Gwen Seiler - Executive Director: A registered RN, trained at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Medical College of Virginia, Gwen has been interested in eating disorders since nursing school days when one of her friends was anorexic and bulimic. She has worked with youth and college students for years in her church and has a passion for leading young women’s Bible studies. She has encountered eating disorders in young women often and sees a tremendous need for a place locally where girls in crisis can go for help. The treatment center at Northfield is the result of more than thirteen years worth of listening to God’s call and seeking the courage and wisdom to follow through. It is her desire to help them see themselves through God’s eyes and to recognize their beauty and worth as God’s creation. She wants young women to have the opportunity to live abundant lives, free of disorder and guilt. Gwen is the visionary for Northfield and Executive Director of the ministry. Gwen and Sig have three teenage daughters.
Catherine Boyle - Chief Operating Officer: Catherine graduated from James Madison University with a degree in Accounting. She later added a Master of Business Administration degree from Virginia Commonwealth University to her list of academic credentials. Catherine enjoyed a successful career in a large southeastern bank where she served as Vice President in Corporate Trust and in Strategic Marketing. Catherine’s final corporate assignment was Vice President over key areas of the bank’s Y2K project. In spite of the corporate allure, after the birth of her second child Catherine gave up her banking career for the role of full-time “Mommy”. Catherine served as Treasurer for her church for three years, and helped start the church’s weekday preschool program. Today, Catherine spends her time writing, speaking and teaching about the truth and application of God’s Word. Although many verses of God’s Word have great personal importance to Catherine, her favorite by far is Jeremiah 29:11—“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” It is Catherine’s great desire that all people would know this verse to be the truth, for it is God’s passion for every life.
Dennis Stone - Facilities Director: Dennis directs the renovation construction and maintenance activities for the Northfield Home. Dennis’ experience is wide ranging: leadership, communications, operations and real estate construction, maintenance and sales. Dennis has been a licensed real estate agent with Long & Foster (formerly Bowers, Nelms & Fonville) since 1992. Dennis has been, and remains, actively involved in church activities. Dennis has served as the Administrator for Bethany Baptist Church. Dennis is a humanitarian. In addition to serving on the Northfield Board of Directors, Dennis has led a crew repairing homes damaged during hurricane Katrina, built wheelchair ramps for a non-profit group and, provided home repairs for widows. Dennis’ interests include church, family, sailing, woodworking, antique cars (past president of Model A Ford Club of Richmond) and construction.
Christine Shepard, Home Renovation Project Director: Christine grew up in rural Pennsylvania, the daughter of a nurse and a farmer/Brethren minister. She graduated in 1991 from West Chester University with a BS in Athletic Training, which relocated her to Richmond in 1993. She was the Athletic Trainer at James River H.S. for six years before returning to school to obtain her Physical Therapist Assistant license. Six years, and three children, later, she retired from the medical profession and started her custom drapery business, Iron Gate Interiors. For 14 years, each time Christine and her husband drove past the Northfield Home, it tugged at her heart. She used to think it was her farm girl roots that attracted her. She now knows that the Lord was preparing her heart for His plan in her life. It is because of her involvement with the drapery/upholstery and design industry that Christine had the audience needed to renovate Northfield into a warm, nurturing home where young women will find refuge. Christine lives in Midlothian with her husband, Bruce, and their three children, Emma Kate, Maggie and Landon.
Erin White, Communication & Public Relations Consultant: Erin is using her Public Relations skills to help spread the Northfield “story”. Erin graduated with a B.A. in Communications from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in 1994. Following graduation, she worked both behind and in front of the television camera reporting, anchoring and producing news programs. Erin later joined Family Resources of Rutherford County (“FRRC”), a non-profit organization which serves women and children in crisis, where she acted as a public relations liaison between FRRC’s agencies and the community through video packages, television commercials and press releases. Erin left FRRC to be at home full time with her family as it grew. She and husband Jaime have two children, Jay and Kate. Erin has continued to work with children through church and community organizations. Her hope is that each young woman who calls Northfield “home” will also call Jesus into her heart and, by doing so, be able to finally lay her burdens down at his feet and be whole again.
