Staff at New Hope | New Hope for Families | United States

Clearing the path to success.

STAFF OF THE ROOF & THE NEST

Dedicated to excellence.

Meet our incredible and talented team of dedicated individuals who are responsible for the operations of The Roof and The Nest programs at New Hope for Families. You can click on each image to learn more about them.

Emily Pike, Executive Director

Emily is a native of Southern Indiana. She graduated from Mitchell High School, earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, and received a Master of Public Affairs with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs in December 2013.

A veteran of the Peace Corps and a variety of socially motivated organizations, Emily has more than a decade of experience working in nonprofits.

Aside from the third sector, Emily’s other passion is children. Having worked for many years in a number of childcare provision roles, she understands the importance of intentional programming for children beginning early in life.

She first joined the New Hope team in April of 2012 and was excited to transition to the role of Executive Director of Children’s Programming in April 2013.

In Febraury of 2018 Emily assumed the role of Executive Director at New Hope responsible for operations of both The Roof and The Nest.

Chase Techentin, Roof Director

Chase Techentin is the Roof Director at New Hope for Families. Chase has housed hundreds of people experiencing homelessness and believes we can make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring in Bloomington. After years working in Bloomington’s nonprofit sector he earned a Master’s in Public Affairs in Nonprofit Management from Indiana University’s O’Neill School for Public and Environmental Affairs. He makes sure families who stay at The Roof get the resources they need to move into safe, stable housing.

Ann Marie Whaley, Family Services Coordinator

I am originally from Indianapolis but my dad is from Bloomington. I graduated from Indiana University with a double major in Liberal Arts in 2012. I have spent over 5 years working in the nonprofit sector, specializing in supporting people who have disabilities and people experiencing homelessness and poverty. I believe in being part of a community that supports all of its members and sets them up for success. In my free time I enjoy hiking, jogging, writing, painting, reading, and cooking.

Amie Messer, Nest Director

Amie Messer holds a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Indiana University. She is currently working toward a Master’s degree from Ball State University. Amie has been caring for and teaching infants and young children for over 15 years. She has been with The Nest at New Hope since 2017, helping to create and establish the Infant/Toddler program. She enjoys supporting families, and exploring Bloomington with her two children.

Kate Gehinger, Lead Pre-K Teacher

Kate Gehringer has worked with children and families for the twelve years, ten of which she has focused on the needs of those experiencing poverty and homelessness. She began her career in Denver, Colorado after receiving her B.F.A. from Western Michigan University and studying Early Childhood Education at Metropolitan State University, Denver.

She moved to Indiana in 2013 to be closer to her family in Michigan. She and her husband spend their time rehabilitating an “antique” home in the forest of Owen county and traveling as often as they can.

Kate has been a part of The Nest at New Hope since November, 2015 and truly enjoys the work she does every day with her students and families.

Marcella Ettinger Infant/Toddler Co-Lead Teacher

Marcella Ettinger is the Infant/Toddler Co-Lead Teacher at the Nest at New Hope.

Marcella has been working in early childhood education, particularly in non profit programs that support underserved communities experiencing trauma since 2013. She believes that it is essential that all children and all families have access to high-quality child care and works diligently to advocate for families, children, and those working in the early childhood field.

Marcella has earned a Master's Degree in Learning and Developmental Sciences from Indiana University and utilizes this education in her daily work. In her free time, Marcella enjoys spending time with her two cats and her dog and watching reality television.

Holly Waldkoetter, Nutritional Coordinator

Holly Waldkoetter holds a B.A. in Counseling Poverty with Food Justice as well as a B.A. in English from Indiana University.

Cooking and gardening are two of her passions, and has been doing both since an early age.

Holly began as a volunteer at The Nest in 2015 and assumed the role of Nutritional Coordinator at the end of 2018. Since then, she has introduced a Plot-to-Tot program. This focuses on growing foods for the Nest at a community garden plot and cooking with the Pre-K classroom.

She aims to advocate for a space (and policies) which recognize the right of all peoples to equal consideration, dignity, happiness, a home, and plentiful foods.