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Who We Are
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Todd Bramblett
Treasurer
Todd Bramblett is a trusted and experienced leader with proven success in leading companies from initial vision to operational success and profitability. As a board member Todd brings to America World over 17 years of experience in professional services, sales, operations and finance. Todd co-founded and served as CEO of a high-growth Washington DC-based Application Service Provider (ASP), ASPEN, that provides complex enterprise application solutions. Prior to his work with ASPEN, Todd served as Director of Finance for Sunrise Retirement Homes where he was responsible for the financial planning, accounting and IT systems and back-office operations for Sunrise during a period of explosive growth. In 1985, Todd completed his undergraduate studies in both computer science and business at Covenant College, in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
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Kevin and Joan Benson
Board Members
I (Kevin) grew up on a 3rd generation farm in northeast Ohio. Although farming is still in my heart, God sovereignly brought me to the bustling Washington DC metropolitan area in 1983 when he also mercifully revealed his wonderful saving grace to me. God grew in me a heart for single mothers, so in my local church I became involved in serving single mothers by babysitting their children and taking the children on outings. Through our church's Big Brother's program, I was matched with Joan's oldest son and eventually our friendship grew into much more and we were joyfully married in 1994. I have my own business doing primarily residential remodeling.
I (Joan) am a first generation Chinese-American. My grandfather was saved by missionaries in China and became a pastor. That faith has been carried back across the ocean and down through the generations. I hold a BS in Elementary Education from George Peabody College for Teachers of Vanderbuilt University and an MLS in Library and Information Science from the University of Maryland, however most of my working career has been in the area of business, working for IBM. Currently, I help Kevin in his business as his office manager in our home office where I'm also able to be a full-time mom to our 5 children.
Although we had Joan's two sons when we were married we wanted to have a large family. God gave us more than we could ask or hope for when he put adoption on our hearts and gave us three beautiful daughters from China in 1997, 1999, and 2003. We were one of America World's first families and have seen how God has blessed the seed that he placed in the Luwis' hearts years ago. Hundreds of families know the wonderful joy of adoption and have children to love and raise for God's glory because of them. It is a privilege for us serve on the Board of America World because the heart and mission of this ministry is not only to see orphans placed in loving homes, but that in those homes, these children will be taught to believe in Jesus to help secure for them an eternal home. We are honored to be involved in this caring ministry.
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Ralph D. Rinaldi
Secretary
I am a life-long resident of Northern Virginia and I currently reside in Loudoun County, Virginia with my wife, Susan, and our son Maxim. I graduated with honors from Randolph-Macon College with a B.A. in Political Science and I went on to graduate with honors and obtain a J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. Since 1995 I have been an attorney at Cowles, Rinaldi, Judkins, & Korjus, Ltd., and since 2000 I have been a partner at that firm which is located in Fairfax, Virginia. My areas of concentration are construction law, estate planning and administration, general business law and collections, and more recently some aspects of adoption law. Susan and I are Catholic Christians and are also active members of the People of Praise, which is an ecumenical, spirit-filled, Christian community with branches throughout North America. In 2001 we adopted Maxim from Ryazan, Russia and we are currently underway and proceeding with a second adoption through Russia. As adoptive parents, Susan and I, along with our extended families, are whole-hearted supporters of the work of America World in placing children from around the world with Christian families.
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David Barwell
Chairman
David Barwell was born in Australia of English parents, and his sons were born in the United States. His wife, Barbara was born in South Africa and is in the fourth generation of missionaries. In Australia, after 4 years of seminary, he became a qualified teacher of deaf children. After coming to Maryland, he graduated from the University of Maryland as an Audiologist, worked in an E.N.T.’s medical office, and started his own business / ministry performing Audiology services and fitting hearing aids mostly in senior living communities.My wife and I had talked about adoption for years, but had to do it or put the discussion to rest. I went to one of Brian’s first adoption seminars, and emotionally broke down twice driving home and had to pull off the road. I knew that this day was the turning point in my life, my wife’s life and far more dramatically the life of a baby girl to be born somewhere in China. Two days later we put in our application. On my 50th birthday, we received the photo of Yu Ye. We traveled shortly after. Four years later, the three of us traveled with America World to adopt our second daughter XiaoYu. I have been happy to serve on the Board since its creation. I am continually impressed with America World’s professional capability and the kindness of each staff member under the leadership of Brian. I am happy to do whatever I can to promote adoptions: do seminars, talk to prospective families in person and by phone (and e-mail but I’m a slow typist), because I know first hand the sheer joy that God sends to us with our two girls. The excitement and wonder of holding our daughters for the first time has only increased with the years. Some adults may be happy without children, but adoption makes a lifetime of difference to the child.
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Mark Gregston
Board Member
Mark and Jan Gregston began their work with teens 30 years ago, when Mark was a youth minister at First Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Their involvement with Young Life moved them to open their home to work with those who were struggling through crisis family problems. During the 80’s while living at Kankakuk Kamp in Branson, Missouri, Mark was the Area Director for Young Life, a part of the Leadership Team for Doulos Ministries, and helped start the residential program there.
In 1989, Mark and Jan moved with their two children, Adam and Melissa, to Hallsville, Texas. Here they started Heartlight Ministries, dedicated to providing an effective program for struggling and troubled teens in family crisis.
Their commitment to providing this opportunity through the years has allowed hundreds of families to work through difficult situations. Believing that an atmosphere of relationships creates an arena for change, Mark and Jan share their lives through retreats, speaking engagements, and counseling.
Mark travels most weekends speaking or leading the Dealing With Struggling Teens Seminars in cities across the nation. His hope is to help others before they need a type of program like Heartlight for their child.
Mark and Jan’s daughter, Melissa, a Child Life Specialist, is the Admissions Coordinator for Heartlight. She is married to Blake Nelson, Heartlight’s Residential Life Director. Blake and Melissa have two children, Maile and Macie. Mark and Jan’s son, Adam, works for LECG, LLC in Dallas, Texas.
Mark's most recent book, When Your Teen is Struggling, was released in January of 2007 and can be found online at www.heartlightresources.com or at most Christian bookstores.
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Lynne Prinzing, BSW
Board Member
Lynne Prinzing graduated in 1999 from George Mason University with a B.A. in Social Work. Prior to coming to work for America World in 2000 she had experience working and volunteering with the elderly and teens. She was the first social worker to be hired by AW and was instrumental in building the China and Eastern European programs. Lynne also assisted the agency with their COA and Hague accreditations. Her roles at America World have included Family Coordinator, Program Director, COA Coordinator, and Hague Coordinator. Currently she is employed by affiliate offices to conduct home study and post placement work for families in New York and New Jersey.In 2002 Lynne got married to Scott Prinzing and moved to New York where her husband works as the Guest Service Coordinator for Young Life’s Lake Champion. There they serve together to present to gospel to thousands of high school and junior high students each year at the outreach camp. Scott and Lynne have two biological children, a daughter and a son. Currently they are in the process to adopt a little girl from China.
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Marci Mercado
Board Member
My name is Marcia Lynn Mercado, known to my friends and family as Marci. I have been married to Tito Mercado for over 15 years, having met him while attending Virginia Tech. He grew up in Northern Virginia and had secured employment in the DC area upon graduation; therefore, I transferred to George Mason University to complete my four year degree. We have lived here since. We have four children – Matthew 10, Nathan 6.5, Kaylin 4 and Annie 1. Tito is a pastor at our church, Grace Community Church in Ashburn, Virginia, and I have stayed at home with the children since Matthew was born. I currently home school Matthew and Nathan.I obtained my BSW in 1993 from George Mason University, graduating With Distinction and a GPA of 3.54. I completed four social work related internships obtaining my degree. While I’m happy to contribute my limited social work experience and BSW, I feel my strength for the Board would come through my two AWAA adoptions. Given my penchant for research and my thorough understanding of the adoption community and, most importantly, my passion for seeing orphans cared for and/or placed in godly homes for the sake of Christ and his gospel, I would find great satisfaction in participating together with the Board to see this work continue. Our own adoptions have changed our lives and have given us an even clearer picture of what Christ has done for us as God adopted us into his family and called us his own. We want to tell this story to anyone who will listen and encourage them to consider it as well.
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Patrick James Van Winkle
Medical Advisor (non-voting member)
I am 38 years of age, have been married for 11 years, and have 3 children through adoption, Trent (now 6 years of age, adopted from Korea), Diana (now 4 years of age, adopted from China) and Taliah (now 2 years of age, adopted from Ethiopia). I am a Pediatric doctor working for Kaiser Permanente in Orange County, California.
My wife and I have been involved in medical missions for the past 12 years. We are currently working in Cambodia with a missions group and are involved in medical care and work with at risk children. My wife and I also started and run a small orphan care ministry called the Miracle of Adoption Ministry (www.miracleofadoption.org ). We have been volunteer associates for AWAA for the past few years and have bi-annual seminars for AWAA. We love working with AWAA. We love the heart of this organization and its desire to serve the Lord and these children and their adoptive families.
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Contact Us
Spirit of Adoption Video
Corporate Staff
Regional Offices
Staff
Associates
Board of Directors
Strategic
Planning
Document
2004 Annual Report
2003 Annual Report
Mission &
Faith Statement
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