Our Staff

Melinda Cathey
Executive Director and Co-Founder
Melinda has lived in St. Petersburg since 1992 with her husband, Mark, and their three children. Prior to their time in Russia, Melinda lived in the U.S. and practiced individual, family, and marriage counseling in a variety of settings. Her caseload has included victims of incest, adult children of alcoholics, addiction, depression, and numerous family and marital issues. She received her MA in Counseling Psychology from Trinity International University in 1985.

Alex Krutov
Director of Development and Co-Founder
Abandoned by his mother when he was just a month old, Alex was placed in the Russian state orphanage system. His tumultuous childhood included adoption, abuse, running away, living on the streets, and a return to the orphanage system. Since that time, Alex has earned an AS degree in Business Administration Management. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Franklin University (Columbus, OH) in 2005.

This year, Infinitely More, by Alex Krutov as told to Jackie Davis, has been published by Whitecaps Media.

Luba Yarovaya
National Director
Born and raised in a loving Ukrainian Christian family during communist rule, Luba grew up embracing her faith while attending an underground church. With few options for education under Soviet rule, Luba attended sewing school and became a seamstress, eventually starting her own sewing business. Moving to St. Petersburg at the age of 24 for the chance at furthering her education, Luba attended St. Petersburg Christian University and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Theology. While in St. Petersburg, Luba learned about The Harbor and eventually became its Program Director. Since then she has continued her education, earning two more Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Business Management. Under Luba’s dedicated and tireless service, The Harbor has gained legal status, high respect from the orphanages, and much success.

Tatiana Nadtochieva
Assistant Program Director
Born and raised in Izhevsk, Tanya moved to St. Petersburg in a leap of faith. After two months in the city, she met Luba Yarovaya and became familiar with The Harbor. She soon realized why God brought her to St. Petersburg. Working as an Assistant Program Director, Tanya feels privileged to be a part of this innovative ministry. Tatiana also serves as our primary teacher for the Art Department in the Vocational Training Center. She is a professional artist and has been instrumental in the development of our fledgling art boutique.

Oleg Krasnikov
Assistant Program Director
Oleg Krasnikov was born in 1983 and raised in Kazakhstan. He holds a Bachelor of Theology degree from St. Petersburg Christian University, and he is married with two children, Timothy and Mark. In 1993, his family moved to Lipetsk, Russia where they attended a Baptist church where later they accepted the Lord. In 1999, he accepted the Lord at a Christian youth camp and began to work with youth. After high school, he studied at Bryansk Bible College for one year. Oleg then returned to Lipetsk where he ministered at a Christian mission, organized youth ministry at a church and also worked at a Christian camp. Currently, he is a minister at the Resurrection Church in Pushkin, leading youth and music ministries. In 2011, he will graduate from a state university with a degree in law. Oleg has served The Harbor since 2006.

Inna Khan
Assistant Director of Vocational Training Center
Inna Khan was born in 1965 in the Chechen-Ingush region. In 1982, she graduated from high school and from 1983-1985 attended SGPTU majoring to be a decorator-designer. In 1997, she accepted the Lord. She is a member of Calvary Chapel church in St. Petersburg, and in 2007 became a volunteer at The Harbor, visiting baby orphanages, and from 2009-2011 she worked as girls mentor. Currently, she is Assistant Director at the Vocational Training Center and also helps to develop mentoring and discipleship programs for graduates of The Harbor.

Raisa Boryabush (Starting Fall, 2011)
Director of Vocational Training Center
Raisa was born in Ukraine and lived there until she was 17. She graduated from a Pedagogic University in St. Petersburg, where she found the Lord through interacting with International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES). After graduation, she worked as a chemistry teacher and then worked for IFES for 12 years. She is blessed to be working at The Harbor.

Sergei Mikhailovskiy
National Director of Development
Sergei married in 2003. He and his wife Maria have a heart for teenagers. Born in St. Petersburg, Maria came to know the Lord while at a Christian camp in 1998. Since then, she has prayed to be placed in a ministry reaching out to teenagers. Sergei grew up in the Baltic States and became a Christian while studying at a university in St. Petersburg in 1996. Together, the two attend Calvary Chapel (where Sergei holds a number of leadership positions) and serve as mentors to the girls and boys at The Harbor.

Natalia Kalugina
Counselor
While earning a Masters degree in Counseling from St. Petersburg State University, Natalia struggled to figure out how she would combine her faith with her profession. Through working in a shelter for orphans during her last year practicum, Natalia began to see the value of her education, particularly in the area of child psychology. Some friends introduced her to The Harbor and she began working with us as a professional counselor in 2005.

Tatiana Alvieva
Accountant

Chris & Anya Gandy
Chris is a native of Texas and Anya is from Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Having met in Russia, Chris and Anya knew from the beginning of their marriage that they would return to Russia to engage in ministry. An extremely talented couple, Chris will assist The Harbor in various aspects of administration, management, publishing and web presence. Anya will be translating training materials for staff, publications, and fundraising material. They will also serve as teachers at the Vocational Training Center. Assisting The Harbor is the fulfillment of a long quest that has taken this couple from Nizhny Novgorod, to Texas, to California and now to St. Petersburg, Russia.