TEAM

Dan Hubka

Vice President, Partnership and Growth

What's the most inspiring part of your job?
Just to know that when we do our job well, the ministries we partner with are able to do more of their work. The ripple effect is amazing.

The best piece of advice I've ever been given is...
to not be afraid to fail. You learn so much through failing, and you miss out on even more when you don’t try things. (There is certainly a more elegant way to say that, but you get the picture.)

If I weren't so good at my job, I'd probably be... 
a lyricist. I've always had a love for music and poetry...and a well-written lyric can speak straight to the soul.

My favorite word in the English language... 
is a tie between kerfuffle and shenanigans. "There was a kerfuffle caused by Mike's PowerPoint shenanigans.

Contact Dan

Leah Hankins

Business Development Specialist

The most important thing I learned before high school was...
That confidence is the best accessory to any outfit.

Name a fact about yourself, very few people know.
I lived out of my Toyota Matrix and traveled the country for two months.

My favorite word in the English language is...
Indubitably.

If you were a pasta shape, what shape would you be and why?
Fusilli, because I like to be silly!

Contact Leah

Janey Berends

Client Care Account Manager

The most important thing I learned before high school was...
that sarcasm is hilarious as long as it’s not hurtful.

When I was 5, I was pretty sure I'd be an _____ when I grew up.
Astronaut

If you're stranded on a desert island and have the option of bringing three items with you, what three items would they be?
Filter water bottle (I hydrate compulsively even in non-desert situations), a book of short stories, and a set of juggling balls so I would finally be forced to learn to juggle.

If you could have any celebrity over for dinner, who would it be and why?
Stevie Wonder; I’m a big fan of his music and I bet he could tell some interesting stories about his life.

Contact Janey

Doug Bouws

Vice President, Client Services

What's the most inspiring part of your job?
Hearing a client tell you that they just received a 100k+ disbursement from an estate.

The most important thing I learned before high school was...
how to ride a bike.

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
A wolverine cause they're ferocious

If you were a pasta shape, what shape would you be and why?
Fusilli—cause I like Seinfield and I'm reminded of the Fusilli Jerry episode.

Contact Doug

Bryan Miesel

Client Care Account Manager

What's the most inspiring part of your job?
Providing hope and a plan to ministries that don’t know how to get estate gifts.

The best piece of advice I've ever been given is...
people don't care what you know until they know that you care.

If I weren't so good at my job, I'd probably be... 
an airline pilot by day and a professional soccer player in the evening.

Would you rather go on a hike or to a movie?
Mountains, lakes, rivers, fresh air, smells all in person and live or a bunch of overpaid movie actors on a screen in a dark room!

Contact Bryan

Beth Huls

Client Care Specialist

What's the most inspiring part of your job?
Helping our clients.

When I was 5, I was pretty sure I'd be a _______ when I grew up.
Flight Attendant

If I were a superhero, my superpower would be... 
healing

If you were a pasta shape, what shape would you be and why?
Spiral—I go in many directions at one time.

Contact Beth

Miranda Long

Client Care Specialist

The most important thing I learned before high school was...
appreciate and love yourself and all that you have to offer the world,
no matter what anyone else says about you.

If I weren't so good at my job, I'd probably be...
A professional basketball player.

Something most people don't know about me is...
That I have 9 siblings.

If I could have any celebrity over for dinner, I would invite...
Sadie Robertson because she is someone my age and incredibly wise.
She is someone that I follow via social media/podcast and look to for guidance through any season of my life.

Contact Miranda

Amy Anderson

Client Care Specialist

If I could invent a holiday, it would be...
National Eat Cheesecake with a Cup of Tea While Reading Your Favorite Book Day!.

What's the most inspiring part of your job?
Learning about how God is using His body to serve people around the world--and how generosity fuels this work.

Which is worse: being bored or being too busy?
Being too busy. Boredom leads to creativity!

Would you rather only have summer or winter for the rest of your life?
Summer and sunshine! Michigan winters are beautiful, but so dreary. 

Contact Amy

Ellen Reed

Ellen Reed

Client Care Specialist

What's the most inspiring part of your job?
I love getting to learn more about our clients and their organizations. The Lord is moving in and through these organizations, and it’s an honor to witness that on a daily basis.

If I weren't so good at my job….
I'd probably be touring around the country with a southern gospel music group.

Would you rather only have summer or winter for the rest of your life?
Summertime in Northern Michigan is a dream. I’d take that over winter, any day!

Cats or dogs?
100% Cats!

Contact Ellen

Judy Flier

Vice President, Operations

What's the most inspiring part of your job?
The heart our clients have for their donors. They truly care about their donors.

Name a fact about yourself, very few people know.
I'm a bit of a daredevil on a bike and almost killed myself—twice.

If I weren't so good at my job,
I'd own a market stand and sell my own flowers, produce, baked goods, and handmade items.

If I were a superhero, my superpower would be...
wisdom

Contact Judy

Lisa Fulton

Operations & Development Coordinator

What's the most inspiring part of your job?
Hearing stories about unexpected generosity.

If I could invent a holiday, it would...
definitely involve chocolate!

If I were a superhero, my superpower would be...
successful multitasking.

Which food is better: pizza or tacos?
Tacos.

Contact Lisa

Brian Quist

President

Contact Brian

Mike Buwalda

Founder

What's the most inspiring part of your job?
Seeing our team, our ministry partners, and donors advancing the cause of Christ together!

The best piece of advice I've ever been given is...
the path to JOY is Jesus first, then others, then you, in that order.

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
A fish in my fish tank. Colorful surroundings, regular feedings, and fun to watch the strange people living out their strange lives not realizing they’re being watched.

Contact Mike

TEAM

Dan Hubka

Vice President, Partnership and Growth

What's the most inspiring part of your job?
Just to know that when we do our job well, the ministries we partner with are able to do more of their work. The ripple effect is amazing.

The best piece of advice I've ever been given is...
to not be afraid to fail. You learn so much through failing, and you miss out on even more when you don’t try things. (There is certainly a more elegant way to say that, but you get the picture.)

If I weren't so good at my job, I'd probably be... 
a lyricist. I've always had a love for music and poetry...and a well-written lyric can speak straight to the soul.

My favorite word in the English language... 
is a tie between kerfuffle and shenanigans. "There was a kerfuffle caused by Mike's PowerPoint shenanigans.

Contact Dan

Leah Hankins

Business Development Specialist

The most important thing I learned before high school was...
That confidence is the best accessory to any outfit.

Name a fact about yourself, very few people know.
I lived out of my Toyota Matrix and traveled the country for two months.

My favorite word in the English language is...
Indubitably.

If you were a pasta shape, what shape would you be and why?
Fusilli, because I like to be silly!

Contact Leah

Janey Berends

Client Care Account Manager

The most important thing I learned before high school was...
that sarcasm is hilarious as long as it’s not hurtful.

When I was 5, I was pretty sure I'd be an _____ when I grew up.
Astronaut

If you're stranded on a desert island and have the option of bringing three items with you, what three items would they be?
Filter water bottle (I hydrate compulsively even in non-desert situations), a book of short stories, and a set of juggling balls so I would finally be forced to learn to juggle.

If you could have any celebrity over for dinner, who would it be and why?
Stevie Wonder; I’m a big fan of his music and I bet he could tell some interesting stories about his life.

Contact Janey

Doug Bouws

Vice President, Client Services

What's the most inspiring part of your job?
Hearing a client tell you that they just received a 100k+ disbursement from an estate.

The most important thing I learned before high school was...
how to ride a bike.

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
A wolverine cause they're ferocious

If you were a pasta shape, what shape would you be and why?
Fusilli—cause I like Seinfield and I'm reminded of the Fusilli Jerry episode.

Contact Doug

Bryan Miesel

Client Care Account Manager

What's the most inspiring part of your job?
Providing hope and a plan to ministries that don’t know how to get estate gifts.

The best piece of advice I've ever been given is...
people don't care what you know until they know that you care.

If I weren't so good at my job, I'd probably be... 
an airline pilot by day and a professional soccer player in the evening.

Would you rather go on a hike or to a movie?
Mountains, lakes, rivers, fresh air, smells all in person and live or a bunch of overpaid movie actors on a screen in a dark room!

Contact Bryan

Beth Huls

Client Care Specialist

What's the most inspiring part of your job?
Helping our clients.

When I was 5, I was pretty sure I'd be a _______ when I grew up.
Flight Attendant

If I were a superhero, my superpower would be... 
healing

If you were a pasta shape, what shape would you be and why?
Spiral—I go in many directions at one time.

Contact Beth

Miranda Long

Client Care Specialist

The most important thing I learned before high school was...
appreciate and love yourself and all that you have to offer the world,
no matter what anyone else says about you.

If I weren't so good at my job, I'd probably be...
A professional basketball player.

Something most people don't know about me is...
That I have 9 siblings.

If I could have any celebrity over for dinner, I would invite...
Sadie Robertson because she is someone my age and incredibly wise.
She is someone that I follow via social media/podcast and look to for guidance through any season of my life.

Contact Miranda

Amy Anderson

Client Care Specialist

If I could invent a holiday, it would be...
National Eat Cheesecake with a Cup of Tea While Reading Your Favorite Book Day!.

What's the most inspiring part of your job?
Learning about how God is using His body to serve people around the world--and how generosity fuels this work.

Which is worse: being bored or being too busy?
Being too busy. Boredom leads to creativity!

Would you rather only have summer or winter for the rest of your life?
Summer and sunshine! Michigan winters are beautiful, but so dreary. 

Contact Amy

Ellen Reed

Ellen Reed

Client Care Specialist

What's the most inspiring part of your job?
I love getting to learn more about our clients and their organizations. The Lord is moving in and through these organizations, and it’s an honor to witness that on a daily basis.

If I weren't so good at my job….
I'd probably be touring around the country with a southern gospel music group.

Would you rather only have summer or winter for the rest of your life?
Summertime in Northern Michigan is a dream. I’d take that over winter, any day!

Cats or dogs?
100% Cats!

Contact Ellen

Judy Flier

Vice President, Operations

What's the most inspiring part of your job?
The heart our clients have for their donors. They truly care about their donors.

Name a fact about yourself, very few people know.
I'm a bit of a daredevil on a bike and almost killed myself—twice.

If I weren't so good at my job,
I'd own a market stand and sell my own flowers, produce, baked goods, and handmade items.

If I were a superhero, my superpower would be...
wisdom

Contact Judy

Lisa Fulton

Operations & Development Coordinator

What's the most inspiring part of your job?
Hearing stories about unexpected generosity.

If I could invent a holiday, it would...
definitely involve chocolate!

If I were a superhero, my superpower would be...
successful multitasking.

Which food is better: pizza or tacos?
Tacos.

Contact Lisa

Brian Quist

President

Contact Brian

Mike Buwalda

Founder

What's the most inspiring part of your job?
Seeing our team, our ministry partners, and donors advancing the cause of Christ together!

The best piece of advice I've ever been given is...
the path to JOY is Jesus first, then others, then you, in that order.

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
A fish in my fish tank. Colorful surroundings, regular feedings, and fun to watch the strange people living out their strange lives not realizing they’re being watched.

Contact Mike