Our Staff
Samantha Bean
Director of Marketing & Communications | Samantha@pccf.gives
Favorite TV Show: Project Runway
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Mint Chocolate Chip
Favorite Vacation Spot: Cabo San Lucas
Favorite Part About PCCF: Making Porter County an even better place to live!
Jeri Patricia Gabbert
Executive Vice President & Chief Philanthropic Officer | JeriPat@pccf.gives
Favorite TV Show: The Queen’s Gambit
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: All flavors made by Valpo Velvet
Favorite Vacation Spot: Beach vacations are the best!
Favorite Part About PCCF: Partnering with nonprofits and community members to make Porter County a great place to live, work and raise a family.
Bill Higbie
President & CEO | Bill@pccf.gives
Favorite TV Show: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Coffee
Favorite Vacation Spot: My house
Favorite Part About PCCF: Getting to spend time (over coffee, of course) with people who care about Porter County
Janelle Lewin
Office Coordinator | Janelle@pccf.gives
Favorite TV Show: Yellowstone
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Butter Pecan
Favorite Vacation Spot: Anywhere warm with water
Favorite Part About PCCF: Helping others in whatever manner it may be.
Melissa Martin
Executive Assistant | Melissa@pccf.gives
Favorite TV Show: Friends
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Favorite Vacation Spot: Anywhere
Favorite Part About PCCF: Making a difference across the county in many ways.
Caroline Schrenker
Director of Operations | Caroline@pccf.gives
Favorite TV Show: I love witty comedies like Schitt’s Creek and Modern Family.
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Peppermint
Favorite Vacation Spot: Anywhere with mountains, water, and natural beauty
Favorite Part About PCCF: Having the privilege to collaborate with amazing community leaders and partners who continue to make a profound impact on Porter County and its residents.
Karisa Zacarias
Director of Finance | Karisa@pccf.gives
Favorite TV Show: The Chef Show
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Coffee
Favorite Vacation Spot: Hawaii
Favorite Part About PCCF: The connection to the community.
Mary Jane Eisenhauer, EdD
Executive Director, First Things First Porter County | Maryjane@firstthingspc.org
Favorite TV Show: New Girl
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Cappuccino Gelato (preferably from the place around the corner from Piazza della Rotonda in Rome)
Favorite Vacation Spot: The beach
Favorite Part About FTF: The smell of lavender in my office from the Warmies is my current favorite thing (but really it’s the people)!
Laura Green
Outreach Coordinator, First Things First Porter County | Laura@firstthingspc.org
Favorite TV Show: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Peanut Butter Cup
Favorite Vacation Spot: Mount Desert Island & Acadia National Park, Maine
Favorite Part About FTF: I have always been so passionate about the Early Childhood field, so continuing this important work with such wonderful people has been a dream.
Hadassah Moore
Project Coordinator, First Things First Porter County | Hadassah@firstthingspc.org
Favorite TV Show: 30 Rock
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Talenti Mint Fudge Cookie Gelato Layers
Favorite Vacation Spot: I LOVE Colorado skiing
Favorite Part About FTF: I have a passion for empowering local communities to thrive, and I am eager to join an organization that does just that!
Our Board of Directors
Dean Cobble
GW Berkheimer
Ryan Cole
Valparaiso University
Tim Coleman
Centier Bank
Saradha De Jesus
Panduit
Julie Elisha
McColly Real Estate
Carol Hall
Berglund Construction
Scott Hufford
Portage Township Schools
Stephanie Jones
Amazon
Jung Lee
Indiana Beverage
Jeffrey Lewis
Shive-Hattery
Lauren Kroeger
Hoeppner, Wagner & Evans
Megan Marshall
CAPTrust
John Montgomery
Blox Digital
Emily Richardson-Rossbach
PTP
Mark Ritzi
Horizon Bank
Jennifer Shikany
NIPSCO
Rachel Stoner
East Porter County School District
Matt Vessely
1st Source Bank
Jennifer Vidimos
Retired Educator
Celina Weatherwax
McMillan Family Foundation
Sami Welter
Ella Jayms
Michael Wendahl
Incremedical Corporation
Kari Zehner
Kittredge & Zehner, P. C.