F. Scott Manke
Executive Director
scottm@familyempower.org
Meet Our Staff
Scott is the founder, President and Executive Director of Family Empowerment Centers and its daughter organization, Donate Your Boat, SMLLC. Scott holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Management with an emphasis in Psychology from Nyack College. Scott completed his Masters degree from Wheaton Graduate School in Mission and Intercultural Studies.
Scott had been part of a team of individuals who started a church in the Bronx, New York and held the position of Youth and Families Pastor. During that time Scott also operated in the role of general manager for a small business in New York City for a period of 4 years prior to beginning FECC.
Carlos Perez
Executive Pastor and Latino Pastor
carlosp@familyempower.org
Carlos and his family joined FEC in July of 2015 to lead the Spiritual Formation within the faith community of Latino families and through the S.A.Y. YES after school program. In 2017, Carlos was invited to bring his leadership experience to an executive role within the team. He is passionate of equipping others and designing opportunities that lead families into gospel-centered communities. He holds a clergy worker’s license with the Christian & Missionary Alliance (C&MA). Carlos was born and raised in New Jersey, and his most recent home was Indianapolis, Indiana. Carlos and his wife now reside in the west side of Rogers Park, and have four young children.
Carlos graduated from LeTourneau University (Texas) with a Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology. He has over 10 years of experience with process improvement and project management within the life sciences pharmaceutical industry. Carlos and his family are currently self-supported missionaries within the C&MA as Envision-Associates.
Tony Silker
Associate Pastor
tonys@familyempower.org
Tony and his wife Rachel joined the FEC team in May of 2015. Tony holds a Bachelor of Arts in Pre-Counseling and Bible from the Moody Bible Institute and a Masters in Bible from Moody Theological Seminary. He was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio where he learned to love the family of the church. Tony is passionate about community building and loves the story and color of the Bible. Rachel is a sixth grade teacher in a local Chicago Public school. They live in Rogers Park and enjoy music and neighborhood festivals.
Tony is passionate about men’s discipleship and has a heart for the homeless men in our community.
Carol Nevin
Part Time Counselor/Social Worker BA, BS, MA.
carolnevinconsultant@gmail.com
Carol was raised on her parent’s farm in Central Illinois along with her six brothers and sisters. She always loved watching the airplanes fly over high in the sky. At the age of 18 she moved to Chicago where she worked four years as a reservationist for United Airlines. At the age of 22, she enrolled as a student at Moody Bible Institute where she married, Dr. Paul Nevin, July 1965. Carol completed her BA in Bible and Theology. After their three children were old enough to be in school, she went back to school part-time to complete a BS in Social Work at George Williams College and a MA in Counseling Psychology at Wheaton Grad School.
God has led her through a variety of professional pursuits which include: psychotherapist in Christian in-patient unit, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Retained Executive Search Recruiter, Real Estate Agent, Senior Care Giver and Career Direct Consultant.
Dylan Adams
Children’s Ministry Leader/ S.A.Y Yes! Director
dylana@familyempower.org
Dylan Adams, a graduate of Toccoa Falls College (TFC) with a degree in Family and Children’s Ministry. At TFC, he learned that had God gifted him with a passion to for children, especially those from broken families. This passion has become a burden for suffering children and children feeling hopeless. He fell in love with the children in Chicago while doing his college internship the summer of 2015 and as a Envision intern for a year in 2016. He is currently on staff as the Children’s Ministry Leader of our children’s programs. He directs the After School and oversees our Sunday School Ministry. In addition, he teaches and equips various Christ-centered curriculum, builds relationships with the children and their families, and disciple some teenagers who have gone through the After School Program.
Casey Kurete
Ministry Resident
caseyk@familyempower.org
Casey joined the FECC team in Summer 2016 as a ministry intern, who serves as a connector to the FECC community and as an apprentice to church ministry. Casey was born right outside St. Louis, Missouri and spent most of his life in Plainfield, Illinois, where the Lord cultivated a drive and compassion in him to serve, teach, and minister to God’s flock. Casey pursued after this call to downtown Chicago, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministry and Bible from the Moody Bible Institute in 2016. He is passionate about God’s narrative in the Bible and how it permeates through the stories of others, transforming people to be identified in Christ and living for Him. Casey is a fanatic for the game of baseball (Go Cardinals!) and enjoys reading a good book.
Daniella Alvarado
S.A.Y Yes! Coordinator
daniellaa@familyempower.org
Daniella joined the FEC team in August 2011. Daniella grew up in Chicago. She is the S.A.Y Yes! program coordinator. Daniella loves people, building relationships and working with families and children. She also serves on our Christian Worship Service team as a Spanish interpreter. She is FEC’s bridge of communication and interaction with the Latino families in our community.
Rachel Madella
Director of English as a Second Language & Digital Media
rachelm@familyempower.org
While pursuing her Master’s in Intercultural and Urban Studies at the Moody Theological Seminary, Rachel became a part of the Church community at FEC for 2 years. She joined the FEC staff team in January 2018.
Born and raised in Hyderabad, India, Rachel graduated with a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in English Literature there. With a Post-graduate Diploma in Digital Media and Communication, Rachel worked in Television and Broadcasting as a producer with Christian Broadcasting Network in India for 7 years before moving to Chicago in 2015. Diverse cultures, ethnicities, people groups and food piqued Rachel’s interest early on. Having history as a 2nd major in her undergrad and having a heart for missions at the same time just augmented her passion for cross-cultural ministry. Rachel brings a vast experience from her ministry and leadership involvement with Youth for Christ and her Church (New Life Assembly of God) back home in Hyderabad. She’s awed to see how God would actually combine her multicultural interests, love for people, the desire for missions and discipleship and place her at FEC.