Hope House Foundation Team Leaders embody the agency’s mission and philosophy by keeping it in the forefront of everyday support. The Team Leader is responsible for building a team of dedicated employees to provide innovative and person centered supports. As an agency leader, they partner together in stewardship of Hope House Foundation’s rich culture and embrace participatory management. Team Leaders are responsible for providing guidance to those they supervise to further ensure that the people supported are living meaningful lives in their community of choice. In conjunction with the agency business plan, team leaders are responsible for creating and implementing a team specific plan to address identified goals that further promote the mission.
Mallory Carr
Bison Team Leader
Mallory started at Hope House Foundation in 2009 as a part time direct support professional. Here she developed a passion for helping people we support live the life they choose. Shortly after hire, she became a service coordinator and then most recently a team leader. Mallory studied fine arts at Tidewater Community College and enjoys spending her free time with her family going to the beach. She often spends time enjoying the outdoors and gardening with her two girls.
Monica Hardin
Enfield Team Leader
Monica joined Hope House in October 2016. She has over ten years of experience providing service and support for disabled adults. She has rounded out her experience as a direct support professional in the areas of direct support, job coaching, day program instruction, and residential community management. Monica has a Masters in Human Resource Management and consults part-time with small businesses assisting them with functional Human Resource Management and ongoing recruiting efforts. Monica has spent time as a hospice volunteer; she loves swimming, Indian cuisine, corny jokes, her little dog Onyx and playing card games with friends and family.
Charne' Tate Lawson
Granby Team Leader
Charné began working with Hope House Foundation in 2023. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Communcation Sciences and Disorders from Old Dominion University. Charné joined us with over 10 years of experience in the medical field, where she served as a leader in bioscience, biopharmaceutic, and biotechnology industries. She is dedicated and has a passion for working at Hope House Foundation. During her free time she enjoys the beach, helping her community, karaoke, skating, and spending time with her loving family and friends.
Debbie Knowles
Hope House 10 Team Leader
Debbie began her direct support professional career at Hope House in 1996. She is a certified MANDT instructor, and in her spare time, she enjoys travel, gardening, and crocheting. She has three daughters and four granddaughters, all of whom have built their own relationships with the people she's supported over the years.
Tanecia Baker
Market Heights Team Leader
Tanecia began working with Hope House Foundation in 2005. She has served in the capacity of a part-time and full-time direct support professional for three years before being promoted to community support coordinator. The position of CSC enhanced her passion and excitement to encourage others to live boldly and purposefully for over 10 years. Tanecia furthered her career at Hope House Foundation with the goal of making a difference in others’ lives through person-centered planning as a service coordinator which she pursued for three years before being promoted to her active role as team leader. Tanecia is a devoted, loving wife and mother who loves spending time with her family and friends. She finds true passion when uplifting others through encouragement and prayer. Tanecia is a woman of many talents who enjoys a good inspirational audio book. Tanecia actively lives by her motto: "You only have today to make a difference by making the decision to live on purpose.”
Taryn Subeh
Lakewood Team Leader
Taryn joined Hope House in 2004 as a direct support professional. She had previously worked with children with autism, and her experience there made her want to become more involved with people with disabilities and creating a more diverse community for all. She particularly enjoys seeing the people she supports live a life of their own choosing.
Stephani Vaughan
Beachcomber Team Leader
Stephani has been working with Hope House Foundation as a direct support professional since 2014. She comes to HHF with experience supporting her oldest brother, who has cerebral palsy and a background assisting vulnerable patrons while working for Norfolk Public Library for nine years. She worked her way up to her current position, dedicating all of her years of service to the Dominion, Marina Heights, and Admin teams. She started as a part-time support staff before being promoted to service coordinator, then resource coordinator, and now team coordinator. Stephani is passionate about ensuring that true person-centered services are provided to individuals supported. She feels strongly about supporting people with disabilities in knowing and exercising their rights to make their own choices. Stephani loves helping staff achieve their full potential. When Stephani is not working, she enjoys spending her time with her family and friends, as well as working on building a small business.
Robin Dembowski
Pine Manor Team Leader
Robin has been working with HHF since November 2022. She comes to HHF supporting her adult son who has a physical disability after a serious dirt bike accident. She has over 20 plus years working with people expecriencing mental illness and drug addictions. Robin has also helped with community outreach by supporting people in need of homes, and proper medical supports. Robin has also worked several years as a human resources manager. Her calling and passion is working with people to make sure they LIVE THEIR BEST LIVES. Robin’s goal is to always be positive and uplift those she works with every day. She aims to help meet the goals they are working on at HHF. When she is not working she loves to be with her family, eat good food, and be on the beach.
Gypsy Steele
Princess Anne Team Leader
Gypsy began her direct support professional career at Hope House Foundation in 2020. She has an Associate Degree in Science and has been in the direct support profession for over 15 years. Her career began working in home with individuals with autism. She worked with three different families over the course of ten years then in a Day Program for four years. She is President of the non-profit organization Chosen Ministry. Chosen Ministry is a faith-based social group for adults with disabilities. It was through her involvement in this ministry she met individuals supported by Hope House Foundation and found her forever home.
Josh White
Reddington Team Leader
Josh began working as a part time direct support professional for Hope House Foundation in 2006 while working on his Bachelor of Science degree in communications with a minor in management at Old Dominion University. Helping others has always been a core value of Josh's and is the driving force in his life. In his spare time, he enjoys boating, 4-wheeling, and spending time with his friends.
Lynda Perry
Seaside Team Leader
Lynda began her direct support professional career with Hope House Foundation in 2018. She comes to Hope House Foundation with a Bachelor's degree from Shepherd University where she studied sociology, psychology and criminal justice. Lynda has worked in the human resources field for over 16 years with people of all ages. Some of her experience includes: sexual assault victim advocate, domestic violence service coordinator, children's care coordinator, child welfare case manager, and military family support coordinator. She's passionate about Hope House Foundation's mission and dedicated to the individuals supported. Lynda strives to ensure that those supported are living their best life based on their goals and aspirations. When she's not working, she enjoys playing tennis, taking bike rides, going to the beach, and hanging out with friends and family. Most of all, she loves spending time with her beloved dog, Tia.
Dena Hinton
Speedy Team Leader
Dena first joined Hope House Foundation as a direct support professional in 2017. She comes to Hope House with 16 years of experience working with adults and children with disabilities. Dena received a Bachelor’s Degree with a concentration in Special Education from Saint Paul’s College. She has worked as a teacher’s assistant and teacher for Norfolk Public Schools SECEP for 12 years. Her love for God and people led her to the human services field. In her spare time she enjoys traveling the world and spending time with her family.
Krista Wertenberger
Dominion Team Leader
Krista began working with Hope House Foundation in 2018. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Ecology, with a concentration in Psychology and Family and Marriage Therapy. Krista joined our team with 5 years of experience working with adults with disabilities. She began as part-time direct support professional. Krista most recently was promoted to Team Leader. She strives to promote healthy environments with quality care, in all aspects of daily living. While not at work, Krista enjoys spending time with family and friends. She enjoys being active outdoors, especially in the company of her two dogs.
Christine Billingsley
Riverside Team Leader
Christine started her direct support professional career with Hope House Foundation in 2014. She began her career as a part-time support staff before being promoted to support assistant, then service coordinator, and now, team leader. Her enthusiasm and dedication for working with individuals with disabilities pushed her to excel and earn promotions within. Christine has raised five amazing children that share her passion for advocacy and humanitarianism, who have always been the biggest inspiration for her to achieve her goals. When Christine isn’t working, she enjoys going to the gym, spending time with her family and hanging out with the lifelong friends that she’s made while working at Hope House Foundation.