company RxLive. She is trilingual and an active member of Leadership Pinellas.
Michele Backus is a dedicated Vice President of Finance, with experience spanning a variety of industries and a passion for helping organizations run smoothly and efficiently. With an MBA in Finance, she brings both technical knowledge and practical insight to her work. Known for her friendly and collaborative approach, Michele works closely with teams across the company to ensure financial clarity and support smart decision-making. She takes pride in making finance accessible and contributing to a positive, results-driven workplace.
Satina has over 25 years of Case Management and Social Work experience.
Before joining the Team at HEP, Satina taught fine and gross motor skills essential for daily functions, physical development and self-care to children 2 – 5 years old. She also worked as a Family Support Worker conducting home visits to prenatal mothers and families with young children, teaching them parent-child interaction techniques. Satina has also worked at a mental health hospital on an all-female trauma unit for children 11 – 17. Satina took a part-time job at a homeless shelter to help a friend out and ended up loving the population, and this path led her to HEP.
Tawny holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Marshall University.
She developed and implemented HEP’s Wellness Program. As the program grew and later merged with the dental program, Tawny assumed additional responsibilities, including the development of the garden and mobile market programs, creation of employee training, curricula, and CARF Accreditation monitoring and compliance.
Tawny is actively engaged in the community and currently serves as founding Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition (CULC).
