Board of Directors

Vail Christian Academy is governed by a Board of Directors. The VCA Board is responsible for overseeing the operation of the school including finances, curriculum, staffing, fundraising and many other strategic decisions. Made up with passionate and committed parents and community members, the Board of Directors supports the teachers and Head of School to cultivate the Jesus Way at VCA. VCA’s Board of Directors meet monthly year-round.

2023-2024 Board of Directors

  • David Lyle

    CHAIRMAN

    David Lyle is a professional engineer and partner at BG Buildingworks where he specializes in design and consulting for building systems. Born in Pennsylvania and raised as an “Army Brat” David grew up on military bases throughout Germany and the United States. David studied Architectural Engineering at Kansas State University and moved to Colorado in 1994. David has served on the Vail Christian Academy Board of Directors for 14 years, most recently stepping in as acting Head of School from 2020-2023. David is an elder at the Vail Church, and actively serves the Vail Christian High School, VCA and Vail Church communities. As the Chairman of VCA’s board, David oversees the overall project management of VCA and supports operational and campus safety and security needs. David and his wife Kelly live in Edwards with their children Ryan and Shannon, and pet dogs Chip, Bently, and Oliver.

  • Gaby Milhoan

    PRESIDENT

    Gaby Milhoan is the Communications Director of Mountain Life Calvary Chapel. Gaby has over 20 years of marketing and brand management experience, having worked with Adidas, NASCAR, and Red Bull before transitioning into luxury resort marketing and development in Colorado. In 2018, Gaby retired from corporate marketing to pursue her passion for ministry and impact driven community initiatives. In addition to her role at Mountain Life, Gaby lends her time to numerous community organizations, and owns and operates two businesses with her husband Trey, Milhoan Creative and Capra Guides. Gaby serves as the VCA Board President and is the Development Co-Chair. Together with Heidi Havenstrite, Gaby supports the fundraising and community-building efforts at VCA. Gaby and Trey live in Edwards with their two children, daughter Oakley and son Bridger, dogs Janie and Dally, and horses Joe and Amigo.

  • Heidi Havenstrite

    VICE-PRESIDENT/SECRETARY

    Heidi Havenstrite likes to refer to herself as the CEO of the Havenstrite Household, as she has dedicated herself to the successful operations of her family. Following a decade-long tenure in the oil and gas industry, Heidi redirected her focus towards nurturing her family and immersing herself in community initiatives. She has contributed her time and resources to numerous worthy endeavors, including the Junior League of Norman, Children’s Miracle Network, and every school her children have attended. Heidi serves as the Development and Communication Co-Chair on the VCA Board, leading the fundraising and community-building roles at VCA alongside Gaby Milhoan. Heidi and her husband Tom live in Edwards where they raise their 3 children, Winston, Erin, and Tanner. She enjoys hiking with her dog, Charlie, and traveling the world in search of beautiful trails and delicious food.

  • Dan O'Shaughnessy

    TREASURER

    Daniel James O'Shaughnessy is the Chief I️nvestment Officer for BNP Paribas Headge Fund, and a Private Equity Investor. He graduated from Drexel University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He later received his MBA in I️nternational Finance from Villanove University. Dan serves as the VCA Board Treasurer and Finance Chair. He works closely with the Head of School and Board Chairman to support the financial and strategic planning needs of VCA. Dan is married to Caralyn and they have three sons, Jack, Aidan and Quinn.

  • Nathan (Nate) Cafferky MD, FAAOS

    Dr. Nathan Cafferky is a board-certified, fellowship-trained Orthopaedic Surgeon, who specializes in Adult Reconstruction and Trauma, at the Steadman Clinic. He is also a US Ski Team Physician. Dr. Nathan Cafferky works in partnership with the The Steadman Clinic and The Steadman Philippon Research Institute to conduct clinical studies and research programs with the goal of improving patient outcomes. Nate is a graduate of Christian Educational institutions. He attended Walla Walla University, majoring in Biology and minoring in Chemistry, and attended Loma Linda University School of Medicine, which is one of the last Christian-based medical schools in the USA. Having spent a majority of his life in education, Nate is the Curriculum chair at VCA and works closely with the Head of School and leadership team to source, review and analyze curriculum and advance VCA’s academic and accreditation efforts. Nate, along with his wife, Dea, and 4 children, love the active outdoor lifestyle that this mountain community has to offer, and wants to help VCA continue to be a beacon for Christianity in our community, and our students.

  • Jeff McAbee

    Jeff McAbee is a real estate professional focusing on local home transactions as well as investment opportunities in the Vail Valley. Jeff has been a member of the Board since 2020. Currently, Jeff is the Operations and Security Chair on the Board, and works on updating the systems dedicated to the operation of the school and its safety. He and his wife Marion have four children. Olivia, their youngest is in the fourth grade and has been at VCA since kindergarten.

  • Nate Morris

    Pastor Nate Morris is the senior pastor at Mountain Life Calvary Chapel with campuses in the Vail Valley and Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado. Originally from Colorado, Pastor Nate is the author of Weary World Rejoices and host of two podcasts, the Truth + Love Podcast featuring special guest commentary, and Unscripted, a weekly discussion about the previous week's sermon. Nate has served on the Vail Christian Academy board since 2018 and supports the pastoral ministry and leadership of VCA. He and his wife Jen live in Eagle with their three children, sons Caleb and Josiah, and daughter, Zoe, and loveable goldendoodle Timber.

  • Pam Shepherd

    Pam Shepherd has 23 years of finance and investing experience. She is currently the CFO of a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on women's health. Pam joined the VCA board of directors in 2022 and is the acting Vice President and Secretary of the Board. Pam supports the financial operations of Vail Christian Academy, working closely with the Head of School and Advancement Director. Pam and her husband, Jody, have two children who attend VCA in the upper academy.

Board Minutes

Board minutes for the previous 12 months are publicly available online through our parent portal. Once you are an enrolled member of our VCA community, visit the ‘MY VCA’ tab to login to your member portal where you can access recent minutes.

Apply to VCA Board

VCA utilizes rolling 3-year board terms. We are constantly seeking engaged community members and parents who are interested in serving on VCA’s board. Board nominations and applications are reviewed annually in the Spring. For more information about joining the board, reach out to Allison Hansen, ahansen@vailchristianacademy.org or apply below.