Our Team
Building community is at the heart of everything we do.
Laura Spidell
Executive Director, EngAGE Northwest
Laura has a Master's in Urban and Regional Planning from Portland State University. She worked as a city planner in California, focusing on community planning and housing accessibility, before moving to Portland, Oregon. Laura has also been involved with the Alzheimer’s Association and has served her community as a volunteer through her neighborhood association, farmer’s market, and her children’s school.
Shana Allen
Program Director
Shana has been a Qualified Mental Health Associate since 2019. She was born and raised in St. Helens, OR, and worked for the St. Helens School District for the last five years using a trauma-based approach to support students. Shana currently volunteers as the President of the local softball organization and is passionate about giving back to her community.
Eric Carey
Program Assistant
Eric was born in Portland, moved to Sauvie Island at a young age, and grew up in St. Helens where he began supporting individuals with developmental disabilities. He volunteers at the local food bank and the senior center. Eric is passionate about fostering community and works to strengthen connections and inspire positive change in his neighborhood.
Shelby Goldstein
Program Director
Shelby is a yoga teacher and nutrition coach, chasing her love of helping others find contentment and joy in their daily lives. After a fast-paced career in marketing, she chose a new path rooted in connection, growth, and community. As Program Director, Shelby loves building spaces where people feel supported, celebrated, and empowered to shine authentically. She’s guided by her favorite reminder from Ram Dass, “We are all just walking each other home.”
Mary Hlastala
Program Director
Mary is a creative educator and entrepreneur who has worked in program development for over 10 years. She has a B.S. in Mathematics and has held previous roles in the arts, education, and non-profit management. She has worked with youth, particularly in helping to bridge the gender gap in STEM, and in the arts encouraging adults to explore creative outlets. She is passionate about giving people space to explore their individuality while connecting with their community.
Pauline McCourt
Program Director
Pauline has worked as an educator in Portland Public Schools for twenty years and as a classroom teacher and community service coordinator in private education for over ten years. Additionally, she was an educational director for The Meadow Day School, an early learning facility. Pauline was the founder and, for ten years, director of Kids for Kenya, a nonprofit that provided educational service trips to Kenya. She also has been a volunteer and educator for nonprofits providing services in gardening, food security, and shelter support for people experiencing homelessness.
Nancy Murphy
Program Director
Nancy brings over ten years of experience building community and bringing street murals to the Montavilla neighborhood of Northeast Portland. Her past work includes collaborative work with Vestal Elementary where she worked with the students to create five murals, in conjunction with the Vestal PTA, IRCO, the Portland Bureau of Transportation and the Village Building Convergence. She will help oversee the design and delivery of accessible, culturally responsive art and fiber arts programs for youth, adults, and families. Passionate about the transformative power of the arts, Nancy sees the magic in every individual’s creativity and how each persons’ effort results is an amazing work of art.
Megan Perez
Program Director
Megan brings experience in social services, housing, community programming, and advocacy. She is passionate about creating inclusive spaces where residents of all ages can bring connections, access resources, and feel a stronger sense of community. Megan especially enjoys developing creative programming and building partnerships with local organizations to bring new opportunities directly to residents.
Joe Altepeter
CEO, EngAGE
Joe brings to his CEO role a wealth of experience accumulated over nearly two decades of dedicated executive leadership in the nonprofit and social enterprise sectors. Known for his visionary approach and commitment to impactful change, Joe’s career has spanned critical areas such as homelessness, affordable housing, social enterprises, and LGBTQIA+ advocacy.
With a proven record in community development, Joe has consistently fostered collaborations that led to substantial investments in community initiatives and systemic change. His strategic planning and fund development expertise have led to sustained growth and deepened impact within the communities he serves.
As a member of Los Angeles City’s Workforce Development Board’s Task Force on Under-Represented Populations, his insights have been instrumental in developing services for chronically unemployed and unhoused women. His leadership extended to his role as President of the Social Enterprise Alliance – Los Angeles Chapter, where he spearheaded a coalition of social entrepreneurs striving toward an inclusive and just economy. Additionally, as a co-founder of Pasadena’s Pride organization, Joe has been a prominent figure in advancing LGBTQIA+ inclusion and advocacy in San Gabriel Valley and across Los Angeles County.
Joe’s unique blend of business acumen, program innovation, and commitment to social justice fuels his vision for realizing a more equitable future for low-income families and older adults through EngAGE’s mission.
Meloney Morse
Director of Services, EngAGE
Meloney began volunteering with EngAGE in the summer of 2007 teaching aqua aerobics and ZUMBA classes, and joined the staff in 2009 as a Site Lead and Instructor.
In 2014, she was promoted to Regional Program Director, where she provided support services to residents in need, facilitated arts classes, coordinated food distribution programs, and oversaw and supported the delivery of diverse creativity, wellness, and lifelong learning programming across multiple EngAGE communities.
In her new role as Director of Services, Meloney will focus on strengthening program support across all 37 California communities while supervising 17 Program Directors. Transitioning from direct program implementation to organization-wide oversight and support, she will help guide program design, evaluation, and community impact initiatives.
With 18 years of experience at EngAGE, Meloney brings deep institutional knowledge, compassion, and a strong understanding of resident and community needs. As someone who has grown with EngAGE, Meloney is excited to continue expanding her expertise in program development, strategic oversight, and service delivery. Working firsthand with residents, hearing their stories, and seeing the impact of the amazing work that EngAGE does in their everyday lives inspires and fuels her every day.
Meloney earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from California State University, Long Beach and has more than 15 years of experience working with older adults in the affordable and supportive housing sectors.
Alma Wright
Director of Operations, EngAGE
Alma joined EngAGE in 2014 with a background in the arts, interior design, and photography. She began as a Site Leader and Art Instructor in San Bernardino, where she witnessed firsthand how deeply the organization could shape lives, not only through programs, but through the care, structure, and intention behind them.
In 2017, Alma’s work shifted to finance and human resources, gaining a deep understanding of how the organization operates and how meaningful change can happen from within.
In her new role, as Director of Operations, Alma focuses on the work that happens behind the scenes but makes everything else possible. From financial stewardship and internal systems to supporting staff and strengthening processes, she helps ensure that the organization remains stable, transparent, and prepared to grow.
What continues to drive Alma is the belief that operations are not just about efficiency, they’re about trust. When staff feel supported, resources are used thoughtfully, and systems are clear, EngAGE’s mission can fully come to life. With a people‑centered approach, Alma brings both heart and accountability to her role, helping the organization serve its community with consistency and care.
Tim Carpenter
Founder, EngAGE
Tim Carpenter retired from his position as CEO in 2024. He founded EngAGE in 1999 and helped it grow to become a leading model for creative aging and resident services in affordable housing. Tim was a frequent speaker nationally and internationally and received numerous awards for his social entrepreneurship.