Chairperson - Larry Brown

Larry is a partner in the Chicago office of PricewaterhouseCoopers where he leads the personal financial services practice. Larry joined the Firm in 1981 in the Pittsburgh office where he worked until moving to the Chicago area in 1999. Larry is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from Asbury College and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh.

In addition to being a member of the Board of Family Empowerment Centers, Larry is a member of the Board of Trustees of Asbury College. He has also served on a number of other charitable boards over the years including the boards of the Urban Impact Foundation and Family Guidance which are organizations in the Pittsburgh area with ministries similar to Family Empowerment Centers. Larry is a member of the Blanchard Alliance Church in Wheaton. He is married and has two daughters.

 Vice Chairperson - Orlando Crespo

Orlando holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and Anthropology from Colgate University and is currently completing a Masters of Theology degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. Orlando has been employed with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship since 1987 and currently holds the position as the National Director of Latino Fellowship, InterVarsity's Latino Ministry Division.

Orlando is also the Associate Pastor of New Life in the Bronx Church and was one of its founding leaders. Orlando has had a book published, Being Latino in Christ: Finding Wholeness in Your Ethnic Identity, which focuses on the value of having a strong sense of Latino ethnic identity for the purpose of personal dignity, spiritual wholeness, and effective ministry to those in need that is due to be released within the next year.

Orlando has a burden for the Latino community, a passion for racial reconciliation, high regard for the family and a burden for the physical, social, spiritual needs of those in urban America. Orlando has spoken throughout the country developing Latino student leaders and campus ministries and had served as the Chairman of the New York InterVarsity Task Force on Multiethnicity and Race from 1996-1999. Orlando is married with two sons.
 

President - F. Scott Manke

Scott is the founder, President and Executive Director of Family Empowerment Centers and its daughter organization Donate Your Boat, SMLLC.  Scott holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Management with an emphasis in Psychology from Nyack College.  Scott completed his Masters degree from Wheaton Graduate School in Mission and Intercultural Studies.  Scott had been part of a team of individuals who started a church in the Bronx, New York and held the position of Youth and Families Pastor. During that time Scott also operated in the role of general manager for a small business in New York City for a period of 4 years prior to beginning FECC. 

Scott and Natalie (his wife) have made a personal decision to live in the community and make it a priority to stay involved with the people of the community in order to most effectively serve them. Scott is currently a licensed minister within the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Scott is married with four children Hope (10), Chase (8), Faith (5), and Matthew (1).  Two of their children are biological, one is adopted, and one they are fostering with a long term goal of adopting.

Treasurer - Tony Moore

Tony is the Chief Financial Officer of Bloch Lumber Company (a national wholesale/distributor of commodity building products) and has been in that position since 2002 and works out of their downtown Chicago office.  Tony graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and passed the CPA exam in 1992.  He has been involved in financial oversight since that time at a number of companies in San Diego and Chicago.

Tony served on the board of the Champaign County Habitat Humanity in Champaign, Illinois in the Mid 90’s serving as its treasurer.  Tony and his wife (Cindy) of 14 years and their two children (Zach and Avery, ages 11 and 9 respectively) are active members of Christ Community Church (a multi-site church, based in St. Charles, IL) where Tony serves as an Elder and the chairman of Trustees.
 

Secretary - Steve Pawela

Steve is President and Founder of CGC Mechanical Services; a heating and air conditioning company operating in the Chicago land area.  As a member of Harvest Bible Chapel Steve serves through their Maintenance Ministry for "Single Mom’s and Widows" further utilizing his electrical and mechanical expertise.  In addition, he also serves in their food pantry and in 2007 went on a mission trip to Romania assisting in a construction project.

Years ago Steve was delivered and set free from personal addictions.  As a result God stirred his heart to pursue helping other men who have similar struggles.  Through mentoring and encouragement he directs these men to the resources they need to be set free as well.  As a committed follower of Christ Steve has made Christian service and the family unit a high priority in his own life.    He is a single dad who spends a lot of time with his daughter (Rachel), they snow board together and he serves as a Spark’s leader at Bloomingdale Church where his daughter attends the AWANA club.
 

Director - Jonathan Rich

Jonathan holds a degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from ITT Technical Institute, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity International University in Interpersonal and Group Communication. In 2005 he recieved a Masters of Arts degree in Ministry Leadership through Crown College. Jon is currently the District Superintendent for the Midwest District of The Christian and Missionary Alliance and previously served as the Church Planting Director. As the church planting director he was responsible for assisting in the startup phase for new churches within the denomination. Prior to that Jon served as the Director of Administrative Services for the Midwest District and as an Associate Pastor of Hope Church in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Jon is a licensed and ordained minister within The Christian and Missionary Alliance. Jon serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the South Asian Friendship Center, a Chicago based ministry. Before entering vocational ministry in 1993, Jon was employed by three different corporations over an eighteen year period in a variety of sales, marketing, and management positions. Jon's administrative background and his concern and passion for holistic ministry brings a wide range of experience and expertise to Family Empowerment Centers of Chicago. Jonathan is married with three daughters.

Chairperson - Corey Chan