Our Team

Our team brings together passionate individuals from many different backgrounds with a shared conviction to help people experience the fullness of God through deeper connection. The body of Christ has many members, and we are so thankful for the ways each of our team members offers unique gifts and talents to our ministry.

  • Margaret Whisler

    FOUNDER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND BOARD MEMBER

    Margaret has a passion for creating safe spaces that free people to ask the questions that enable them to be known. She desires to walk alongside people in their struggle and point them to the hope, healing and redemption God offers in our stories. She has received training through Larry Crabb’s School of Spiritual Directing and Next Step courses, holds a Narrative Focused Trauma Certificate through the Allender Center, received training in the Lay Counseling Institute, Barnabas Training, and trained in Confessional Communities through Dr. Curt Thompson and New Story Behavioral Health. She has spent many years volunteering for a variety of organizations, including serving as President of the parent association at Veritas Classical Christian School and on the Board of Trustees at Trinity Christian School. She currently serves on the Board of Women at her church. Margaret lives in Northern Virginia with her husband Brian. She has 3 amazing children, two of whom are married and one who currently attends Belmont University in Nashville. 

  • Ginger Schmidt

    BOARD MEMBER

    Ginger believes in the power of the heart. She is an experienced leader having held various leadership roles at one of the largest global technology companies, including serving as CFO of a subsidiary, controller of several business units and as a key liaison for mergers and acquisitions. Ginger currently works as a Senior Business Consultant with Intellisource Financial Services in Fairfax, VA. In addition, she has volunteered as treasurer for a non-profit organization, Romanian Christian Enterprises, for over 20 years and is an active member of McLean Presbyterian Church in McLean, VA. 

  • Phil Schmidt

    BOARD MEMBER

    Phil is passionate about the mind. He is Senior Vice President of Customer Strategy Innovation at National Cooperative Bank, based in Arlington, VA. He leads a cross-business unit approach to drive out-of-the-box thinking and innovation to deliver a pipeline of relevant, successful new products and services.  Prior to joining National Cooperative Bank, Phil held a number of leadership roles with Marriott International, including serving as General Manager of Marriott’s Digital Services and leading strategic business planning and finance for the Marriott Digital organization where he helped to create one of the Top 10 digital operations globally based on sales. Phil is an active, long-time member of McLean Presbyterian Church in McLean, VA.

  • Beth Lee

    BOARD MEMBER

    Beth is passionate about sharing the hope that a life with Christ can give even in the most difficult circumstances. Serving women through her church, The King’s Chapel, has been a priority for Beth the last several years. She has served as the Women’s Ministry leader, a MOMs (Moms On a Mission) Mentor and has helped mentor many women through her church’s ongoing mentoring program based on Titus 2, “TiedUs2gether.” Beth has also served alongside her two daughters in the National Charity League and with her son in the Young Men’s Service League. In addition, she serves with Inheritance of Hope, a ministry that provides retreats and on-going support for young families facing the terminal illness of a parent. Beth has a degree in Elementary Education and taught for several years before starting a family. She has lived in Oakton, VA for nearly two decades. Beth and her husband Alan have been married for over 30 years and have 5 children.

  • Liz Ha

    BOARD MEMBER

    Liz has a long-standing belief that God is at work even in our deepest sorrows and hurts.  It is her passion to bring the transformative power of healing and restoration to those who have experienced both personal and relational brokenness. Liz is a seasoned fundraising and development professional, having held leadership roles at Jill’s House, WTTW (Chicago’s PBS affiliate) and China Institute in New York City.  She currently leads the development efforts at Five Talents, an international organization that utilizes micro-enterprise to bring renewal to impoverished communities. Liz lives in Vienna, VA with her husband Eric, three children and their dog Jack.

  • Rebecca Smith

    BOARD MEMBER

    Rebecca is passionate about connecting with others and being in community.  As a long-time member of McLean Presbyterian Church she has been active in leadership positions with their Care Team, MOPS, and MOMSnext ministries.  She loves coming alongside women of all ages to encourage and support them in their roles as women, wives and moms.  In addition, she has enjoyed hosting Moms In Prayer in her home since her children were in first grade, praying for their schools and fellow students.  Rebecca lives in Ashburn with her husband Dan, their two college-age children and kitty, Dixie. 

  • Gayle Fuller

    BOARD MEMBER

    Gayle has been a registered nurse for nearly 40 years. Early in her nursing career she worked with both Oncology and AIDS patients. She walked with her patients as they tried to navigate life threatening conditions and was forever changed by that work. Prior to her retirement from nursing, she worked as a school nurse and walked with many students and their families through difficult situations and various mental health crises.  Gayle is excited to join the Designed2Connect board seeing firsthand in her career, the life transforming help that can be found through professional Christian counseling. Gayle has been a local speaker to MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) groups for over 10 years. She is the Landscaping chair for her neighborhood Board of Directors and loves leading a local book club. Gayle is an active member of The Falls Church Anglican where she serves in Women’s ministry and on the flower guild. She lives in Fairfax with her husband Gordon. They have 2 adult children, a precious grandson and one on the way.

  • Gordon Fuller

    BOARD MEMBER

    Gordon is a committed Christian and a retired government attorney with 38 years of experience in the area of securities regulation. Gordon has a passion for helping others grow in their relationship with Christ.   He has benefitted greatly from Christian counseling through the years and is excited to be a part of Designed2Connect. Gordon would like to see others given the opportunity to benefit from the same sort of excellent, life-changing counseling he has received. He believes this organization is vital in this area and hopes to see it grow.  He is an active member of The Falls Church Anglican where he leads worship for a small group and is on the greeter’s team. Gordon also tutors in several area ESOL programs. He lives in Fairfax with his wife Gayle where he enjoys yard work and reading. Gordon and Gayle have 2 adult children, a wonderful grandson, and another grandchild on the way.

  • Pam Priester

    BOARD MEMBER

    Pam is passionate about cultivating relationships and connecting people. Her 30+ year professional career began as a CPA/auditor in public accounting, but took a bend in the road when she realized she was more energized by her colleagues and clients than the numbers. Her oddly paired degrees in Accounting and Human Resource Management has taken her down the path of co-founding a Christian, K-8th grade school, Lorien Wood in Vienna, VA  where she served in various Board capacities over 15 years.  Professionally, she has been Director of People Strategy at a mid-size, Fairfax-based CPA firm for 8 years. She and her husband Wil split their time between Vienna, VA and Lake Monticello in Palmyra, VA (near Charlottesville).  They are active members of Christ Church Vienna.  Pam also serves on the Women's Council of Five Talents and on the NW Fairfax Committee of Young LIfe. Their 3 daughters and wonderful son-in-law are all local to NOVA or about to be (after the final college graduation coming soon.)