.png)
St. Vincent's House
Board of Directors
God is the only one who can make the valley of
trouble a door of hope
Hosea 2:15
Coming together from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences, our skilled team of volunteer Board members is the backbone of
St. Vincent's House.
Their ideas and experience help shape the vision and mission of our organization as it continues to develop.
Read on to learn more about our incredible team members.
Bishop Hector Monterroso
Board Chair, Bishop Assistant
“My training in the seminary did not include how to [plant] new churches,” he said, but with his inherited soccer skills, he soon made headway. "Many young people came to the church to meet and to play on my soccer team. Eventually, we had our own soccer team sponsored by the Episcopal Church. It was good advertising,” he laughed.
In addition to his experience as a missionary, and as Bishop of Costa Rica, Bishop Monterroso also served as Secretary General of Province IX (1986-2000); as editor of the Revista Anglicanos magazine for 16 years and as Secretary General of the Anglican Church of the Central Region of America. During his tenure in Costa Rica, he secured its financial stability, increased the number of clergy from seven to 29, assured that most congregations were self-sustaining, and gained governmental recognition and support for many of the Diocese’s programs.
In Texas, Bishop Monterroso will continue to strengthen the growth in both Hispanic congregations as well as new missional communities and church plants. He will visit 45 congregations during the year, primarily in the southern region of the Diocese of Texas; chair the board of St. Vincent’s House, a social service agency in Galveston; support growth of multicultural presence in all congregations and help to create a strategy for new ethnic church plants and missional communities.
Linda Rutherford
Board President
Linda Rutherford is a BOI and a retired attorney, recently returning to live on the island with her husband, John, a practicing attorney.
Linda and John volunteered at an agency similar to St. Vincent's when they lived in the Dallas area. She visited SVH with one of our long-time volunteers and immediately fell in love with our mission and our ministry. Linda is the newest member of the SVH Board and is excited at the prospect of working both as a volunteer and at the board level.
Douglas W. Matthews
Board Vice President
Doug Matthews brings to the St. Vincent's House board three decades of experience in both municipal and health care administration. A former Galveston City Manager, Doug has served for over 20 years in Government Relations representing the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in legislative affairs in Austin and Washington D.C.
Doug is an ordained Deacon in the Catholic church, serving in a variety of capacities at Holy Family Catholic Church in Galveston.
John Speich
Board Treasurer
Few things are more important to the integrity of a non-profit than careful financial management. John Speich has served St. Vincent’s in many ways over the years, currently serving as Treasurer and as a member of the executive, development and facilities committees.
His professional expertise in assisting the board and executive director in crafting the budget has been invaluable. John is a life-long Episcopalian and member of Trinity Episcopal Church Galveston where he has served as usher, Lay Eucharistic Minister and Worship Leader. He led the Outreach Committee and has served on the Vestry as Senior Warden and currently as Treasurer.
Professionally John is a Certified Public Accountant having worked in public accounting and a variety of industries. Presently he is an accounting systems consultant with Innovative Financial Systems.
Dr. Vivian Hernandez
Board Secretary
Dr. Vivian Hernandez holds an Ed.D. in Ethical Leadership from the University of St. Thomas, School of Education and Human Services, an M.Ed. in Leadership & Administration from the University of St. Thomas, School of Education, and a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from the University of Houston Clear Lake. Dr. Hernandez is currently a Galveston Independent School District Administrator, serving as the District Bilingual Family and Community Engagement (F.A.C.E.) & Data Specialist, Newcomer’s Resource & Community Liaison. Previously, she was the APEX Magnet Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Media Arts Pathway Coordinator at Ball High School in Galveston, Texas, where she also founded and coordinated the Tutor-a-Tor Mentoring program. She has also served as a Dual Credit Academic Advisor and an Internship/Mentoring Coordinator. Dr. Hernandez has presented at national conferences on topics including constructing mentoring programs and addressing the needs of socio-economically disadvantaged students.
The Reverend Jimmy Abbott
Board Member
Dorothy "Dotsy" Balentine
Board Member
Dotsy Balentine lives here on Galveston Island, is a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, and works at Moody Bank as Vice President in Administration. She is engaged to David Herrin, and has a daughter, Lauren Balentine, who is in medical school at Tulane. Dotsy serves on the Board of HomeTown Bank, N.A., and has served on a number of boards in leadership positions for the past thirty years.
Elaine Culver
Board Member
Elaine Culver is a relative newcomer to Galveston Island, but a long time supporter of St. Vincent's House (SVH). A resident of Dallas, Elaine learned of the important work being done at SVH and it became one of the reasons she and her husband, Bruce, are making the Island their second home. Elaine, an active member of the Development Committee, is a seminary graduate with a heart for helping those in need.
Pastor David Gomez
Board Member
David Gomez has been the Lead Pastor of New Life Fellowship, a multicultural, multigenerational church, for the past 30 years. Married to his wife of thirty-four years, together they have three adult children. He previously served on the United Way and Galveston College Universal Access Board. Currently, David enjoys serving on SVH Board because of the impact of its mission and ministry to the community.
.jpg)
Ann O'Connell
Board Member
When Ann joined the SVH Board, she was employed as Vice President of Ambulatory Services at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. She was the executive responsible for providing operational and financial oversight for a large network of campus and community-based primary and specialty care practices and regional maternal and child health mission clinics.
Ann is a self-described mission-driven servant leader with demonstrated success in accomplishing strategic goals. She has brought her executive skills into play as secretary of the board and a a volunteer in the UTMB clinics housed at St. Vincent's.
Pastor Kerry Tillmon
Board Member
Pastor Kerry W. Tillmon responded to God’s call and purpose for his life (Jeremiah 29:11), thereby accepting the awesome responsibility of proclaiming the gospel of Christ. He is a graduate of Houston Baptist University with a Bachelor’s degree in Christianity and a minor in Government and Knox Theological Seminary with a Master’s degree in theological studies.
Kerry joined the St.Vincent's Board in 2020.
Pastor Tillmon has served as the shepherd of West Point Baptist Church for 35 years. He currently holds the following affiliations and leadership roles:
*Pastor - West Point Missionary Baptist Church (35 years)
*President - Baptist Ministers’ Association of Galveston/Galveston County
*Moderator - American Baptist Eastern General Association of Texas, Incorporated
*President - American Baptist General Convention of Texas
*Board of Directors and Publishing Board, National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
Libbie Ansell
Board Member
Jim Byrom
Board Member
Doug Polzin
Board Member