Saintanne Tipton

President/Executive Director

My life as I knew it changed forever in 1974. Prior to that time, I remember a childhood of sadness, loneliness, an absence of toys to play with and most of all, no real knowledge of family and never seeming to have enough to eat. 

My name is Saintanne Hilaire Tipton and what I have just described was my life in an orphanage in Haiti, where I was born.  I don’t remember much about my life there. When I was five years old, I was brought some one hundred-thirty kilometers away to an orphanage in Petionville, Haiti where I lived until I was adopted.

As far as my recollection of Petionville, I remember the few caring people who looked out for me and the other orphans. A few of the habits of mind we gained, habits that have remained with me throughout my life, were to love God, to be grateful for everything, and to always share with others what you have. In the early 1970s, it was truly God’s providence that a man named Thomas Tipton came to Haiti and visited the orphanage where I lived. When he saw me, somehow, he knew I was going to be his daughter, and at the same time, I wanted to be his daughter. I remember writing him a letter saying, “I hope one day you will come to take me to live with you in your home,” and he did; because of his generosity my whole life changed and I was given a chance for a brighter future.

I am so grateful to God for rescuing me and giving me a chance for a better life while so many desperate children in Haiti were left waiting and hoping. The bible says, “For everyone who has been given much, much will be required.”(Luke 48:12) Since so much has been given unto me I am compelled to give back. In 1995, using my own funds, I started The Haiti Project, a project that provided necessities to homeless kids and an orphanage.  

The Lighthouse, a multi-purpose community outreach center is an outgrowth of a partnership between my church, Faith Tabernacle Fellowship International’s Mission to Haiti, which was established by its Senior Pastors Drs. Floyd & E. Mae Beecham and myself in 2004. Under my leadership the church provided food, clothing, medicines, school supplies and materials for education through a partnership with an orphanage in Haiti. 

The driving theme for The Lighthouse is about opening our hearts and minds to the extreme suffering our children, families and communities endure every day. The lighthouse symbolizes the way forward to help in navigating the way through the rough waters of life, whether those waters be personal, financial, or spiritual in nature. It leads those that are in danger to a place of security and safety. I call God’s work!

Jeff Hommes

Chairperson

Jeff is a seasoned financial services professional with 28 years of leadership experience in customer and client relations, strategic planning, operations, project management and personnel management.

He has a passion for helping to shape dreams and visions into reality. “Having been blessed beyond what i could ever have imagined, I am called to use my God given talents, gifts, and time serving those in need.”

Jeff and his wife Beth have been married for 28 years, have two grown sons, a grandson, and reside in Hudson, WI. He is an active volunteer with Second Harvest Heartland, GracePlace and serves on the Pastoral Council at St Patrick Parish. In addition to The Lighthouse, Jeff formerly served as a member of the Wells Fargo Funding Council, as well as the Chairman of the Hudson Hockey and Baseball boards, Hobbies include bee keeping, biking, golfing, and making maple syrup.

Angela Scott

Board Vice Chair

Angela has over 25 years of management, facilitation, and administration experience.  She offers a tremendous wealth of knowledge and has a unique ability to develop strong leaders through innovative training and engagement activities. She has facilitated numerous workshops, bible studies and corporate events.

Angela is a graduate from Augsburg College and holds a degree in Business Communications. 

She is currently an Assistant Pastor at Faith Tabernacle Gospel Fellowship. Under the tutelage of Pastors Floyd and E. Mae Beecham for over 17 years she has served as a teacher, administrator and treasurer. 

Angela believes that we are all valuable.  God has given everyone a special assignment and purpose. She has volunteered over the years as foster parent for teenage boys, mentoring young adults in life and career skills and providing spiritual guidance to women in transitional housing.  She has dedicated her life to strengthen and empower others to live life to its fullest potential both spiritually and physically.

Bonita Hughes

Secretary

Bonita (Bonnie) Hughes was raised in St. Paul, Minnesota where she graduated from Highland Park High School.  She earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Metropolitan State University and a MBA in Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas.  

She worked for 20 years at 3M and Imation, a spin-off company of 3M, in various accounting and financial positions.  Currently, she is the Business Manager for Studio 4 Enterprises, a management company to High School for Recording Arts, since 2002.  

She actively volunteers in the community.  She was the Treasurer of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer from 2007 – 2016.  And is the current Treasurer of Butterflies 4 Life, a breast cancer awareness organization.

Rich Berkley

TREASURER

Rich Berkley is a financial professional with Equitable Advisors. Originally from Liberia, he was adopted at the age of 10. He has a bachelor's degree in Business and Marketing from the University of Jamestown. He plans on bringing financial literacy to underserved communities. 

Maya Beecham

BOARD MEMBER

Maya Beecham has led a 20+ year cross-sector career in non-profit, philanthropy and state government. She has held a range of positions in grantmaking, development, education, and the arts at Youthprise, Bush Foundation, Minnesota Office of Higher Education, and Planned Parenthood North Central States. Currently, she works at The Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation as program director - economic ecosystem. Her passion lies in developing strategic partnerships, collaboration, and community engagement for the purpose of engaging, advancing and supporting communities of color. Additionally, Beecham spends her time as a collage artist and writer. She is a native of the historic black Rondo Community of St. Paul, Minnesota, and currently resides in Maplewood, MN.

Angela Burns Finney

BOARD MEMBER

Angela Burns Finney is a marketing professional with a career that spans over 20 years across private, public and nonprofit sectors. Angela has managed marketing and advertising for small business owners, authors, artists and several local nonprofits including Greater Twin Cities United Way, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Minnesota Children’s Museum; and she directed the creative vision and developed strategic marketing/communications for two colleges within the Minnesota State system. 

Angela is currently focused on marketing strategies for PwC's national Trust Leadership Institute program, which convenes a diverse community of executives to explore this evolving world, navigate the complexities and embrace the opportunities of a changing business landscape where the new currency of business is trust.

A St. Paul native, Angela was raised in the Rondo Community where she was infused with a generational legacy in community service. She proudly serves on the board of Summit-University Planning Council, YWCA St. Paul, the City of St. Paul’s Sales Tax Revitalization (STaR) program, and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (U.S. Bank Stadium). Angela is committed to creating opportunities and shaping communities where people can thrive!

Bill Brass

Board Member

Bill Brass has been working in the construction industry since 1976. Worked as a laborer between college years and went into the carpentry apprentice program in 1979. Bill has a broad base of experience in commercial and residential construction working as a project manager for a commercial general contractor since 1991. Currently he is employed by Morcon construction since 2003. Bill has a wife of 38 years and three grown children with 4 grandkids and resides in Lake Elmo MN.

Kerri L. Lewis

Board Member

Kerri has been active in Christian and Humanitarian ministry for over 19 years.  She is Joint Associate Pastor along with her husband Anthony Lewis and a member of the ministerial staff at Faith Tabernacle Gospel Fellowship Int’l (FTGFI).

She works as a spiritual life coach. Her vision is to promote the advancement of the world and the Kingdom of God.  An effective communicator of God’s Word, Pastor Kerri is known for her energetic and practical style which helps people apply the timeless truths of Scripture to their everyday lives.

She purposes to elevate all, through the visualization of God’s purpose for their life.  Help them see, His value of their worth. She has a strong compassion to help others. Inspiration from the Lord to do our humanitarian work, whether it will affect one life or millions of people. For one act of kindness can be enough to create a wave of change.

She & her husband, coach couples together; helping to build, cultivate & restore marriages.

She has been a board member of Urban Hope Ministries since 2008.

Kerri worked in the airline industry for over 20 years as a Flight Attendant. 

Joe Palen

Board Member

Joe’s started his career at a young age and has been in the construction and real-estate industry for over 35 years. Joe believes that the key to any successful business is driven by faith, honesty, integrity and building long-lasting relationships. During his career, he has owned and partnered with several companies, such as the Palen Contracting LLC, Bralen Companies, JT Real estate and Palen Property Management.  In addition to The Lighthouse, he currently sits on the board of the Metro Bowhunters Resource Base.

Throughout his career, Joe has created and constructed many non-profit organizations. His passion for understanding people, cultures and community led him towards philanthropy and activism.