OUR STAFF
EAABF would not function without numerous ESOL teachers and volunteers funded by MCAEL. Additionally the foundation and the church rely heavily on numerous committed volunteers.
Rev. Jennifer Fenner
The Reverend Jennifer Fenner – “Pastor Jen” – is a native of Fremont, Michigan and a long-time resident of Howard County, Maryland. She is currently serving as the Senior Pastor of the Epworth United Methodist Church in Gaithersburg, MD.
Reverend Fenner has also served in Nicaragua, Central America, where she was a liaison with the United Nations while working for the Church Center (part of the United Methodist Church) in New York City. Additionally, she served two years as a Young Adult Missionary in Residence for the General Board of Global Ministries.
Her dedication to diversity and inclusiveness was recognized very early in her vocation, when upon graduating Summa Cum Laud from the Drew University Theological School, Reverend Fenner was honored with the Hebrew Bible Award.
Fully bilingual English/Spanish, she is committed to promoting justice and equality for all races and ethnicities.
Pastor Jennifer Fenner
Interim Executive Director
Pastor Tammi Brantley
Rev. Tammi D. Brantley has served at Epworth since 2021. She is originally from Fitzgerald, Georgia, and is a graduate of Fort Valley State University and Howard University. Before entering full-time ministry, she worked as an Account Manager in the Business Development Department for United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS Inc.).
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Pastor Tammi grew up in the church and credits her love for ministry to Jesus' desire to have a personal relationship with us. Pastor Tammi once heard in a training session the question “What would it be like to serve in a ministry that looks like heaven”. Coming to Epworth has allowed her to actualize that vision. Pastor Tammi loves her mother who still lives in Georgia and her puppy child Phoebe! Additionally, she is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and The Carats, Inc. Three specific scriptures are a part of her daily walk with Christ that guide her life and her thoughts Matthew 6:10, Psalm 23:1, and Jeremiah 29:11.
Pastor Tammi Brantley
Children’s Enrichment Coordinator
Deacon Megan Blanchard
Rev. Megan Blanchard is a “Carolina Girl” from the small town of Midland, NC. She graduated from Davidson College with a BA of Spanish and BA of Political Science. Post graduation she worked in finance and operations in corporate America for over five years before sensing a call to ministry. Upon discerning her call, she relocated to the Washington, D.C. area in 2013 to pursue a dual graduate degree. She received her Masters in Theological Studies from Wesley Theological Seminary and Masters in International Development from American University in 2017.
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Rev. Blanchard is an ordained Deacon of the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church. Her ministry has been focused on areas that connect the church and the world, protect the vulnerable, and serve the marginalized. She currently does this through her ministry as Program Manager at Epworth’s Ana A. Brito Foundation in Gaithersburg, MD and local church ministry at Fairhaven UMC in Darnestown, MD.
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When she is not serving in these places you can most likely find her having fun with her family: her husband – Trey, her two young daughters – Susannah and Emma.
Deacon Megan Blanchard
Program Director, ESOL
Gina Dawson
Gina Dawson has worked with Epworth since 2022. She currently serves as bookkeeper for all Epworth entities: Epworth UMC, Epworth Preschool and Kindergarten, and Epworth’s Ana A Brito Foundation.
Gina holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Maryland, College Park. She has worked as a financial analyst for local companies and in the areas of discipleship. She is an excellent part of Epworth’s team.
She can be reached at bookkeeper@eumc-md.org
Gina Dawson
Bookkeeper
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Derek Harps
Derek Harps has a long and significant history of marrying his professional expertise in the areas of banking and lending with his personal commitment and dedication to the successful management of not-for-profit efforts in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
Retired as Vice President and Team Lead for M&T Bank’s Greater Washington Not-for-Profit Banking Group, Mr. Harps' 41 years of banking experience has served to guide numerous non-profit boards, including his tenures as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Healthy Babies Project, and President of the Board of Directors for the Center for Non-profit Advancement.
He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Montgomery College Life Sciences Park Foundation and as Chairperson of the Administrative Council of the Epworth United Methodist Church.
Derek Harps
Board Chair
Elizabeth Brito-Austin
Elizabeth (Lisa) Brito-Austin has strong ties to the Montgomery County community and a very personal investment in the mission and services of the Ana A. Brito Foundation.
Lisa was born in Camaguey, Cuba and together with her parents and sisters, immigrated to the US in 1968 on the last of what was then referred to as the “Freedom Flights.” Her family was sponsored by a local United Methodist church and relocated to Montgomery County, allowing them to acclimate, integrate and finally flourish as productive and successful members of the local community.
Together with her considerable experience in the areas of legal practices, local government and project management, Lisa brings her unique perspective – and personal narrative – to the important work of the foundation.
Elizabeth Brito-Austin
Secretary
Barbara Pauley
Barbara Pauley has been a member of Epworth United Methodist Church for 42 years. She has served the church in various capacities, most recently as a new member of the Ana A. Brito Foundation, Inc. board.
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A native of West Virginia, Barbara graduated from West Virginia University in 1973 with a degree in Accounting and Finance. She began her professional career with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (then the U.S. General Accounting Office) as an Auditor and later in supervisory positions.
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Her work history includes that of a tax accountant in a family-owned tax practice, and numerous positions with the Montgomery County Public School System. Additionally, she served as a member of the Board of Directors of a bank in West Virginia until the time of its merger with a larger bank. She is a Certified Public Accountant.
Barbara Pauley, CPA
Treasurer
Rev. Jennifer Fenner
The Reverend Jennifer Fenner – “Pastor Jen” – is a native of Fremont, Michigan and a long-time resident of Howard County, Maryland. She is currently serving as the Senior Pastor of the Epworth United Methodist Church in Gaithersburg, MD.
Reverend Fenner has also served in Nicaragua, Central America, where she was a liaison with the United Nations while working for the Church Center (part of the United Methodist Church) in New York City. Additionally, she served two years as a Young Adult Missionary in Residence for the General Board of Global Ministries.
Her dedication to diversity and inclusiveness was recognized very early in her vocation, when upon graduating Summa Cum Laud from the Drew University Theological School, Reverend Fenner was honored with the Hebrew Bible Award.
Fully bilingual English/Spanish, she is committed to promoting justice and equality for all races and ethnicities.
Pastor Jennifer Fenner
Interim Executive Director
Merrita Woode
Merrita Woode, CPA is a seasoned life sciences business leader with more than 25 years of experience in strategic planning, financial planning and operations management.
She has a proven record leading cross-functional teams that design innovative business strategies, drive operational efficiency, and deepen organizational cohesion.
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Merrita lives in Gaithersburg with her husband, Dennis Woode. Dennis & Merrita were married at Epworth 35 Years ago. They have 2 adult children, Denzel & Denise, who were both baptized & confirmed at Epworth. In her spare time, Merrita’s hobbies are solving puzzles, running, traveling & reading
Merrita Woode, CPA
Director of Finance
Reverend Dra. Yolanda Pupo-Ortiz is Pastora Emerita at Epworth UMC, former Director of the EAABF, and founder of the ESOL programs, originally called Ayuda Especial. Pastora Yolanda or Pastora as she is affectionately called, is a woman of deep wisdom, faith in God, and true love for the community. Originally from Cuba, Pastor Yolanda was Quaker before she became United Methodist. Her mother is from Puerto Rico.
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She served as the General Secretary for the Commission on Religion and Race of the United Methodist Church and as the pastor Bethesda Hispanic Ministries at Bethesda United Methodist Church. She was a longtime friend and colleague of Ana Brito.
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Pastora Yolanda has been a United Methodist elder for over 30 years. Her heart and her love are the people.
Pastor Yolanda Pupo-Ortiz
Officer
Pastor Yolanda Pupo-Ortiz
Christina Castillo
Christina Castillo grew up in New York and after graduating college moved to Maryland. Christina has served at Epworth for the last 12 years in various roles and capacities as a member and Chair of the Board of Trustees and Disciple Ministry Lead.
She currently leads our Executive Leadership Team and provides vision and oversight for the mission of the church. She is a Civil Engineer by degree and profession.
She dedicates much of her free time to the work Epworth is doing in and for the community it serves.
Christina Castillo
Member
Darrell Pauley
Darrell Pauley is a long-term member of Epworth. He is a graduate of Marshall University with a degree in Finance. The majority of his professional career was spent at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve in Washington, DC in various financial management positions.
At the time of his retirement from the Board of Governors, Darrell was the Board’s Chief Financial Officer with responsibility for Financial Services, Corporate Services, and Risk Management functions.
Following his retirement from the Board of Governors, he joined the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board as the organization’s Chief Administrative Officer. Darrell is a Certified Public Accountant.
Darrell Pauley, CPA
Member
