Meet our Staff

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Helene Pierson hpierson@sciphiladelphia.org Helene was named Executive Director in 2016. Her background includes extensive experience in not-for-profit and corporate management, and she is equally comfortable driving a van as chairing a major event.

ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Rebecca Pierson rpierson@sciphiladelphia.org Rebecca is the Executive Director’s right and left hand, the staff’s rock, and wears many hats. She coordinates fundraising events and manages logistics of shopping for seafarers and other important ways we serve. For example, crew members can’t just dash out to stock up when they’re running out of basics like vitamins or shampoo. She makes it happen.

PORT CHAPLAINS

Rev. Modayil Philips Rev. Philips has been an Episcopal Priest with the Diocese of Pennsylvania for ten years, originally from the Church of South India where he served for twenty years. He currently is Chaplain with Jefferson (Bayada) Hospice, in addition to Chaplain of the Port, and he “loves coming in and serving seafarers.”

Rev. Paul Makar Father Paul, Pastor of St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church in Bethlehem, PA, came to SCI out of a personal ethic of service plus concern for challenges facing Ukrainian seafarers. He has a maritime background, and his grandparents on both sides of the family were immigrants from Ukraine.  He loves seeing Ukrainian seafarers’ faces light up when he speaks to them in their language.

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Ted Dahlburg Ted is thrilled to be a member of the SCI team and support its mission of serving visiting seafarers. The proud son of a Great Lakes ordinary seaman, Ted is a longtime student and proponent of the Delaware Valley’s vital maritime industry.

SHIP VISITORS AND STAFF

	Steve Anderson, Operations Supervisor, Nights/Weekends Steve has been an SCI ship visitor for fifteen years and has a wide range of experience with the challenges facing seafarers. He says, “I love working with seamen. I love seeing their smiles when you do something to help them.”
	Nikki Green, Communications Nikki divides her time between Florida and her home on the Philadelphia waterfront. She works for SCI year-round, responsible for our electronic communications and coordination of the Ditty Bag Program.
	John McCreavy, Ship Visitor Throughout his 40-year freight transportation career, John always recognized the importance of the cargo activity of the ports. “Working at SCI'” he says, “gives me the opportunity to say thank you to the many people who globally operate these ships to deliver the goods!”
	Robert Quay, Ship Visitor Bob joined SCI with a background in art and music and a varied career, including small business ownership. He finds ports and the port system “amazing, how busy it is.” Of all his experiences he considers this the most unusual, and among the most interesting.
	John Renzulli, Ship VIsitor John moved up the ranks at Philadelphia Carpenters Union, retiring as a Superintendent after a long career. He was recruited to SCI by another Ship Visitor and was impressed to discover “what a valuable service SCI provides. Those guys can be stuck on a ship for a long time!” With no previous connection to the Port, he has been interested to learn the ins and outs of accessing ships at each port terminal. “They are all different.” John finds a great sense of satisfaction in helping other people. “It’s a good thing we do!”
	Jeff Simonetti, Ship Visitor Jeff is responsible for van maintenance as well as being a ship visitor.  “People don’t realize what goes on 24/7, 365 on that river,” he says. “It never stops.”  Retired from a business career focused on quality, Jeff is a long-time sports official of soccer and softball. He is proud that seafarers generally get treated better in the US than other parts of the world.  “They constantly tell us thank you . . and it’s cool to see how SCI fights for their rights.”
	Jasper Del Carlino, Honorary Ship Visitor Forever Jasper has been with SCI longer than most of us, and he has worked for multiple seafarer missions around the country. We can always count on him to check in when he’s in our area, and we are always glad to welcome his experience and commitment to the mission.

AND OUR DEEPEST APPRECIATION TO ALL THE DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVE AS SHIP VISITORS, HELP OUT AT EVENTS, GATHER IN THE FALL TO FILL DITTY BAGS FOR SEAFARERS, AND IN SO MANY OTHER WAYS MAKE OUR ORGANIZATION MORE EFFECTIVE THAN WE COULD POSSIBLY BE WITHOUT THEM!