Divine Alternatives for Dads Services

William is an experienced Human Resources professional with a demonstrated history of working in the for-profit & non-profit sectors. Skilled in nonprofit organizations, negotiation, talent management, employee relations, labor relations, employment law, and consultation. Masters of Jurisprudence in Labor and Employment Law, Tulane University Law School.

Eddie is a dedicated father of four sons and a retired US veteran.  He has been a close friend of DADS for the last 20 years.  His first meeting with DADS was seeking help with his child support issues.  He has firsthand experience with how DADS not only helps and serves but builds lasting relationships with all that cross their path.  He currently works for the Department of Veteran Affairs and is focused on raising his teenage son. 

Chris currently works as corporate counsel for Carta, Inc. and received his degree in politics and theology from the University of San Francisco. During his undergraduate studies, he spent a semester at American University in Washington, DC, where he took a justice seminar that opened his eyes to the inequitable way justice is distributed, and the staggering recidivism rates in the United States. This experience was the birth of his passion for this specific work and what led him to attend law school at the University of Wisconsin—Madison, where he had the opportunity to intern as a student attorney with the Wisconsin Innocence Project. After moving to Seattle, he served as a volunteer attorney for Disability Rights Washington in their AVID Prison Project, and volunteered with the Washington Innocence Project at the University of Washington. This path ultimately led him to DADS, where he is grateful for the opportunity to combine his faith and experience to support the organization in helping fathers become more involved in the lives of their children, and to overcome the collateral consequences of being involved with the justice system.

“You don’t change the world with the ideas in your mind, but with the conviction in your heart.” – Bryan Stevenson

Coming soon.

Joe has been an attorney at the Seattle law firm Davis Grimm Payne & Marra for over thirty years. His practice focuses on representing employers in all areas related to private and public sector labor and employment law. Prior to entering private practice, Joe was an attorney at the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Joe is a frequent and popular speaker for associations, companies and non-profit organizations. Although a litigator, Joe’s priority is enabling clients to avoid costly lawsuits and legal risks by utilizing proactive, preventative business practices.  Joe is admitted to all state and federal courts in Washington and Montana. He has received the Distinguished Citizen Award from WA. Independent Business Association and has been repeatedly recognized by the Washington State Bar Association for his pro bono work. "A lawyer must be much more than a litigator for his clients. He must be an honest and realistic advisor, strategist, risk assessor, counselor and advocate."

Debbie Jacobsen has been associated with DADS for a number of years through her deep ties to its founders Marvin and Jeanett. Debbie holds a master’s degree in theology (MAT) from Fuller Theological Seminary and eagerly serves as the Lord leads. There is a tremendous gulf of despair fatherlessness has created in the greater Seattle area and helping to break down the barriers impeding the course towards a future that closes the gap separating fathers from their families is a tremendous need. Debbie also serves on the King County Advisory Board for The Salvation Army. She shares five adult children and five grandchildren (and counting), with her husband Mark.

Paul is a Managing Partner at Fortis Financial Group, an investments and wealth management firm based in Bellevue, WA. Prior to Fortis, Paul spent nine years at Ernst & Young in Audit and Transaction Services spending time in San Diego, San Francisco and London. Paul is currently the Treasurer for Divine Alternatives for Dads Services and the President of the University Kiwanis organization. In his free time he loves to spend time with his wife and daughter, cook, read and write. 

Tim has been involved with DADS for several years as a participant in the Wednesday morning Bible study/support group/prayer meeting. He describes this as “the most meaningful Bible study I’ve ever experienced. Men come with vulnerable honesty about our lives, combined with a deep hunger to grow both as fathers and husbands, and as followers of Christ.” This fellowship connected Tim with other men from richly diverse backgrounds, and led to deep appreciation for the exceptional work of DADS. He admits that “Marvin and Jeanett are two of my heroes and I treasure every opportunity to learn from them.” Tim is a retired Presbyterian pastor, and has been a professor of theology, ethics and spirituality for Seattle Pacific University, Fuller Seminary, Regent College, the University of Aberdeen (Scotland), and the French Evangelical Seminary (Paris). Prior to retirement, he led a team at World Vision International who were responsible for the spiritual formation of WVI’s 45,000 staff around the world, as well as church and interfaith relations. He has graduate degrees in theology from Harvard Divinity School, Fuller Seminary, and the University of Aberdeen and is the author of a dozen books. He and his wife enjoy learning from and celebrating life with their three adult daughters, their husbands, and the gift of eight grandchildren.

Karen joined the board of DADS through a loving relationship with its founders, Marvin and Jeanett Charles. Her passion lies in sharing the love of Jesus and investing in the next generation through discipleship. For the past 11 years, she has pursued this calling as a senior associate with Centered, where she developed a Fellows program for postgraduate women, supported a fellowship group within the Washington State Legislature, and launched the Take Root podcast, which she continues to host. 

A graduate of the University of Washington, Karen holds a BSN in nursing. She taught parent education at Bellevue College and served for 11 years at Bellevue Christian School, teaching students with learning disabilities and coaching the girls’ golf team. Before her time with Centered, she worked with the Luke 12:48 Foundation, where she led initiatives focused on women and youth.

Karen is married to her best friend, Dean, and is the proud mother of Chris, Jake, and Karli (Zack), and grandmother to Tennyson and Clinton. She enjoys golfing, skiing (both snow and water), hiking, and exploring God’s amazing creation. Her life verse is Proverbs 3:5-6.

Melissa recently retired from the executive leadership position with Vision House, a local nonprofit. Vision House serves families with children experiencing homelessness and like DADS, believes that all children need healthy parental relationships to become all that God has created them to be.  Melissa holds a BA in Fine Arts, an MA in Organizational Leadership and provides leadership development coaching with an emphasis on servant leadership and individual strengths. She is married to Steve with a combined family of four children and four grandchildren with one more on the way.