Our Team

Denise Gehringer

Executive Director

From the day Denise’s fourth son was born with Down syndrome, she immersed herself in learning everything possible to better understand and assist him. This evolved into a desire to help all people with diverse abilities achieve their full potential to live healthy, fulfilling, and meaningful lives. This wish to see all people reach their life’s goals is what has propelled her into the disability field where she has been actively working for over two decades. In her work, Denise’s goal is always to empower those she serves to live self-determined lives and to boost them toward meaningful engagement in their community.

Her passion for serving those with special needs has filled every facet of her life. She is the President of the Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands and the Legislative Advocacy Chair. She is a Past President and a member of the Board of Directors at the Munroe-Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, a board member of the Education Rights Counsel, and a board member of the Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska. Denise is a member of the Nebraska State ADA Task Force, the Nebraska Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities, and the National Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition. She was a 2019 ABLE National Resource Center Ambassador. Denise is the founder and past director of the BSC TOPSoccer Program and is the Nebraska State Soccer Special Needs Commissioner.

Anne Carter

Corporate Treasurer

Anne is a retired CPA with over 15 years in public accounting and is an active volunteer in the nonprofit community of Omaha. Anne is the mother of a Sheltering Tree tenant and is a driving force in the effort to provide safe, affordable housing for adults with developmental disabilities. Anne’s passion for Sheltering Tree began when she was looking for opportunities for her son to live independently. Previous to her administrative role as Corporate Treasurer, Anne was a member of Sheltering Tree’s board of directors and board treasurer. Her responsibilities include all the financial reporting and accounting for the organization.

Becca Kruse

Director of Activities and Enrichment

Becca Kruse serves as Sheltering Tree’s Activity and Enrichment Director, where she leads the planning and coordination of activities that bring joy, connection, and meaningful experiences to tenants across all three apartment communities.

Becca brings a strong background in education, event and program management, and behavioral health. Her creativity, enthusiasm, and outgoing nature make her a great fit for this role, where building relationships and creating engaging opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities are at the heart of her work.

She is passionate about fostering a sense of community and prioritizes getting to know each tenant as she helps create memorable experiences that enrich daily life at Sheltering Tree.

Amanda Clark

Director of Education

Amanda brings more than 18 years of experience designing and leading programming for individuals with developmental disabilities. Her previous work with local disability organizations has centered around advocacy, inclusion, and helping people thrive in community-based settings.

Amanda leads our GOALS and Building Healthy Relationships programming and the Farm to Table Garden program. She’ll also be supporting new educational opportunities.

In addition to her professional background, Amanda brings a personal passion for this work as the daughter of two longtime disability advocates. Her experience in real estate and property management also uniquely aligns with Sheltering Tree’s mission to provide safe, community-centered housing paired with meaningful enrichment opportunities.

We’re thrilled to have Amanda on the Tree team and appreciate the impact her leadership will brings to our growing community

Julie Czepa

Business Associate

Julie Czepa serves as the Business Associate for Sheltering Tree, where she supports the organization’s financial operations and administrative processes. With a strong attention to detail and a passion for helping others, Julie plays an important role in ensuring the smooth day-to-day management of Sheltering Tree’s growing communities.

In addition to her work at Sheltering Tree, Julie is actively involved in the Omaha disability community. Her dedication to serving individuals with developmental disabilities reflects her deep commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and community support.

Julie’s combination of professional expertise and personal compassion makes her a valuable part of the Sheltering Tree team as the organization continues to create safe, affordable, community-centered housing for adults with developmental disabilities.

Jacob Recker

Development Director

Jacob Recker serves as Sheltering Tree’s Development Director, bringing a strong connection to the organization and a deep understanding of its mission. Jake previously worked as both a Tenant Assistant and an Operations Specialist, experiences that gave him valuable insight into the daily life of our communities and the importance of our work.

In his current role, Jake leads fundraising and communication efforts, drawing on his strategic mindset, strong relationships, and exceptional writing and communication skills. His leadership helps Sheltering Tree grow its impact while staying true to its mission of providing community-centered housing for adults with developmental disabilities.

Doug Alvine

President

With 18 siblings between them and six children of their own – evenly split three boys and three girls – you could say family is a BIG priority to board member Doug Alvine and his wife, Kim. The pair have been married more than three decades and just last year their youngest child finally entered high school. “Sam is 16 and a sophomore at Burke. He is a member of their swim team and participated in all of the meets, as well as state, in his freshman year,” Doug bragged. Like most proud parents, Doug and Kim are eager to cheer on their kids as they embrace new challenges in academics, in sports, and in life.

In Sam’s case, milestones are a little sweeter – he is their last and he happens to have Down Syndrome. That’s part of why Sheltering Tree came onto their radar. Friends from Doug’s other family – his church family at Our Lady of Lourdes – invited him and Kim to our Living the Dream Gala a few years back. Their daughter, Cassy, is a tenant at the Benson Tree, and they thought Doug and Kim would be interested in learning more about the organization. How right they were!

Lucky for us, Doug is always willing to create more branches on that ol’ family tree, and he was eager to get involved. Fast forward to now, and he is officially serving Sheltering Tree via our board and getting a front row seat to young adults realizing their goals and reaching greater independence, much like he hopes for Sam. “I participate in a number of not-for-profit organizations and have been on quite a number of boards over my time. Sheltering Tree is one of the best,” Doug said. “The individual qualities and faith of the founders, of the board members and of the supporters of Sheltering Tree make the mission almost impossible to fail. I have learned that the need is so great, and thanks to Sheltering Tree’s advocates, the community is learning about the mission and the need, too. Marrying clarity of mission, passion, faith, and a lot of hard work will ensure that Sheltering Tree’s growth remains strong for years to come.”

Jeff Kortan-Vice President

Kirk Hanson-Treasurer

Andrew Deaver

Secretary

Championing Independence:
Andy’s Work on and off the Board at Sheltering Tree

At Sheltering Tree, the mission is guided by the values of safety, affordability, community, and self-determination. These values are reflected not only in the lives of Tree tenants but also in the dedication of those who support the work. One such supporter is a partner at Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP, who brings both personal and professional passion to his role on our board.

Andy is happily married to his wife Laura of 17 years. With an eight-year-old daughter, family is at the center of his life. His 13 years with the firm have been rewarding, providing him with opportunities to grow his legal practice and connect with the community in meaningful ways. His introduction to Sheltering Tree came through a colleague at the firm, and the mission resonated deeply with him. “Our mission aligns with my legal practice, as I assist many families with special needs estate planning and guardianships,” he shared. The opportunity to support adults with developmental disabilities in a setting that emphasizes safety and self-determination felt like a natural extension of his work and values.

Over time, he has witnessed how Sheltering Tree offers tenants something rare and powerful: independence. “I’ve had the chance to spend time with the tenants and am always struck by their well-deserved autonomy,” he said. Providing adults with developmental disabilities the chance to live in safe, affordable housing while pursuing self-directed lives speaks to the heart of Sheltering Tree’s mission.

Looking toward the future, he feels optimistic. “I see hope in the future. Everything Sheltering Tree provides is hard to put into words, but by staying focused on its mission, it will remain a blessing to the community for years to come.” His commitment to fostering community aligns with Sheltering Tree’s vision of creating inclusive environments where every individual can thrive.

Serving on the board is a responsibility he embraces wholeheartedly. “I am humbled and grateful to serve on the board. It’s an opportunity I am happy to take very seriously.” His dedication reflects the care and leadership that help Sheltering Tree grow while staying rooted in its core values of safety, affordability, community, and self-determination. With leaders like him, we are confident that Sheltering Tree will continue to flourish, offering a supportive home for adults with developmental disabilities and enriching the broader community for years to come.

Kim Bainbridge

Welcoming a new baby changes your life for the better. Board Vice President Kim Bainbridge still remembers the joy she felt when her second son, Justin, came into this world 32 years ago. Born with Down Syndrome, Justin would impact his family in so many wonderful ways.

For her part, Kim became an advocate for the disability community. She had big goals for Justin to one day live independently and hold a job, and thus, she began preparing him to reach these aspirations early on, helping other parents along the way. It was Justin’s success in securing employment and a market-rate apartment, in fact, that made her the perfect fit for the Tree’s Board.

“I was thrilled to be asked to serve on the Board and to help other individuals and their families achieve their dreams,” Kim said. “Many of Justin’s friends from a Cub Scout troop many years ago were part of the initial tenants at Bellevue and Benson. Watching founders Shirley McNally and Anne Carter, whose sons were in that group, create Sheltering Tree was truly amazing.”

In addition to her Board work, Kim has been with UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute for more than nine years. Empowering parents in rural areas with information and services they have never heard of makes her career fulfilling each day and gives her a special outlook on the Sheltering Tree of the future.

“I see growth, growth, growth in Sheltering Tree’s future,” Kim said. “I envision Sheltering Tree models outside of Omaha, across the state of Nebraska, and into neighboring states.”

Kim, of course, is not the only family member who has been inspired by Justin. Both of his siblings are huge supporters of everything he does. Older brother Kyle coaches Justin’s Challenger Baseball team, bonding with him through this tradition. Younger sister Kristin became a speech language pathologist in part due to the battles they experienced getting Justin speech therapy. The three are close as any siblings can be, with Justin even serving as Kyle’s Best Man in 2009 and Kristin’s Man of Honor in 2020.

Jude Beller

John Bendon

Vern Davis-Showell

When asked what she envisions for Sheltering Tree’s future, board member Vern Davis-Showell responded with an enthusiastic “Sheltering Forest.” She went on to explain that to her this of course means physical growth, so that more adults with developmental disabilities can access affordable housing their families feel good about. But, it’s also more than that! Vern would also like to see more community and vocational connections.

Vern, herself, is a great example of a community connection. By trade, she’s a school psychologist at Papillion-La Vista High School. This career experience, which is certainly an asset to our board, isn’t necessarily what brought her into our fold, however. It was actually her time coaching high school dance team, where she met Executive Director Denise Gehringer, which planted the seeds for Vern’s current involvement. Years after their fateful meeting at local dance competitions and camps, where they learned about each other’s families, values and passions, Denise reached out to Vern with an important ask.

“I am so grateful that, when Sheltering Tree was in need of a new board member, Denise thought of ME,” Vern said. “The mission of Sheltering Tree is right up my alley! I’m all about supporting people with disabilities to be independent and realize their life goals alongside their peers.”

Supporting people … reaching goals alongside peers … seems like a natural thing for a coach, a school psychologist, a mom of two, a loving wife, or a board member to say! While Vern has had decades of working with students with disabilities, her example shows us that even without that, she’d be a fantastic advocate for Sheltering Tree because she truly understands what it means to invest in making others’ lives better. It inspires us to think of those not currently connected to the disability community and the ways they might find meaning in helping organizations like Sheltering Tree tackle the challenges before us.

“The everyday involvement of family members and the commitment of donors and board members is wonderful and indicative of the stated importance of community,” Vern said. “We should also be continuing the efforts we’ve made in the past and present to branch out, gathering more people, more leaves on our thriving tree.”

Mary Gehringer, OSM

After graduating from Marian High School in Omaha, she was called to join the Servants of Mary Community, the very sisters who founded her school, to pursue a religious vocation. Later, she was called to the ministry of education, beginning as a teacher in Detroit and working her way up to become an elementary school principal, then Associate Superintendent of the Detroit Archdiocesan schools, and finally Superintendent. Sr. Mary has also been called to serve the OSM Community Leadership Team a total of four times over the years. She’s held the role of Councilor, Assistant Provincial, and most recently Provincial Prioress for two terms. In the first of those terms, she was introduced to Sheltering Tree.

“One of Sheltering Tree’s founders, Shirley McNally, asked to meet with me to present a proposal. She explained the mission and ministry of Sheltering Tree and asked if they could purchase a portion of our property to build what would then be their second residence,” Sr. Mary recalls. “In due time, our Council presented the proposal to the Community and got unanimous support of approval.” Since that time a strong bond has grown between the OSM Sisters and the Benson residents. And, of course, the semi-retired Sr. Mary – who still volunteers her time with the Peregrine Ministry, in the Community archives, and with various projects at St. Bernard Parish – answered another calling. This time it was to become a member of Sheltering Tree’s board. “The need for residential housing for those with developmental needs has been sorely lacking in the Omaha area. Sheltering Tree continues to move forward in educating the public and in securing the funding and community support required to build additional residences for those in need,” Sr. Mary said. “The momentum of this ministry is growing day by day. In the future, I see there will be more residences opening, along with the facilities to provide housing and a variety of programming for residents and non-residents alike. With the addition of staff, these types of programs can be developed, provided and maintained.” We love the future Sr. Mary envisions and hope that many more people like her are called to help us achieve the goals we’ve already established, as well as those we haven’t yet dreamed up.

DaShawn McGary

Louis Pol

Ana Torres Rodriguez

Ana Torres Rodriguez comes to Sheltering Tree with lived experience of overcoming obstacles. A mom to three daughters, one who was diagnosed with Autism at 4 years old, she tells us “Her diagnosis changed our lives, and it took time to learn, understand and accept her disability. We celebrate “the little things” that are huge wins, and we do not take anything for granted.”

Ana was born in Mexico City. She and her parents emigrated to the United States, over 25 years ago and on February 15th, 2022, she became a US citizen.

Growing up in South Omaha, Ana has a strong connection to her community and has chosen to direct her career to elevating the lives of others. Her experiences include working as a Spanish medical interpreter at Creighton University Medical Center, working for Omaha Public Schools as a Community Bilingual Liaison, working at Step-Up Omaha as a Bilingual Career and Life Skills Coach, and now working in the GrOW Program at the Greater Omaha Chamber assisting clients in overcoming barriers and helping them towards success.

When Ana heard about Sheltering Tree’s mission, it excited her and brought hope. Ana says “Knowing that my daughter and other people with disabilities have a chance to live an independent life with support. I would love to be a part of this mission and share it with the Latino Community.”

Jill Rotella

Each May, we celebrate Mother’s Day and honor the women who have made a difference in our lives. Jill Rotella’s role as mom is one of the reasons she’s been so active in area nonprofits, most recently joining Sheltering Tree’s Board of Directors.

A nurse by trade and co-founder of Source Medical Staffing, Jill is married to Lou Rotella III, and together they have three children – Louie IV, Mia and Niko. Louie, who is 20, was born with Down Syndrome and, at the age of eight, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Although they have worked hard to provide all their kids with the same experiences, the older Louie got, the more Jill noticed obstacles to what he desired to achieve in life.

“Louie’s sister Mia is 20 months younger than him. As young children, they would often reach milestones at the same time,” Jill said. “As young adults, Louie has watched Mia surpass him in some of life’s milestones, such as driving, college, and living away from home. It is only natural that Louie would question when he gets to do these things, as well. His biggest question is when he gets to live on his own.”

Jill visited Sheltering Tree for the first time several years ago, witnessing for herself the pride the residents had in their apartments and the friendships that were blossoming. She was immediately overcome with emotion and, for the first time ever, saw a way to help Louie’s dream become reality. Now, as Board President, she is helping that dream become a reality for more and more individuals with developmental disabilities.

“I am honored to be part of such a great concept – Sheltering Tree is a leader in the industry,” Jill said. “As many great people have done before me, I look forward to doing my part on the Board to maintain the integrity of the current residences, work toward the success of the next two building projects, and ensure opportunity for many more locations in the years to come!”

Shirley McNally

Founder and Visionary

Sheltering Tree was founded as a nonprofit entity by Tom and Shirley McNally and their Family. As the youngest member of the McNally family, their son who was born with Down syndrome, became a young adult, the family realized there was a critical need for safe and affordable housing for individuals with developmental disabilities. Because of this need, they felt compelled to find a solution. Having spent 30 years in the housing industry, the McNallys used their experience to make this dream a reality by creating a model for their vision of residential living in 2006. Their family values and traditional roots have always been at the core since the inception of Sheltering Tree.

Patrick McNally

Founding Family Representative

Patrick has spent countless hours contributing in every way possible to the progress of the organization by supporting the grassroots efforts at the beginning and continuing to the present time assisting in the growth of Sheltering Tree.

Molly Zavitz

Founding Family Representative

Molly, as part of the founding family, has contributed to the advancement of Sheltering Tree from concept to where Sheltering Tree stands today. She and her husband Aaron have spent countless hours creating digital media for the organization as well as providing many other forward-moving contributions.