Staff
- Grant Standefer – is the Executive Director for the Coalition. Prior to working with Compassion Coalition Grant was a pastor for twenty-five years, and in sales for one year with Lifetouch National School Studios. He received a BA in Bible from Lubbock Christian University and a MA in Biblical and Related Studies from Abilene Christian University. He and his wife Rhoni have a house church (Open Hearts, Open Homes) that meets in their home on Sunday evenings.
- Gina Whitmore - is the director of the Compassion Coalition’s benevolence clearinghouse in Knoxville, Tennessee. The clearinghouse aids people in crisis by connecting them to local churches, agencies and individuals. Gina received her BA in Human Services from Carson Newman College. She worked at Child and Family Tennessee for fourteen years in several different roles. She provided in home services for pregnant teens and their families, served as a case manager, taught Survival Skills for Women, Fresh Start, and Parenting classes, was the supervisor for the teen parenting and child abuse prevention program, and became the Program Manager for Prevention Services. She and her husband Greg have a daughter, Reagan, and they are members at Sevier Heights Baptist Church.
- Carolyn Hansen – works with Compassion Coalition’s Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse is a telephone helpline that connects individuals needing assistance with the network of churches and agencies that provide appropriate services. She received a B.S. in Social Work and Psychology in 1979 and worked for 11 years primarily in the area of medical social work. She has served as the Compassion Outreach Coordinator for the Knoxville First Seventh Day Adventist Church for eleven years. She is certified through level 3 with the Adventist Community Services disaster relief program and serves on the East Tennessee VOAD group.
- Charlotte Mack – is the Furniture Ministry Coordinator. This ministry serves people in Knox County by meeting basic furniture needs without cost. Churches partner to donate and deliver the furniture. “How awesome is that! Knoxville is really on the move for God!” Her responsibilities include organizing and managing the day to day activities of the furniture initiative and to ensure the efficiency of furniture operations. Charlotte has over 30 years in church ministry as a pastor’s wife; she also held and served in several positions in church ministry on district and jurisdictional levels; and 13 years with Jefferson Parrish School Board as a Para-professional.
- Jessica Bocangel – Jessica Bocángel coordinates the Circles of Support mentor program, which is a collaborative effort between Compassion Coalition and the Knoxville and Knox County Mayors’ Office of the 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. Circles of Support offers a new way for volunteers to engage with the homeless in our community. Small groups from local faith communities form teams to connect with people who have been previously chronically homeless, encouraging them as they are placed into permanent supportive housing, and helping them to achieve success in their new environments. See the Circles of Support section of this website for additional information. Jessica grew up in Knoxville, and she and her husband, David, are members of Saint John’s Lutheran Church in Knoxville.
- Rebecca Hirst – is the Administrative Assistant, supporting the Executive Director and other as-needed administrative responsibilities. Rebecca attends Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church.
