Leadership
Richard (Rick) A. Alvis has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Wheeler Mission since 1990. He is a 1977 graduate of Ft. Wayne Bible College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Christian Education and is an ordained Christian Union minister. Just prior to assuming his duties at Wheeler Mission, he served as the Executive Director of the Evansville Rescue Mission for 10 years. In 1992, he was listed in “Who’s Who Among Rising Young Americans” and is a recent recipient of the distinguished Sagamore of the Wabash award. Rick has served the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions in several capacities, including Secretary/Treasurer, Vice President, and President. He has also been on the national Board of Directors of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. He lives in the Indianapolis area with his wife Julie and enjoys spending time with their three adult children and their families.
Executive and Leadership Teams
There are four Executive Team members, including President/CEO Rick Alvis. Others are:
Steve Kerr, Chief Development Officer, who is responsible for all fundraising efforts
Steve Meyer, Chief Operating Officer
Cal Nelson, Chief Program Officer for Men
Colleen Gore, Chief Program Officer for Women
In addition, there is a Leadership Team, comprising the members of the Executive Team and the heads of certain departments.
- Dennis Abrams, Hunt Training Center Director
- Brandon Andrews, Director of Men’s Residential Center
- William Bumphus, Director of Shelter for Men
- Dana Jones, Bloomington Area Program Director
- Braden Pothier, Director of Thrift Store Operations
- Natalee Stafford, Director of Volunteers
- O’Nealya Gronstal, Director of Community Engagement
- Chef Sam Brown, Food Service Director
- Barry Glaser, Director of Facilities
- Robert Weller, Director of Human Resources
- Tom Johnson, Director of Accounting
- Bethany Alvis, Director of Strategic Planning and Engagement
- Brian Crispin, Director of Marketing
- Tammy Ellis, Director of Special Events
- Chris-Michael Morrison, Director of Advancement – Bloomington Area
- Julie Alvis, Director of Donor Relations
- Anna Warner, Director of Data Processing
Board of Directors 2019-2020
The Board of Directors is composed of 20 members, among whom are four officers who are elected to annual terms in May. Wheeler President/CEO Rick Alvis is also an officer.
Officers
Mike Rasor, Chairman
2006-2021
LM Henderson, LLC
CPA
Frederick E. Breisch, Treasurer
2005-2020
Stericycle
Senior VP of Finance
Jim Fountain, Vice Chairman
2010‐2019
Shepherd Insurance
Executive VP of Benefits Division
Richard A. Alvis
Wheeler Mission
President/CEO
Virginia Cain, Secretary
2006-2021
Former City County Councillor
Former Regional Director for US Senator Coats
Members
Brent Benge
2014-2021
KennMar Commercial Real Estate
President/CEO
John Corbin
2015-2019
Huntington Bank
Indiana Region President
Gerald L. Cowan
2001-2021
Law Offices of Gerald L. Cowan
Lawyer
Gini Elmore
2018-2021
The Bowery Mission, NYC
Board Member
Dr. Clifford Fiscus
2001-2019
Physician/Ophthalmologist
Retired
Lori E. Haniford
2016-2019
Ernst & Young
Tax Partner
Charles Kerkhove, DDS
1991-2021
Pediatric Dentist
Retired
Scott Kiesel
2012-2020
Ronald Blue Trust
Financial Advisor
Dayton Molendorp
2016-2020
OneAmerica
Chairman of the Board
Gary Reinwald
1997-2020
Steak ‘n Shake
Former Executive VP, Franchisee
Dennis D. Smith
2016-2021
Merrill Lynch
Financial Advisor
Larry Smith
2017-2020
Randall L. Tobias Center for Leadership Excellence
Managing Director
S. Edward Torres
2015-2019
Lilly Ventures
Managing General Partner
Sandy Ward
2006-2020
JPMorgan Asset Management
Relationship Manager, Retired
Andrew R. Wiesman
1992-2019
Eli Lilly and Company
Purchasing Consultant,
Retired
David Wilhite
2012-2020
Genezen Labs, Inc.
Vice President and COO
Emeritus Members
Perry R. Meek
Attorney
Martha T. Starkey
Harrison & Moberly, LLP
Attorney/Equity Partner
Robert B. Wingerter
RBW Advisors
Managing Director
President’s Advisory Council – Indianapolis
Cal Burleson
Indianapolis Indians
VP & General Manager
Dave Calabro
WTHR Channel 13
Sports Director
Don Fisher
American Environmental Corp.
President/CEO
Bill and Gloria Gaither
Gaither Studios
Reginald O. Jones
McDonalds-Faith Corporation/Goodness, LLC
Randy Ollis
WISHTV Channel 8
Meteorologist
Don Palmer
The Palmer Group
President
Art Shoener
Kansas City Southern
Former President & COO
Troy Riggs
Executive Director of Public Safety
Denver, Colorado
David Youngblood
Schneider Corporation/Square D
Senior Sales Executive
President’s Advisory Council – Bloomington
Kurt Buehler
President; Image Matters, LLC
Rev. Bruce Ervin
Interim Minister; First Christian Church, Bedford, IN
Barb Horvath
Indiana Institute on Disability and Community / Center on Education and Lifelong Learning; Retired
Dennis Smith
Financial Advisor; Merrill Lynch
Dr. Daniel Watts
Adjunct Instructor; Biotechnology Program at Indiana
University
Staff
Wheeler employs more than 65 full-time staff members and more than 55 part-time staff members. In addition, many temporary staff members join our work during the busy winter season. All employees are evangelical Christians, attend area churches, adhere to an ethical code of conduct, and sign a statement of faith.
Click here for staff email addresses.
Volunteers
Wheeler has about 8,000 different volunteers over the course of a year, who contribute more than 40,000 hours annually. Most volunteers work very closely with staff, but some programs are run almost entirely by volunteers, like the Ladies Auxiliary and the Medical and Dental Clinics. It would take more than $730,000 to match the efforts of our volunteers every year. Click here for more info on volunteering.
