Board Members
Stephanie Higgins- President
Kathy Berry
Becky Bray
Erin Burnette
Russell Chappell
Tess Dixon
Mark Snipes
Bob Wynne
Executive Director — Bonnie Hofmeyer
Bonnie lives in Charles City where she grew up on the family farm. She graduated from Averett College with a BA in psychology & religion. After working for a few years in hospitality management she began working with youth. Feeling called to continue her education and to find a lifetime career in helping people. Bonnie attended the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (BTSR) and graduated in 2002 with a Master of Divinity.
Bonnie met Bill Berry, founder of SynerGeo, in 2001 while serving as his intern in Baptist Campus Ministry at VCU. Bill asked Bonnie to help him get the year-old nonprofit up and running. Bonnie oversees all programs, staff, and operations of the organization. She has worked in SynerGeo’s various programs and outreach ministries. She loves working with the residents of the Jonah House and having JoHo retreats at her home.
Bonnie and her husband, Roger Sizemore have two daughters.
Coordinator for BreakOut! Trips- Jocelyn Burls
Jocelyn comes to us from Urbanna, the oyster capital of Virginia. She is a vegetable lover and enjoys going to the gym. Before coming to Richmond Jocelyn worked as a horse groomer in Spain and England. She moved to Richmond two years ago to attend J. Sargent Reynolds pursuing her degree in Nursing. Jocelyn plans all of SynerGeo’s alternative break trips. She finds us places to volunteer, sleep, and gets us there too. She has a passion for traveling and is looking forward to planning exciting BreakOut trips this year!
Volunteer Coordinator — Katie Cowles
Katie came to SynerGeo from the “live free or die” state of New Hampshire. She is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a degree in hospitality. How did she find us you may ask? She wanted to work with kids and live near her sister in Chesterfield. We’re glad AmeriCorps told Katie about us. Katie plans our volunteer fairs, meets and trains volunteers, and put together volunteer forms for us. Katie also works with groups who want to volunteer with SynerGeo. She helps them with projects and housing arrangements. Katie works in most of our programs and you can’t miss her smiling face.
Coordinator for Social Justice Events – Kathryn Hall
Kathryn was born and raised in Western North Carolina and received her undergraduate in Special Education from Mars Hill College. After four years of doing this and that, she decided to move here to Richmond to pursue a dual degree graduate program to achieve a Masters of Divinity and a Masters of Social Work. Wanting to live in intentional community, get to know my neighbors in the greater community, and volunteer with after-school programs, she decided to join SynerGeo and live in the Jonah House.
Kathryn is the Social Justice Coordinator, which allows her to raise awareness and inform others of social justice events in the area. She plans social justice trainings, oversees two annual community service projects, and leads staff in social justice activities. she loves the mountains, the television show The Office, and ice cream!”
Art Program Director — Shawn Jones
Shawn comes to us from Dry Fork, Virginia. He is a graduate of Averett University where he majored in art. Shawn wanted to leave the tobacco hills of Virginia for the urban sprawl of Richmond. Shawn’s work has been shown in exhibitions in museums, galleries, boutiques, and cafes, including Piedmont Arts Association, the Caswell Council for the Arts Gallery in North Carolina, Gallery 5, Rumors Boutique, and Harrison Street Cafe. Shawn coordinates and plans all art programs for SynerGeo. He puts together our art shows, and arranges art collaborations with other organizations. Shawn also plans our summer art camps.
Assistant Art Program Director — John Bliss
John is originally from Danville, Virginia. He is currently attending VCU where he is studying art. He enjoys working with children and encouraging them to be creative. John has a passion for the arts and he wants to help others cultivate their passion and have appreciation for the arts. John’s goal is to offer other children the same positive and creative atmosphere that he was fortunate to have. John hopes after graduation he is able to teach art to children full time. John works with Shawn in planning programs and art shows.
Music Program Director — Bean Weatherford
Ashley “Bean” Weatherford- was born in and raised in the countryside surrounding Danville, Va. From early life he enjoyed being in the woods, skateboarding, bike riding, and making music. He’s been kicking it with his boys, “The Red Love” since elementary school and lives today with two of them. A life long scholar of religion he picked himself up one of those fine VCU degrees in religious studies then traveled to India to see the temples and holy men he had read so much about. Next he moved to Chicago in 2005 where he was a part of Amate House, a program similar to SynerGeo. Then returned to Richmond in 2006 and co-founded MFG Bicycle Club. Bean has been a part of many musical projects mostly of the rock and roll band, Double Helix, Solo Work, and the kids band the P’s and Q’s. Bean is excited to work at SynerGeo because he likes being around kids. Bean also substitute teaches in Henrico county. He loves music and art and is a patron of Oregon Hill as well as the rest of Virginia.
Community Development Director — John Stone
John is originally from Danville,VA and then moved to Myrtle Beach, SC when he was a teen. He found SynerGeo by walking approx. 60 steps down the street from his former house on Laurel st. John enjoys reading, free meals and listening to WRIR and attending free music recitals at VCU. He is in charge of planning our monthly community dinners for the Oregon Hill neighborhood. He also works to plan community events between SynerGeo and neighboring organizations. He attends all of our programs including lending his vocal talents with Bean at Music Mania, which is held at William Byrd Community House.
Special Events Director – Monica Tinsley
Monica is proud to be an AmeriCorps member! I am a 28 year old single mom of two male children, whom are my pride and joy. I am currently in the process of taking EMT classes which I will complete and pursue a profession in that field. Thankfully AmeriCorps is helping me to do just that and more.
