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The Rev. Dr. Stephen Paul Bouman was called to the position of Executive Director for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission unit in November 2007 and officially assumed office in February, 2008. He previously served as bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan New York Synod from 1996 to 2008. Pastor Bouman graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary/Seminex in 1973. He received his Master of Sacred Theology from New York Theological Seminary in 1978 and his Doctor of Ministry degree in 1980, an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in 2001, and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Wagner College in 2008. He has pastured parishes in New York and New Jersey and is founder of the Diakonia ministry education program, which trains lay people for ministry in local congregations. He currently serves on the board of Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Ministries in Chicago, Illinois. Pastor Bouman is author of a number of scholarly articles, books, curricula and devotionals. Two recent books are They Are Us: Lutherans and Immigration, coauthored with Ralston Deffenbaugh, published in 2009 and Grace All Around Us (an account of ministry in the time of the September 11, 2001 attacks) published in 2007.
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Larry Bradshaw joined National Lutheran Communities & Services (NLCS) in October 2009 as President & CEO. He brings more than 30 years of experience in the not-for-profit senior living industry. From 1987–2006, he was Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President for Strategic Growth with Asbury Communities, a not-for-profit, multi-site, senior living organization. In 2006, Larry took on the role of President for Asbury’s for-profit company, The Asbury Group, offering consulting services to other Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs). Larry was also the principal of Bradshaw Insights Group, providing consulting services to CCRCs in everything from strategic planning and board development to financial analysis and capital structure development.
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Ken Daly is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), a position he has held since May 2007. As head of the nation's largest member-based organization for board directors, Daly is a recognized expert on corporate governance and board transformation. Under his leadership, NACD has grown in size and in scope, more than doubling its revenue and increasing membership by nearly 100 percent. Prior to joining the organization, Daly was an audit partner at KPMG, where he also served as the partner-in-charge of the national risk management practice. Retiring in 2005 from the firm, he assumed the role of executive director of KPMG's Audit Committee Institute. Daly has served on and chaired audit committees. He has extensive audit partner experience and routinely lends his regulatory expertise to counsel audit committees in critical areas, such as risk oversight. He has extensive experience as an auditor and consulting with companies in the banking and insurance industries. He is especially knowledgeable about the financial services industry. Daly is a frequent speaker and writer on many timely issues confronting today's corporate board, including executive compensation. He regularly appears in media and has recently been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Reuters, AP Radio and Fox News Radio, among others. Daly received his bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Delaware and has attended KPMG's International Partner Program in Birkenstock, Switzerland, as well as the partner development program at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. He is a certified public accountant (inactive status) in Pennsylvania.
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The Rev. Patricia A. Davenport is a Director for Evangelical Mission for the Congregational and Synodical Mission Unit of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as it relates to Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod. Rev. Davenport's responsibilities include working with new mission congregations and support to synod-wide congregations in the areas of evangelism, outreach and transformational ministry. Rev. Davenport joined the synod staff in November 2007. She previously served as Pastor of Spirit and Truth Worship Center in Yeadon, PA. She formed this congregation from a new mission in August 2001 as a Mission Developer. Under Pastor Davenport's direction and care, the congregation grew and became an organized ELCA congregation in December 2005. Spirit and Truth Worship Center continues to thrive to this day. Pastor Davenport completed studies at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and was ordained as an ELCA pastor in September 2001. She has previous experience working at the synod in the areas of urban, youth and redevelopment ministries.
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As executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission, the Rev. Bart Day’s primary responsibility is to oversee all national mission functions of the ministries based at the church body’s headquarters in St. Louis, Mo. This includes over 17 programmatic ministries that work to support districts, congregations, schools, and workers of the synod. Day brings more than 17 years of service to the church to this position. Most recently, he served as associate pastor at Memorial Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas—a position to which he was called in 1997—and served concurrently as headmaster at Memorial Lutheran School since 2005. Day’s service to the church also includes leading or participating in numerous mission trips to such countries as the United Kingdom, Mexico, Nicaragua and Kenya. He serves of the board of directors of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services and The Friends of Westfield House. Day holds a bachelor's degree from Concordia College (now Concordia University Nebraska), Seward, Neb., (1992), and a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (1997). He is pursuing additional advanced degrees from Notre Dame University, South Bend, Ind., and Concordia University Nebraska. Day and his wife, Julie, have six children and reside in Sunset Hills. They are members of Hope Lutheran Church in St. Louis.
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Ordained in 1987, Rev. Melody Eastman has served five different congregations in the Metro Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). She was the senior pastor at St. Paul in Wheaton, Illinois from 1998-April 2015, and now serves Grace Lutheran Church in Glen Ellyn. Pastor Eastman also currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and has been active in various synod and community organizations.
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 Rev. Dr. Donald J. Fondow
District President, Minnesota North District
Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
Rev. Fondow attended Concordia Junior College in Milwaukee and received the Bachelor of Arts Degree from Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, Indiana. His seminary training was at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He served his vicarage at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Richmond, Virginia. He was the Recipient of the 1998 John E. Herrmann Memorial Stewardship Award presented by the District Stewardship Executives of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. In May of 2006 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters Degree from Concordia University, St. Paul, MN. Rev. Fondow accepted a Call to serve as Mission and Ministry Facilitator (Division of Missions and Congregational Outreach) in the Minnesota North District in October 2000. In April of 2003, he was elected as President of The Minnesota North District of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod and re-elected in 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015. He was a Board Member of the India Mission Society (assisting the India Evangelical Lutheran Church). He has served on the Mission Partners Planning Committee; Concordia University System Governance Task Force; Council of Presidents Convention Actions Committee; and the Council of Presidents Placement Committee (2009-2015). He currently serves on the Council of Presidents Program Committee (2015-present); and the 2013 Synodical Convention Resolution 5-14A Task Force.Rev. Fondow and his wife, Connie, have been blest with two sons: Jonathan and Andrew.
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Jodi Harpstead was named President and CEO of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota in September 2011. Previously she was the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS), where she led efforts in Services, Human Resources, Information Technology and Finance. Prior to joining LSS, Jodi spent 23 years with Medtronic, Inc. where held several key positions, including president of Global Marketing and U.S. Sales in the Cardiac Rhythm Management Division. She currently serves as Chair of the Board of Regents of Augsburg College in Minneapolis.
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 Ms. Christie Hinrichs
President & CEO
Tabitha, Inc.
Christie Hinrichs is the president and CEO of Tabitha. Hinrichs began her career in compassion in 1993 as a Tabitha Hospice social worker before advancing to leadership roles within Tabitha Hospice and the organization's in-home support program. She has also served as the Nebraska Heart Hospital’s chief operating officer, as a branch manager with Coram Healthcare, and as Tabitha’s vice president of clinical services. Hinrichs is a vocal advocate for Elder Care issues, regularly appearing in both regional and national speaking engagements. She was named co-chair of the national LeadingAge Consumer Cabinet and is a member of their board. Her local involvement includes service on the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce board of directors, the Lincoln Fire and Rescue advisory board, the Thrivent Fellows advisory board, Rise Advisory Board and the Lutheran Planned Giving Board. Hinrichs was the IABC Communicator of the Year in July 2012 and a 2014 Tedx Lincoln presenter.
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Junia John-Straker has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Lutheran Social Services of the Virgin Islands, Inc., the largest non-profit in the Virgin Islands, since February, 2007. Before her appointment to CEO, She served the organization for 16 years as Chief fiscal Officer. She oversees a number of residential and non-residential programs that serve the needs of children, low-income adults and seniors, and the disabled of all ages. Ms. Straker has over 33 years of financial and management experience and holds a bachelor's degree in accounting. Her experience also includes nine years with Certified Public Accounting firm. Junia has served and currently serves on several non-profits and governmental boards. She is committed to honor the command of Galatians 5:13 of “By Love serve one another”.
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Kurt F. Kusserow was born to Rev. Ralph and Carol (Zigler) Kusserow and grew up in Malaysia and Singapore, where his parents served as missionaries from 1966 to 1982. He was confirmed at Jurong Christian Church, Singapore, on Christmas Day, 1977.
Bishop Kusserow received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English from Thiel College in 1985, and a Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, in 1989. He was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament on September 10, 1989 by Bishop Paul E. Spring, at Lebanon United Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh. His first call was to a cooperative ministry, Town and Country Lutheran Ministry, where he served Lutheran Church in Oklahoma Boro, and Hebron Lutheran Church in Avonmore. In 1997, he was called to serve St. Paul Lutheran Church in Trauger, until his election to the office of bishop in June 2007.
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Julie E. Swanson is President and Chief Executive Officer of Lutheran Family Services of Virginia. Swanson joined LFSVA in July 2005. As President and CEO, Swanson manages 400 employees in 15 locations across the state with a total annual budget of $29 million. Swanson has worked with Lutheran agencies in the Virgin Islands, Florida and Colorado and has a background in both management and fund development. Throughout her career Swanson has been involved with programs serving children, families, refugees and the elderly. She served as a national Lutheran Disaster Response consultant after experiencing and then coordinating the response and rebuilding efforts for Hurricane Hugo and Hurricane Marilyn in the US Virgin Islands. Under Swanson’s leadership LFSVA acquired a company thus allowing it to expand its’ mission to serve adults with disabilities. In nine years the organization has tripled in size. LFSVA’s vision is to be a leading provider of services by helping children in foster care find permanent homes, strengthening families through therapeutic services, educating children with complex needs, and helping older adults and adults with disabilities live the most abundant lives possible. Swanson currently serves as the Chair for LSA Disabilities Network and is a member of the LSA Public Policy Advisory Council. She is a board member for the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and has been involved in organizing Virginia nonprofits as a coalition.
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Ann Vazquez moved to St. Louis in 1985 after graduating from the University of Iowa with a degree in business/finance. She spent the next 21 years in commercial lending, the last 17 of which were with US Bank. She spent the first 11 years specializing in providing banking services to not-for profits and healthcare companies in St. Louis. The last 6 years she was the Senior Vice President and manger of the Broker Dealer and Mutual Fund Group. In September 2006 she left the banking world and was hired as the President and CEO of Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis. Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis make grants to health and human care organizations and congregations in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Lutheran Foundation currently has 6 funding focus areas: Congregation Social Service Outreach Ministry, Christian Volunteerism, Lutheran Education, Older Adults Maintaining Independence, Service to Ex-Offenders and Their Families and Supporting Foreign-Born Populations.
Ann's non-profit board service has included: Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition, YWCA of Greater St. Louis and Junior Achievement of Mississippi Valley. She is currently on the board of the Visiting Nurse Association of St. Louis, Gateway Center for Giving. For-profit board service includes: Board member of Scottrade Bank. She also serves on the audit and CRA committees of the Bank./p>
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 Mr. Jim Zils
Financial Consultant, (ret.)
Upon graduation from Gustavus Adolphus College, Mr. Zils started his career with Allstate Insurance Company in Kansas City. Thirty-four years and multiple moves later, Mr. Zils retired from Allstate in 2007. Mr. Zils had many assignments in many different departments and locations, culminating with ten years as the company’s treasurer. Mr. Zils also led the team that took Allstate public in 1993. While treasurer, he was involved in things like buying and selling companies, raising over $6 billion in debt, buying back over $10 billion in stock, initiating a $1 billion line of credit, managing the rating agency relationships, establishing a $1 billion commercial paper program, and managing over 100 bank relationships. After his formal retirement, Mr. Zils has have been involved in non-profit organizations, predominantly around the issues of the developmentally disabled and health care. Mr. Zils presently serve on the Mosaic board, where he has chaired the audit committee. He has also served on the governing council (board) of Advocate Condell Hospital and on its foundation board as well as providing consulting work for non-profits with Executive Services Corps of Chicago.
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Dr. Anderson served as president of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary from 2005 through 2013, the first woman to serve as president of a Lutheran seminary in the United States, and now has the role of President Emerita. An ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Dr. Anderson has served as pastor of a rural parish in Iowa, as assistant to the Bishop of the Iowa District, as Director of Pastoral Studies and Assistant Professor of Theology at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and as the first Director for Theological Education in the ELCA though its first ten years. In this capacity she led the ELCA Study of Theological Education from 1989-1995, which resulted in the creation of the Fund for Leaders in Mission, First Call Theological Education, and a system of clusters for coordination among the seminaries. She also served as Associate Dean for Ecumenical Studies at Seattle University’s School of Theology and Ministry. She holds a B.A. from Sacramento State University; a Masters in Divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary; and a Ph.D. from Aquinas Institute of Theology. She is married to the Rev. Dr. Herbert Anderson, Professor Emeritus of Pastoral Theology at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
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Ms. Betty Oldenkamp, Chairperson
Mr. David Fenoglietto, Vice Chairperson
Dr. Bruce G. Kintz, Secretary
Mr. David Swartling, Treasurer
Rev. Dr. Stephen Bouman
Mr. Lawrence R. Bradshaw
Mr. Kenneth Daly
Rev. J. Bart Day
Rev. Melody Eastman
Ms. Jodi Harpstead
Ms. Junia John-Straker
Rev. Kurt F. Kusserow
Julie E. Swanson
Ms. Ann Vazquez
Rev. Dr. Phyllis Anderson - Theologian in Residence