Biographical Info
Abisai Arreguin is responsible for maintaining MAUC’s information systems. He also assists the Treasury Department with various accounting functions and improvements of internal controls to safeguard MAUC assets.
Biographical Info
Nancy has been the Mid America Union women’s ministries director since 2003. She has also served as an elder, Sabbath school superintendent, assistant head deaconess and worked in various children’s ministries.
Traveling throughout North America teaching churches about women’s ministries and how to start Women of Spirit (formerly Women in Touch) has been a big part in forming her passion for teaching women about service.
Nancy’s favorite verse is “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness” (2 Cor. 12:5). Her personal mission statement is “To have a growing relationship with Jesus, be a cheerleader for my family and encourage and equip women to be all God created them to be.”
Nancy is also a piano teacher. She maintains a studio at home and teaches piano at College View Academy. She especially enjoys quilting, cooking and spending time with her family including six grandchildren.
Biographical Info
Carisa Carr is the associate director of the Office of Education.
Biographical Info
Craig Carr is the director of the Ministerial Department. He collaborates with the conference ministerial directors in supporting and equipping local pastors.
Biographical Info
El Ministerio Hispano está dedicado a alcanzar a la población Hispana en el territorio de Mid- America Union Conference, y prepararlos para el Reino de los Cielos. El departamento Hispano trabaja junto con los coordinadores Hispanos de toda la unión en buscar nuevos métodos y recursos para alcanzar a la población latina en nuestro territorio.
El departamento, también se enfoca en ofrecer programas de discipulado, que motivan a los miembros a envolverse en la ganancia de almas con sus dones y servicio.
Otros servicios que ofrece el Departamento Hispano:
- Educación continua: Maestría en español para pastores
- Congreso de jóvenes hispanos
- Festival laico
- Evangelismo Internacional
- Seminarios para pastores
Biographical Info
Hugh Davis, the Association Director of Communication at the Mid-America Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in digital media, communication, and marketing. With over 20 years of experience spanning various sectors including healthcare, public education, and city government, he brings a wealth of expertise to his role within the church.
Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, Hugh is a proud product of Adventist education, having earned his degree from Andrews University. In addition to his role at the Mid-America Union Conference, he serves as the Digital Media Manager for OUTLOOK magazine, further showcasing his commitment to leveraging digital platforms for effective communication within the Seventh-day Adventist community.
Biographical Info
Brenda Dickerson has been the Communication Department director and editor of OUTLOOK magazine since 2013. She enjoys collaborating with the many talented photographers, designers and writers who help build up the kingdom of God in America’s heartland and beyond.
Biographical Info
The Church Ministries director coordinates a wide variety of initiatives, events and resources for local conferences and constituents. The areas of focus include Children’s Ministries, Pathfinders and Adventurers, Youth and Young Adults and Adventist Community Services.
Biographical Info
Barb Engquist is the administrative assistant for the Office of Education and the Communication Department.
Biographical Info
Kristi Griffith is the registrar for the Office of Education. She reviews the academic records of approximately 375 elementary and secondary teachers annually and assists with certification status.
Biographical Info
LouAnn Howard is the director of the Office of Education. She served as associate director of education for the MAUC since 1999.Learn more about her role.
Biographical Info
Raylene Jones is the human resources director for our union conference office and staff, as well as providing support to our six conference human resource directors. She also enjoys her responsibilities in providing support to our union conference president.
Biographical Info
As vice president for administration, Dr. Hubert J. Morel Jr., assists the union president in articulating the mission and vision of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Mid-America and providing leadership to the union’s six constituent conferences. He is responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of the union and its entities as it relates to policy development, implementation and interpretation and also assists the union and local conferences in the development of constitutions and bylaws.
In this role, Dr. Morel serves as vice chair of the Mid-America Union Executive Committee for which he prepares and distributes committee agendas and minutes, and serves on the Union College board of trustees. He also compiles membership statistics and reports and serves on various other committees throughout the North American Division, including the Adventist Health System board and presidents council.
Dr. Morel grew up in New York City and received his elementary and high school education at Brooklyn Temple Seventh-day Adventist Elementary School and Northeastern Academy. He is a graduate of Oakwood University in Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in theology, a master of divinity degree from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary in Berrien Springs, Michigan. In addition, Morel holds a D.Min. in biblical counseling from Trinity Theological Seminary in Newburg, Indiana. Morel began his pastoral service in the Southeastern Conference in 1981. Over the years he has ministered to congregations in Florida and Georgia. His administrative experience includes serving as Church Ministries director, and executive secretary for the Southeastern Conference. In April 2008, Dr. Morel was elected president of Southeastern Conference, making him the fifth president in the history of the conference. He served with distinction as president until 2016 (two terms as allowed by the conference’s bylaws).
Dr. Morel is married to the former Raquel Howell. Together they have two adult sons, Hubert J. Morel, III (Trey), of Orlando and Harrison J. Morel of Denver. They also have one granddaughter, Melodie Jordyn Morel.
Biographical Info
Roy Schaecher provides maintenance for the Mid-America office building and grounds.
Biographical Info
Simpson holds a bachelor’s in business administration with an emphasis in accounting and a master’s in business administration with emphasis in finance.
Simpson was born into a pastoral family with a missionary background. He has served the Seventh-day Adventist Church in different countries, including Honduras and Costa Rica, and diverse institutions, such as food companies and universities. He has a love and passion for soul winning, which he says makes him a financial leader with a singular perspective—channeling and structuring resources to fulfill the mission.
Roy Simpson previously served as treasurer of the Ohio Conference until September of 2024.
Biographical Info
Michelle Swanson is the executive assistant to the vice president for administration and administrative assistant for the ministerial department.
Biographical Info
As Mid-America Union president, Gary Thurber is responsible for articulating the mission and vision of Seventh-day Adventist Church in Mid-America and ensuring harmony with the mission of the world church. Working with the rest of the leadership team in the union office and the leaders of its six constituent conferences, he is responsible for the efficient functioning of the varied dynamics of the church organization.
As an executive committee member of both the North American Division and General Conference, Thurber represents Mid-America Union membership to the world church, and likewise represents world church leadership to church members in Mid-America. Additionally, he serves as board member for a number of higher education and healthcare institutions, as well as media and outreach ministries. He chairs the board of Union College and works closely with its administration to ensure its success.
Thurber began in ministry as a teacher at Redwood Academy in the Northern California Conference. From there, he served as an associate pastor and assistant director of Northwest Ministries Training Center at the Kent Church in the Washington Conference. He completed his bachelor’s degree at Southern Adventist University, and earned his master’s degree in religion at Andrews University. He is currently enrolled in the Ph.D. Leadership program at Andrews University.
Ordained in 1987, Thurber has served as a pastor in the Kansas-Nebraska, Florida and Michigan conferences. His assignments in the Michigan Conference also included director of Youth, Camp and Family ministries and, later, assistant to the president for administration. He has also served as president of the Rocky Mountain, Indiana and Northern New England conferences.
Prior to coming to the Mid-America Union Conference, Thurber was executive secretary of the Lake Union Conference.
Thurber is married to the former Diane Wynn. They have two adult sons, Ryan and Justin.
Biographical Info
As vice president for finance, David VandeVere serves the members of the Mid-America Union in regard to finances and stewardship. He ensures that funds entrusted to the care of the Mid-America Union Conference are processed according to the highest professional and spiritual standards stipulated by denominational policies and governmental requirements, as certified by independent auditors.
David graduated from Southern Adventist University with a BBA in accounting in 1987. He then became a licensed Certified Public Accountant and received Trust Certification from the General Conference Trust Committee. He has also completed a Pastoral Coaching Systems program in 2006 from Ministry Advantage in Dallas, Texas. VandeVere has served as a CPA, treasurer/secretary in the Minnesota Conference, and lead pastor for the Damascus Grace Fellowship in Maryland for 10 years before returning to focus on financial ministry in 2014 as VP-Finance for the Potomac Conference.
David and his wife, Cindy, have two sons, Steve, who is married to Lachelle, and Ryan. David’s favorite title is “Grandpa Dave” to grandson Eli.
Biographical Info
Pennie Yesilcimen is the executive administrative assistant for the treasury department.