The board is composed of members who have knowledge of and commitment to refugees and immigrants. LIRS believes strength is found in diversity and that refugees and immigrants need a voice at the table of influence. All branches of the Lutheran Church, as well as other denominations, are represented on the board. There are also three former refugees or first generation immigrants on the board. The LIRS president is an ex-officio member of the board.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Board Chair
Ms. Elizabeth Wagner
Senior Vice President and Director, Institutional Wealth Management
Bryn Mawr Trust Company (Princeton, NJ)
Vice Chair
Mr. Eddie Resende
Co-CEO
World Trade Center Institute (Baltimore, MD)
Board Treasurer
Mr. Dennis Wieckert
CPA, Retired (Alpharetta, GA)
Board Secretary
Ms. Virginia Hultquist
Manager for Lutheran Engagement, Retired
Thrivent Financial (Greensboro, NC)
Executive Member at Large
Mr. Jan Engkasser
Director, Member Engagement Strategies
Thrivent Financial (Minneapolis, MN)
AT-LARGE MEMBERS
Mr. Matuor Alier — Director, Diversity and Inclusion, Moorhead Public Schools (Fargo, ND)
Mrs. Faith Ashton — Retired (Chapel Hill, NC)
Ms. Diane Batchik — Independent Advisor, Diane Batchik Consulting (Columbia, MD)
Ms. Selena Besirevic — Feldmann Nagel, LLC (Denver, CO)
Bishop Paul Erickson — Bishop, Greater Milwaukee ELCA Synod (Milwaukee, WI)
Dr. Viji George — President, Concordia-Bronxville, Retired (Bronxville, NY)
Mr. Ted W. Goins, Jr. — President, Chief Executive Officer, Lutheran Services Carolinas (Salisbury, NC)
Rev. Dr. Yared Halche — Facilitator for Mission Engagement, Southeastern District LCMS (Ellicott City, MD)
Mr. Randel Johnson — Partner & Government Relations Chair, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (Washington, DC)
Mr. John R. Moeller, Jr. — CEO, Inspiritus (Atlanta, GA)
Ms. Bryn Parchman — CEO, Port Discovery Museum (Baltimore, MD)
Mr. Carlos Peña — Founder and President, Kleen Supply Company (Galveston, TX)
Mr. Dustin Plantholt — Executive Vice President, OptiMed Health Plans (Sparks, MD)
Dr. Diana Pohle — Associate Director, Market Intelligence, Jazz Pharmaceuticals (San Jose, CA)
Ms. Evelyn Soto — Director, Unit Operations and Programs, Domestic Mission Unit, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (Chicago, IL)
Ms. Michele Speaks — Co-Chair, Warnock Foundation (Baltimore, MD)