Our Team

Building community is at the heart of everything we do.

Laura Spidell

Executive Director, EngAGE Northwest

Laura has a Master's in Urban and Regional Planning from Portland State University. She worked as a city planner in California, focusing on community planning and housing accessibility, before moving to Portland, Oregon. Laura has also been involved with the Alzheimer’s Association and has served her community as a volunteer through her neighborhood association, farmer’s market, and her children’s school.

Shana Allen

Program Director

Shana has been a Qualified Mental Health Associate since 2019. She was born and raised in St. Helens, OR, and worked for the St. Helens School District for the last five years using a trauma-based approach to support students. Shana currently volunteers as the President of the local softball organization and is passionate about giving back to her community.

Leticia Alvarado

Program Director

Leticia is a native Oregonian and a graduate of Portland State University with a BA in Public Health Community Promotion and a minor in Child, Youth, and Family Studies. She has extensive experience working with both children and older adults, having worked in elementary schools and handled case management at senior homes and health clinics. In her spare time, she enjoys going on walks with her dog, reading, trying new recipes and hobbies, visiting new places, and spending time with family and friends. 

Eric Carey

Program Assistant

Eric was born in Portland, moved to Sauvie Island at a young age, and grew up in St. Helens where he began supporting individuals with developmental disabilities. He volunteers at the local food bank and the senior center. Eric is passionate about fostering community and works to strengthen connections and inspire positive change in his neighborhood.

Pauline McCourt

Program Director

Pauline has worked as an educator in Portland Public Schools for twenty years and as a classroom teacher and community service coordinator in private education for over ten years. Additionally, she was an educational director for The Meadow Day School, an early learning facility. Pauline was the founder and, for ten years, director of Kids for Kenya, a nonprofit that provided educational service trips to Kenya. She also has been a volunteer and educator for nonprofits providing services in gardening, food security, and shelter support for people experiencing homelessness.

Lizzy Von Der Ahe

Program Director

Lizzy is originally from Austin, Texas. She is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Art Therapy at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Lizzy is passionate about fostering a strong sense of community and supporting residents' well-being. She looks forward to making a meaningful impact by creating inclusive, engaging, and creative opportunities for residents to connect and thrive.

Joe Altepeter

CEO, EngAGE

Joe brings to his CEO role a wealth of experience accumulated over nearly two decades of dedicated executive leadership in the nonprofit and social enterprise sectors. Known for his visionary approach and commitment to impactful change, Joe’s career has spanned critical areas such as homelessness, affordable housing, social enterprises, and LGBTQIA+ advocacy.

With a proven record in community development, Joe has consistently fostered collaborations that led to substantial investments in community initiatives and systemic change. His strategic planning and fund development expertise have led to sustained growth and deepened impact within the communities he serves.

As a member of Los Angeles City’s Workforce Development Board’s Task Force on Under-Represented Populations, his insights have been instrumental in developing services for chronically unemployed and unhoused women. His leadership extended to his role as President of the Social Enterprise Alliance – Los Angeles Chapter, where he spearheaded a coalition of social entrepreneurs striving toward an inclusive and just economy. Additionally, as a co-founder of Pasadena’s Pride organization, Joe has been a prominent figure in advancing LGBTQIA+ inclusion and advocacy in San Gabriel Valley and across Los Angeles County.

Joe’s unique blend of business acumen, program innovation, and commitment to social justice fuels his vision for realizing a more equitable future for low-income families and older adults through EngAGE’s mission.

Nancy Goodhart

COO, EngAGE

Nancy supports operations and staff, supervises programs, and works closely with developers and partners. She has taught at the K-12 through adult school levels and has directed many recreational and educational programs for both municipal and private organizations. Nancy holds a bachelor’s degree in Recreation Program Planning/Physical Education from the University of Maryland and a teaching credential from Cal State Long Beach in Physical Fitness, Health and Safety for Older Adults. She is also certified in Falls Prevention Training.

Tim Carpenter

Founder, EngAGE

Tim Carpenter retired from his position as CEO in 2024. He founded EngAGE in 1999 and helped it grow to become a leading model for creative aging and resident services in affordable housing. Tim was a frequent speaker nationally and internationally and received numerous awards for his social entrepreneurship.