Our Team

Tim Ward

Marcela Jarman

Lesa Kestler

Susan Yantis

Jillian Donahue

Drew Ensz

Cathy Hargett

Sharon Hines

Graham Horvath

Susie Howard

Kathy Mackrell

Shauna Olevson

Steve Pae

Lori Powell

Jennifer Rice

Robin Devenish

Lesly Sheley

I’m a native Virginian. I was born in Culpeper, VA, attended the University of Virginia and moved to Northern VA in 2001. I graduated from Wesley Theological Seminary. I joined the Crossroads team in July, 2021. I like to bike and run and hang out with my kids playing Wii Sports.
Idea of a perfect day: Going on a run, hanging out with a friend and going out to a nice dinner with my wife, Susan and our kids.
Favorite vacation: A cruise around Europe that started in Barcelona, included Spain, Italy and France.
Favorite bible verse: John 10:10 – the thief comes to kill and steal and destroy, but I (Jesus) have come that you may have life and have it abundantly.
Email:tward@crossroadsnova.org
Phone:(703) 729-5100 Ext 122
Email:mjarman@crossroadsnova.org
Phone:(703) 729-5100 Ext 115
My family moved many times when I was growing up but spent the most time in northern New Jersey, suburbs of NYC. I graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Business Management and moved to the Washington D.C. area where I met my husband, Tom. After a few years in Pennsylvania, we settled back in Virginia and have lived in Loudoun County since 1991. We have three amazing, adult children, who are all married to wonderful people, and five beautiful grandchildren.
Our family started attending Crossroads in 1991 and our daughter was enrolled in HOPE Preschool the first year it opened. After volunteering in various roles, I started working in a part-time capacity at Crossroads in 1992. My role has changed many times over the years but primarily in the Operations and Administrative areas. I currently work full-time with our fantastic Crossroads/HOPE Preschool staff. Outside of work, I love spending time with our family…grandchildren are the best! I also enjoy cooking, baking, and entertaining.
Song I know by heart: I probably know every song from the late 70’s/early 80’s by heart in addition to several old musicals such as Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, South Pacific. If I could be reincarnated it would be as a Broadway star but for now, I stick to singing in my car!
Favorite vacation: Some of my favorite trips were to Normandy, France; Asia; and safari expeditions in Africa. I can’t wait to get back on the road and check more destinations off our list.
Email:lkestler@crossroadsnova.org
Phone:(703) 729-5100 Ext 114
I have a BA in Music from Shepherd University and a MM from Catholic University of America. I have been attending Crossroads since 2000 and have been working here since 2004. My hobbies include playing the piano, harp and backyard astronomy.
A song I know by heart: I’m a musician. I know too many songs to count!
My idea of a perfect day: My idea of a perfect day is a warm, sunny day at the beach with my family, my Kindle and plenty of good sunscreen.
Favorite vacation: My favorite travel was the first time my family and I went to Uganda on a mission trip. Not sure I’d call it a vacation but it was an unforgettable adventure and an experience which changed our lives forever.
Email:syantis@crossroadsnova.org
Phone:(703) 729-5100 Ext 120
I grew up in northern Maryland, graduated from Virginia Tech and Eastern Mennonite Seminary. I am married to my partner Catie and together we have four kids. I joined the Crossroads team in June of 2022. In my free time I enjoy playing video games, camping, and learning about history.
Something I am trying to get better at: Cooking
My favorite vacation: Going to Mont-Tremblant in Quebec
Favorite Bible verse: 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Email:densz@crossroadsnova.org
Phone:(703) 729-5100 Ext 131
Our family has been attending Crossroads since 1996. Two of our three girls were baptized, and all three were confirmed, at CUMC. I started working at CUMC in September, 2022. My hobbies include sewing, baking, and puzzles.
Song I know by heart: Cyndi Lauper – “Girls just wanna have fun!” or Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes- “Were Having a Party”
Favorite Vacation: Visiting my parents in Wilmington, NC every year at the beach for 4th of July
Favorite Bible verse: “Do to others as you would have them do to you” -Luke 6:13. I had this hanging in our kitchen for years to remind our girls.
Email:chargett@crossroadsnova.org
Phone:Phone: (703) 729-5100 Ext 119
Phone:(703) 729-5100 Ext 135
I went to South Lakes High School and graduated from UMGC where I studied marketing. I am the middle child of two sisters and I was born and raised in the northern Virginia area. I started at Crossroads on August 1st, 2022 and am so incredibly excited to be here. Currently, my top three hobbies are gaming, lifting, and racing (both watching and participating).
Something I am trying to get better at: lifting. I know the basics but I am focused on improving technique and strength. My goal is to be able to understand it well enough to create my own workouts.
My idea of a perfect day: spend it all outside, enjoying a warm sun and a cool breeze with various activities such as a fun game or a nice walk.
My favorite Bible verse is the one I have tattooed over my heart: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Tim 4:12 NIV
Email:ghorvath@crossroadsnova.org
Phone:(703) 729-5100 Ext 123
My family and I have been coming to Crossroads since 2000 and I joined the staff in September of 2008. My husband Bob and I have three young adult sons who all went to HOPE Preschool. In my spare time I like to run, hike, read and travel.
Something I am trying to get better at: Slowing down and living in the moment!
A song I know by heart: Most Bruce Springsteen and Hamilton songs
Favorite Bible verse: Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Email:showard@crossroadsnova.org
Phone:(703) 729-5100 Ext 133
I grew up in Vermont and graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in Animal Science. I have been married to my husband Bill for 32 years. We have two grown daughters Allison & Christine. Both attended HOPE Preschool. Our family started attending Crossroads 20 years ago, the same year I started working here. My family and I are avid Washington Capitals fans and attend games whenever possible.
Something I am trying to get better at:Being in the moment and enjoying what is going on around me as it is happening.
A song I know by heart:I know most songs by the Avett Brothers by heart and would love to hang out with them and their families for one day or more if they will have me!
My favorite Bible verse:Psalm 118:24 – This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Email:kmackrell@crossroadsnova.org
Phone:(703) 729-5100 Ext 136
I have lived in Loudoun County since middle school! My husband Bill and I have three young adult children who all attended and loved HOPE Preschool. Our two daughters are now JMU Dukes and our son is a junior at Stone Bridge High School.
We have attended Crossroads since 1998 and have been working at Crossroads since 2019. In my spare time I love biking, hiking and decorating!
My idea of a perfect day: Enjoying the outside with my family
Favorite vacation: Disney World and Europe
Favorite Bible verse: “Let all that you do be done in Love” – 1 Corinthians 16:14
Email:lpowell@crossroadsnova.org
Phone:(703) 729-5100 Ext 111
Phone:Phone: (703) 729-5100 Ext 126
Phone:(703) 729-5100 Ext 138
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level. These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML, adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements, alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website. In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels; descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups), and others. Additionally, the background process scans all of the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology. To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside of it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers), both for Windows and for MAC users.
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs, there may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to