Who We Are / Board & Staff

Get to know
the team

Across our board of directors and staff, we bring together valuable expertise and talents to drive the mission forward. To contact a member of our staff, call (660)-225-0810 or email us at info@lbt.org.

Board of Directors

    • Board of Directors

    Marlis Norton

    Chair

    Previously worked in Information Technology project management in the marketing and media arenas; retired and serving in numerous capacities at church and elsewhere.

    • Board of Directors

    Rev. Dr. Peter Meier

    Vice Chair

    Serves the Florida-Georgia District, LCMS, as Executive Director of Missions and Outreach. Prior to the FLGA District, Peter served as Executive Director of the Center for United States Missions, Concordia University Irvine from 2013 to 2019. He is a Senior Master Trainer for Dynamic Church Planting International, Oceanside, CA. Peter is a Director on the Mission Haiti Board and serves as Chairman of the Board of Project Video, which proclaims the Gospel through locally produced video in Southeast Asia.  Peter served the Minnesota South District, LCMS, as Executive Assistant to the President (2005-2006), and Assistant to the President for Missions (2005-2013). He served as Senior Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church and School in Mayer, MN from 1982-2005.

    • Board of Directors

    Rev. Dr. Wayne Braun

    Secretary

    After 38 years in full-time pastoral ministry, including time as a missionary in Germany, Dr. Braun has retired to Denton, TX. 

    • Board of Directors

    Ed Lamb

    Treasurer

    Retired IT Executive. Currently an Executive Advisor/Life Coach and Owner of Fruitful Connections. Board Secretary at Christ Greenfield Church in Gilbert, AZ.

    • Board of Directors

    Deaconess Sonja Baumeister

    Board Member

    Program Coordinator for Mission Training Center which helps lay leaders learn to engage in God’s mission in their own communities.

    • Board of Directors

    Robin Domeier

    Board Member

    Owner and operator of Nibbles Personal Chef and an associate with Project Outpour, a mobile-shower service for the homeless.; former journalist, and a student with the Lutheran Diaconal Association.

    • Board of Directors

    Rev. Omar Garza

    Board Member

    Bi-vocational pastor Rev. Omar Garza had been serving in Matamoros Mexico as a pastor for a local Lutheran church for the last 6 years and has worked in operational leadership in business manufacturing for 30 years. He has served as the National Treasurer of the Lutheran Mexico Synod for the last 9 years.

    • Board of Directors

    Rusty Huseman

    Board Member

    Serves as Managing Partner of William R. Huseman, PA; President of Lutheran Legal League, and Corporate Counsel for The Florida-Georgia District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Rusty is one of only a handful of attorneys in the United States who has achieved recognition and honor from the US Small Business Administration as a SBA Designated Closing Counsel. Rusty’s passion is working with the church and its ministries, empowering, engaging, and equipping them to connect individuals to Jesus amidst the ever-shifting legal landscape. Rusty is a frequent speaker at various LCMS related functions and has been blessed to work with numerous Districts within the LCMS to bring timely legal topics to their attention and to attend conferences and participate in break-out sessions.

    • Board of Directors

    Rev. Dr. Paul Mueller

    Board Member

    Now retired, served as the Executive Director of the Center for Applied Lutheran Leadership and Director of the Mission Training Center, Concordia University, Portland; Regional Director – Africa and Evangelistic Missionary in Liberia for LCMS World Mission; and full professor teaching mission and outreach courses at Concordia in St. Paul, MN and Portland, OR. He is the secretary for the North American Mission Executives group.

    • Board of Directors

    Nickie Wilson

    Board Member

    USAF Lieutenant Colonel, retired; varied international and domestic mission experience.

International Offices Staff

    • Executive

    Rev. Dr. Rich Rudowske

    Executive Director + CEO

    Learn more

    • Executive

    Rev. Dr. Tilahun Mendedo

    Associate Executive Director

    Learn more

    • Field Programs

    Paul Federwitz

    Chief Programs Officer

    • Marketing

    Seth Hinz

    Chief Marketing Officer

    • Operations

    Matt Kistler

    Chief Strategy Officer

    • Development

    Alyssa Petty

    Chief Development Officer

    • Operations

    Angela Tayloe

    Chief Financial Officer

    • Marketing

    Jessica Albers

    Social Media + Content Coordinator

    • Operations

    Charlotte Brandt

    Gift Records Coordinator

    • Field Programs

    Sarah Esala

    Regional Director | Southern & East Africa + Pacific

    • Member Care

    Ali Federwitz

    Prayer & Member Care Manager

    • Field Programs

    Rev. David Federwitz

    Director of Partnerships and Scripture Engagement

    • Member Care

    Valerie Federwitz

    Nutrition & Wellness Consultant

    • Field Programs

    Katie Hogan

    Program Data Coordinator

    • Operations

    Dan Hoppmann

    IT Manager

    • Marketing

    Jill Inman

    Marketing Assistant

    • Operations

    Kathy Knipmeyer

    Gift Records

    • Executive

    Jennifer Kunkel

    Executive Assistant

    • Field Programs

    Janine Pluger

    Ethiopia Programs Data Coordinator

    • Marketing

    Molly Poppe

    Creative Content Writer

    • Development
    • ·
    • Field Programs

    Andrea Rains

    Donor Relations Assistant

    • Operations

    Brian Randall

    Accounting Assistant

    • Marketing

    Sarah Rudowske

    Creative Coordinator

    • Operations

    Melissa Schweigert

    Human Resources Manager

    • Development

    Audrey Seider

    Systems Support Assistant

    • Operations

    Eshinee Veith

    Innovation Manager

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