FG Board of Directors
FG Board of Directors
Gary Lane, Executive Director
Mr. Lane’s passion about helping parolees is viral and based on personal incarceration experiences. Since 2005, Mr. Lane has managed The Fertile Ground Christian Transformation Center. He has worked at the Neuro-psychiatric clinic in the area of assessment counseling at Moncrief Army hospital in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Mr. Lane is a Vietnam Veteran. He is certified in Anger Management, Fatherhood initiative, l2 Steps Recovery program, and conducts outreach seminars for Prison Fellowship Ministries® (PFM). Mr. Lane is founder of the Prison Outreach Ministry at a 14,000 membership church where he has served as coordinator for the past five years. Fertile Ground’s low recidivism (re-incarceration) success rate (less than 5 percent) is due in part to Mr. Lane’s mentorship, FG stringent housing entry criterion and unquestionably the power of God.
Johnie Taylor; Operations Director
Mr. Taylor has over twenty years Project Management experience in the construction industry and has worked his way from construction worker to Lead Construction Manager. He has completed multiple million dollars building projects including at a ten thousand membership church edifice. Mr. Taylor’s credentials also include- licensed minister, certified welder, Master Life Teacher, diploma in Prison Fellowship-Joe Kegans (Texas state jail; Cross Net Ministry Volunteers). Mr. Taylor is an avid advocate of demonstrating male leadership, especially to those men who were deficient of male leadership in their upbringing. Many of the key principles and essential aspects of the construction business Johnie has adapted to FG policies and procedures
Vanessa Osbourne, Finance Director
Ms. Osbourne has participated in outreach ministries for the past twenty years such as, the Christian Broadcast Network-700 Club (lay counseling; coaching), marriage counseling and currently teaches bible courses at a Mega Church in Houston, Texas. Ms. Osbourne always concerned about those living below their potential, has volunteered at an After-Care facility in Boston, Massachusetts. This experience enabled her to become familiar with the critical need for spiritual development and substance abuse support. Ms. Osbourne holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering; a Master of Art in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. Professionally, Vanessa has about twenty years experience as a Computer Technology Consultant and Project Manager.
Donna Bishop, Case Management Director
Ms. Bishop is currently the Founder/Director of Lilies Over The Rainbow non-profit organization which provide counseling services for families in disadvantaged counties surrounding Houston, Harris County, Texas and has worked in the insurance industry for approximately 25 years. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Springfield College, teaching in the School of Human Services.
Donna has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and a Master of Arts in Counseling which she earned from Prairie View A and M University. She has received her designation as a Human Services Practitioner, mentors college students and serves in several ministries at The Church Without Walls (TCWW) in Houston, Texas.
Hazel Crivelli , Intake Process Director
Ms. Crivelli, for more than ten years has volunteered in many capacities at Prison Fellowship Ministries. Because of her Christian drive to serve, Ms. Crivelli has received numerous awards for her dedicated service and tenacity in proving training and encouragement to release inmates. She retired from an oil company where she served for twenty years in marketing and public relation positions. Hazel is constantly improving on the Fertile Ground intake processing of clients. Including updating the databases and restructuring the associated forms and other documentation.