OUR Side by Side TEAM

Wendell and Kelly Verduin live in Poulsbo, Washington. Wendell is the President of the Board of Side by Side. While Kelly runs the family business, ownership and management of real estate investments through their private company, Northwest Communities, Wendell is busier than ever as President of Side by Side. Prior to the establishment of Side by Side, Wendell’s professional experience was as founder and Director of the Community Action anti-poverty program in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Director of the Planning, Budget and Evaluation Division of Region 10 (Great Lakes) Office of Economic Opportunity, and subsequently a Presidential appointee as the Executive Director of that office.In 1973 he moved to Seattle to take the position of Executive Director of the Washington Education Association and later became an entrepreneur in real estate syndication. Side by Side fits their background and passion perfectly. How better to couple anti-poverty programs, community organization, and business administration experience with social workers’ hearts and a Christian commitment to service.

Brenda Wall is a successful business woman who enjoys helping others. She is the Regional Manager of Western Washington for LegalShield, with a growing business team that covers North America.

She is the mother of 3 grown children of whom she is extremely proud. They inspire her to continue to work hard and help heal this incredible world. Brenda is a Rotarian with Poulsbo Rotary Club and served as president from 2010 to 2011; she presently serves on the International Services Committee. It was through this incredible organization that she was given the opportunity to travel to Ethiopia and Uganda in the fall of 2011. That’s where she found her purpose for the second part of her life, starting her non-profit, Wall of Hope, which serves in Gandar, Ethiopia.

Brenda joined the Board of Side by Side in January, 2017 and was able to join the Verduins on a trip to South Africa to meet some of the SidebySide partners and Champions.

Craig Torstenbo has a background in marketing and fundraising. He has spent his career developing communication strategy and materials for Christian organizations involved in relief and development work, global evangelism and inner-city outreach to the poor and homeless. His experience includes more than 25 years working at nonprofits, the marketing agencies that serve them, and also as a freelance copywriter. He spent 12 years at Focus on the Family, including 5 years as the agency’s in-house creative director. He is currently creative director at Masterworks, a nationally recognized firm serving Christian ministries. A graduate of Seattle Pacific University, Craig began his career in radio broadcasting, doing drive-time news in Long Beach, California. He lives with his family in Poulsbo, Washington. Craig traveled to South Africa in 2005 and has since had a heart for the nation and its people. He’s honored to be involved with Side by Side as a Board Member.

Board Member Glenda Lee Medeiros brings a passion for Christ to our “TABLE” with her gifts of joy, compassion, humor, and a strong prayer life. This is her first opportunity to be involved with a non-profit, but after 40 years in the accounting field and early retirement to become caregiver for her aunt and mother, she looks forward to doing God’s work under the loving “tutelage” of the current Side by Side  Board. It took only one trip to South Africa with Wendell and Kelly for God to whisper in her ear, and the Holy Spirit to shake her soul, that she realized this is where she could share God’s love.

Glenda is a widowed mother of three, grandmother of five. , and presently fills her “free” time as a member of North Point Church in Poulsbo, WA and active in many small groups and Bible studies.

Philosophy: You can never learn too much; always be willing to share God’s love and try to leave folks with a smile on their face.

After a transitioning from a career in hotels and restaurants, Meena Culver began a 15 year long journey at Microsoft supporting top-level management through change, growth, innovation, and development.

In this latest chapter, Meena has found her way to philanthropies by way of communications, and is bringing her long and storied experience to help amplify some of the most desperate and powerful messages that afflict millions today.

Meena lives in Redmond, Washington where she enjoys puzzles with her husband and two cats.

Shelly is a native of the Pacific Northwest, having grown up in Oregon, but she has called Poulsbo, Washington home for the past 30 years. Her background includes working in real estate as a broker and managing broker, and more recently in the internet technology industry, specifically ChatBots, ChatGPT and A.I. Currently, she works remotely as the Director of Operations for BotBuilders.

Shelly has been involved in community service for many years and has volunteered with many organizations. She currently volunteers for a nonprofit animal rescue organization in Phoenix and  joined SidebySide:South Africa as a board member helping with the website and social media marketing. In 2019 Shelly was able to accompany the Verduins on a trip to South Africa to work with the team and organize new projects.

“My goal is to use my skills and some of my time to help Side by Side increase its assistance to those in need in South Africa.”