Meet Our board

Angie has been connected to Zephyr Point since 1986. Sharing programs with her family and then later years, facilitating retreats for her St Andrew, Yuba City, church family. Angie, the spouse to a retired USAF member, has had the opportunity to experience camps and conference centers all over the world. Zephyr Point is her ‘home’ camp and conference center. Angie says”, “Zephyr Point is a favorite place for me to ‘just be’. I am always encouraged by the education, exploration and inspiration of the people and place that is Zephyr Point”. Angie is currently in her 2nd term as a session elder at Columbia Presbyterian Church, her current church family, in Vancouver WA. She brings to the board her passion for nonprofits, curating resources and tools needed to adapt and change as an organizational development coach and consultant.

Deborah Wright, Principal, PneuMatrix Ordained (PCUSA) in 1978, Deborah consults in adaptive change management, strategic visioning, program development, Positive Deviance and Design Thinking as a PneuMatrix Founder and Principal. An Alum of Duke University and San Francisco Theological Seminary, she has served as Associate Pastor of Calvary SF, Trustee of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Foundation, adjunct faculty at SFTS, Board Chair of Marin’s Homeward Bound, and Director of Major Gifts at SFTS. Following her Ph.D. studies (GTU) she formed Avalon Enterprises, consulting in funds development, corporate chaplaincy, strategic visioning, and project management in religion, education, healthcare, and film. She has been a grant administrator and grant evaluator and has taught Adaptive Change Leadership. Clients include The George Lucas Educational Foundation, Google, Kaiser Permanente, and the PC(USA). She is new to Zephyr Point, having only visited twice – as a conference keynoter and for a Synod Exec retreat.

Ruth Mandernach began her position on the Zephyr Point Board in January 2020.  As a member of Shadow Hills Presbyterian Church, she is from the Presbytery of San Fernando and the Synod of S. CA and Hawaii.  Her career has been as a social worker and she  is a LCSW14861 in California. In 2010, she went to seminary and began working for 5 years as a Commissioned Ruling Elder at First Presbyterian Church of Encino in 2015. Currently, she is the Treasurer for Zephyr Point and is on the nomination and finance committees.  She has 3 sons, two granddaughters and was married to Bill for 39 years until his death in 2017. Reading, knitting, sewing, gardening and traveling are a few of the aspects of life she enjoys.

Joshua came to Geneva Presbyterian Church as the Pastor in February 2013, having just finished a residency and degree at VCU School of Allied Health. Joshua is a graduate of Bluefield College and Union Presbyterian Seminary. Joshua has been married 15 years and he and his wife Menissa are raising two boys ages 14 and 11. Answering God’s calling to ministry, they moved from Virginia, Menissa’s lifetime home, to serve and help grow a church here in the Central Valley. Joshua’s focus has been to reach out to young families and help to continue to develop the legacy of who Geneva Presbyterian Church has been. Joshua’s passions include photography, woodworking, swimming, cooking, and even rollerskating.

Sam is the current President of the Board of Directors at Zephyr Point. He began his second term as a board member in January of 2022. Prior to serving on the board, he had never been to Zephyr Point. Sam has served on the Personnel, Programs and Nominations Committees in his first term and currently serves as chair of the Long Range Planning Committee, and is a member of the Executive committee. Sam is an ordained Teaching Elder in PC (USA). He recently retired as a chaplain from the Veterans Administration Hospital. Before the VA he served as pastor of a small PC(USA) congregation in the Riverside Presbytery. Prior to studying Theology, he enjoyed a career in academia spanning more than twenty years; beginning at Columbia University in the City of New York as a Biochemist and culminating at the University of California Riverside in Molecular Mycology before entering San Francisco Theological Seminary. Sam is married with 4 children. He was born in Georgia the son of an itinerant Methodist Minister. Sam enjoys traveling, fishing and golfing (not necessarily in that order).

Beadle began serving on the Zephyr Point Board of Directors in January of 2021 and currently serves as the Chair of the Program Committee and a member of the Development Committee. Beadle is a member of First Presbyterian Church of Hayward where he and his family currently attend. He has been to Zephyr Point numerous times with family for vacation, a church staff retreat as well as a couples retreat. He loves the outdoors, Lake Tahoe and the memories he makes with every visit. Beadle works as a senior director of communications at Ubisoft, a leading video game company, where he helps lead corporate communications, product campaigns, Ubisoft Film & Television and worldwide media training. He enjoys bringing his vast work experience and a creative approach to the board and contributing to further the mission and work of Zephyr Point. Beadle is married to his partner, Lauren Gibbs Beadle, who serves as Director of Children’s Ministries at First Presbyterian Church of Hayward and they collectively love and care for four children, three guinea pigs, four chickens and one Corgi. Beadle’s hobbies include watching the San Francisco Giants and 49ers, music, dancing, travel and, of course, playing video games.

Jim Arce began serving on the Zephyr Point Board of Directors in January 2022. He serves on the Operations and Maintenance Committee and the Long-Range Planning Committee. Arce is an Elder at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Tiburon, CA. Arce is a semi-retired real estate asset manager. He enjoys teaching, woodworking, and fly fishing travel, and is the Scoutmaster for Tiburon BSA Troop 48. Arce is married to Pat Arce. They have three children and five grandchildren.

Before the conference center grew to be what it is today, Nannette Notor spent summer days swimming, fishing, hiking, and exploring while staying at her grandparent’s cabin at Zephyr Point. Over the years she has attended Christian camps and conferences in many other locations, but she is excited to be returning to those childhood roots. Nannette retired as a clinical audiologist at the end of 2020, but she brings her passion for making events and activities accessible to all as she joins the Board. Nannette continues her long-time membership at Westminster Presbyterian in San Jose, singing in the choir and serving on committees of her congregation. She also serves on committees of the Presbytery of San Jose, and the Synod of the Pacific.  Nannette loves time spent in her garden, whether weeding, pruning or planting. Her newest hobby is weaving, and though clearly a novice, she enjoys the challenge of learning a new skill.

Paul joined the Zephyr Point board in 2023 and currently serves on the Administrative Committee, Presbytery of the Pacific (PoP), is the Treasurer of PoP, and serves on the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii Finance Committee.  He is a long-time member of St. Peter’s by the Sea PC and has served there as an Elder and Treasurer. He holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from UC Berkeley and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago. Retired from the world of corporate banking and investment banking, he has served on numerous corporate boards, currently as Chairman of the Investment Committee of Volunteers of America Los Angeles.  He also serves with the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide (TA) program as a Tax Counselor, the Regional Coordinator for the Pacific Region, and is a member of the National Leadership Team, a 15 member board that serves the TA program nationwide.

Mark Frey is a retired Presbyterian minister who served congregations in Oregon and California, and then, for over twenty years as a Church Consultant with the Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church. In that capacity, he enjoyed numerous visits to Zephyr Point for presbytery meetings and leadership support of educational events and pastors’ conferences. He is credentialed as a Certified Benefits Specialist and Retirement Plans Associate. He joined the Zephyr Point Board in January 2022, chairs the Personnel Committee, and serves on Nominations. Mark serves as a Vice-Moderator in the Presbytery of the Cascades, and as a faculty consultant for Presbyterian CREDO, which supports pastors and church workers in areas of wholeness and financial wellbeing. He and his wife, Christie, make their home in Portland where they attend the Lake Grove Presbyterian Church. Mark is a baseball and college football fan, musician, enjoys cooking, and delights in exploring the natural beauty of Oregon. He feels especially blessed by his three grown children and their families, including eight grandchildren. Mark is grateful to be a part of this chapter in the life of Zephyr Point.

N’Yisrela Watts-Afriyie is a minister of the Word and Sacrament, a member of the Presbytery of San Gabriel (So. California) and  has connected with ZP programs and activities for over 30 years. She served on the Board from 2010 – 2016.  Currently, she serves on the Development and Program Committees.  “Ministry Mosaic” describes N’Yisrela’s life: pastoring, preaching and serving at all levels of the denomination. N’Yisrela has a B.A. in Theater Arts and a minor degree in music. Her passions:  creative worship and retreats with a contemplative flavor; finding theological messages in films; writing skits; using music at every opportunity.  She enjoys classical,  spirituals, gospel, country western and jazz. Voice is her instrument.  She is “Mom” to son Deondre.  She loves animals and other critters.  She enjoys travel (five continents and several Caribbean countries) and camping in Yosemite. N’Yisrela and terrier, Yolanda, live in Inglewood, California. Yet, wherever she is, she strives to answer God’s call with energy, intelligence, imagination and love. “The eternal God, my strength, has made my feet like a deer’s feet  and lets me walk on high places.”  (from Habakkuk 3:19)

Brandon Lewis began serving on the Zephyr Point Board of Directors in January of 2022, and serves on the Personnel and Nominating Committees. Brandon is a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and currently serves as pastor of United Presbyterian Church in Albany, Oregon. He has a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He has enjoyed the unmatched beauty and ministry of Zephyr Point throughout the years at family camp and various conferences. Brandon and his wife, Hillary, collectively love and care for their four active children and spend an inordinate amount of time watching their three boys play baseball. Brandon enjoys the outdoors, making pottery, reading, traveling, attending concerts, and passionately cheers for his favorite teams—the University of Washington Huskies, Seattle Seahawks, and Seattle Mariners.

Marcia Evans is a retired Clinical Nurse Specialist/Case Manager. She spent much of her career developing treatment and housing programs for homeless veterans. She is currently involved with elementary and middle school students building robots through the REX/VEX program and her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta. She remains active with National and local nursing organizations and other community service organizations. She works part-time with her daughter providing insurance and investment education for their business Legacyint20. She is a member of Grace Presbyterian Church, Las Vegas, where she is currently serving as the President of Women of Grace (WOG). WOG provides mission and fellowship services and activities within the Church and community. She serves on Congregational Life and Mission Commission and currently serves on the Peace and Justice Committee of the Nevada Presbytery.

Jim Upshaw has served on the Zephyr Point Guest Services Committee since 2020, and currently chairs that committee. He is also a member of the Personnel committee, Class of 2026. Jim was ordained and served as an elder at Presbyterian Church of the Roses in Santa Rosa, CA, before moving north to Port Townsend, WA with his wife Cyndy, to be near to his son and daughter in the Pacific Northwest. Jim has recently retired as founder and President of Upshaw Performance Systems, a leadership coaching and consulting company, specializing in people and performance management. Jim’s love affair with Zephyr Point began in 1956 when his father, Rev. Jim Upshaw, signed a lease to begin building Cabin 79 at the end of Lookout Trail. Having introduced four generations of Upshaws, in-laws, and family members to God’s Zephyr creation, Jim hopes to continue building the love and legacy of Zephyr Point through his work on the Board. Jim enjoys travel, bicycling, kayaking and golf, while spending time with his family, whose 97-year old matriarch, Gwen, lives nearby.

Rev. Irvin Porter has been pastor at Church of the Indian Fellowship in Tacoma, WA since 2001 and an Associate for Native American Intercultural Congregational Support for the Racial Equity and Women’s Intercultural Ministries of the PCUSA. He works with the 97 Native American Presbyterian Churches throughout the country on Leadership Development, training, youth and conducts workshops in the PCUSA on Native American issues. His first visit to Zephyr Point was in 1999 for a conference. Irvin is descended from the Pima, T’hono O’odham and Nez Perce tribes, grew up in Phoenix AZ and is a former banker. He has been in involved with mid-councils in the Tacoma, WA area before beginning work for the PCUSA. Irvin has been married to Rev. Anne-Cecile, originally from France, since 2001 and they have two-cocker spaniels, Denali and Kenai. They live in Puyallup, WA.

Sandy Thoits joined the Zephyr Point Board in 2024 and serves on the Program Committee and Nominating Committee.  Sandy is a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and has been serving as the Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Santa Barbara since 2018.  At the Synod level, Sandy chairs the Polity and Records Committee for the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii. Sandy has a bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Barbara and a J.D. from Berkeley Law.  Sandy lives in Santa Barbara and enjoys spending time in the outdoors and with her family.  She is an active member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.