Bridges of America Board of Directors
Lori Brown - President
30 Years of Service
Lori Costantino Brown was appointed President and CEO of Bridges of America (BOA) in 2006, succeeding Frank Costantino, the organization’s founder. Over the past 30 years Lori has played a key role in the transformation of BOA from a single contract with the Department of Corrections to becoming the leading provider of Substance Abuse Treatment and Work Release programs in the State of Florida.
Ms. Brown has earned her qualifications as a Certified Addiction Specialist, and Certified Associate Addictions Professional. She has personally reengineered the organization as Director of Quality Management, Chief Operations Officer, and Senior Vice President. The result is a new Bridges of America– a company where offenders receive supervision, but also are expected to become better people as they prepare to re-enter society.
Ms. Brown has a passion for addiction treatment and recovery. Her insightful experience with substance abuse treatment gives her a unique perspective on the criminal mind and addictive behaviors of offenders at every stage of recovery. As a long time resident of Orlando Florida, Ms. Brown has had a major impact on family unification and public safety in Central Florida.
Samuel R. Pennington - Treasurer
Samuel R. Pennington became a board member in 2010. He is an ordained minister and his role in bringing Christ to prisoners cannot be measured; it goes back to our founder Frank Costantino and Christian Prison Ministries in 1985. His work continues to this day as he plays a significant role in expanding the church’s mission in Nigeria, Nicaragua, Belize, and Mexico.
Mr. Pennington is also a practicing attorney licensed in the State of Florida and the federal courts of the Middle District of Florida. The most important principal in his legal practice and church ministry is guided by the admonition of Christ that "as you have done it unto the least of these my brethren you have done it unto me" become a very real and constant part of his life.
Mr. Pennington is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and received his Juris Doctorate from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. In September 2011 Mr. Pennington retired as the Staff Attorney for the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustee in Orlando. He continues to enjoy his active role in several legal organizations.
Dr. Grady S. McMurtry - Secretary
35 Years of Service
Dr. Grady S. McMurtry of Creation Worldview Ministries is a full-time International Creation Emissary. He received his BS at University of Tennessee before going on to the State University of New York for his Masters. Dr. Grady then attended the School of Theology in Columbus, GA for his Doctorate. He is further associated with the School of Theology as a past regent and adjunct professor.
Previous experience for Dr. Grady includes 20 years as an Evolutionist, 1 1/2 years a Theistic Evolutionist and 35 years a Biblical Scientific Creationist. He is also a guest lecturer at Florida Christian College, an ordained minister, church elder, and an Expert School Board Witness.
Dr. Grady is a proud member of many organizations including Creation Research Society, Mensa, Intertel, Phi Kappa Phi, Creation Studies Institute, Access Research Network, Citizens for Science Integrity, Liberty Counsel and Creation Science Association for Mid-America.
Father Charles Brown
26 Years of Service
Father Charles Brown brings vast experience in prison reentry, faith based programming, and treatment curriculum development for offenders, prisoners and substance abusers. He currently serves in two capacities as Senior Vice President for Bridges of America and Christian Prison Ministry, the original Bridges of America was founded by Bishop Frank Costantino in 1976. Bishop Costantino played a central role in Father Brown’s life. The bishop was Charles Brown’s mentor for many years which later led to his ordination in1999. Soon after, Father Brown became a Priest in the Charismatic Episcopal Church.
Father Brown pioneered reentry and aftercare programs that focused on spiritual, intellectual, emotional, social growth to combat the high rate at which ex-offenders commit crimes and return to prison. When he speaks to inmates about their poor decision making, drug abuse and lack of life skills, he does so from both his heart and real life experience. As a young man, he was incarcerated and sentenced to The Florida Department of Corrections. He also had the misfortune of losing several family members to substance abuse. These experiences gave him the vision that he uses to this day to mentor offenders who are trying to find their way back to society. Father Brown is uniquely qualified to provide the road map and spiritual guidance for these men placed in The Bridge program’s care and supervision...
Father Brown attended the International Seminary in Plymouth, FL and is a Certified Addiction Professional with the Florida Certification Board. He is also certified as an International Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ICADC) with the International Certification of Reciprocity Consortium. In 2003, Father Brown was recognized as FADAA’s “Man of the Year” for his ground-breaking efforts in creating the Bridges of America substance abuse treatment programs.
Thomas Gaines
Evangelist Thomas Gaines of New Life Worship Center is celebrating his 28th year of love mercy and charity services through his Ministry, "Making a Difference Ministry and Band."
Dedicated to supporting churches and Christian ministries in reaching their communities with the gospel of Jesus Christ, Thomas his wife and children worked the streets of Orlando's drug and crime laden area's preaching, and singing the message of Christ while, providing food and clothing.
As part of the ministry, the family organized evangelistic outreaches, leading worship for Faith Creation Fellowship, holding concerts in retirement homes, hosting Christian music nights and countless other services for the community.
Thomas attended University of Maryland (European Division) and Valencia Community College, and in 2001, after years of lay ministry service, he was ordained Evangelist through Faith Christian Center in Orlando, and later ordained a Minister in 2004.
Evangelist Gaines has had the privilege of ministering to churches throughout Orlando and has actively participated with elders, missionaries and layman in bringing to the needy the helping hand of his ministry.
Gerald Holdsworth
Gerald Holdsworth has been a Board Member for Bridges of America since 2010. He brings to the Board sound judgment which will be instrumental in his service to the Bridges of America Board of Directors.
For over 30 years, Mr. Holdsworth has had a passion for helping those in recovery. For many years he operated sober living homes focused on helping other struggling with alcoholism and drug addiction.
Mr. Holdsworth holds a business degree from Towson University. He helped manage a database for a government contractor who was awarded a JUMP grant (Juvenile Mentoring Program) early in his career. He has been employed in many positions including 2 years of Public Accounting conducting audits for various not-for-profit companies in the DC Metropolitan area. Mr. Holdsworth also served on the Board of Directors in 2001 for Ameridream Incorporated, a down payment assistance program.
Edward (Ted) Poitras
36 Years of Service
Edward Poitras has had a 36 year history with Bridges of America that continues today as an active member of the board of directors. It was Ted who worked with our founder, Frank Costantino, for the initial "Early Release Program". That successful experience demonstrated the value of prison ministries to the Department of Corrections and lead to our current mission of giving a man a chance to succeed.
These early activities also branched into successful entrepreneur and volunteer opportunities including a network radio program "Behind Prison Walls" which served as a encouraging public forum to deliberate prison life and rehabilitation.
These early efforts also formed the bases of a enduring partnership with the founder for the design, building and marketing of "The Village Grove" a 150 unit townhome project in Winter Garden, Florida.
A Brown graduate in 1958, Mr. Poitras assisted the organization with publications, manuscripts and the final edits on "Holes in Time" which was a definitive look at the criminal intent and behavior.
Marvel Quevedo
Marvel Quevedo, in her new role as Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer has management oversight and responsibility for all financial functions and oversees all revenues, costs, capital expenditures, investments and debt. She also is responsible for companywide budget execution and implementation. In addition to her fiscal responsible Marvel manages the corporate human resources and information technology departments.
Prior to coming to Bridges of America, Marvel gained valuable experience in billing, financial management, trust accounting and human resource payroll and benefits as Assistant Finance Director at a large corporate law firm. She has also worked for a restaurant management company where she had an opportunity to restructure their accounting process to ensure accuracy and productivity.
Recognized as a quick study with the ability to size up a situation and make the right decision, Marvel leads by example. Her intuitive management style is direct and makes no allowances for failure or excuses. Marvel has a passion for people and has spent her career helping others reach their potential. This is exemplified in her work as a Makeup Artist and training manager for CHANEL.
Michael I. Smith
Bio Coming Soon.
