About | Board

  • Sue Baumgarten • President

    bio

    Sue Baumgarten has been involved with LifeHouse since the early 90’s. She first served on the board in 1992 then moved onto staff to serve as the housemother from 1995-1997. She has served as President of the LifeHouse board since 2005. She has served on the boards of Carolina Creek Christian Camp, The Forge for Families, Inc. and the Refuge Community Development Center. She participates in the College of Biblical Studies Women’s Guild. She and her husband Gil have three children. They attend First Presbyterian Church of Houston where Sue co-leads W.O.W. – Women of the Word Bible Study and volunteers in the youth department.

  • Ben Cowart • Vice President

    bio

    Ben, the Chief Executive Officer and Chariman of the Board of Vertex Energy, has been involved in the petroleum recycling industry for almost 25 years. He is the founder of the Vertex group of companies and has served such companies since 2001. Ben was awarded the 2003 Business Man of the Year Award from the National Republican Congressional Committee, and served on the National Oil Recyclers Association Board of Directors as its President in 2008. Ben is a graduate of Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program.

    Ben has been involved with LifeHouse for several years as a Board Member, and will take the role as President next year.

  • Brock C. Akers • Secretary

    bio

    Brock C. Akers has been involved with LifeHouse for many years and served as the President of its board of directors. He is on the board of directors of Texas Right to Life, an advocacy group. He has volunteered and provided professional advice for various other pro-life organizations. He and his wife Colleen, also a board member, are members of St. Michael Catholic Church in Houston. They have three children. He is a lawyer with Phillips & Akers in Houston. Brock is the president of Houston’s Catholic lawyer organization, St. Thomas More Society of Galveston-Houston, and president of Legatus, an organization dedicated to enhancing the ability of Catholic business leaders at the highest levels enhance and spread their faith.

  • Jane Costello • Treasurer

    bio

    Jane Costello is serving on the LifeHouse board for a second time, having been part of the board in the initial years of LifeHouse. Jane is a CPA by profession and works with the Finance Committee.

    She has a heart for ministry and has served various ministries over the years including Professional Women's Fellowship, Mission Houston and the Executive Committee of CityFest Houston. In addition to the LifeHouse board, Jane currently serves on the board of Pathways for Little Feet. She is a member of First Presbyterian Church.

  • Buzz Baker • Board Member

    bio

    Greg “Buzz” Baker has served as President since he co-founded Network Funding in 1998. With more than 20 years experience in the Mortgage industry, Baker has expanded Network Funding into one of the fastest growing mortgage companies in the nation, employing over 500 originators in 38 states with licenses to do business in 47 states. Previously, Baker served as a loan officer and then a producing manager for North American Mortgage Company. He has also served as the production manager and wholesale manager for Irwin Mortgage Corporation. Baker holds a degree in Finance from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.

    Buzz and his wife, Lisa, resided in Houston with their children and attend Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

  • Bill Donovan • Board Member

    bio

    Bill Donovan and his wife, Karen, moved from Dallas to Houston in 1979. He owned his own his own physical distribution business operating in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio until 1993 when He sold it to a multi-national corporation. A life-long Episcopalian, Bill is an active member of Saint John the Divine Episcopal Church where he has served on the Associate Vestry, is currently on the Foreign Missions Committee and is chairman of the Maintenance Guild. He has also been a participant in Bible Study Fellowship since 1989 and is at this time a children’s leader.
    Bill and Karen lost a son in 1989 but have a daughter, son-in-law, and three granddaughters, all residing in Houston. Bill sees LifeHouse as a wonderful opportunity to serve the Lord by helping brave young ladies who are in great need.

  • Dr. Celeste Garbarino • Board Member

    bio

    Dr. Celeste Garbarino is a pediatrician who practices in Pearland. She has practiced in the Houston area on and off for 20 years. She has 3 children and is married to Richard, an engineer. Their family has lived in 3 states and Canada. She has served on the deacon board of her church, Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church. She currently serves on the board of Veritas Christian Academy. Celeste is a native of Lafayette, Louisiana. She received her medical degree and did her residency training at Baylor College of Medicine. She enjoys cooking, needlework and walking.

  • Nathaniel Richards • Board Member

    bio

    Nate is President and Founder of Entrance Software. He is a graduate of Rice University, where he received his Bachelor's degree in Computer Science & Economics. He remains an active alumnus through his involvement with Rice Engineering Alumni and the Rice Business Network, and serving on the Young Alumni and Alumni College Committees. Nate is also a member of Entrepreneurs' Organization, the Texas Electricity Professionals Association (TEPA). He serves on the Board of Directors of Houston Achievement Place and is involved with several other charitable organizations, including the Mission Training Center and Houston Beagle and Hound Rescue.

    Nate serves as a member of the board for LifeHouse.

  • James Marshall Rorie, Jr. • Board Member

    bio

    Marshall is a Christian counselor with a variety of life experiences which includes his service in the United States Navy, teaching for 15 years, as well as, being a part of the staff for his church. He has been married for 37 years, has four adult children, and five grandchildren. Marshall enjoys his family, being outdoors and collecting Thomas Kincaid.

    Marshall has been a long-time supporter of LifeHouse after serving on the Advisory Board for many years and joined LifeHouse's Board of Directors in 2011.

  • Jim Weatherall • Board Member

    bio

    Jim Weatherall and his wife, Ruth, are long-time residents of Houston. Jim has enjoyed a long term career as an business information technology consultant. Ruth is a speech-language pathologist. They worship at Grace Presbyterian Church and both are Presbyterian elders and deacons. Jim has served on the missions committee and is very interested in local and foreign ministries to make God’s love known in His world.
    The Weatherall’s have four adult children and ten grand-children ages 1 to 15. The blessing of all these babies is the source of so much joy in Jim and Ruth’s lives. It follows naturally that they have a strong interest in ensuring the lives of babies to grow up in strong, loving families and seeing young mothers grow into successful adults. Jim proclaims, “God has a perfect plan for children to grow and prosper in a family setting. Lifehouse’s program is very effective in breaking the cycle of poverty, dependence and lack of effective parenting in our community. Lifehouse is also teaching the love of Christ in such a compelling way it will be in the hearts of these young women into eternity.”

  • Bob Shults • Board Member

    bio

    Bob grew up in the Dallas Area and after gradating from Baylor University, came to Houston and attended the University of Houston School of Law.

    Bob went on to become the Assistant District Attorney for Harris County. Upon leaving, he began practicing civil law and has done so ever since. He is now at the the firm of Luegenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, Rankin & Hubbard where he continues to represent insurance companies in major coverage actions and engage in general civil litigation.

    Bob is married to Phyllis, the two of them are avid travelers. They also have two sons, Tyler and Andy.

  • Houston Lane • Board Member

    bio

    Houston Lane has been an independent corporate growth consultant since 2009. Prior to starting his practice he held several leadership positions in entrepreneurial businesses, and also had experience as in investment banker and strategic consultant.

    Houston and his wife Paige moved to Houston in 2001 and have three boys. They are members of Grace Bible Church and are involved in several non-profit organizations around town.

    Houston was inspired to join the Board of LifeHouse after realizing how powerful the work of the ministry is, in its ability to change lives and spread the Word of God.

  • Jeff Cranford • Board Member

  • Kevin Delaney • Board Member