Aaron W. Welch, Jr. Ph.D.

Chairman

Aaron Welch is a contract researcher/consultant and president of Welch Agricultural Services, Inc. which contracts pesticide efficacy and fertilizer and GLP residue trials for major agricultural companies. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of the South (Sewanee) in 1967 and Master's degree in Plant Pathology from the North Carolina State University in 1969. After 4 years in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, Aaron returned to North Carolina University and completed Ph.D. in Plant Pathology with a minor in Botany in 1976. Aaron and wife Janet reside in Bradenton, FL. They have two children and two grandchildren. They are active members of Christ Episcopal Church and have new and great travel commitments to spoil their grandchildren.

“Over my years in Bradenton, as my commitment to my church and our Lord increased I began looking for a way I could use my skills in Agriculture to help feed hungry people around the world. That more or less coincided with Mike's establishing Hope Seeds, Inc.    I originally signed on just to serve on the Board and offer what financial support I could.  However, when you let God decide what you do, you sometimes end up doing things you probably wouldn't have done before: things like chopping up giant squash to harvest the seed, growing broccoli and harvesting and cleaning the seed, and going on an Agricultural Mission trip to Haiti. My association with Hope Seeds, Inc. has been challenging and rewarding and I look forward to working with Mike and the Board and the new members to guide our mission, with God's help, to even greater service and commitment around the world.”

Rev. Ed Krauss; Doctor of Ministry

Vice Chairman

Ed became an ordained minister from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO and served three congregations in Michigan (Mt. Pleasant, Essexville, Ann Arbor) for 35 years. His background includes church counselor, secretary, boards, committees, and teaching. He is currently the music director at Faith Lutheran in Dunedin where they are active members.  He and Jan have 3 children and 3 grandchildren, who all unfortunately live too far away to see very often.

 “I am an Indiana farm boy who recognizes the need for people around the world to grow their own vegetables, so I definitely support Hope Seeds.”

Gerrit D. Van Dyke, Ph. D.

Treasurer

Gerrit VanDyke earned his Ph.D. from Iowa State University in Botany and Plant Ecology, M.A. University of Texas, Austin, in Plant Physiology and B.A. from Calvin College, Grand Rapids MI. He taught High School Science for 7 years and then taught Biology at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL, for 30 years before retiring in 2002.  He also taught summer field biology courses for 16 summers at the Wheaton College Science Station in the Black Hills of South Dakota and spent 10 summers on wetland research at Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago. Gerrit and wife Laura are retired and reside in Holland, Michigan and Bradenton, FL where they are attend Harderwyk Christian Reformed Church and Bradenton Christian Reformed Church. They give many and valued volunteer hours in both home locations which include teaching ESL, property maintenance, and caring for the newest Hope Seeds “Inventory Control”, son of Bethany Matzke during our busy work days. They enjoy international travel as well as visiting 2 children and 5 grandchildren.

“When we came to Florida for our first winter season, we were looking at volunteer opportunities. Laura and I paid a visit to Hope Seeds in Palmetto and liked what we saw so we began volunteering there.  We have enjoyed that privilege ever since and are looking forward to continued involvement.”

Luella Franke

Secretary

 Luella has served the church for 25 years as office administrator.  While living in Frankfort, KY she served Indiana District Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) as Vice President to Mission Grants and other district committees.  She and husband George recently returned to their home area and reside in Perry County, MO.  She serves her church with a homebound ministry reaching 12-15 folks each week. They enjoy their work and involvement with Hope Seeds.   They also take every opportunity to visit their three children and ten grandchildren and remain active in Grace Lutheran Church in Uniontown, MO and various congregations amongst their travels.

“To me Hope Seeds reaches out to help all of God's people as the needs arise and helps them to learn how to become self sufficient.”

Edward Schleg

Ed Schleg earned his Bachelor's degree and Master's degree in Biology at University Wisconsin. After teaching the Sciences at a small High School for three years he received a National Science Foundation grant to study at University of Michigan and earned his Master's degree in Genetics at University Michigan. He taught Microbiology and Genetics at a Junior college for 33 years. He and his wife retired to Bradenton, active at Hope Lutheran Church, and enjoy visiting his two sons and two grandchildren.

“I heard about Hope Seeds at my church. I like the concept and have been volunteering there since.”

T. F. Armbruster

Board Member

“Ted” Armbruster earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Michigan Technological University located in Houghton, Michigan. He has held a variety of positions, initially at Allis-Chalmers Mfg. Co. and then Siemens Aktiongeselschaft ,Headquartered in Munich, Germany, working with the application, sales and installation of large vertical shaft, hydraulic driven generators throughout the United States and the then Free World.  Positions included; Application Sales, Manager of Sales and then Manager of Hydraulic Turbine Driven Generators Dept.  He and his wife, Dixie, are very active in their home congregation of Hope Lutheran Church in Bradenton, FL and have 3 children and 7 grandchildren.

“Having been to Haiti in 1995 on an Eye Glass Mission, I had observed the living conditions in Haiti.  Upon the group's return to Bradenton,  it was decided to continue as an organized group, with the goal of trying to help the people of Haiti through the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti.  At some point in time, Mike and Jean Mueller offered space in their Seed Warehouse to gather, pack and ship these  materials, Seeds were also sent to help improve the Haitian diet of beans and rice.  It was soon discovered that not many Haitians knew how to plant and cultivate a garden successfully.  At that point the idea of Hope Seeds was 'planted' in the mind of Mike Mueller and eventually was brought to fruition.  The rest is history.  I don't think that I was brought to serve on the Board of Hope Seeds, I was absorbed by the new organization of Hope Seeds that expanded the efforts and capabilities of what we then called "Haiti Missions" at Hope Lutheran Church.  Also with the advent of Hope Seeds, a far greater program of self help could be established.”

Jim Green, Atty.

Board Member

Jim earned his Bachelor's degree from Southeast Missouri State University and right to practice law from University of Missouri, School of Law. His law firm is in Sikeston, MO and he is active in leadership of multiple Bar Associations, Boy Scouts of America, Sikeston Rotary Club, United Fund, March of Dimes, and Concordia Lutheran Church in Sikeston, MO. His family includes wife Sharon and five children and six grandchildren.

Dave Unander has a background in Genetics, Ecology, and Sustainable Development. He received his Ph.D. in plant breeding from the University of Minnesota and was hired as a plant breeder by the University of Puerto Rico. Dave later worked for the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, studying tropical plants with potential antiviral effects. He is currently a professor of Biology at Eastern University in St. David's, Pennsylvania. He has also served on the boards of Floresta and ECHO, two other Christian missions that combine science and faith in service to the poor. Dave is professor of record for “Tropical Agriculture and Missions,” a university course taught at ECHO every summer in collaboration with the Au Sable Institute. Dave is very active at Providence Church in West Chester and also regularly attends Calvary Fellowship Church in Downington. He has four children and one grandchild and enjoys traveling to the Northeast and internationally to South America and the Caribbean on Agricultural Mission Trips.