Board of Directors at Upper Room of Erie
As a tax exempt, non-profit organization, the Upper Room of Erie is governed by a Board of Directors. The board is comprised of wonderful volunteer staff members and caring citizens from the Erie area. The members of the board are passionate about our mission and meet regularly to go over finances, monitor and assist program planning, and ensure that everything is running smoothly at The Upper Room of Erie.
Saunders McLaurin
Executive Director
Saunders came to the Upper Room in the summer of 2024 with a long career of serving the unhoused population in outreach for medical care.
Chuck Nelson
Board President
Chuck Nelson is the Pastor of the St. Paul’s Church, the host of the Upper Room. He has been serving in ministry downtown since 2011.
Rev. Carl Hull (Retired)
Board Member
Rev. Hull is a retired Presbyterian minister who served five congregations over forty-one years of service. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Grove City college and Master of Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Prior to his retirement, Carl served St. Paul’s Church in Erie. It was here that he learned of the Upper Room and its mission to help and serve the poor and homeless of Erie.
Rev. Hull came to the Upper Room as its Chaplain in 2006, and has served most recently as board president. He and the director work hand-in-hand to assure the purpose and mission are at the forefront of activities, while continuing to expand services to better meet the needs of those less fortunate in the Erie Community.
Jerry Beemer
Board Member
Jerry Beemer is Licensed Professional Counselor who began serving the homeless by opening a community shelter at age 20, while in college. He has since run an inner-city group home, and directed two large children’s homes, served as a community therapist with Youth Advocate Program in Meadville, PA, served as psychotherapist on an acute psychiatric hospital unit with University of Maryland Hospital System also working in a private counseling clinic. While in Maryland Jerry also served on the Governor’s Mental Health Advisory Council for several years and served on the Board of a program finding homes for the homeless. After moving back to Pennsylvania 6 years ago Jerry served at Family Services of NW PA as a psychotherapist.
Ronald Bryant
Board Members
Ron is a recent addition to the board, joining in 2016. By vocation, Ron is a Deputy Warden responsible for programming at The Erie County Prison. He brings expertise on the relation between homelessness and incarceration to the mission of The Upper Room.
Alice Niebauer
Secretary
Alice has served, and currently serves on numerous boards in the Erie Area and serves as board secretary for The Upper Room. She is tireless in her efforts and contribution to furthering the mission of the Upper Room and helping those who struggle with homelessness. She also acts as liaison between St. Paul’s Church and The Upper Room.
Cheryl Pierce
Board Member
Cheryl is the secretary of St. Paul’s Church. Thus, she serves as a voice between the church and the Upper Room, which, although a separate entity, the church provides the space used as The Upper Room. Cheryl serves as nominations chair for the board of directors.
Kathy Dahlkemper
Board Member
Kathy Dahlkemper served as Erie County Executive from January 2014 to January 2022. She represented Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2009 to 2011. While in Congress she worked extensively on the passage of the Affordable Care Act, authoring the Young Invincibles legislation that allows young adults to remain on their parent’s health plan until 26 years of age.
As County Executive, Dahlkemper spearheaded many initiatives including the creation of the Erie County Community College of Pennsylvania; installation of the Next Generation Radio System greatly improving public safety; the revamping of the county economic development ecosystem; renovations and expansion of services within the county library system; and many internal and external initiatives to improve Erie County for its residents. She was the local leader of the county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She is a co-founder of Women The Future PAC, dedicated to encouraging and supporting women in their run for public office. Along with the Upper Room, she is a board member of Erie Events, Catherine’s Club Giving Circle and Emmaus Ministries.
Dahlkemper is married, a mother of 5 and grandmother of 10. Kathy loves to travel, ski, cycle, hike, garden and just be outdoors.
Jeremy Lightner
Board Member
Jeremy is the Chief Deputy District Attorney. He provides a level of care and engagement from the criminal justice system for the clients of the Upper Room as well as a legal perspective to the board.
Nikki Lavery
Board Member
Dr. Nicole Lavery, OTD is a dynamic leader with two decades of experience in occupational therapy and a deep commitment to the Erie community. Her career highlights include developing innovative programs for children at the Achievement Center and Shriners Hospital and leading clinical services at the Sight Center, where she founded Erie’s only low vision clinic. As a tenured associate professor at Gannon University, Dr. Lavery shapes the next generation of occupational therapists, with a focus on emerging models of practice, global healthcare, and community-based interventions. She has spearheaded international clinical experiences to broaden her students' perspectives on healthcare delivery worldwide.
Dr. Lavery’s impact extends beyond academia. As co-owner and vice-president of Lavery Brewing Company, she supports Erie’s cultural and economic growth. In her role as a board member of The Upper Room, Dr. Lavery advocates for individuals experiencing homelessness, ensuring they receive vital services and a safe, supportive environment. A dedicated public servant, Dr. Lavery is the elected Democratic Committeewoman for Millcreek 23. She actively participates in organizing and supporting her party, working to strengthen Democratic values and engagement within her community.
Dr. Lavery’s leadership extends to her tenure as the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association’s (POTA) Commissioner on Conference, where she successfully oversaw the planning and execution of the Occupational Therapy State Conference. This role exemplifies her ability to guide large-scale initiatives and advance professional development opportunities for occupational therapists across the state.
Her commitment to inclusion was exemplified in her tenure as Chair of the Board of L’Arche Erie, where she promoted a community that values the contributions of individuals with and without disabilities alike.