Boards

Diakon (from the Greek diaconia, meaning “one who serves”) was founded in January 2000 by the affiliation and later merger of Lutheran Services Northeast and Tressler Lutheran Services.

As a result of corporate restructuring and reorganizations in 2007, 2014, and 2024, the organization now consists of Diakon and its subsidiary Diakon Child, Family & Community Ministries (DCFCM) and several non-controlled HUD entities. The president/CEO serves as the chief executive officer of Diakon and DCFCM. The parent entity, Diakon, has specific approval rights involving its subsidiaries and is charged with the overall strategic vision. Diakon Child, Family & Community Ministries, a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation, provides a comprehensive range of social services for children, families, and adult individuals.

Diakon

First row:  Katrina Straker, Susan Schellenberg, Em Cole
Second row:  Jennifer Schlegel, Diane Batchik
Top row:  Maury Bobst, Shari VanderGast, Larry Delp
Missing is Pete Knudsen

• Emried D. Cole, Jr., Esq., Chair, Retired Attorney, Delaware-Maryland Synod
• Diane Batchik, Vice-Chair, National Security Professional, Delaware/Maryland Synod
• Maurice H. Bobst, Jr., Real Estate & Investment Manager, Lower Susquehanna Synod
• Larry Delp, Retired Bank Executive, Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod
• Paul Horger, Esq., Board Member Emeritus, Attorney, Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod
• Pete Knudsen, Private Equity and Venture Capital
• Ms. Susan T. Schellenberg, Retired Court Administrator, Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod
• Jennifer Schlegel, College Professor, Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod
• Katrina Klettke-Straker, Nonprofit Chief Development Officer, Delaware-Maryland Synod
• Shari VanderGast, Diakon President/CEO

Diakon Housing Services

First row:  Mike Lehman, Carol Taylor
Second row:  Nels Hendrickson, Diane Batchik
Top row:  Don Main, Shari VanderGast, Scott Rehr
Missing is Doug Hough

• Diane Batchik, National Security Professional, Delaware/Maryland Synod
• Michael Lehman, P.E., Chair, Retired President/CEO, Manufacturing Company, Lower Susquehanna Synod
• Nels Hendrickson, Vice-Chair, Retired Business and Social Ministry Executive, Virginia Synod
• Douglas Hough, Ph.D., Associate Scientist, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Delaware-Maryland Synod
• The Rev. Dr. A. Donald Main, Bishop Emeritus, Upper Susquehanna Synod
• Scott Rehr, Financial Advisor, Lower Susquehanna Synod
• Carol Taylor, Retired Bank Executive, Delaware-Maryland Synod
• Shari VanderGast, Diakon President/CEO

Diakon Child, Family & Community Ministries

First row:  Rick Barger, Susan Schellenberg, Chad Hebrink
Second row:   Lori Roth, Jeff Boland
Top row:  John Spangler, Shari VanderGast
Missing is Ron Dreese 

• Jeff Boland, Senior Living Services Consultant and Consultancy, Lower Susquehanna Synod
• Rick Barger, Retired CFO, Lower Susquehanna Synod
• Ronald P. Dreese, Financial Advisor, Upper Susquehanna Synod
• Rev. Chad Hebrink, Vice-Chair, Pastor, Upper Susquehanna Synod
• Lori Roth, Bank Executive, Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod
• Susan T. Schellenberg, Chair, Retired Court Administrator, Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod
• The Rev. John Spangler, Clergy, Lower Susquehanna Synod
• Shari VanderGast, Diakon President/CEO