Board of Directors

Dr. Hearn is the founder and chief executive officer of Community Vessels, Inc. Dr. Hearn is a native of Los Angeles, California. In the Spring of 2009, Dr. Hearn received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff,

then graduated from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in June 2011, with her Master of Family Therapy. In the fall of 2012, Dr. Hearn was led by God to attend Loma Linda University, in California, for her Doctorate. During her doctoral journey, like a gift from above, Dr. Hearn had the

opportunity to receive training in the fields of Program Development, Program Evaluation, Administration, Marketing, Marriage and Family Therapy, and grant writing, just to name a few. With the guidance from the Lord, Dr. Hearn received her Doctor of Marital and Family Therapy (DMFT) in 2016, with a concentration in Professional Consultation and Systems Relations, at Loma Linda University. She gives all the glory to God! Dr. Hearn is passionate about families who experience homelessness, due to this being a relatable experience as a child. Dr. Hearn was the lead author of two articles in the Social History of the American Family Encyclopedia, published by Sage Publication 2014; entitled: Housing Crisis and Work and Family. Dr. Hearn completed her doctorate by publishing her final DMFT project titled, Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness: A Grounded Theory Needs Assessment. Dr. Hearn compiled the co-author book entitled Vessels of Strength Can You Hear Me Now? Screaming Into Destiny. Dr. Hearn also has been a member of her HBCU local alumni chapter since 2009 and treasurer since 2015. 

Note: To read Dr. Hearn’s published work, please e-mail: anhearn@communityvessels.org

Dr. Officer is the secretary on the board at Community Vessel, Inc. is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana; the Midwest. Dr.  Officer graduated high school, and college was the last thing on his mind. However, in 1990, Emanuel picked up a book on Systematic Theology. Four years later, he enrolled in the Muskegon Bible Institute (MBI) in 2007. There, Emanuel received his Associate’s Degree and felt compelled to continue his education, as he seemed to have entered a personal era of great enlightenment. He soon received his Bachelor’s Degree in 2009. Still working toward his personal best, Emanuel then pursued a Masters’ Degree. In 2012, Emanuel earned a Doctorate of Divinity, followed by his Doctorate of Systematic Theology, and a Ph.D. in Philosophy, in 2015. Today, he is known as Dr. Officer, or Emanuel Officer, Ph.D. He counts Dr. Willie J Duncan as his greatest mentor. Dr. Officer has written three published books: A Word for Life: The Turning Point, and Finding Your Purpose; and, at this writing, he’s working on another two. He appears regularly on the Power of Praise Network (PPN) streaming live on the Church Spring Channel. Join Dr. Officer’s Facebook page entitled, Reconnecting to Black Consciousness.

Note: To read Dr. Officer’s published work, please e-mail: ewofficer@communityvessels.org

Dennis A. Lauderdale began his career in worker’s compensation in 1964 at the Lafayette Park Place location of State Compensation Insurance Fund in Los Angeles where he eventually was promoted to the position of Claims Examiner. After nearly six years with the Fund, Mr. Lauderdale headed towards Westwood to pursue a Baccalaureate in Public Administration.

While at UCLA, Mr. Lauderdale was a recipient of a Ralph Bunches Scholarship Award. Mr. Lauderdale also served as a residential advisor at Rieber Hall. During the summer of 1970, Mr. Lauderdale became a delegate with the Student Internship governmental program and was assigned to various congressional duties in Washington D.C. The following summer of 1974, Mr. Lauderdale was selected to be a member of the nationwide student exchange program Operations Crossroad Africa and was assigned to the West African County of Nigeria, he then toured Ghana and the Ivory Coast. 

After UCLA, Mr. Lauderdale re-entered workers’ compensation as a Claims Examiner for the County of Los Angeles Claims Unity at the Beverly Boulevard location. Then in May 1977, Mr. Lauderdale began his current career as a rating specialist with the Disability Evaluation Bureau serving the first twelve years at the WCAB in Los Angeles, and then the most recent eight years at the WCAB in Long Beach. 

In these intervening twenty years, Mr. Lauderdale has taught classes in disability rating techniques and concepts to a myriad of insurance carriers as well as to both applicant, and defense law firms. Also, he has been on  the teaching staff of the Insurance Educational Association. Mr. Lauderdale has been a guest lecturer for workers compensation courses at the law schools of Pepperdine, Whittier, and Loyola. Moreover, he has participated in the statewide lecture circuit with AME/QME Seminars, teaching physicians how to write rateable medical reports, and currently continues to do so on a private basis. 

Mr. Lauderdale emphasize rating values that reflect a fair interpretation of disability factors in a given medical report by relying upon applicable statutory law, relevant case law, a thorough understanding of the rationale and underlying philosophy of past and current polices of Disability Evaluation Bureau, as well as utilization of common sense as a frame of reference. Such an approach avoids the advocacy role but, instead, focuses on impartiality. 

Although now retired from the DEU as of May 1997, Mr. Lauderdale continues on a private basis to provide ratings of A.M.E and Q.M.E>, and treating physician medical reports, evaluation of depositions, and analysis of DEU ratings. Also, he is available for expert testimony at WCAB proceedings, in-house rating classes, and for participation in seminar/panel discussions.