Leadership

Callie Crowder is the Executive Director at The Maker's Place. Born and raised in Trenton, Callie is passionate about building relationships with people, especially those impacted by the political economy of racism and oppression. Callie is a businesswoman, entrepreneur, and a compassionate leader. She has a MDiv/MACEF from Princeton Theological Seminary, and has worked for over 18 years as a CPA. She lives in Wilbur in Trenton, NJ, and is the mother of two young adults. 

Andi Laidlaw is the Field & Operations Specialist at The Maker’s Place. Relationally driven, she is passionate about connecting with, and meeting the needs of those in the Trenton community. Having served the organization in multiple capacities as both an intern and volunteer, she is uniquely equipped for leadership.  Andi received her B.A. from Thomas Edison University in Communications and M.Div. from Drew Theological School, where she concentrated in social justice advocacy.

Lori Pantaleo is a retired Spanish teacher, who spent 20 years teaching elementary and/middle school children.  She is currently both a trustee and a volunteer with The Maker's Place.  She is a servant leader at Princeton United Methodist Church as well, and is co-coordinator for the church's Cornerstone Community Kitchen free clothing store.  Lori is passionate about helping the families of marginalized and exploited families.  She is thrilled to be able to use her Spanish skills to nurture relationships of trust with families in the Latino community in Trenton. Lori lives in Mercer County, and enjoys traveling to California to visit her children and grandson.

Tim Ewer is a retired engineer after 38 years in the field of rotating machinery and power generation. He is a long time member of Princeton Cornerstone Community Kitchen (11 years) and is serving as their current CFO for the past 5 years. He is also heavily involved in their weekly meal service, doing everything from setup to cleanup. He is a long time member of Princeton United Methodist Church where he has served as a Trustee for 9 years, ushers and helps as a money counter.

Laurel Jones is a Colorado native at heart who actually really likes New Jersey. She moved to Lawrenceville 14 years ago with her husband (Mike) and daughter (Camille). Laurel loves teaching ELA at Trenton’s Ninth Grade Academy and volunteering with the Tornadoes softball team. She strongly believes in community being more than a zip code and The Maker’s Place makes this happen. 

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​A proud Guatemalan American daughter of immigrants, Danelly DeLeon is deeply committed to community service and spiritual growth. Raised in Trenton, she is driven by a mission to share God's love and support those in need. With a degree in Biological Sciences and Psychology from Rutgers University, and specializing in Trauma Informed Care, Danelly DeLeon continues underscoring her dedication to helping individuals navigate their toughest challenges. As a Certified Doula and a deacon at Transformation Church, Danelly DeLeon combines professional expertise with a heartfelt mission to uplift and empower birthing families and her community. On The Maker’s Place board, Danelly DeLeon plays a key role in advancing the organization’s vision of connecting neighbors and addressing diverse community needs. Her passion for service extends beyond professional roles to include a love for dancing and hosting churrascos with her family which reflect her vibrant spirit. 

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Pamela Sims Jones is the Program Associate at Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, managing agency relations as well as procurement and distribution of government, purchased and donated commodities for over 160 agencies via the Food Bank’s various food programs. She is a member of the Trenton Food Stakeholders group, serves on three non-profit boards, and has more than 20 years’ experience in leadership and organizational development, program management and publishing. Pamela was the Fellow/Director of Leadership Trenton at the John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy at Thomas Edison State University for eight years. Previously, she served as Deputy Director of the New Jersey Dept. of State’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission, and sixteen years as the associate publisher for Africa World Press and Red Sea Press, Inc. in Mercer County. A graduate of Allegheny College where she earned a B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology, Pamela is a member of the college’s Volunteers in Support of Admissions (VISA) and Office of Diversity Affairs’ Multicultural Alumni Mentoring programs, and served six years on the Alumni Council. A Freehold, NJ native, she has been an active Trenton resident for 40 years, is an avid reader, world traveler, and die-hard Yankees and humpback whale devotee.     

Michelle Maguire holds a deep passion for helping others transform and achieve their goals in all aspects of life. Having experienced multiple life-changing events, Michelle's journey of self-discovery led to a profound personal transformation, inspiring others to believe that anything is possible. As a single mother of two teenage sons, Michelle is dedicated to providing them with love and opportunities for success, all while managing a full-time leadership career in the healthcare industry for over 20 years. Recently, she became a #1 International Best-Selling Author and an independent life and health coach, sharing her story to inspire others to pursue their goals and dreams. Michelle is excited to pay it forward, grateful for the life lessons she’s learned along the way. She believes these lessons were pivotal to her transformation, and hopes that by sharing her experiences, others will feel supported and encouraged to achieve their own life-changing transformations. 

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​Sabby Ray is a retired Financial Services professional. He lived and worked in Asia before moving to the US in 2000.  Sabby is passionate about helping marginalized families. He recently joined The Maker’s Place as a Trustee. He is keen to actively contribute to the causes and amplify the organization’s mission to create positive change in the community. He lives in Mercer County with his wife. They enjoy traveling to California to visit their daughter and son-in-law and to Chicago to visit their son.