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:  Diane Batchik, Shari VanderGast, Susan Schellenberg, Jennifer Schlegel
Top row:  Larry Delp, Maury Bobst, Scott Rehr
Missing from photo: Katrina Straker

• 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
• Scott Rehr, Board Member Emeritus, Emerald Advisers
• 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: Diane Batchik, Carol Taylor
Second row:  Doug Hough, Don Main, Mike Lehman
Top row:  Scott Rehr, Shari VanderGast,
Missing is Nels Hendrickson and Ron Dreese

• Diane Batchik, National Security Professional, Delaware/Maryland Synod
• Ronald P. Dreese, Board Member
• 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
• Michael Lehman, P.E., Chair, Retired President/CEO, Manufacturing Company, Lower Susquehanna 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:  Chad Hebrink, Karen Wood, Lori Roth, Susan Schellenberg
Second row: John Spangler, Shari VanderGast, Rick Barger
Top row: Jeff Boland, Denise Finney, Guy Delp 

• Rick Barger, Retired CFO, Lower Susquehanna Synod
• Jeff Boland, Senior Living Services Consultant and Consultancy, Lower Susquehanna Synod
• Guy Delp, Board Member
• Denise Finney, Board Member
• 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
• Karen Wood, Board Member