Who We Are
Nehemiah Partners was established as a non-profit in 2007 by a handful of local churches. The vision was to provide a safe, bully-free place for Sandusky children.
A faith-based non-profit, Nehemiah Partners offers age-appropriate activities, mentoring, and guidance aimed at spiritual, physical, and relational well being to the kids of Sandusky.
We believe that by encouraging, empowering and educating our children, they can pursue the fullness of their God-given potential.
Our Board of Directors
Chris joined the Nehemiah team at the beginning of 2021. He has served in the non-profit sector and the church world for the past 8 years. Graduating from college in 2017, Chris holds a degree in Intercultural Studies (Church/non-profit management) and is so excited to work with the kids at Nehemiah! Chris is also a licensed minister so is he available to help lead our kids, volunteers, and donors through their spiritual lives, and hopefully connecting them to a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Jeff has served at Nehemiah for over a decade. He is a retired firefighter and currently serves as Perkins Township Trustee. He is also the President of the Erie County Land Bank and sits on the Friends of Pipe Creek and Erie Co. Solid Waste District Boards.
Bob is an attorney licensed to practice law in both Ohio and Arizona. Formerly employed as General Counsel of the Erie Group of Companies in Sandusky, Ohio for over 25 years, he and his family now own and operate Maintenance Systems of Northern Ohio located in Elyria, Ohio, doing asphalt repair and maintenance. Bob brings 30 years of administrative, legal and construction experience to serve the Center in many areas including safety, risk management, human resource and volunteer management.
Alison has served on the Nehemiah Board since 2018 and also enjoys volunteering to help with afterschool and summer programs. She brings with her years of financial experience as she is also the owner and Independent Financial Advisor at Morris Financial Services LLC.
Sarah has served both on the Nehemiah Board and during afterschool programs. She currently is the Service and Support Administrator at Huron County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
Linda joined the Nehemiah Board in 2021, bringing with her years of experience in youth ministry and volunteer management. She currently serves as the Distribution Coordinator at Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio.
Jay is Impact/Outreach Pastor at The Chapel in Sandusky, providing leadership in personal, local and global missional efforts, men’s ministry and general pastoring. Jay spent 25 years pastoring at the Chapel in Akron, OH where he became involved in urban ministry. Jay brings his missional approach to assist Nehemiah Partners in its effort to build unity in a diverse and often stressed community short on resources. His insight into cultural diversity, whether in ravaged northern India or in downtown Sandusky, is proving invaluable.
Jim has been a volunteer with the Nehemiah Partners Center for 7 years and has been a member of Nehemiah’s board for the last 3-4 years. He has acted as a lay person and youth leader for 15 years. He proudly has been a resident of Sandusky for 50 years and worked in the transportation field for 35 years. Jim is happily married to his wife Faith for 26 years and has 4 children and 8 grandchildren.
Cheryl Talley-Sharp joined the Nehemiah Partners just before 2021, having retired after 36 years of teaching kindergarten with the Sandusky City Schools. She taught the Rotary Safety Town Program for over 30 years and the Sandusky City Schools Kindergarten Camp program. Cheryl has been, and is, involved with several community, school, and civic organizations and committees, some of which are: S.C.A.A.S.P., Erie County Minority Health Task Force, CPTU-Center For Peace Through Understanding, and Sandusky City Schools.