BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President

Monte first came to Westminster Woods to Railroad Camp as a 6th grader in 1983.  He grew up in Fair Oaks, California attending camp every summer thereafter as a camper and eventually as a volunteer counselor and then as a summer staffer from 1989-1992.  He graduated from UC Davis with BAs in French and Spanish in 1992 and then from the Institut Protestant de Théologie (Paris, France) with a Maîtrise de Théologie in 2000 and a Masters in Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo.  He is ordained as a pastor in both the PC(USA) and the English Réformée de France, having pastored church in both France and California.  He has been the pastor of College Avenue Presbyterian Church in Oakland since 2010.  Monte met his wife Kristy while working on staff and has continued to be involved as a board member, annual speaker and regular financial supporter of Westminster Woods since 2001.  Monte credits much of his spiritual growth and Christ-centered commitment to his experience as a camper and a staffer at Westminster Woods.

Amanda grew up in Sacramento, California where she now resides with her husband and two children.  She holds a B.A. in history from Sonoma State University and a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) from San Jose State University.  Amanda’s career includes working as a project planner and economic development professional for numerous cities throughout the Bay Area, as well as an economic and real estate development consultant at a private consulting firm.  Amanda currently works as a Development Project Manager for the City of Sacramento, where she primarily manages public/private/non-profit partnership projects and oversees a variety of federal, state, and local grant funded programs that invest in Sacramento’s historically underserved communities.  Amanda fell in love with The Woods as a young Adventure Camp camper and continued to come back with her her church every summer, eventually volunteering as counselor and serving on summer staff.  Westminster Woods provided a spiritually nurturing environment where Amanda made lifelong friendships, developed her service and leadership skills, and built a foundation for her relationship with Christ that influences her personal and professional life today. 

Rev. Cassie Carroll started as the Head Pastor at Palisades Presbyterian Church, in San Diego, California on July, 2022. She has been ordained in the PCUSA since June, 2022. Cassie graduated from The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, with a Master's of Divinity in 2016. 

Cassie’s desire is to help people see the Divine in the midst of life - especially when it feels as though the Divine is not present. She believes that a church community encourages each other in their growing faith and to show God’s love to the neighborhood.

To learn more about who Cassie is and what she believes click the links in the side navigation. 

Jeff Richards is from Sacramento, CA. He has a Master of Divinity (San Francisco Theology Seminary) and BA Psychology (Sonoma State). He is a member of North Central California Presbytery as a chaplain and pastor.

Jeff first arrived at The Woods for church family camp in the late 70s as a little kid. Throughout the years he’s been a camper, counselor, resource person, and Ropes Course/EE participant and supporter. At The Woods, he feels deeply at home and a deep sense of connection. He is glad and honored to support the continued work of The Woods as a board member. Jeff is married, a recent Leeds United soccer (football) fan, and interested in liberation and peace. 

Janine grew up in the Bay Area and currently lives with her husband and two children in Santa Clara County. She holds multiple degrees including her Masters as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

Janine first came to Westminster Woods as a camper in Sherwood Forest and quickly fell in love with the magical atmosphere provided by the Woods. She spent 6 summers as a summer staffer, first as a counselor and later as the first aid coordinator. Hiking to the cross has always been one of her favorite things to do while at the Woods. The Cross has always been a “thin space” for her and is a place she feels closest to God.

Janine is thrilled to be in a position to give back to a place that has given so much to her over the years.

Krista grew up in Vacaville, California and now resides with her husband and two kids in Orinda, California. She holds B.A.s in Economics and Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley and has worked in tech marketing and analytics for the past 15 years. Krista first came to Westminster Woods in the summer of 1994 as an Adventure Camp camper and continued on through Sherwood Forest, Railroad, Step, volunteer counseling, serving on summer staff and as a resource person over the following years. The Woods has always been a sanctuary for Krista where she feels at home in community and closest to Christ, and she is honored to now serve on the Board of Directors to continue the Woods mission of providing a sanctuary to draw closer to Christ for others, including her own children in the summers to come.

Bio coming soon

Bio coming soon

Sarah originally attended Adventure Camp in 1989, and despite a serious case of homesickness, knew immediately that Westminster Woods was a special place.  In the following years, the joy of camp helped her overcome homesickness, and she returned for many more summers as a camper, volunteer counselor, staffer, and resource person.  She lives in San Francisco with her husband and their toddler, and works as a cartographer.  Some of Sarah’s dearest friends are camp friends, and she’s happy to know that others will have similar opportunities to meet new people among the redwoods.