Meet Garuna's Board of Directors
Rev. Dr. Jeff Ehlers, Chairman & CEO
Jeff, along with some mission-minded friends, founded The Garuna (grace) Foundation in 2001. He serves as Garuna’s Board Chairman and CEO. Jeff (and family) served for 8 years as an LCMS missionary in Bangkok, Thailand where he was SE Asia Regional Director. During that time, he was involved in missionary work in Thailand, but also began to explore outreach in Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia which led to Garuna’s continued emphasis in this region of the world.
Jeff and his wife, Cheryl, reside in Phoenix, AZ and have 3 grown children. They are members at Christ Church-Lutheran in Phoenix. Jeff graduated with a BS in elementary education from Concordia University-NE, a Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO, and a Doctor of Ministry from Interdenominational Theological Seminary in Atlanta, GA. His dissertation was focused on leadership development.
Jeff served as a vicar in the inner city of Baltimore, MD serving Mt. Calvary and Berea Lutheran Churches. He was called to Christ Lutheran (East Point, GA) where he served for 8 years as sole pastor and director of the school. From there, he served with LCMS World Mission for 8 years before his current role with Garuna.
Dr. Norman Sell, Vice-Chairman
Norman joined the Garuna board in 2008 and currently serves as Vice Chairman. He and his wife, Darleen, live in Mequon, WI. They have 2 children, 6 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. They are members of Trinity Lutheran Church-Freistadt, founded in 1839.
Norman graduated from Mankato State Univ. (now Minnesota State University) with a degree in Economics and Business Adm. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Concordia Seward and Concordia Ann Arbor and several Servant of Christ awards from Concordia River Forest, Concordia Bronxville, and Concordia Irvine. He also served his country for 4 years in the Air Force, including 2 years in Japan.
Norman has had an interesting career, serving as the first budget analyst of South Dakota, Business Manager of the University of Minnesota-Morris, State Budget Director of South Dakota (with lots of work on higher education), and Finance Director of a subsidiary of a Fortune 200 Company. He served the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) as Planning Officer and Asst. Treasurer prior to being elected Treasurer of the LCMS in 1977. As a constitutional officer of the LCMS, he served on six Boards of Directors of various entities of the Synod or of Synod partnerships.
Since his retirement, he has served on 4 Lutheran RSO boards, as well. He shares, “I have been blessed to meet many wonderful servants of the Lord during my time with the LCMS and have been blessed to see the Lord's hand at work doing wonderful things for God's people all over this world.”
Dr. Dave Hemker, Treasurer
Dave has been on Garuna’s board since 2018. He is currently serving Garuna as Treasurer. He and his wife, Pamela, and their family attend Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Fremont, California, where he has served on the Pastoral Advisory Team and as Congregation President and Vice President. He also chaired the School Revitalization Campaign.
Dave spent 30 years in the semiconductor equipment industry focusing on advanced technology development. He retired from Lam Research Corporation in 2018 as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. He received his doctorate and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from Stanford University and his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Wisconsin. He holds more than 100 patents worldwide and has authored numerous technical publications and presentations in the areas of semiconductor processing and thin-film applications.
Dave is currently on the Board of Trustees for Concordia University Irvine, the City Advisory Team for LINC Bay Area, and the Board of Directors for LINC Ministries International. Dave has served on the advisory boards for the University of California Berkeley’s College of Chemistry and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, the San Jose State School of Engineering, and the NSF Center for Energy Efficient Electronics Science.
David Worthington, Secretary
David joined the Garuna board in 2014 and currently serves as the secretary. He and his wife Tamie live in Tyrone, GA and are members at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Peachtree City, GA where David serves as president of the congregation. They have two grown children.
David has worked for Vulcan Materials Company for over 32 years and currently serves as the Director of Commercial Excellence. Prior to this role, he held positions in marketing and sales with Vulcan in Arizona and California.
In addition to serving his local congregation, David has served on the LCMS Lutheran Church Extension Fund board. David graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology – Georgia Tech College of Management with a BS degree in Industrial Management.
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T. Scott Falk, Director
Scott joined Garuna’s Board in 2008. He and his wife, Suzanne, live in Vista, CA with their six children, ranging in age from 7-17 years old. They are members of Faith Lutheran Church in Vista, CA.
Scott became president of Arrowhead Conferences & Events in January 2018 after more than 21 years with the organization. In his previous role of vice president, Scott provided leadership and direction to all Arrowhead account managers and associates, directed marketing efforts, and implemented new business strategies and technology advances. He also served previously as the director of sales.
Before joining Arrowhead, Scott worked as a convention center director of Concordia University Chicago and as a director of Christian education at Pilgrim Lutheran Church and School in Santa Monica, CA. Scott is a graduate of Concordia University Chicago.
Rev. Jim Henkell, Director
Jim has 25 years’ experience in pastoral ministry with a special emphasis in Lutheran education. Jim ministered for 20 years at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church & School of San Diego and was recognized as School Shepherd of the Year by the Pacific Southwest District (LCMS). He also served for 10 years on the Board of Regents of Concordia University Irvine, including as Vice-Chair of the Board and Chair of the Committee on Lutheran Identity and Mission.
Jim earned his Master of Divinity with an emphasis in Homiletics from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and his Bachelor of Arts in Theology with an emphasis in Biblical Languages. He has preached and spoken at more than 150 events across the country.
Jim is married to Liane, a Lutheran educator who works as a Content Developer for Garuna. They are the proud parents of three children.
Rev. Dr. Gerhard Michael, Jr., Director
Mike has served on Garuna’s board since 2001. He is one of Garuna’s founding board members. He and his wife, Joan, have 6 children and 18 grandchildren and they reside in Cumming, GA.
Pastor Mike’s service includes being a Missionary to Japan, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, Merrill, Wisconsin; Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Warner Robins, Georgia; and currently St. Peter Lutheran Church, Dahlonega, Georgia. He served as President of the Florida-Georgia District from 1997 to 2009 and Director of Garuna’s Luther Institute-Southeast Asia from 2010 to 2015. He was a volunteer hospital chaplain at Holy Cross Hospital in Merrill, WI and at the Houston County Medical Center in Warner Robins, GA.
He currently serves as President of the Dahlonega Lumpkin County Ministerial Association and Member of the Community Helping Place Board of Directors. He previously served on the Boards of Lutheran Services of Florida and Lutheran Haven as well as the Camp and Retreat Board of the North Wisconsin District of the LCMS, and 14 years on the LCMS' Commission on Theology and Church Relations.
Pastor Mike graduated with his A.A. degree from Concordia College, St. Paul, Minnesota; his B.A. degree from Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, Indiana; his M.Div. degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; his Th.M. from Harvard Divinity School, and he received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Concordia College, Bronxville, N.Y. He has also completed additional graduate work at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.
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Debbie Shumway, Director
Debbie joined Garuna’s Board in 2020. Debbie and her husband, Lynn, reside in Phoenix, AZ. She is a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Phoenix. Debbie is the CEO of Hospice of the Valley, one of the nation’s largest and most highly regarded not-for-profit hospices.
She assumed the HOV CEO position July 1, 2016 when Susan Levine retired from the organization she led for 23 years with Shumway by her side. Shumway most recently served as senior vice president, overseeing clinical operations, finance, volunteers, fund development, information services and the agency’s thrift store operations.
A certified public accountant, Shumway was named Chief Financial Officer of the Year in the nonprofit category by the Arizona chapter of Financial Executives International in 2009. She was cited for her leadership in growing Hospice of the Valley and for her management versatility.
When Shumway joined the agency in 1994, it served 140 patients a day with 120 staff members and a $5 million budget. Today, the agency cares for 2,900 patients a day with 1,300 staff, 2,300 volunteers and a $130 million budget. About $10.3 million provides charity care for people without insurance or financial means and other community support services.
Justin Smith, Director
Justin Smith is the Co-Founder of Skinbetter Science, the fastest growing physician-dispensed skincare brand in the United States. Mr. Smith previously served as General Manager of Skinbetter Science as part of the executive leadership team with L’Oréal Dermatologic Beauty after serving as President of Skinbetter Science, where he led the company from its founding through its acquisition by L’Oréal in 2022. Prior to Co-Founding Skinbetter Science in 2013,
Mr. Smith held the position of Senior Vice President, General Manager of the US Rx Dermatology Division of Bausch Health Companies (NYSE: BHC), where he led the sales and marketing efforts for the largest division of the company through July 2013. Mr. Smith joined BHC through the acquisition of Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. (NYSE: MRX) in 2012.
While at Medicis, from 1998 to 2012, he held numerous progressive positions in sales and marketing leadership, serving as Chief Marketing Officer, and a member of the Chairman’s Committee at the time of the acquisition of the company.
Mr. Smith also serves on the board of directors of Journey Medical Corporation (NASDAQ: DERM), where he serves as Chairman of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Audit Committee. Mr. Smith earned his B.B.A. in marketing from James Madison University.
Justin is a member of Christ Church Lutheran in Phoenix and is married to his lovely wife, Tara of 24 years and 3 amazing adult children, Grace, Christian and Marco.
Justin Joined Garuna's Board in April of 2024.
Warren Puck, Director Emeritus
Warren served on Garuna’s Board from 2010 - 20232. Warren and his wife, Sue, in Manning IA. He is a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Manning and is a retired owner of a Farm Equipment business.
Warren received his B.S degree from Iowa State and served in the US Navy. Warren has served in many capacities for the Lutheran Church. He served his home congregation as President, Controller, Bible study leader and choir member. He served the Iowa West District of the LCMS as Chairman of the Board and as a member of its Endowment Committee. He has also served for 11 years on the Lutheran Church Extension Fund Board, including the role of chairman. He served on the LCMS Board of Directors for 6 years, including his service as chairman of the Personnel Committee.
