Leadership and Volunteers
The Table Florida, Inc
The Board members, along with an amazing team of volunteers, help make community and change happen!
Darryl J.Coppenhaver – Co-Founder, President (head chef)
I grew up in east Winter Park, Florida and have the privilege of living just 6 miles from my childhood home. I have seen the change from the woods and fields of my youth in this area to the homes, busy streets, businesses and what I never saw growing up, people living without shelter.
As a follower of Jesus, seeing this change compelled me to look for a better way to become friends with the people around my home area, show compassion, acceptance and share life and faith. This desire is why Marilyn, my wife, and I with a few friends started The Table in 2019.
Normal Bio Stuff: Eagle Scout 1975, Graduate Winter Park High School and University of Florida, BA Computer Science. Retired 2017 after a 38 year Software focused career in development, consulting and sales. Married to Marilyn for 44 years, 4 children and 4 grandchildren. Darryl is a board member and volunteer for Goldenrod Civic Club, and 787 Scouting Association.
Marilyn Coppenhaver – Co-Founder, Director
I was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, and moved to Winter Park after high school
graduation to attend college and ‘do something different’ for a few years. I went to school (Southern Business College and FTU, now UCF), got a job I loved, made friends and decided to stay. I’m glad I did! I met Jesus and soon after met my husband Darryl. We’ve been married for 44 years and have 4 remarkable children and 4 delightful grandgirls. I love meeting new people, hearing their stories and sharing a bit of encouragement. Over the years I have worked in law offices and Christian ministries, along with 5 years of homeschooling. I’ve been serving as a volunteer at church and in the community in varied capacities for over 45 years. I retired in 2015 to spend more time caring for my mother and mother-in-law. Around that time I started searching for a new way to meet people and share the love of Jesus with them. When my husband Darryl and I learned about the dinner church model (dinnerchurch.com), we knew this was something worth trying in our community. God used our life experiences, along with several months of training, to begin The Table in 2019. There’s no other place I’d rather be on Thursday evenings!
Brian E. Biddinger – Treasurer, Director
Thanks primarily to one of my grandmothers, I’ve been hearing about Jesus all of my life. Somewhere along the way, it shifted from being a habit into my way of experiencing the world.
And because of this, since Jesus talked (rather strongly) about the responsibility for his followers to see all people as “these brothers and sisters of mine” and to share food and clothing and hospitality with them as needed, I knew it needed to become a concern for me.
I am grateful that an organization like The Table provides concrete actions to help carry out Jesus’s words, and that I can help accomplish these actions in some small way.
For the record – Born and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida. Graduated from Stetson University with a BBA degree in Accounting and Economics. Have worked 40+ years in accounting positions with a variety of employers. Married to Nancy for 43 years, with two children and five grandchildren.
Niki Wilkerson – Director
“Hello, my name is Niki.” This is how I introduce myself when I approach a person during my hours of Street Outreach. I am the Co-Founder of Connections Ministry Nikhai’s Closet, an Outreach Ministry to individuals experiencing poverty and/or homelessness. The focus of Connections Ministry is Community and Awareness. More than ten years ago, I felt called to ministry in the area of homelessness with an approach of dignity.
I was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and grew up under a very strong influence of neighborhood and culture. My teachers and mentors encouraged me to pursue the arts and language. Years later, I used my passion for language, especially Spanish, as a Student Assistant and Curriculum Developer.
My faith is the strength that helps me to be bold as I walk my path, embracing those who have been called the marginalized.
Art Woodruff – Director
Art was born and raised in Sanford and is a sixth-generation resident. He has taught science and computer science in Seminole County Public Schools for 38 years.
Art and his wife Patti have two children, Daniel and Rachel. Patti is a home health care nurse, Daniel is in law school, and Rachel just graduated and is embarking on a career in editing.
Art was elected Mayor of Sanford in 2022 after having served four terms as a commissioner.
In addition to teaching and serving Sanford on the City Commission, Art is a board member and volunteer for Historic Hopper Academy, the Ritz Theater Sanford, The Table Florida, and 787 Scouting Association. Art spends a lot of his free time working with Boy Scouts or helping renovate and maintain Hopper Academy and enjoys fishing, diving, and camping.
Dave Davis – VP, Secretary
Dave is a people-focused leader who places high value on personal relationships and empathy. He believes in seeking meaning over material, learning continuously, and surrounding himself with people who reflect the kind of person he wants to be. A lifelong mentor and encourager, Dave does his best to bring humor, kindness, curiosity, and a steady sense of purpose to every setting.
Dave’s working-life highlights include managing an independent record store; leading an 800+ person global organization responsible for supporting/enabling Intel’s server, cloud, and datacenter customers; making funnel cakes at craft fairs; and serving as chief technology officer for an independent insurance agency. He hopes this list is now complete.
Dave’s real-life highlights include being a husband (25+ years!) to his incredible wife, a father (20+ years!) to his two talented kids, and spending a full year “doing what matters,” traveling the U.S. and Canada in an RV with his family. He values time with loved ones above all else, finds perspective in nature, and maintains an undying love for (and near-encyclopedic knowledge of) music of all kinds.
Candis Roby – Director
I was born in North Carolina on a Marine base and grew up moving to 9 different military bases before settling in Florida and attending Colonial High school, then UCF. After college, I married and had two sons while beginning a career in teaching. My career in education with OCPS began with teaching secondary social studies and journeyed through administrative dean, reading coach, and North Learning Community instructional coach. In 2017 I retired after 32 years. Now I live quietly with my older son, a chiweenie, and enjoy the company of a few good friends.
While teaching I saw the basic human needs of students and even those of new teachers becoming serious obstacles to living healthy lives and being able to advance their life goals. It was heart breaking to see school data being more highly valued than the human needs of people we interacted with every day. The message this priority sent to children was silent but very strong and long-lasting. That was when I decided that when I had the time and energy, I would volunteer somewhere that showed caring as a priority. I have been searching for a place to practice this for the last several years by volunteering.
The love and radical hospitality at The Table is exactly what I hope to offer to people regardless of need.
Volunteers Night 2025!
We enjoyed a wonderful evening on Saturday March 1, 2025 celebrating and honoring our amazing volunteers! Prayer and teamwork are the backbone of The Table – we serve a faithful, mighty God and He has provided a fantastic team to serve together. Not all of our 53 current volunteers were able to join us for the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, but you can see over half of them on the attached photo. Over the past 6 years volunteers have given over 31,000 hours of service.
Volunteer Celebration 2023
Because of the kindness and generosity of many individuals, The Table has gathered week after week for 4 years now. With an all volunteer team of directors, bakers, cooks, servers, musicians, speakers, drivers and essential items staff, community is built and lives are changed. Over the past 4 years volunteers have given over 19,000 hours of service.