The Rev. David B. Wolf, Esq. has been the Executive Director of Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington since August 20, 2012. Prior to that, David served as the Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Paterson, NJ, and as President-CEO of St. Paul’s Community Development Corporation, a non-profit working to alleviate hunger, homelessness, unemployment, poverty, and illiteracy in Paterson, one of the poorest small cities in America.
Previously, David served in Washington, DC as Assistant Rector at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church and, before his ordination, as an attorney with the U.S. Justice Department. He holds a J.D. degree from the George Washington University and an M. Div. from Virginia Theological Seminary.
David comes to us via the financial services industry, working largely for banks over the past 25 years, but also for a financial stewardship agency. His roles have varied, but typically involved operational and financial management, as well as HR support. David grew up in the Greater Washington area and attended Washington & Lee University in Lexington, VA, where he received a BS degree in Business Administration in 1989. In 2004, David left for banking position in Texas, returning to the area in 2009.
A resident of Vienna, VA, and a member of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter (CHC) there – a Samaritan Partner Congregation, which is how he heard about the opening! David is heavily involved in leadership at CHC serving as Junior Warden, and on the Budget, Finance, and Development Committees, as well as a former co-chair of the Church’s Capital Campaign. He is a passionately committed volunteer with FACETS (a Northern Virginia based non-profit) that sponsors the Hypothermia Prevention Shelter in which he serves. He also sings in the CHC choir and serves on the altar in various capacities.
Jennifer Seager-Valentine joins us as director of the Next Step program, and brings with her over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit world. Her most recent position was at a large NYC organization where she provided oversight for a workforce development program serving persons with serious mental illness. Prior to that, she worked at NYC’s largest public staffing firm and helped her team to place 2600 people in jobs in one year. Her previous experience includes leading programs serving veterans, persons with HIV, and children with developmental delays. She has advised master’s level social work students at and taught at various colleges. Jennifer is excited to join Samaritan Ministry and be a part of its transformation, as well as move with her husband to the Maryland area where she has already felt welcomed by the area’s “southern hospitality.”
Jeff Hale, CFRE, joined Samaritan Ministry in June 2020 following more than six years as Vice President of The Sheridan Group, a full-service fundraising consulting firm. Prior to that, Jeff served as Director of Development with the Global Alliance for Arts & Health, where he oversaw all aspects of fundraising. Previous positions include tenures at Ford’s Theatre, the National Gallery of Art and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Jeff is active in the DC Chapter of AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals) and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Southeast Ministry, a social services organization located in Ward 8. As Development Director, he works with the staff and volunteer leadership to ensure that SMGW has the financial and volunteer resources it needs in order to serve the community. Jeff is an avid baseball fan and enjoys playing and composing music in his spare time. He and his family, including his wife, Alice, and their two sons, live in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC.
A cradle Episcopalian who has lived around the world, Jane’s life experience gives her a solid grounding in a wide range of outreach ministries, a deep appreciation for diversity, and a significant set of skills and capabilities that are uniquely suited to the role of caseworker.
Jane retired from a multi-faceted 35+ year career as a senior writer/editor and team leader with the Office of Head Start (OHS) and later with HealthMark Multimedia. She has also developed curricula and provided English-language instruction from preschool through university in Egypt, Singapore, and the United States.
Jane holds a TESOL Certificate (with Distinction) through the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization, an MA in Architectural History from Yale, and a BA in Fine Arts from McGill University in Montréal.
Antoine grew up in the AME church and is still a member of his home church, Campbell’s Chapel AME in Carrollton, VA. After high school, he went to Howard University where he majored in public relations and minored in education. After his Howard graduation in 2004, Antoine worked in business with AT&T and Comcast. Using skills acquired in management and sales with those companies, Antoine ventured into workforce development as a trainer with Nations Learning Center in DC. Over the last ten years, Antoine has worked with Community of Hope and later MTM, Inc. Antoine is excited to join the staff of Samaritan Ministry. He will be directly in charge of the STRIVE training program. When asked, what drives him in workforce development, Antoine states, “Having tools and skills necessary to be successful shouldn’t be a privilege, but a right. Making sure that right is bestowed upon all that I reach is paramount. It drives me daily to be the best I can be for those who depend on me to help them achieve goals and dreams.”
Carol Johnson came to Samaritan Ministry in September of 2021 in the position of Development Associate. Carol has served as Database Manger, Database and Membership Coordinators for various non-profit organizations in the areas of Faith-Based, Transportation, Advocacy, Education and Health for over three decades. She also served as Database Manager for Amtrak’s Litigation Support for ten years managing teams of contractors building a database for one of the largest cases in Amtrak’s history.
Carol lives in Washington DC, surrounded by three generations of family. She has two adult children, four grandsons, four great grandsons and two great granddaughters.
Carol is excited to join the team at SMGW and to be able to combine her passion for service and duty and expertise in data management and donor relations.
Ms. Jones has an extensive background working with students and volunteers in university settings. She holds a B.A. in Communication from the State University of New York at Buffalo as well as advanced degrees in education administration. For the past four years, she has served as Volunteer Manager.
Diane Quinn joined Samaritan Ministry as Employer Specialist in August 2021, after being a SMGW volunteer. Her diverse background includes over 25 years in Marketing and Human Resources. After earning a master’s degree in Human Resources from The American University, Diane joined DC Government’s Department of Public and Assisted Housing. Under Mayor Kelly, Diane was reassigned to DC Parks and Recreation. Diane’s last DC Government assignment was with the Department of Transportation.
Next, Diane joined Sunrise Senior Living as Manager of the Office of People and Culture. After Sunrise, Diane joined Total Care Services as HR Director and then worked two years for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, to assist in implementing an HR Automatic Tracking System.
Diane is currently on the Vestry of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church of Washington, is an active “Daughter of the King” and serves on the Board of the DuPont Circle Citizens Association.
Khadijah Muhammad the development team in September of 2022 as Communication Associate. Graduating Howard University in 2019 with her Bachelors in Communications, she decided to further her academic learning, earning a masters in history in December 2022. “I am happy to continue my communications work in nonprofits with Samaritan Ministry.”
Demetria Savoy was born and raised in Washington, DC’s Ward 7. She came to Southeast Ministry in 2016 to fill the full-time ABE/GED instructor position vacated in 2015. In 2020, she was promoted to the Director of Academic Development and Student Affairs. She earned her B.A. from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in Health Science and Policy/Sociology. She also has twenty-plus years of case management experience with out-of-school youth and 28 years of experience teaching math through her tutoring service with youth and adults. Ms. Savoy has a well-earned reputation for transforming learners who fear and hate math into ones who love it.
Denise Johnson is a third-generation Washingtonian and proud Ward 8 resident. She attended Ballou High School and Southeastern University. After 38 years of service to the D.C. government working with at-risk youth and as a human resources specialist, Denise retired. She joined Southeast Ministry in 2020 and brings a welcoming spirit to her work with adult learners. Ms. Johnson has always had a passion for serving the community and helping youth.