Our Staff
Susan Ballenger
Executive Director
Susan Ballenger is a graduate of Baylor University and Truett Seminary. Ordained in the Baptist tradition, Susan has ministered in different settings in Texas, Georgia, and Maryland. In Baltimore, she taught Religious Studies and was Chaplain at St. Paul’s School for Girls for over 14 years and served as the Protestant Pastor at Oak Crest Senior Living Community. An interest in food justice and sustainable food systems has been a constant for Susan, nurtured by participating in and organizing youth service experiences with local farms and food banks, and leading summer service trips to Heifer International learning sites. Susan brings years of experience working with volunteers in churches and advocacy groups and loves building community through collaboration, sharing resources, and connecting people to meaningful service. Susan has been a member of Woodbrook Baptist Church for over 20 years where her husband, John, serves as pastor. They have two adult daughters and a Welsh corgi. In her spare time, Susan loves going to hear live music, cooking, reading, and walking in her neighborhood.
Linda Lotz
Director of Development
Linda joined the staff in 2016, became Executive Director in 2017, and now is continuing to work with ACTC as Director of Development. Her focus is to support operations, our programs, and funding our new building and its renovation, as well as relationships to strengthen the organization. Linda truly enjoyed the many facets of her roles over the years, especially working with volunteers, helping people and organizations connect and join in ACTC’s work, and advocating for the poor and homeless. She loved to work with our food and housing insecure neighbors, to see the relief and return to self that so often happens when essential needs are met. These experiences fuel her passion to inspire others to give to ACTC. Linda brings a varied background to her work including technology, communications, quality improvement, legal, training, management, and organizational development. She has a B.A. from Hollins University and an M.A. in Publications Design and Writing from the University of Baltimore. She is a longtime member of Towson Presbyterian Church, where lunch for the community is served each Sunday. She and her husband have two married children, two grandchildren, and a golden retriever.
Julie Morris
Executive Assistant
Julie joined ACTC in July 2019. She assists the executive director with everything from running the center to writing procedures, applying for grants, and creating online forms. As volunteer coordinator, she facilitates recruitment, training, and scheduling new volunteers primarily for ACTC’s off-site operations. Julie is a lifelong volunteer herself, serving families and children in urban ministry with Faith Christian Fellowship Church for 20 years and in the homeschooling community with the Crossroads Co-op in Timonium for 12 more. Along with her love and compassion for people, she brings decades of event planning, organization, collaborative networking, resource-sharing, and experience working in faith-based organizations to ACTC.
Leslie Strawhand
Administrative Assistant
Leslie, a longtime member of Towson Presbyterian Church, was an ACTC volunteer for several years before joining the staff. She focuses on tracking food, financial, and in-kind donations for reporting. She serves as liaison to the Maryland Food Bank, Shoprite, and other organizations that provide food, helping to ensure we maintain our supply. She also works with special groups such as the Boy Scouts and with our prison ministry. Leslie holds a B.A. in economics from Douglass College (Rutgers University).
Tammy Gabel
Center Operations Supervisor
Tammy joined the ACTC staff in 2022, first as a part-time assistant and then as the full-time supervisor of activities at the center building on West Pennsylvania Avenue. In this new role for ACTC, Tammy manages scheduling of volunteers, is on hand at the center each day to answer questions and provide support to those in need, and oversees our volunteers’ work to provide food our neighbors in need.
