Gift Catalog

Board of Directors

Our leaders have been passionately called to help deliver lasting hope against hunger around the world.

Mark Carlson, JD

BOARD CHAIRPERSON

Mark Carlson has served as a career diplomat with the U.S. Department of State, with tours in East Asia, SE Asia, and Washington DC, focusing on human rights, national security, economics, and consular affairs. Previously he was a partner with the Seattle-based law firm of Lane Powell Spears Lubersky, specializing in commercial transactions and international law. He has lectured on business and international law at several universities in mainland China and Taiwan.

Mark also served for eight years as Minister of Global and Local Outreach with Westminster Chapel in Bellevue, Washington, overseeing partnerships with organizations and ministries committed to serving the poor across the world. He is a graduate of Bethel University, the University of Virginia Law School, and has studied theology at Fuller Seminary and Regent College (Vancouver BC).

Mark and his wife Melinda have three adult children, and live in Vienna, Virginia.

Photograph of Ron Vos

Ronald Vos, Ph.D.

BOARD VICE-CHAIRPERSON

Ron Vos is professor emeritus of Agriculture and Environmental Studies at Dordt University, Sioux Center, Iowa. Although semi-retired he owns and operates his farm along with his wife Nancy. They have three adult children and nine grandchildren. Ron has degrees in Biology/Chemistry, Environmental Science, and a Ph.D. in Agronomy/Economics. At Dordt, Ron was responsible for the establishment of the Ag Missions major and the Community Development department. Ron also teaches Ecological Agriculture for Au Sable Institute in Washington and has worked on rural community development in several countries.

Ron has attended approximately 20 International Agriculture Conferences at ECHO, usually bringing Dordt students with him. He finds it an honor to serve on the ECHO board, an institution that he has been familiar with for decades.

Amy Wiggins

BOARD SECRETARY

Amy Wiggins is a teacher and sees how hunger can impact a child’s ability to learn. Amy formerly served as ECHO’s Director of Advancement. Having a passion for making a difference in the lives of children, Amy also served on the Board of Trustees for the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes for many years.

God opened her eyes to the need for ECHO’s work while serving on short-term medical mission trips with her husband Stan, who is a pediatrician, and their three sons. They would return home from their work in Guatemala and Ecuador with broken hearts, knowing that the health and nutritional needs of the children they were serving weren’t being addressed with long-term solutions. Amy considers it a joy and privilege to be supporting an organization that brings life-changing opportunities and lasting hope to families in need.

Photograph of Greg Dugger

Greg Dugger

BOARD TREASURER

Greg lives in Noblesville, Indiana with his wife Kay and has two children.

Greg has worked in the Banking industry for 35 years. The majority of his career has been spent with a Credit Union in Indiana. Mr. Dugger is active in local community activities. He has been a board member of the youth recreational sports league in his community. The league oversaw soccer, baseball and basketball programs which involved 2,500 children. Greg was a founding board member for Hamilton County Llamas, a club that supplies animals for 4H and gives youth experience of farm life and managing animals. He is active on a committee for Indianapolis Habitat for Humanity to help with lending compliance. Mr. Dugger has been an active mentor with Hamilton Southeastern high school Academy of Finance and a speaker.

“I have grown up with ECHO and witnessed the men that have placed their mark on ECHO’s mission. ECHO has been an incredible resource for small farms, feeding others and bringing hope to those in need. I am humbled to be a part of ECHO and its mission”.

Doug Carlson, MD

Dr. Carlson is a retired ophthalmologist living in Stillwater, MN.  He received his BA degree from Bethel University and his MD and residency training at the University of Minnesota. He has served as managing partner of a large ophthalmology practice as well as chief of staff and board member of Lakeview hospital. He has participated in numerous medical and surgical mission trips to the developing world with the goal of creating permanent eye centers operated and run by local doctors and staff.  He has three children and seven grandchildren.

“God has called us to care for the poor and ECHO provides the opportunity to be the hands of Christ in reducing hunger and improving the lives of the poor.”

Karen Stoufer, DVM

Dr. Karen Stoufer has served with Christian Veterinary Mission for 30 years, first as a veterinary trainer and rural community development advisor in Nepal and then as Director of Training and Regional Director for Asia based in Seattle, WA.  She graduated from Cornell University with a BS and DVM and earned a master’s degree in Christian leadership from Azusa Pacific University.  Prior to her overseas service, she was in veterinary practice for 12 years in New York and California.  She and her husband have recently moved to Pennsylvania to be near their two grandchildren.  Karen is excited to be able to combine her passions for community development, participatory training and gender equity by serving on the ECHO board. 

Rosanna Hess, DNP

Rosanna Hess grew up a farm girl in Pennsylvania.  She is married to Nelson. She has a Bachelor’s of Nursing from Columbia University, NYC and Masters in Intercultural Studies Missiology from Wheaton Graduate School.  Rosanna served as a missionary nurse educator with the Christian & Missionary Alliance in Gabon Africa  from 1980-1998.   There Rosanna served at the Bongolo Hospital and later led the Primary Health Care ministry using Community Health Evangelism.  Since completing a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree at Case Western Reserve University in 2002, she has taught nursing research in the School of Nursing at Malone University, Canton, OH.   She led the non-profit organization, Research For Health Inc., 2005-2018 and has been a part of numerous US and international research studies.  Rosanna and Nelson live in Cuyahoga Falls, OH and Lehigh Acres, FL.  They enjoy golf and biking.

Barbara A. Anderson

Barb is very honored to begin a term on the board of ECHO. Her life experiences include being a wife to Rollie, a mother to two adult children, and grandmother to five. 

Barb earned an MS in education from St Cloud State University, and an MA in Counseling Psychology from Bethel University in St.Paul, MN. She taught primarily family education and child development in a local school district over a span of 20 years. She found the work with at risk families to be challenging and rewarding. As a counselor she worked in a women’s college with the student population, and a pro-life clinic as the Counseling Director. She is retired from employment.

Barb has been a long term member of Discovery Church, Sauk Rapids, MN and over the years has served in a wide variety of capacities. She has traveled with evangelistic ministries internationally and has served on a number of boards both nationally and locally.  She and Rollie live in MN with their Golden Retriever.

Bill Hutchison, Ph.D.

Bill has been a Professor & Extension Entomologist, Dept. of Entomology, University of Minnesota, in St. Paul, for the past 32 years. He served as Dept. Head from 2010-2015. An Arizona native, he received his BS degree (Agronomy) from the University of Arizona, and his PhD in Entomology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Between degrees, he spent 2 months doing ag-missions work in Honduras; this shaped his early vision for international development. With his Extension appointment, he works with growers to implement sustainable Integrated Pest Management (IPM) solutions, to reduce pesticide use yet continue to provide marketable produce. His current focus includes a rapid response to invasive pest species, the use of exclusion-netting and biological control – emphasizing high-value crops (apples, wine grapes, berry crops). During his career he has enjoyed mentoring 20+ graduate students and numerous undergraduates. Internationally, Bill has had the opportunity to work with maize IPM, with scientists in Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa, as well as Mexico and the UK.

Bill is an active supporter of ECHO, particularly since serving on the Board from 2010-2016. He continues to believe in ECHO’s mission, and has a passion to work with ECHO’s staff and partners, to break the poverty cycle of 800M+ who continue to be malnourished in developing countries. Enhancing the yields of staple crops, as well as increasing access to high-value fruit and vegetable crops provides additional family funding, and expands income opportunities. ECHO, in part, is like having an “International Extension Service” to smallholder farmers that has had a significant impact to date. Over the next decade, we need to do more to accelerate the movement of families out of the poverty, so that more children can break the malnutrition cycle, have access to school, and thrive.

Tom Gill, Ph.D.

Dr. Thomas (Tom) Gill is an international, interdisciplinary development professional who has worked in agriculture and rural development for the past 20 years. Gill currently serves as the Smith Chair in International Sustainable Agriculture and Director of International Programs at the University of Tennessee’s Institute of Agriculture, leading strategic vision and global program development across the institute. Gill has served as President (2019-2020) of the Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development (AIARD) and as Chair (2015-16) of the International Agriculture Section for the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU). His experience and research interests include smallholder household decision-making in sustainable agroecosystems and participatory approaches to capacity development, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.

Rod Sebastian

Rod and wife Lori reside in Babcock Ranch, Florida and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. His passion for agriculture began early in life on the family farm in Iowa. He retired after more than 34 years with the US Department of Agriculture holding positions as an Agricultural Economist with the Agricultural Marketing Service Dairy Programs and Risk Management Specialist with the Risk Management Agency. Late in his career Rod received USDA’s Organization of Professional Employees Unsung Hero Award in recognition of customer service to producers and analytical process development. Rod now works on the fall harvest crew at his in-law’s Iowa farm.

He responded to God’s call to become involved in agricultural missions by first visiting ECHO’s Global Farm and completing Tropical Agricultural Development (TAD) training courses offered by ECHO. Rod is now in his second term serving on the ECHO Board. He is also an active volunteer serving ECHO in a variety of capacities. He especially enjoys sharing the ECHO mission as a Docent guiding tours on the ECHO Global Farm. He also has had the opportunity to visit the East Africa Regional Impact Center to observe how ECHO works directly or through network partners with smallholder farmers.

Rod earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business at Iowa State University studying farm management and agricultural finance. He also completed a Masters of Agriculture degree in Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota in agricultural marketing, international trade and development.

Ron Tschetter

Ron earned his bachelor’s degree from Bethel University in psychology and social studies education. He and his wife joined the Peace Corps and served in India beginning in 1966. He then did additional graduate work at the University of St. Thomas and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the College of Charleston. Along with his successful career in the investment industry, Ron joined ECHO’s Board of Directors in 2010 and became ECHO’s Board Chairman from 2012-2016. He returned to serve once again on the Board in February 2024.

As a former Peace Corps Volunteer and Director of the Peace Corps, Ron understands the reality of food insecurity in the world today. His recognition of these needs, coupled with his deep faith, has fueled Ron’s passion to advance ECHO’s impact, reducing hunger and improving lives worldwide.

Cathrine Ziyomo, Ph.D.

CEO, Hekhani Seeds

Dr. Ziyomo is an accomplished agricultural scientist and leader with a passion for sustainable food security and environmental stewardship. As the CEO of Hekhani Seeds, she is dedicated to advancing seed systems and empowering smallscale farmers with resilient and nutritious crop varieties.

With a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and a Master’s degree from the University of Zimbabwe, she brings extensive expertise in agronomy, plant genetics, and community-driven agricultural solutions. Her prior role as Program Lead at Biosciences East and Central Africa allowed her to work closely with smallholder farmers, addressing their challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions.

Dr. Ziyomo serves on multiple boards, including Education Matters, Crop Trust, and Zimcet, where she contributes her expertise in resource mobilization, strategic partnerships, and advancing education and agricultural sustainability. She is a strong advocate for community seed banks, ensuring biodiversity preservation and long-term food security in Southern Africa.

Motivated by a commitment to zero hunger and social impact, Dr. Ziyomo actively networks with donors and stakeholders to support sustainable agricultural initiatives. She believes in using her skills and resources to serve underserved communities, aligning her vision with organizations like ECHO, where she seeks to make a lasting impact on global food security.

Raymond N. Mutava, Ph.D.

Senior Country Director, World Renew – Uganda

Dr. Mutava is a dedicated agronomist and development practitioner with extensive experience in sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation, and community transformation. Currently serving as the Senior Country Director at World Renew Uganda, he has spent over nine years working to strengthen communities through sustainable resource management and food security initiatives.

With a Ph.D. in Agronomy from Kansas State University, his research focused on the effects of drought, high temperature, and flooding on crops, developing strategies for climate resilience in agriculture. His expertise spans institutional capacity building, local partnerships, and promoting sustainable farming systems among smallholder farmers in East Africa.

Dr. Mutava has also served in leadership roles, including as an Ex-Officio Member of the World Renew Uganda Board of Directors and a Founder Member of the World Renew Kenya Board. He actively collaborates with institutions such as ECHO East Africa, agricultural research organizations, and universities, leveraging his knowledge and networks to drive impactful change.

Passionate about integrating faith and development, he is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Southeastern University to deepen his understanding of theology and its role in community transformation.

Sign Up for ECHO News

JOIN
Our Work
Make an Impact
Quick Links
Connect

17391 Durrance Road
North Fort Myers, FL 33917
239.543.3246
info@echonet.org

Twitter Facebook-f Instagram

We are voluntarily evaluated for financial transparency and accountability by these independent third-party organizations.

ECHO, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization registered under EIN: 23-7275283.

© Copyright ECHO 2022. All Rights Reserved.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Service

discover-am-logo