(Updated September 9, 2020)

Mike Eichenberger, BA, MA
Phone #: (503) 577-6900
Board President/Director of Development
Member Since 2013

​Mr. Eichenberger started his professional career as a teacher and athletic coach. He then moved into life as a business owner and entrepreneur for over two decades, and also spent 11 years as a senior pastor. Most recently Mr. Eichenberger has worked in both commercial and residential real estate, which has involved 10 years in real estate development and 15 as the Owner/Broker of his own company. As part of his personal goal to give back he served as the Board President of Mission From the Heart, which had a focus on non-profit building in third world countries.

​Mr. Eichenberger was one of the founding board members for A Village for One. Initially he joined with a goal of helping to formulate the foundation for a solid nonprofit to serve the marginalized youth we serve in the greater Portland Metropolitan area. This involved formulating operational, legal and developmental standards for operating; contributions to board growth, board development and on-going training. As board president he has aimed to surround the director, board members and staff with the best available training and support in addition to focus on the financial health of the organization.

​Robert Edwards
Phone #: (971) 570-1057
Board Treasurer
Member Since 2015

​Mr. Edwards is currently the Regional Director of Operations for VIP Hospitality Group and manages capital projects, revenue management, and hotel sales. Prior to his current position Mr. Edwards worked for Sage Hospitality as a Director of Revenue Management. Mr. Edwards currently holds the position of Board Treasurer, and as a result works closely with the Executive Director as well as the contracted bookkeeper of A Village for One, Wryn & Associates.

Whitney Minnich
Phone #: (503) 953-6240
Board Secretary
​Member Since 2020

Whitney Minnich is a local Realtor® and has been a real estate agent since 2013. Before hitting her five-year mark, she had the honor of becoming a top producing Realtor® while also achieving a five-star ranking in service provided to clients. She currently serves on the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors® Board of Directors as the Vice President of Realtor® Advocacy with the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors® and am a State Director on the Oregon Association of Realtors® Board of Directors.

Prior to becoming a professional Realtor®, Whitney worked as a communications director for a senior member of Congress and led him to be ranked in the top 20 politicians nationally for media coverage. She also worked in radio and television as an on-air personality, and in marketing and communications for a community blood center.

​Desiree Lepsey
Phone #: (503) 309-8695
Survivor Leader
Member Since 2020

Desirée Lepsey is the founder of iSee You Foundation. She believes through education and awareness the barrier of judgment can be broken down concerning some of the root-causes that exploit those who are most vulnerable to the life of domestic sex trafficking.
Desirée is a present-day survivor, speaker, trainer, and consultant in the cause of the anti-sex-trafficking movement. She currently serves on the Clark County Human Trafficking Task Force in Vancouver, WA and partners with like organizations in the community that are making a difference for our kids who are at risk. It is her mission to be a voice for those who have yet to find their own and help represent those who are most often overlooked. 

​Don Didier, LCSW
Phone #: (503) 312-0760
Member Since 2018
( On leave since 7.15.2020 due to taking an interim paid position within the organization)

Mr. Didier is a retired Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who spent that last 28 years of his career as the Executive Director of Youth Progress Association, an agency that provides residential and proctor care as well as treatment and education services for all genders 13-24 years of age. In addition to his agency work, Don has serves on a number of nonprofit board and commissions, including the National Association of Social Workers National Ethics Committee, which serves as watchdog for ethical issues and standards in the social work profession.

​Jim Peterson, MSW
Phone #: (503) 407-6403
Member Since 2018

Mr. Peterson is a graduate of the University of Nevada with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Psychology, and obtained a Master’s of Social Work degree in social work from Portland State University. He is currently retired from a professional carrier which extended over three decades in criminal justice, mental health and public health. Key career benchmarks include: designed and managed the Nevada Prison System’s first Reception and Diagnostic Center; Assistant Director of the Washington County Department of Health and Human Services; Executive Director of Mainstream Youth Program in Portland, OR; Addiction Services Director of Tualatin Valley Mental Health Center (currently known as LifeWorks NW); Manager for Office of Addiction Services, Multnomah County Department of Family Services; Addiction Services Program Manager, Washington County Department of Community Justice.

​Larry E. Byers
Member Since 2020
Mr. Byers received his Masters in Business Administration from Portland State University (PSU) in 1977. Since 1984, Mr. Byers has been a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). From 1986 to 2018, he was a partner/owner at Byers & Hurlburt Certified Public Accountants until which time he began to pursue partial retirement. In addition, he was an Oregon-based real estate agent from 1978-1990 and a partner at Reliance Property Management, Inc., from 1982-2019. 

Beyond his professional work, Larry has also served his community in many capacities, which include being on the board for Innovative Housing, Inc., since 1997. Larry has also been an owner, builder, and operator of low-income housing apartments.