The Team
President
Larry Ackley holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Princeton University, an M.A.R. in Ministry from Westminster Theological Seminary, and an M.E. in Industrial Engineering from Pennsylvania State University. He spent three decades as a Software Engineer and Business Analyst, while consulting and teaching in a wide range of business contexts.
Larry has served as a Board Member and/or co-founder of several 501(c)3 non-profit organizations, including the Foundation for International Resource Development, the Urban Family Council, and most recently as President of Grounds for Restoration, Inc. His passion to fight human trafficking began when he served as a volunteer Justice Advocate with International Justice Mission (IJM), a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation, and other forms of violent oppression worldwide. This work included teaching, organizing trafficking awareness events, coordinating with local anti-trafficking coalitions, and advocating for local and federal anti-trafficking legislation. That work finally led to co-founding (with Tom Serridge) Grounds for Restoration as a means of pursuing and expressing God’s passion for justice.
Secretary
Tom Serridge has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, an M.A. in Pastoral Counseling from Biblical Theological Seminary, and an M.S.W. from Temple University. He is a licensed social worker with 25+ years of social service experience in residential substance abuse treatment, child welfare, and correctional healthcare. He currently serves as a Clinical Development and Operations Specialist for a company that provides correctional healthcare services to prisons and jails nationwide.
Tom is one of the co-founders of Grounds for Restoration and currently serves as Secretary. He also volunteers as an English as a Second Language (ESL) Instructor for a local non-profit ministry to immigrants and refugees in Philadelphia.
Operations Manager
Hannah Emert graduated from Montgomery County Community College in 2018, with an Associate’s degree in Fine Arts and then went on to Moore College of Art and Design to obtain her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, graduating in May 2020. She has been in customer service as a sales representative for nearly a decade and participated in Grounds for Restoration’s first internship program in the summer of 2019. These accomplishments equipped Hannah with experiences in merchandising and community arts, which gave her insight into how they can be utilized to elevate a non-profit’s reach.
Hannah has been a volunteer for GFR’s Reception for the Daughters of the King since its first occurrence. She has also volunteered as a sales representative at several vendor events that GFR has participated in and has educated potential customers on the company’s artisanal coffee and how its profits help fund anti-human trafficking efforts in America today. She has been the Operations Manager at GFR since September 2023.
Member, Board of Directors
Keith Beale is a graduate of West Chester University (WCU) of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in music education. He first taught music in public schools, then worked 25 years at Pennsylvania / Bell Atlantic / Verizon Communications in various positions of increased responsibility culminating as VP/Executive Director in Finance. After retirement at age 47, he served as part-time administrator at a local church and then director of finance and marketing at CLC Ministries International. Although not always professionally working in music, he and his wife Nancy have always used their musical skills, especially in church music ministry. Keith has been a choir director for church and community groups.
Keith has served on the Board of Directors of Westchester University since 2004. Recently he began volunteering at Grounds for Restoration, then joined GFR’s Board of Directors in 2023. Applying his financial, organizational, and business training and expertise, Keith has been able to provide GFR with strategic direction for future planning and day to day activities.