Scott Raley - Chairman

Scott comes to Theodyssey with an entrepreneurial spirit and the experience of being a successful small business owner.

He is passionate about being part of a group of people that love Jesus and each other, and who are creatively working together to encourage a new generation to form a real and authentic relationship with the living God. As Chairman of the Theodyssey Board, Scott leads us in our efforts, providing wisdom, guidance, and heart.

Scott's role model is his father, Tom Raley, who instilled in him the hope and wisdom from faith in God and devotion to Christ. His own faith and trust in God lead him to encourage others and to love the people around him.

Scott enjoys adventure, the outdoors and coaching sports. He spends his time rafting, skiing and mountaineering. Scott lives in the Almaden Valley with his wife Susan and their children Christie (13), Daniel (8) and pets Max, Coby and Ertle.

Beth Clifford

Armed with an MBA and a degree in economics, Beth is a servant-leader whose background in consulting with newly formed companies provides in-depth experience in developing vision and implementation in their organizations. She has a great love of teaching others through sharing the grace that has been bestowed upon her.

Beth aims to blend her practical business knowledge with her passion for reaching people to build Theodyssey Group, so that we can bring spiritual wellness to 100,000 people in five years, unleashing a powerful wave of healing in today's crazy world.

Beth enjoys reading, knitting, gardening, and hanging out with her two teenage sons, Mark and Chris, and their pets, Mac and Stormy, in the home they share in Maine.

Bob Nielsen

Theodyssey is all about transformation, and change is a theme throughout Bob Nielsen's personal and professional life.

Bob is an organizational development consultant providing advice and coaching to companies in the Silicon Valley on the process of change.

He has a passion for helping individuals and organizations to move, and grow and develop. His spiritual journey began over 30 years ago in the US Navy, pursuing Christ as a sailor within the context of the Navigator ministry.

Bob brings this passion to Theodyssey in helping people grow in their ability to be spiritual directors and colleagues for others who share journey of being transformed into the image of Christ.

Ben Slick

Ben's path to faith, and belief in Christ, is a direct result of encountering David Smith, and the other Pastors of a church which David co-founded. In that church, Ben was mentored and, in turn, taught small group courses in spiritual foundation. He understands the life-changing impact that God's word has on people who are hungry for truth and purpose. Ben's involvement in Theodyssey is fueled by his deep belief that equipping spiritual leaders matters more than ever in our world today.

Ben lives in Petaluma, CA with his wife Marcia, their daughter Ellie, and a menagerie of pets. He works for HydroPoint Data Systems, a water conservation and management company. In his career, Ben's has served as vice president of sales in two publicly traded software companies, in addition to general manager of a publicly traded Internet services company. Ben also co-founded, led, and sold an internet startup as its CEO.

Ben enjoys golf, running, coaching soccer and listening to music.

David Smith

'A desire for something more, something real,' is what launched David beyond his traditional church roots and into the world of spiritual formation.

For over 20 years David has been a pastor, writer, and spiritual director, discipling hundreds of people in the fundamentals of Theodyssey. David's adventures in real life, along with his education in counseling, spiritual formation, and communication provide a depth of understanding and ability that make him a competent and compassionate guide in the spiritual life.

David points to people like Eugene Peterson, Richard Lovelace, James Houston, Sister Rose Clarisse Gadoury, Henri Nouwen, James Fowler, Leanne Payne, Richard Foster, and Haddon Robinson as the primary contributors to his ministry development.

David and his wife Robin live in San Jose, CA. along with their three children.

Joe Sommers

As a senior technical manager at a major silicon valley company, managing partner of a development group, and head assistant to my wife Sherrie's business, Joe has a lot on his plate.

Being one of the very fortunate ones that experienced the first "Pursuit" class, the early beginnings of Theodyssey, Joe has the privilege of serving the Lord by bringing Theodyssey into peoples lives so they can experience an intimate relationship with Jesus.

Joe's wife, Sherrie, is his spiritual hero. Her tenacious passion for the Lord has brought her family in China to give their lives to Christ. Sherrie also graciously serves as prayer team leader for Theodyssey.

Joe and Sherrie now live in the Sierra foothills just outside of Shingle Springs, CA with Sherrie's three bunnies.

Jim Williams

Jim comes to serve on the Theodyssey Board with a heart for Dave's discipling model to transform the next generation to the image of Christ for the sake of others. Having been on the original board that planted Silver Creek Church Community in Evergreen, where he met Dave and engaged in his Pursuit class, he sees the potential to impact a group that is not being served by the 21st century church.

Jim spent 25 years in Silicon Valley high tech companies in various executive positions, including VPGM for Celestica and VP of Sales for Solectron. He began his high tech career at HP in 1979, after exiting the Navy where he was a Navy A-6 Intruder pilot on the USS Kitty Hawk. Jim is currently providing sales and manufacturing consulting to small and medium sized companies.

Jim lives in La Quinta, CA, with his wife Pamela. His two grown boys live in Los Angeles and Cupertino.