STAFF
John Otwell
Executive Director
John joined the Cornerstone team after having spent 20+ years performing Subsea Robotics Engineering and Vessel Management all over the world. He has taken those professional skills and applied them to serving the Lord, others, and our community through Cornerstone Restoration. His hope is to share the abundant and reckless love of Christ with all those the Lord allows him to serve.
During his work abroad John has been to just about every continent and seen some of the best and the worst each of them have to offer, always finding the best place on earth right back here with his family and friends in the Hill Country of Texas.
John has a beautiful wife, Christina, and two beautiful daughters, Afton and Lillian. John has a deep desire to know the Lord better and spends much of his time in extended education and opportunities through his church, Austin Ridge Bible Church. John enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, riding his motorcycles - pretty much anything outdoors.
Candace Guittard
Logistics Coordinator
Candace is excited to be part of what God is doing at Cornerstone Restoration! Having moved back to Austin in 2020, she was determined to find a place to serve with her family and stumbled upon Cornerstone. Her family enjoys serving others in a tangible way and she’s thrilled that she can now combine that desire with a part-time job. Candace loves people and building relationships and can’t wait to start doing that with the amazing people who serve with Cornerstone. She is passionate about the Lord and being a welcoming light of Christ to others. She has had various opportunities to serve others abroad and at home and is thrilled to begin a new chapter of loving others and organizing volunteers in ministry here in her favorite city of Austin. Candace and her husband Bob stay very busy with their 3 boys. You can usually find them doing something adventurous outdoors when they aren’t enjoying watching the boys play sports or hanging out at Austin Ridge Bible Church.
Jonas Escalera
Program Manager
Jonas has been serving as a CR volunteer for serve days and as an advisory team member since the Fall of 2023! Jonas brings with him a lifetime of experience. From beginning work at 12 years old for his father's construction company to three home renovations completing foundation repair on up to roof replacement. Jonas is excited to continue on a journey of being “repurposed” and to serve with Cornerstone Restoration after a 30-year career in the fire service working as a retired Fire Captain/Paramedic. In his retirement, he finds great joy in using the building construction skills his father taught him! He is passionate about serving God’s children and feels that he receives more than he gives when completing these projects for those in need with a loving and talented group of volunteers.
Jonas has been married for the past 23 years to Rebecca, Practice Director for Texas Oncology, with 1 daughter at Baylor Nursing and 2 sons who are aspiring to be in the Military College Academy.
Lisa Antonishek
Care Director
Lisa, a native Michigander, dedicated over a decade to caring for, equipping, and supporting others. As a community and school counselor, she focused on guiding and uplifting students and families. Her church involvement in care and prayer ministry allowed her to witness God’s work through her and others.
In 2015, Lisa’s journey took a transformative turn as she felt called to missions in Spain. For six incredible years, she counseled, taught the middle school Bible, and facilitated student leadership, striving to make a meaningful impact by sharing Jesus with everyone she met.
In 2021, Lisa moved to Texas, where she treasures time with her four daughters, sons-in-law, and ten grandchildren. In early 2024, she began volunteering with Cornerstone Restoration, attending the Reynosa serve trip, and volunteering as a consultant to help develop the care team program.
Lisa is thrilled to join the Cornerstone Restoration team. She looks forward to bringing her experience and heartfelt dedication to the mission, grateful to be part of a team building and equipping others to walk alongside neighbors-in-need, shining the light of Jesus into the world.
Naomi Brittain
Administrative and Operations Coordinator
Naomi has worked in various nonprofit organizations (social services, higher education, and churches) over the years and is a self-proclaimed “Jill of all Trades”. Holding various roles, she always found great joy in supporting someone’s success and growth, practically and spiritually. A pastor's wife, Naomi, and her husband met while serving as student ministry interns and have two young children. When not chasing kiddos, she enjoys trying new baked goods recipes and hopes to one day conquer sourdough. Joining the CR team has allowed Naomi to combine her professional skills and personal passions to care for the Kingdom of God!
BOARD of DIRECTORS
Ellery Buchanan
Chairman
Ellery Buchanan joined Cornerstone Restoration’s Board in November 2021. Ellery is a member of Austin Ridge Bible Church and has been a volunteer with God of Hope prison ministry for many years. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Rio Bravo Ministries, one of our partner ministries, in Reynosa, Mexico.
Currently Ellery serves as Chief Strategy Officer of Adaptive 3D, a Desktop Metal company providing the next generation of 3D manufacturing materials. He has a breadth of entrepreneurial experience in technology companies including semiconductor lithography equipment, electronic discovery and data storage, nano fiber production and additive manufacturing. Areas of expertise include growth, strategy, finance, start-ups, new product introduction, operational excellence, business management and corporate development.
Ellery moved his family to Austin from the Boston area in 1995. Ellery and Paulette were married in 1977 and have two sons, Ryan and Derek, who both live near Austin. Ellery and Paulette also have two wonderful grandchildren, Pierce son of Ryan and Natalie and Primrose daughter of Derek and Alyssa.
Travis Gray
Travis Gray joined Cornerstone Restoration’s Board in June 2023. Travis is a pastor with The Church at Bee Cave and has been a volunteer with God of Hope prison ministry for over 15 years. Travis has been bringing church services into Lockhart Prison every fourth Sunday for the past 8 years. He serves with Open doors ministries in Marble Falls teaching the Bible and helping those recover from alcohol and drug addiction.
Travis is a singer/songwriter who loves to play music on his guitar. Travis shares his life experience and relationship with Christ through music and stories of faith. Travis and his wife Gay Bonorden Gray own and operate Best Tex Gardens, a landscape company located and serving in the Hill Country of Texas.
Travis and Gay live in Lakeway Texas have 5 Children and 7 grandchildren. They love to spend time at the ranch riding horses, boating on Lake Travis and serving their community through the Love of Christ.
Brian Albrecht
After growing up in Texas and New Jersey, Brian earned a BA from Rutgers University and a THM from Dallas Theological Seminary. At exactly the same time, he met his wife, Kathy, and came to understand that life is best lived missionally for Jesus. Working in creative and executive roles in Dallas and Memphis churches for most of his career, Brian proudly served as Executive Director of Cornerstone after moving to Austin. He continues to serve on its Board, supporting its mission of seeing vulnerable neighbors loved and care for in the greater Austin area, Reynosa, and beyond.
He loves finding great NY style pizza with Kathy, watching Christopher Nolan movies with his son Pierce, and learning obscure chemistry techniques from his daughter Ana. He likes running, hiking, reading old books, and watching Liverpool (“real” football). Brian also loves to see the life of Jesus grow inside the hearts of men at Austin Ridge Bible Church where he currently serves as the Men’s Pastor.