our team

The students and their needs are the focus of our leadership team. With practical experience and advanced education, the team works together to ensure students’ needs are met.

Teen Challenge NWCN Executive Directors

Dr. Randy & Dana Rowe

Executive Directors

  • Dr. Randy Rowe

    Chief Executive Officer
    Randy has served Teen Challenge since 1979. Randy has a Ph.D. in Christian Psychology, is an ordained minister, and loves helping addicts find recovery.

    Read Bio

  • Dana Rowe

    Chief Development Officer
    Dana has been involved in Teen Challenge since 1979. She has a passion for helping women who have suffered from sexual and physical abuse.

    Read Bio

Meet the Team

  • Jered & Kelly Rowe

    South Bay

  • Jacquie Cook

    Happy Valley & Twin Rivers

  • Allan & Randi Derfelt

    East Bay

  • Jeff White

    Las Vegas

  • Chief Operations Officer/South Bay Director, Jered Rowe | Program Director, Kelly Rowe
    Jered feels privileged to continue the family legacy of commitment to Teen Challenge. His grandparents were involved with the organization and his parents have been serving those at Teen Challenge since 1979. Jered earned a bachelor’s degree in Theology and Psychology from Evangel University. In 2011, Jered accepted the role of Director at the Adolescent Boy’s Center in Nevada.
    Kelly began volunteering at the center in early 2012. A year and a half later, Kelly and Jered married. Kelly loved the visible hope available to the Teen Challenge students, especially since it was such a stark difference to the juvenile justice system where she was employed. With a Bachelor of Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Nevada, Reno, Kelly joined Jered in ministering to the boys full-time in 2018.
    As a couple, Jered and Kelly have seen amazing growth and transformation in numerous boys’ lives.
    Today, Jered serves as the Chief Operations Officer/Director at South Bay Teen Challenge and Kelly serves as the Program Director at South Bay Teen Challenge. They both have a heart for encouraging and mentoring the students in the program. Their love of ministering to those struggling with addiction and behavioral problems is evident in their daily lives.

  • Happy Valley & Twin Rivers Director, Jacquie Cook
    Jacquie is a graduate of Teen Challenge. Therefore, she has experienced similar situations as the majority in the program. The Lord wastes nothing, even mistakes. Today, she is passionate about helping women in need. Jacquie currently has a degree in business and is working towards her ministerial certification.

  • East Bay Director, Allan Derfelt | Intake Coordinator, Randi Derfelt
    From the time Allan came into the Teen Challenge program, the direction of his life has taken a dramatic change for the better. Allan has been able to allow God to direct his life, which ultimately led to the position of Director for the Oakland Men’s Center. Allan exemplifies a changed life to the men, is a leader, and is a true man of God.

  • Las Vegas Director, Jeff White
    Jeff graduated from Teen Challenge and the Teen Challenge Ministry Institute. Previously, he was a Teen Challenge Curriculum Coordinator and Program Director. Jeff believes Jesus is the answer for life-controlling issues. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

  • Sam Nesamony-Florance

    Alpha Henson

  • Jacquie Cook

    Teen Girl’s, Interim

  • David Gish

    Teen Boy’s

  • Ryan Horvath

    Riverside Christian

  • Alpha Henson Program Director, Sam Nesamony-Florance
    Sam has been helping in various church ministries such as Sunday School, youth, visitation, and evangelism since he was young. With a number of college degrees and living in different countries, Sam has a wide range of expertise. He has earned two master’s degrees, taught at a school in India, studied in London and served with feeding the homeless while there, and been an Assistant Pastor with two churches. In 2016, he and his wife moved to the United States. Since then, they have been blessed with three children. Sam welcomed a new opportunity to help others in 2022, when he was given the privilege to work with Teen Challenge. Sam says it has been a beautiful experience.

  • Ruth’s Haven Teen Girl’s Center Interim Director, Jacquie Cook.
    Since she is a graduate of the Teen Challenge program, she is able to use her own personal experience to relate well with the girls at the center. Jacquie believes the Lord wastes nothing, even mistakes. She is passionate about helping teen girls in need. Jacquie currently has a degree in business and is working towards her ministerial certification.

  • Boy’s Center Director, David Gish

  • Riverside Christian Director, Ryan Horvath
    Ryan is an ordained minister. After moving to central California with his wife and four children, the focus of ministry steadily became deliverance and healing. Ryan’s love for the broken and addicted grew stronger and he became aware of the work of Teen Challenge. Ryan furthered his education and received a bachelor's degree in Theology and Ministry. Ten years after the Lord had originally directed Ryan about Teen Challenge, Ryan launched from pastoring to serving those struggling with life controlling issues. 

  • Click here to learn more about our Mission and Vision.

  • Click here to read about our approach.

  • We offer a women’s center, women and children’s centers, a family center, men’s centers, a teen boy’s center, a teen girl’s center, as well as re-entry centers. Click here for information about each of our centers.

  • Click here to find out more about our outreaches.

  • Click here to learn our history and where we are today.

  • Click here to learn more about our finances.

  • Click here for our Board of Directors.

More about us