David Eller
President
Dave is the leader of World Concern. After working in corporate business for many years, he joined World Concern in 2001, managing disaster response, microfinance, village bank, animal restocking, community development and orphan care projects. These responsibilities took him to Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan, Somalia, Haiti and Zambia. Working with a large national staff, his focus has been to make projects sustainable and replicable. He returned to the U.S. office as the HIV/AIDS program manager and served as International Operations Director before his appointment as World Concern President in 2007. He earned a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Washington in 2007, and a Bachelor's in Business Administration from UW in 1983.
Meredith Long
International Program Director
Meredith Long supervises programs in Asia, Africa, Haiti and Bolivia, and has oversight of our HIV/AIDS programs. He previously worked at World Relief as vice president for Planning and Integration and director of International Health Programs. Dr. Long has worked with churches to combat HIV/AIDS in Africa since the early 1990s. His overseas program implementation experience includes 14 years in Kenya and Bangladesh. He is the author of Health, Healing and God's Kingdom, which examines the interplay between health and traditional religious beliefs.
Merry Fitzpatrick
Director of Technical Support
Merry Fitzpatrick oversees World Concern’s disaster relief and disaster response, microfinance and livelihoods. She also manages US government grants, gift-in-kind programs, and is also developing programming for high-risk countries. In all of this, she finds innovative ways to engage people we serve in their own transformation. Merry coordinates with area directors to advise, train and support field staff, enhancing the ministry through increasingly effective program design and implementation integrating relief and development to achieve long-term results. Merry has worked in emergency relief since 1996, serving with Food for the Hungry, the International Rescue Committee and GOAL-Ireland in Africa, Asia and the Americas. She previously also had a distinguished career in the US military, serving as a Captain in the Air Force.
Diane Bricker
Africa Area Director
"Begin to share with people who have no hope, that there is some hope, and you create a bond," explains Diane Bricker, World Concern Africa Area Director. Diane joined World Concern in 2004 after a long career as an executive in a Seattle-area community bank. She’s found a new home in Africa. "Africa’s very colorful. People are very gracious, very warm and very family-centered," she says. Diane is excited about how hope changes lives. She’s a strong, Christ focused leader who served as our security officer for the Africa Area (overseeing work in high security regions such as Somalia) before beginning her role as our Africa area director. As such, she knows our work well in Sudan, Somalia, Kenya and Chad.
Hesbone Kangé
Kenya Country Director
"In the context that we work, women are the adopters. Women are more receptive," explains Kenya Country Director Hesbone Kangé. He strategically engages people we serve in changing their own futures. The Kenyan development expert specializes in thinking outside the box.
He finds his strength in Christ—trusting Him to guide the work and provide for people’s needs. The work includes developing community banks, establishing safe water sources and finding ways to establish better access to food. Trained as a veterinarian, and with a strong history of relief experience, Hesbone is well-equipped for the challenges.
Tracy Stover
Chad Country Director
As country director of Chad, Tracy Stover provides opportunities for food and jobs in the community of Goz Beida, where about 80,000 refugees and displaced people now live. In addition, internal strife within Chad displaces more families. Tracy explains, "(We) seek to help people in poverty make a decent living and live in a safe environment with adequate housing, clean water, and sufficient food."
The Northwest native is well-equipped for the challenge. Previously, as Kenya country director, Tracy helped thousands of people learn job skills, find relief from disease and receive better access to food and water. "Having sustainable livelihoods isn’t just about income," she says. Tracy works to understand people’s specific circumstances—like implications of nomadic or urban lifestyles, water access, and agriculture. Then she takes into account how people’s lives are affected by disasters, conflict and inequality. Tracy’s analysis and compassion move people toward transformation!
Peter Macharia
Sudan Country Director
"It is such a great joy for me to see people know Christ and to see lives change and released from despair," says Peter Macharia, a Kenyan and our country director of Sudan. He and his staff equip people who lived through a 20-year civil war with skills to feed their families. His staff works side-by-side with the people, teaching them basic math, English, health and Biblical values.
The outreach helps a troubled area, home to 500,000 people. The village bank World Concern set up provides resources for small businesses, and a vocational training center teaches job skills like machinery repair. "Walking with them and helping them find hope gives you a lot of satisfaction and a lot of joy," says Peter. "There is no greater work than helping people to know they were created for something."
Fatima Espinoza
Bolivia Country Director
"They find us," explains Fatima Espinoza, World Concern Bolivia Director. Her work centers around helping some of the poorest women in
Bolivia establish businesses for their families through community banking. Small groups of women receive microloans, build savings, and learn from each other. Fatima grew up in Bolivia. She explains, "I had this call when I was in the university about the reality in my county. I saw the poverty and the many ways of suffering, and I was called to do something."
Now she’s a champion for struggling women. It’s not easy. She notes, "We have to fight against very bad attitudes—hopelessness, no enthusiasm. All the time, they are losing battles. The poverty is in their hearts." But with Christ’s love extending through Fatima’s team, that heart-poverty begins to change. Fatima has worked with World Concern Bolivia for nearly a decade and has a degree in economics and a Master's in Social Management.
Christon Domond
Haiti Country Director
Christon Domond expertly leads World Concern Haiti, and has served as leader with us for about two decades. His vision has enabled thousands of the poorest people in the country to experience better lives. He understands the heart and challenges of the people—Christon grew up in Haiti in a family with nine children. As an advocate for children’s education, he designed a unique program to teach poor kids animal husbandry while helping them earn funds for higher education, by raising goats.
Other programs under his direction include de-worming medication distribution, microfinance programs and disaster response—most recently to rebuild lives devastated by the earthquake that hit Haiti in January 2010. Christon is diligent and invested, very seldom taking a vacation. Through natural disasters and civil unrest, he’s working hard to show Christ’s love to the people who need it so much.
Richard Johannessen
Asia Area Director
After a successful career in international business in leading Rockwell International’s division in Asia, Rick has returned to a calling that began when he was young: to serve the poor in Asia. As our Asia Area Director, Rick oversees a wide range of development work including education, child trafficking prevention, healthcare and microfinance.
Rick’s background working with the poor includes managing disaster relief, agriculture, house construction, HIV/AIDS, and maternal and child health programs in Indonesia. He oversees our work and partnerships in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
Prodip Dowa
Bangladesh Country Director
Prodip Dowa brings optimistic joy to his job, and a clear understanding and compassion for his native Bangladesh. He’s served with us for about two decades, leading one of the most diverse programs at World Concern—which includes infant health clinics, rural schools and women’s microloan programs.
He’s excited about what he sees, including how microcredit helps people escape poverty. Prodip explains, "Once we provide capital to the poor people, they can start and develop their small businesses and make profits." "World Concern is following the mission that Jesus has given us, which is to go to the poor, the needy, the oppressed, the blind, to those who are persecuted," says Prodip. "I have the opportunity to serve them and to also share the Good News with them."
Dr. Rebecca Htin
Myanmar Country Director
"Not many people in the country have the opportunity like I’ve had to study, to have this exposure. I think I need to give something back," explains Naw (Ms.) Rebecca Htin, World Concern Myanmar Director. She’s an amazingly qualified worker—a medical doctor who once worked in a leprosy mission and has a master’s degree in public administration from the Kennedy School in Boston. She’s also a world-class humanitarian. She grew up in Burma, as Myanmar was called until 1989.
In Myanmar in May of 2008, a cyclone killed at least 146,000 people. Rebecca explains, "Psychologically, economically, emotionally, there are many things yet to do to continue life again." Before serving with us, she was busy reaching out in Bogelay, a fishing village where tens of thousands died in the storm. Like many called into the field of humanitarian aid, Rebecca says she’s been preparing for an opportunity like this, to show the compassion of Christ through action, not expecting anything in return.
Selina Prem Kumar
Sri Lanka Country Director
God specializes in preparing His people and placing them just where they’re needed. Selina Prem Kumar is a lifeline to the people she serves. She’s our Sri Lanka Country Director, and she faces a situation that would intimidate many: helping war-affected people build new lives and heal. Part of this job includes bridging peace between the Tamil and Sinhalese peoples—something she is in a perfect position to do as a Tamil married to a Sinhalese man. Selina knows both cultures and languages well.
As National Program Manager, she led the Sri Lanka team in project management, fundraising, human resources and security. She shares God’s love with vulnerable communities. The Emergency Response Program Selina oversaw in 2009 helped evacuate over 30,000 waraffected civilians for medical care and transition to safer areas. Now, Selina’s busy helping people rebuild lives and heal the deep wounds caused by war— with Christ’s love.
Nick Archer
Security and Deputy Director of Disaster Response
The relief and development community is increasingly targeted for theft and attacks. Nick Archer, who oversees security for World Concern staff, explains, "The staff needs the tools, but having a laptop, or a satellite phone, or a car good enough to get them across desert regions can make them more vulnerable." Nick’s job is interesting and challenging. Creating a safe operating environment for the staff is particularly important since we work in places facing religious and cultural strain. "You have to be authentic," Nick emphasizes.
"Are you coming with a heart to serve or to lord it over them?" The people notice a difference. He explains, "We get staff into training—how to deal with a hostage situations, deter burglars—even how to wear seatbelts." Nick, who has worked in Kenya and Somalia and served with World Concern for more than two decades, is strategic. "Drivers are a key face to the organization. It’s our first line of defense in any situation." And with his support, our staff is free to do their best work.
World Concern is the relief and development arm of CRISTA in Seattle, whose board members include:
| Name | Title | Company | Board position |
| Deborah Limb | Director of Structures Engineering | Boeing Commercial Airplanes | Chairman |
| Kirsten Miller | President | Norpro | Vice Chair |
| Michael Eggers | Chief Financial Officer | RealNetworks | Treasurer |
| Stephen Grey | President | Stephen Grey & Associates | Secretary |
| Dr. Margaret Brand | Retired | Physician and Missionary | Member |
| Reg Branston | Retired, Acting President | Kibble & Prentice | Member |
| Joe Bundrant | Executive Vice President | Trident Seafoods Corporation | Member |
| Dale Cowles | Retired, President | Kibble & Prentice | Member |
| Brad Decker | President | Decker Development & Construction | Member |
| David Ederer | Chairman | Ederer Investment Company | Member |
| Jim Funfar | Retired | Microsoft | Member |
| Kevin Gabelein | Managing Director | Fluke Venture Partners | Member |
| E. Kent Halvorsen | President/Owner | Halvorson Construction | Member |
| Morris N. Harper | Harper Trusts | Member | |
| Dr. Daniel Hayden | Retired | Physician | Member |
| Al Howell | Retired, Owner | Bank & Office Interiors | Member |
| Bob Lonac | CEO & President | CRISTA Ministries | Member |
| Leslie Parrott, Ed. D. | Co-Founder | RealRelationships.com | Member |
| Dr. Steven Quillin | DVM | Memorial Road Pet Hospital | Member |
| Phil Smart, Jr. | President | Phil Smart Mercedes Benz | Member |
| Warren van Genderen | Corporate Director/Private Investor | Member | |
| Roger Winter | Retired, Owner | Advanced Computer Products | Member |
All board members can be contacted at the following address:
CRISTA Ministries
19303 Fremont Ave. N. MS-60
Seattle, WA 98133
