Our Board of Directors
Masterpiece Alliance’s Board of Directors believes that following Jesus Christ means living by the words of Jesus found in Matthew 22:37-40:
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
The mission of Masterpiece Alliance is an expression of how the Masterpiece Alliance Board is trying to uphold Jesus’s commandments to love God and to love others.
Scott and Julie Habeeb
Scott is in his third decade as a public educator. Julie is a former special educator who now works for an educational software company as a Director of Client Support. They have three daughters, one son, and two grandchildren. Their 30+ year involvement with Young Life has created in them a passion to build relationships and community. Having an adult child on the autism spectrum, working with young people with disabilities in the public schools, and serving as Young Life Capernaum volunteer leaders have combined to compel them to desire to build relationships and community for friends of all ages with disabilities.
Jeff and Ashlee Lakin
Jeff has worked full-time with adolescents & young adults for over 35 years. He is currently in his 2nd decade as the Area Director for Young Life in the Salem, Glenvar, & North Roanoke areas. Ashlee has also worked with adolescents and young adults and has a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision. She is currently a faculty member at Liberty University and Northwestern University. Jeff & Ashlee have 3 sons who keep them on the move, and the whole family has been involved with Young Life’s Capernaum. Through Masterpiece Alliance, the Lakins are excited to help build a foundation of belongingness and hope for those with disabilities in our community.
Angie Leonard
Angie Leonard was the Founder and CEO of St. Vincent's Home and the Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Centers serving the Roanoke, Lexington and Lynchburg VA areas. Angie and her husband, Alan, have 3 grown children; one who has autism. She began working in the autism field in 1998 with The Autism Program of Virginia providing training and consultations to families, professionals and school divisions. Formerly a public-school teacher, her passion to fully educate her son grew into a drive to help other families and educators, who had very little knowledge or training. In 2002, she opened the Blue Ridge Autism Center and in 2009 merged the center with The Achievement Center, to further develop the role of the organization into serving those with Learning Disabilities and later employment services for adults. Angie has served on the Virginia Autism Council, the Advisory Board for the Virginia Tech Center for Autism Research, as a board member for Katie's Place, Healing Wheels, Beyond Boundaries, and the DisAbilities Resource Network, where she was a founding Board member for GTO-Growth through Opportunity Program with the Roanoke City Police Department. She was also a founding board member and chair for Diamonds in the Ruff of Virginia, which matched and trained shelter dogs for people with disabilities and veterans. She was appointed by Governors McDonnell and McAuliffe to serve on the Virginia Interagency Coordinating Council and by Governor Northam to serve on Virginia's State Rehabilitation Council.
Jason and Marty Debord
Jason is the owner of Hometown Holdings, a comprehensive property management company serving communities throughout Virginia’s Roanoke Valley. Marty is in her third decade as a speech therapist serving the needs of young people in the City of Salem Schools. They have two children, a daughter and a son. As parents, Jason and Marty have loved watching their children come alive building friendships with peers who have disabilities. Their involvement with Masterpiece Alliance is a natural outgrowth of Marty’s profession and their entire family’s confidence that God has called them to serve those who find themselves on society’s margins.
Michael and Kristin Elder
Michael and Kristin Elder are both originally from Southwest Virginia, though spent about ten years in the Washington, DC area after college (go W&L and Richmond!). Michael is a senior manager with Deloitte, based out of Charlotte, and Kristin is a Senior Vice President with the public relations firm of Hill+Knowlton Strategies, based out of DC. They have two young-ish daughters - Emma and Kate - and one of the major life lessons Michael and Kristin hope to instill in them is to love big. Love those who love you. Love those who don't love you. Love those who are easy to love. Love those who are hard to love. The Elders' work with Masterpiece Alliance is driven by the desire to build a community in our town where everyone feels loved and included.
Tad and Shelly Fisher
Tad is a corporate and securities attorney who has been in practice for 2+ decades. Shelly is a stay at home mom with a passion for creatively investing in the lives of others. She has done this in recent years through women’s and high school ministry and community volunteer work. They have loved being an active part of the Salem community for over 20 years. They have four children. Their youngest child, Luke, has autism. They have been blessed by the support and encouragement they have received in Salem. They are excited to partner with Masterpiece Alliance to continue to build beautiful community.