Meet Our Compassionate Team: The Hearts Behind Our Mission

Matthew Partain

Matthew Partain stands out as a beacon of entrepreneurial spirit and digital innovation in the San Diego community. As a seasoned entrepreneur with a rich background in technology and digital marketing, Matthew brings a unique blend of skills and insights to Circles San Diego. His expertise in leveraging digital platforms for business growth is not just a professional pursuit but also a passion that drives him.

At the heart of Matthew's life is his family, consisting of his wife and two daughters. His role as a husband and father deeply informs his empathetic approach to life and work, fueling his commitment to making a positive impact in his community.

Matthew's passion for helping those less fortunate is a cornerstone of his involvement with Circles San Diego. He believes in the power of technology and innovation to create solutions for societal challenges and is dedicated to applying his skills for the greater good. His enthusiasm for this new chapter in his journey is contagious, and he is excited to contribute to the organization's mission and to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

As a board member, Matthew is not just a strategic thinker but also a compassionate leader. He is committed to ensuring that the organization not only reaches but also exceeds its goals, creating a lasting and positive impact in the community and beyond.

Crystal Carlson

Crystal has dedicated her life and career to championing those living on the margins. Her heart for the vulnerable in our community is matched with more than 15 years of program creation, transformation, and management with non-profit and faith-based organizations, including the San Diego Rescue Mission, San Diego Youth Services, Ladle Fellowship, Amor Ministries, City of Refuge, and New Day.

Crystal earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Business from San Diego State University and a Master’s in Business Administration from National University. She believes she is blessed to be a blessing and met her husband while they both served meals and provided clothing to low income residents and those experiencing homelessness at a local non-profit organization.

Crystal strives to be a supportive and compassionate leader and equipper, helping others to overcome challenges and move forward to transformation and wholeness. She is excited and thankful for the opportunity to lead Circles San Diego and make a positive impact in the lives of our vulnerable neighbors and the larger San Diego community.

Hugh Gerfin

Hugh has 30 years of experience as an accountant, financial analyst, controller, treasurer and risk manager in the defense and software industries. He earned a BA in Business Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Masters in Business Administration from Santa Clara University. He currently serves as Treasurer of Downtown Fellowship and accountant for the nonprofit New Gateway Solutions and Next Level Confident.

Russ and Connie Lenk

Russ is the Community Coordinator for the Downtown Fellowship. He has been a staff member of Downtown Fellowship since May 2019. He oversees an encouragement group called "Life as it Should Be" and was a key developer of the "Walk With Me" program at the San Diego Rescue Mission. He and his wife, Connie, Founded Bramblebush Ministries where they have spent twenty-five years working in addiction recovery, prison/parolee ministry, and the un-homed crisis.

Russ is a graduate of Stanford University with a degree in Communication/Cultural Anthropology. He holds a Master of Social Science-Comparative Cultural Analysis degree from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. Connie is a graduate of UC Berkeley with a degree in Physical Education. She received her K-8 Teaching Credential from Fresno State University.

Michael Minasi

Mike is originally from New York and relocated to California in the late 1990’s. He graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a BA in Media Theory and Advertising. Before retiring, his more than 30 year career included senior International Marketing roles at Toys R Us and Safeway Inc. where he led Marketing, Advertising, Private Label Product and E-Commerce functions.

Mike and his wife Rebecca live in Pacific Beach California and share 4 adult children and 2 grandchildren. He loves cooking and entertaining at home. Mike is an avid road cyclist and home bike mechanic and enjoys an occasional round of golf.

Rebecca Minasi

Rebecca is a lifelong resident of California. She graduated from San Diego State University with a BS degree in Business and Marketing. Before retiring, her career spanned nearly 30 years in the Consumer Package Goods industry. Rebecca led Sales and Marketing teams for General Foods, Nabisco and Kraft working with some of Americas largest food retailers.

Rebecca and her husband Mike live in Pacific Beach California and they share 4 adult children and 2 grandchildren. She enjoys beach walks, mountain biking and strength training.

Ben Montoya

Ben Montoya is a retired engineer for San Diego Gas & Electric Company where he was employed since 1986. Ben graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1981 with a B.S. in Engineering and served for five years as an officer in the United States Navy. He received a Professional Engineer license in Mechanical Engineering in 1989 and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of San Diego in 2009.

Ben is an elder at First Presbyterian Church San Diego and is President of the Downtown Fellowship, a consortium of over 40 churches and ministries who partner with the community and serve the most vulnerable in downtown San Diego. Ben is also Chairman of the Board of the Institute of Reproductive Grief Care, which provides education, research, and healing resources to care providers and those who have experienced reproductive loss. Ben currently teaches Middle School math at City Tree Christian School.

Jennifer Pelling

Jennifer is a film producer and a founding member of the Tsuha Foundation, which supports organizations that come alongside low-income people to break the cycle of poverty.

Through the Tsuha Foundation, she developed the Tsuha Global Fellows program with the University of Western Australia to empower emerging leaders from countries in the Global South to develop high-priority research and policy solutions that directly relate to UN Sustainable Development Goals in their respective communities.

Jennifer serves on three nonprofit boards: Circles USA, the Ideos Institute, and Bread for the World. Circles USA reduces poverty and transforms communities by bringing people together across income lines. The Ideos Institute promotes empathy through dialogue and civic engagement. Bread for the World is an ecumenical Christian organization based in Washington, D.C. that advocates for policy changes to end hunger.

As a film producer, Jennifer focuses on social impact documentaries exploring inequity, connection, communication, and spirituality. Before shifting to the nonprofit world, Jennifer worked several years at Accenture, homeschooled her children, and taught math in a charter school. She graduated from Hamilton College with a B.A. in Mathematics and Computer Science.

Melissa Peterman

LinkedIn Profile

Melissa Peterman is a second-generation San Diegan. She holds a bachelor’s in political science from San Diego State University and a master’s in political theory from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For over 10 years, she has worked in the fields of affordable housing and homelessness services with Father Joe's Villages and the San Diego Housing Commission. As a Vice President of the San Diego Housing Commission, she led teams responsible for managing multimillion-dollar projects including the citywide strategic initiatives, Housing Our Heroes and Housing First – San Diego, to house 4,000 individuals experiencing homelessness permanently. As Executive Director for Townspeople, she provides executive leadership for housing solutions designed to help realize the organization’s vision of a fully housed San Diego.

Sylvia Seyb

Sylvia Seyb is a dedicated professional committed to eradicating poverty through compassionate initiatives. With a firsthand understanding of the challenges faced by single mothers, she brings a unique perspective to her role in our children’s program. Sylvia’s background as a grant administrator showcases her expertise in managing resources effectively to create a lasting impact in the fight against poverty. Her passion for making a difference, combined with her professional skills, makes her a valuable asset to our organization’s mission.