Renee has been a passionate “people-helper” throughout her adult life. Her call to the specialty of helping women heal was identified as she served faithfully in a local church and attended an annual event for a local jail/prison ministry, Christian 12 Step Ministry, in 2009. At the time, she was tenaciously pursuing her own healing through their faith-based 12 Step course, other healing-related studies, counseling, and reading, reading, reading! She is a voracious self-learner.
Finding the faith-based 12 Step course transformative and being eager to share, Renee trained and volunteered leading recovery groups in January 2011. She’s taught in churches, the Marion County Jail, and Lowell Correctional Institution.
After four years of volunteering, Renee became one of the ministry’s directors from March 2015 to April 2020. Her love for the healing process along with her creativity and an eye for detail led her to revise its materials, develop facilitator training, rebrand the ministry, create their social media, and build relationships with recovery and mental health service providers in Marion County.
Years of recovery group facilitation coupled with working one-on-one with women trying to sustain lasting life-change inspired her to move on from Christian 12 Step Ministry to establish His House for Her in 2020. Renee is resolved to give women a chance to triumph over trauma and create a place for them to become whole by making the healing opportunities that she had available to others.
Renee is an ordained minister at City Light Church. She’s also certified by SMART Recovery, Christian 12 Step Ministry, and Trauma Reboot for group facilitation and in Creation Therapy, an evidence-based, biblical model for Christian Counseling through the Sarasota Academy of Christian Counseling. She and her husband, Trey, serve together tirelessly to expand the vision of His House for Her and enjoy restorative time with family, boating, and the beach.
Jen has always been drawn to jobs where her work helps others. As a provider with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities for 13 years, she helped provide Behavior Analysis services to the developmentally disabled in the Central Florida area. Her love for all things organized, planned, and scheduled led her to start an event planning business. Fundraising became a natural part of that business, providing yet another way to help others. When Jen crossed paths with Renee, the founder of His House For Her, she knew there was something special about their common desire to help others. Jen assisted Renee with fundraising and social media at Christian 12 Step Ministry and has now joined in the efforts at His House for Her. “There are so many important details that have to happen behind the scenes for any business, ministry, or event to be successful. I’m thankful that God has brought together this team of women, each with the perfect combination of experience and gifts, to share the love of Jesus through His House for Her.”
Virginia has an MBA in finance and nonprofit administration and over 25 years experience as a Chief Financial Officer, Chief Development Officer, and Executive Director for nonprofit organizations with budgets of $100K to $95M. Virginia started her own consulting firm in 2017 that provides strategic planning, financial management, and nonprofit tax reporting services to nonprofit organizations.
Virginia is passionate about His House for Her because of her volunteer work with Christian 12 Step Ministry. Virginia shares, “It was a revelation for me that the 12 Step program could help people not only with addictions, but with all of the emotional strongholds and dependencies everyone experiences in life. I also came to understand the importance of housing and supporting women as they transition out of a life chained to pain and suffering and learn to live healthier to become strong members of the community.” Virginia’s passion in life is helping nonprofit organizations like His House for Her with a mission to help people and save lives.
Lilly has helped others heal most of her life. Being a registered nurse and a pastor’s wife, she’s witnessed the impact of trauma and addiction on individuals in our community firsthand.
Lilly has over 25 years of experience as a nurse or nurse manager in settings such as a 90-bed outpatient dialysis center and a home health company that serviced home-bound residents in 3 counties. Most recently, she was a Facility Director responsible for 6 outpatient dialysis programs that provided over 1,200 medical treatments monthly. She was involved in direct patient care, ensured safety standards, trained clinical staff, and maintained profit margins.
Lilly shares, “I am honored to bring my skills and share the redemptive power of Jesus at His House for Her, an organization I have found to be committed to creating a safe, supportive environment for women to heal. I aim to provide compassionate care, guidance, and resources to help our women heal, rebuild, and thrive.”
Lilly and her husband have been monthly supporters and volunteers of His House for Her since the doors opened. Lilly joined the Board of Directors January 2024 and stepped into the role as Director of Operations June 2024. She wholeheartedly embraced the mission and our team, and she is quickly raising the bar of excellence in culture and service.
Trey is the President and Principal Engineer of Vikus Water located in The Villages, Florida, and has led the business since 2007. Vikus Water has served as The Villages® Community primary water resource engineer since 2007. Their services include many broad scopes from conceptual design to operations and maintenance oversight. They strive for quality, reliability, efficiency, and innovation to continue building a sustainable community in Florida’s Friendliest Hometown.
Throughout his adult life, Trey has always served in leadership positions in the local church and/or faith-based, non-profit organizations. He served as a deacon in a small church in Gainesville, Florida, as a bible teacher and small group leader at Central Christian Church (CCC) in Ocala, Florida, for many years, and as an Elder also at CCC for approximately 10 years. Trey served on the Board of Directors of Christian 12 Step Ministry for 10 years and he is an ordained minister at City Light Church. Trey shares Renee’s vision to give women a chance to triumph over trauma and create a place for them to become whole.
Transitioning from his career in engineering, Trey joined the Board of Directors January 2024. He is excited to bring his business and leadership expertise to the ministry. Trey’s involvement includes overseeing and managing maintenance needs, software projects, and the site plan process to increase affordable housing on the property. He also participates with Renee in residents’ outings, corporate prayer and worship, holidays, and house tours for members of the community. Trey enjoys spending downtime with family, boating, and mountain biking.
Amber is a caregiver at heart; passionate about loving and serving God and hurting women. She oversees all aspects of our program and staff and manages our residents’ Care Plans.
Amber came to us with 13 years experience as a Special Care Counselor working for the Quebec Provincial Government. She’s trained to assess needs and then develop, implement, and evaluate goal-directed clinical interventions.
Amber has provided support to people with physical, cognitive, intellectual, neurological, emotional, and behavioral needs. Her time with us has shown she is quite qualified to work with women recovering from trauma and addiction and families in crisis.
Everyone who encounters Amber loves her! She is warm-hearted, empathetic and yet unmovable when needed, which serve her well in the area of conflict resolution. She thrives as a creative problem solver which is so needed when working in an emotional environment such as this.
We appreciate her Team Leader experience as she stepped right into motivating and inspiring each of us to be the best we can be!
We are so grateful she found her way to us and she has truly helped us create the trauma-informed healing space we desire.
Cynthia has 16 years in active recovery, an AS in Healthcare Sciences, a national certification as a pharmacy technician, and a certification as a Wellness Coach. Though she has a strong background in all facets of healthcare, she’s particularly passionate about coaching in the area of codependency. Equipped with a strong understanding of step work in AA and CODA and her life experiences, she’s passionate about coming alongside our ladies to help them improve their lives.
Cynthia coordinates and supervises our ladies’ medical and mental healthcare services and connects them to partner agencies for any other needs. She also has an understanding of the criminal justice and dependency systems.
In her most recent position of 7 years, she worked hard to oversee an administrative team’s day-to-day activities, ensured smooth operations by assigning tasks and managing workloads, and cultivated positive work and patient relationships.
Cynthia shares, “I am committed to creating a positive and compassionate environment for our residents and outreach clients. My dedication to their well-being aligns perfectly with the mission of His House for Her as demonstrated by my volunteering there since 2023. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to our team and make a meaningful impact.”
After over twelve years of working in education, both in the public and private Christian sectors, Holly felt led by God to “level up” when she and her husband moved to Ocala six years ago. Soon after, she began working for a local non-profit supporting the staff as they attended to the educational and mental health issues for school-aged girls. She also has years of experience in ministry as she served as Chair of a Ladies Ministry, Co-chair for an Inner-City Ministry, Mentor for the national Lads to Leaders Program, Group Leader for several small groups, and taught numerous Bible studies, just to name a few. She served as Vice President of Education for a local chapter of Toastmasters International in Corpus Christi, Texas. Toastmasters International is a non-profit organization committed to helping professionals with public speaking skills. She also served as the Ombudsman for the US Navy in Corpus Christi for families whose loved ones had been deployed. Holly is degree complete as she earned her degree in Liberal Arts and Science just this past year. Office organization, strong communication skills, and a compassionate heart are Holly’s strengths.
Holly is most honored to be working for His House for Her. Thirteen years ago, when Holly was going through the most difficult time of her life, a woman of great faith prophesied over her and told her she would help women. She has been on a journey since then trying to discover exactly what that looks like for her. When she walked through the doors of His House for Her as a volunteer, she felt the presence of God so strongly that she knew she was finally “home”.
Sue received credentials as a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist through the Florida Certification Board in 2017. She advanced her efforts to help others in December 2019 when she founded Together To Thrive, another local nonprofit organization that supports those on their journey of mental health/addiction recovery. She continues as their President and Executive Director and our ladies volunteer to help her with support activities of Together To Thrive.
Sue first began working with peer support groups in 2007 in Bennington, VT, and then in Ocala, FL, in 2015. This is the time that she and Renee met around the tables of various community conversations regarding mental health/addiction recovery.
Sue’s experience helping peers discover and use their strengths to develop skills and set goals for improved wellness and resilience makes her a perfect mentor for our ladies.
Sue provides pastoral coaching and house supervision; she’s a kind, but strong and stabilizing presence for our ladies. She’s also our certified facilitator for SMART Recovery. She manages meal planning, meal prep, and is always eager to jump in wherever she is needed.
We affectionately call her Ms. Sue around here and we couldn’t imagine the house without her!
Stephanie joined our team in April 2023. She is a resilient woman with 3 1/2 years of recovery under her belt. All of her meeting experience allows her to share so much of the wisdom of the 12 Steps with our ladies. She is a wonderful encourager. Having women to empower women is important to us. While Ms. Sue’s presence in the house is mother-like, Stephanie’s is sister-like. What a beautiful combination!
Stephanie lives on-site and leads morning devotions. She also provides house supervision, transportation, and is always eager to lend a hand whenever needed.
Stephanie shares, “I never imagined that a job could change my life so drastically. I will never forget the first time I stepped onto the property here. Without a doubt, I knew God was here! At this time in my life, I’d just started seeking God. The concept of God was very new to me because He’d not been a part of my life. I didn’t find Him to be good or bad or indifferent; He just wasn’t.”
Becoming part our team provided an opportunity for Stephanie to learn what life with God was truly about. Through a few of the classes offered in our program and therapy services, her life has changed. She found the healing that she never imagined was possible.
Stephanie shares again, “I can say with 100% certainty that my job changed my life! It’s made me a better employee and I am better equipped to share the things I’ve learned and my healing with our residents. I can show them, first-hand that recovery and healing are possible; that through God we can do anything!”
