Trellis emerged from a group of leaders and pastors who had been praying for Costa Mesa for 15 years that were convicted it was time to move beyond prayer to more effective collaboration with one another as well as with other leaders in the city. The initial gathering to share this vision included 40 leaders from throughout the city, involved mapping out current efforts and resources throughout the city by various churches, non-profits, and agencies. On the very day of that initial gathering a city employee who had received a pink slip, took his own life by jumping off the top of city hall. As we rallied around serving the city pertaining to this tragedy, it became a galvanizing event and helped us see and experience the value and importance of engaging with the needs of our city. Providing some focus, organization and communication that would lead to more of us praying for our city leaders and officials, loving our actual neighbors and working together to help resolve the greater challenges in our city became our pursuit and we’ve been seeing amazing results.
As coordinated efforts have improved, we have seen over 400 people experiencing homelessness find a home. As churches have made ongoing commitments to help resolve the literacy challenges in our schools we have seen significant improvements and some of our schools have even received awards from the state for how much they have improved. As our neighboring network continues to grow, cultural barriers are getting broken down and practical needs are being met in our neighborhoods.
These are the things everyone loves to see, however the roots of this organization are prayer. We will continue bringing focus, organization and communication around challenges in our city, but at our core we believe that as we continue bringing more and more people together to worship and pray to a loving, merciful and grace-filled God , we believe the results will continue to expand.
Churches, businesses, agencies and city officials are working well together, creating positive change in their city. The ethos in neighborhoods is improving and having identified the top 3 challenges in the city, (based on city hall’s assessment, the school district and overall demographics) we’re seeing tangible movement and results.
- Prayer - We are passionate to experience God’s presence, power and purpose.
- Dignity - We desire to treat everyone respectfully, regardless of differences.
- Unity – We are determined to focus on what brings us together.
- Efficacy – We are committed to be effective and produce measurable results.
- Perseverance – We have a drive to keep going for the long haul.
Executive Director of Trellis
Ian Stevenson, the full time Executive Director of Trellis since fall of 2015, is responsible for expanding our capacity of the organization as the primary vision caster and strategy developer. A team-player at heart, he finds joy in team development, growth, and increase of effectiveness through his work with our board, staff and city leaders.
Prior to joining Trellis full-time, Ian was a pastor at The Crossing Church in Costa Mesa, California, where he became the second full-time staff member, in 1989. For 27 years, he focused on ministry development, outreach and teaching to lead, manage, and grow the church from 40 to approximately 2,000. Holding a bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville University, Ian is an expert in volunteer mobilization and management and has an extensive background in strategic planning, budget preparation, goal setting, and facilitating partnerships.
Ian and his wife Terrilee have been married for 35 years, with 3 grown children and 7 grandchildren. They provide unconditional support and guidance for the Trellis team, as well as their adorable little encouragers. In their free time, the two enjoy riding motorcycles, hiking, back packing and working out.
Director of Operations & Volunteer Engagement
Isabel oversees the planning, managing, and resourcing process for Trellis to operate with excellence and integrity. She was first called to volunteer with Trellis for a few years, where she led at the Check-in Center and helped establish the Community Impact Team, before stepping into her official role. Her passion to see God’s justice brought to every one of His children is what drives her to help equip and mobilize the church to make an impact on the city.
Prior to joining the Trellis team, Isabel acquired a diverse skill set while working in government as a policy advisor and later for a data visualization company specializing in school districts. Isabel moved from Big Bear Lake in 2011 to attend Vanguard University, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in History & Political Science and a minor in Religion from Vanguard University as well as a certification in Lean Six Sigma process improvement methods.
Isabel enjoys spending time with family and friends and continuing to grow her relationship with the Lord. Isabel loves to go swing dancing with friends and try out new restaurants and coffee shops.
Business Management
Debbie oversees all things HR, Marketing, and some Accounting for Trellis’ Business Management. She provides Trellis with key insights through her knowledge and experience of leading and managing the day-to-day organizational operations. Debbie’s passion for connecting cities to collaborate together motivates and encourages everyone involved with Trellis.
Born in Texas, Debbie was called to Costa Mesa, where she flourished for 18 years. Here, she honed her senior leadership experience in multiple types of organizations both for profit and nonprofit. She started her own business and maintained it for 10 years before pastoring at a large church in Orange County for another 10 years. Through these roles, she gained excellent organizational skills and leadership development which she now utilizes at Trellis.
Debbie moved to Northern California in 2017, where she resides with her husband and 4 children in Quincy. With practically a petting zoo at their fingertips, she and her family enjoy caring for and playing with all the animals on their small farm. She loves to spend her free time adventuring amidst the mountains and alpine lakes, while managing Trellis remotely.
Director of Development
Lehua directs and leads the team in developing sustainable ways to support and grow the work of Trellis in Costa Mesa and Beyond. She also works closely with our Stakeholders group, while managing our fundraising and donors. Her deep knowledge of leading in churches and nonprofits ignites her passion to help continue to build bridges and inspire our communities to be better together.
Originally from Hawaii, Lehua relocated to gain a dual bachelor’s degree from Vanguard University in Theatre and Religion. While residing in Cosa Mesa for 23 years, she gained experience as the Creative Arts Pastor at the Crossing Church and 5 years in the Spiritual Formation Department at Vanguard University.
Lehua recently relocated to Franklin, Tennessee with her husband and 3 kids, where she works remotely for Trellis and still visits occasionally. When she isn’t working or spending time at home, you can probably find her adventuring or camping with her family in the mountains.
Homelessness Initiative Director
John helps Trellis create a collaborative environment with the churches, businesses, city officials and community to help end homelessness and get people off the streets. John is passionate about propelling the mission and vision of Trellis. He strongly believes that churches should be modeling what Trellis does for the community and its leaders. John sees Trellis as the embodiment of loving God and others, while being the church as One and serving beyond a building.
John’s passion for the Lord and His kingdom was nurtured through his attendance at Sunset School of Biblical Studies in Lubbock, Texas. Here, he graduated in Biblical Studies, and then went on to obtain his BA in Organizational Management from Ashford University. He spent 6 and a half years as the Pastor of the Costa Mesa Church of Christ, where he fed people living on the streets, and housed over 44 individuals. John’s experience with those living without a home led him to get involved with Trellis, and he felt called to step into a permanent position for the Homelessness Initiative.
John currently lives locally in Orange County with his wife of 42 years. He enjoys spending what little free time he has with his bride, grandkids, two children, and loves a good motorcycle ride.
Office & Ministry Support Coordinator
Marylin helps to keep our office, staff, and meetings organized, and utilizes her ability to jump in and help to support multiple facets of our ministry. She has served homeless individuals in Costa Mesa for the past 7 years, which led her to start serving with Trellis in 2019 as Event Coordinator. When COVID hit, events no longer happened in person, so her skills for keeping things running smoothly were then translated in the office and ministry support settings.
Marilyn grew up in Texas and moved to Southern California at age 24. Prior to working at Trellis, she was the Senior Secretary at Huntington Beach High School for 10 years. She then felt called to serve a missionary with her husband Jim in New Zealand for 9 years. Here, they attended and graduated from South Pacific Bible College. They then served at Otumoetai Church as Pastoral Care where Marilyn ran Women’s Ministry, served with MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers) and also worked as a secretary for the church. Her many years of experience as a secretary have helped to hone her organization and communication skills to serve the kingdom of God.
Marilyn and her husband Jim currently reside in Huntington Beach, where they spend their time volunteering, hosting events like teas, game nights and parties. She really enjoys spending time with and caring for her 12 grandchildren, while staying connected with friends and volunteering whenever possible.
Education Initiative Director
Terrilee is our liaison for the Costa Mesa School District, as well as all its beloved schools, teachers and administrators. She is passionate about using her gifts, skills and experience to help engage more of our community to help our schools be all they can be in order to impact future generations. She ensures that our schools are working together by supporting and encouraging them in any way possible.
Terrilee attended Taylor University in Indiana, where she obtained her Associate Degree in Business Administration before relocating to Costa Mesa. Prior to Trellis, she worked in the Newport Mesa Unified School District utilizing her administrative skills for 13 years. She then gained experience as the Executive Assistant at a local church for 12 years. Terrilee jumped into her position at Trellis with a total of 25 years of relevant experience and skills, which she blesses both our team and our local schools with effortlessly.
Terrilee has lived in Costa Mesa for 34 years, raised her 3 children here and is now helping her 7 grandchildren also recognize what is great about our city. While she loves relaxing with a good book or spending time at the beach, she also thrives on adventure. Terrilee and her husband of 35 years, Ian, enjoy the thrill of motorcycle rides, as well as hiking and backpacking excursions.
Marketing and Fundraising Development Assistant
Molly assists in marketing and development efforts to provide direction, leadership, and support to our Marketing, Business, Fundraising and Development Departments. She creates detailed content from events, meetings, and gatherings for development of each initiative through stories, newsletters, and social media posts. Molly finds creative ways to assist in planning and executing major development activities. She is the voice behind our social media accounts and platforms, where she creates and manages content and serves as our liaison for audience interaction. Molly has been volunteering with Trellis since late 2020, and we are so excited to welcome her on our team for 2021.
Prior to working with Trellis, Molly graduated from California State University Fullerton with her Bachelor of Arts in Communications, concentrating in Public Relations. Through her 4 years at CSUF, she nurtured her passion for children, homeless men and women, special needs, communication and social media through volunteering and interning with different nonprofits like Family Promise of OC, Newport Beach Film Festival, Orange County Diabetes Collaborative, RAD Camp, and Intertwined. While in school, Molly continued fostering her love for kids for 3 years as Lead Camp Counselor for Big Canyon Country Club and nannying. She has over a year of experience as an In-Home Care Giver for various elderly and special needs clients in OC. Molly’s heart for those in need and experience in various fields fuels her skills and knowledge in marketing, social media and PR to assist our Trellis Team and Initiatives.
In her free time, Molly, an Orange County native, loves nannying for a few clients, playing games and doing puzzles with her family, as well as cross-stitching, and potting succulents (fake or alive). She also enjoys camping, hiking, riding bikes, playing music, and exploring. She plays guitar and sings, serving on her church’s worship team, and is the frontwoman in a Classic Rock OC band called Smalltime, when socially distanced outdoor gigs are available. She loves to learn more everyday through diving into her relationship with God.
Neighboring Initiative Director and Homelessness Check-In Center Manager
Reina oversees operations through volunteer scheduling, supply coordination and event support at the Homelessness Check-In Center for Trellis. She has been volunteering with Trellis at the Check-In Center storage facility for the homeless since 2013, which she now manages. Reina recently became our Neighboring Initiative Director, and we look forward to utilizing her experience and connections with various cities, communities, and nonprofit organizations. She is passionate about growing relationships among our community and beyond.
Prior to Trellis, Reina studied at UCI, where she found her heart for working with the homeless. She became President of Helping Hearts for the Homeless at UCI, which allowed her to empower students to serve the local homeless community, as well as spread awareness and education on campus. Furthermore, she oversaw several community youth programs regarding leadership development, community service & mental health advocacy at Orange County Herald Center. Reina discovered her passion for community work during her time as staff at The Beacon Church in Orange, CA working alongside Love Orange & Love Irvine initiatives and directly witnessing how churches can strategically partner with cities to make a greater impact.
Reina is a proud resident of Costa Mesa, and loves pouring into the city she believes in. She was blessed to meet her husband, Chris, at the Check-In Center, and continues to serve as a family there with him and their son.
Homelessness Support Manager
Ray supports all things Homelessness at our Check-In Center, where he ensures everything runs smoothly with consistency and efficiency. His dedication to Trellis’ Homelessness Initiative includes leading trainings and managing volunteers, maintaining order at the CIC, and running the shower and laundry trailers. He also supports and leads our Community Impact Team which focuses efforts on providing tools for our homeless community to reenter the work force. Ray volunteered at the CIC during his struggle with homelessness for 2 years, then officially became a member of our team one year after finding housing.
Born and raised in California, he moved around to many states as a navy brat, then returned to attend UCLA for Aerospace Engineering. Ray then worked in administration for an electronic company after serving with the army in Germany. He continued on to work in the medical field for 28 years. Ray’s previously learned professional skills of thorough evaluation and analysis, process improvement, and risk management combined with his journey of overcoming homelessness himself serves as a real asset to our Homelessness Initiative.
In his free time, Ray enjoys being active by kayaking, camping, hiking, hunting, shooting, and fly-fishing. He loves anything outdoors or water-related and is a self-proclaimed failed stand-up surfer. Ray’s spirit of adventure and enthusiasm to try new things keeps everyone he meets on their toes.
Chairman
Mark joined Trellis as the Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2017. He prepares and runs the organization’s board meetings and facilitates board accountability.
Mark has been a Southern California consultant (primarily within the medical community) for nearly thirty years, working with all surgical specialties (often as a “shadow” or Interim CEO), forming medical groups (through mergers as well as startups), building IPAs (physician networks), forming, building, and syndicating ASCs (surgery centers), and representing hospital medical staffs in crisis situations.
He has developed trusted relationships across many constituencies in the medical, regulatory, and legal continuums. He has formed, chaired, coached, and sat on a variety of Boards of Directors, both for-profit and non-profit. He continues to run both a thirty-plus member anesthesia group, as well as a large, multi-facility pulmonary/intensivist group – roles he has fulfilled for well over a decade.
Over the most recent four years, Mark has been engaged to develop a national inter-disciplinary multi-specialty network of physicians and healthcare providers devoted to working collaboratively to usher experimental treatments through the FDA and in to mainstream of western medicine. This includes robust data collection and mining, reporting to the FDA through Independent Review Boards (IRBs), and fostering relationships with global partners who have footprints in nations more hospitable to experimental therapies. He brings with him his most trusted former clients and industry relationships, and currently serves as Interim President for the Regenerative Network Orange County Medical Corp.
He is twice ordained and has pastored in multiple roles, including Calvary Chapel, The Crossing, Tree of Life Community, and Shepherd’s Grove (formerly Chrystal Cathedral). His two primary and current Kingdom initiatives are Trellis International and Finally Home. He and Carey adopted two sons from Romania, Eric and Shane, now all working together in various ministries and initiatives. Ten years ago, he cofounded (along with Executive Director Kristin Orphan) and still chairs the nonprofit Finally Home – on a mission to equip foster, adoptive, and kinship families to build healthy homes where kids can heal.
Hospitality Officer
Lynell joined Trellis as the Hospitality Officer in 2014. She hosts various vision and leadership gatherings at her home and works with the Director of Operations to evaluate events.
Lynell has been a registered nurse at Hoag Hospital and in the Home Health field, with the exception of a seven-year period as a stay-at-home mother. For 20 years, she served as Director of Auxiliary Services at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California. Lynell has obtained her associate’s and registered nursing degrees from Chaffey College, and her bachelor’s in Organizational Management and BSN in Nursing from Vanguard University. Most recently, she received a certificate as a Faith Community Nurse from Hoag Hospital.
Lynell has also served as the Director of Royal Family Kids Camp, Director of Women’s Ministries at Newport Mesa Church, and on the Board of Elders at the same church.
Worship Community Officer
Mike joined Trellis in 2014 as the Worship Community Officer. He works to build community between worship leaders and musicians in the city, as well as plan the “Trellis Night of Worship” event.
Since 1994, Mike has been a partner of the marketing firm, The Brainyard LLC. He leads the sales team and manages the agency’s core clientele, companies like Fender Guitars, Taylor Guitars, Pioneer Pro Audio, and Two-Rock Amplifiers. Mike earned his degree in Music from Pasadena City College and his degree in Bible from LIFE Bible College.
Mike is a founding Board Member of the Colorado-based Finally Home Foundation and a longtime member of the Creative Arts Team of The Crossing Church.
Treasurer
Scott joined Trellis in 2014 as the Business Development Officer. He helps with the business development side of Trellis and participates on The Business Advisory Team to engage with and cultivate interest from businesses in the area.
Scott is the co-founder and Vice President of CALbath & Kitchen, a professional bathroom and kitchen remodeling company. Since 1991, Scott and his partner have grown their business from a two-man side gig to a 70-person operation with five locations and a client list that includes UCLA, The Beverly Hilton, The Irvine Company, and even the U.S. Marines. As an entrepreneur and employer, he leads with integrity and the motto, “Do what you say you are going to do.”
Scott earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics with a minor in Management from UC Irvine.
Governance Committee Member
Helen joined Trellis in 2021 and serves on our board as part of the governance committee. She currently serves as Deputy General Counsel, Compliance and Securities with Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. and relocated to California in February 2019 for the position. Helen has almost 30 years of corporate legal experience, including 10 years in private practice and 18+ years as in-house counsel for several large public companies. She also served for two years as Chief Operating Officer of a Denver non-profit organization focused on helping unemployed and underemployed individuals become financially self-sufficient.
Helen holds a B.B.A. (accounting major) and J.D. from the University of Michigan.
Secretary
Janice joined Trellis in 2016 as Secretary. She manages the Board notebooks, by taking valuable notes during meetings and distributing them to the board members.
Janice is the Database Administrator at The Crossing Church in Costa Mesa, California. Having been on staff since 2004, her responsibilities grew and her passion for organizing people flourished. She served as an administrator for multiple ministry leaders prior to her current role.
Janice has a bachelor’s degree from Vanguard University, and recently studied Database Management at UC Irvine.
Married with 2 children, Andrew enjoys family time, surfing playing basketball, drums and reading. He is passionate to see the Big C Church align more and more with a kingdom mentality and figure out how to work better together in various contexts locally and globally.
With experience in both public and private accounting, Rachel has worked with more than fifty nonprofit clients, including higher education institutions, churches, foundations, and missions-sending organizations. She is skilled in analyzing and creating efficiencies in internal processes and preparing financial statement packages and other reporting documentation. Rachel currently serves as the Accounting Specialist at Concordia University in Irvine.
Rachel earned dual bachelor’s degrees from Vanguard University in accounting and religion. She is an actively licensed certified public accountant.
These Churches have all contributed, time, talent and treasure to help facilitate a more united effort to impact homelessness, education or cultural integration this last year in our city.
- Christ Lutheran
- Rock Harbor
- The Crossing
- Palm Harvest Church
- Newport Mesa Church
- Mesa Verde United Methodist Church
- Mariners Church
- Grace Fellowship
- Redemption Church
- Friendship Church
- New Song Worship Center
- South Hills Church
- St. James Anglican
- Lighthouse Community Church
- Presbyterian Church of the Covenant
This organization has invested time, talent and treasure to impact homelessness as part of a united effort in our city.
- Fresh Beginnings
These Churches have contributes time and talent towards a more united effort to impact homelessness, education or cultural integration this last year in our city.
- Iglesia El Camino
- Iglesia Harbor
- Watermark Church
- Roots Church
- St. John The Divine
- Lighthouse Church of the Nazarene
- St. Andrews Presbyterian
- St. John The Baptist
- Our Lady Queen of Angels
- Narrative
- Saddleback Newport Mesa
Partnerships with businesses where they can invest time, talent and treasure to impact the greatest challenges in our city in a more united manner don’t formally exist yet. We will be developing this in 2016, if you are interested e-mail ian@wearetrellis.com
These businesses have invested time and talent to impact homelessness, education or cultural integration as part of a united effort in our city.
- Starbucks
- Target
- Avilla El Ranchito Restaurant
- The You School
- Talonvest Company
- Newport Rib Company
These organizations have invested time and talent as part of a united effort to impact homelessness, education or cultural integration in our city.
- Vanguard University
- Concordia University
- Mika CDC
- SOS
- Someone Cares Soup Kitchen
- Young Life
- Fellowship of Christian Athletes