Stan Askren retired as Chairman and CEO of HNI Corporation in 2018 where he served as CEO for 15 years and served in various senior executive capacities for 26 years.

Mr. Askren previously worked for Emerson Electric and Thomson SA in various progressive management capacities. He is the Founder and CEO of Quiet Trail Advisory practice and currently serves on the Boards of Armstrong Worldwide Industries and Allison Transmissions. Mr. Askren is an advisor and consultant for Lean Focus, LLC., a lean consulting firm, and serves as an advisor to private equity firms and public company CEOs. Mr. Askren also serves as an advisor and/or board member to several not-for-profit and missions-based organizations.

Mr. Askren graduated with highest honors from University of Northern Iowa with a Bachelor of Business and has an MBA from Washington University and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University.

He is married to Mona Askren and has three adult, married children.

Jeff Berg is the Co-Founder and CEO of Planning Center, a company dedicated to building quality management software specifically for churches. In 2007, while he was working at a church, he started developing the first Planning Center application to help the worship team plan their services and schedule their volunteers—an app now known as Services. The customer base grew quickly, so Jeff started working on the software full-time and brought more people onto the team to expand the product and build more applications. As someone who worked in ministry, Jeff understands the motivation behind the work of the church and is passionate about supporting them with tools to help make them more effective.

He believes in and wholeheartedly supports the work of Samaritan Aviation on behalf of missionaries around the world. He lives in San Diego with his wife Shannon and their three children where he runs Planning Center and is involved in a local church.

Dr. Pilly Mapira is the president of the Public Health Association of Papua New Guinea and a Public Health Physician and Lecturer at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG), School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS). She has had over 12 years of public health research and development experience including intermittent clinical practices in Papua New Guinea and abroad. Her research work not only produced the first scientific data on subclinical iodine deficiency among school children in PNG, but also advocated for the establishment of the first International Micronutrient Laboratory at the SMHS, UPNG and the first National Micronutrient Survey conducted in 2005 by the SMHS, National Department of Health, UNICEF and Centres for Disease Control.

As a medical student, Dr. Mapira did her rural health programs in the Gulf Province where she had to travel by canoe up the river for health patrols.

“I saw how difficult and remote it was for the people to access not only quality health care services but education and other essential services. Although I had a heart and passion for promoting primary health in rural areas, the topography, transport and communication barrier was a huge discouragement. But few years later in 2015, a documentary of Samaritan Aviation on the discovery channel, shocked me into tears. Tears rolled down my eyes as I saw this tiny sea plane and a group of American volunteers and families in the middle of nowhere saving lives and delivering medical supplies. I was not only moved by what I saw but truly challenged and ashamed as a Papua New Guinean. Since then, I told myself that if there is any way, and anything I can do to help Samaritan Aviation so that they can maintain their services or even extend to other parts of the country with such difficult topography, I would do whatever it takes. I am very happy and excited to be part of a team that can truly live up to its name.”

Byron Dyck, CFP is a Wealth Advisor with CEDRUS based in Littleton, CO and has served individual and small business clients for over 25 years, helping them with the planning and investment goals. 

Graduating with a business degree from Biola University, he has been blessed to volunteer with several  church and short term mission opportunities in the US, Mexico and Guatemala. 

The outreach and goals of Samaritan Aviation have been something he has wanted to participate in for several years and he looks forward to getting involved in the work they are doing with the people of PNG.

Currently living in Solana Beach, California, he has two adult daughters and is married to Reem; they enjoy skiing, biking and hiking, wherever and whenever the opportunities present.

Born and raised in Louisiana, Dr. Rick Merritt has southern wit and charm along with a dedicated drive for excellence. He has been married to his wife Judith for over 33 years, and they have three children and nine grandchildren. Rick is the founder and president of Heart and Soul Family Counseling Services.

Rick served eight years in the military before resigning to civilian life and devoting himself to full time ministry in Yuma, AZ. It was there in Yuma that he got involved in mission work to Kenya, Africa, and has lead multiple mission teams to Kenya over the years. His pastorate experience began as the Associated Pastor in his mother’s church in 1990; which lead to his personal calling and ministry three years later and has been in the ministry ever since.

Rick is currently the lead pastor at 180 Faith Ministries in Vista, CA, reaching the Tri-City North County and San Diego area as well as having significant influence with the troops at Camp Pendleton and Miramar since 1996.

Dr. Merritt is currently partnering through his private practice Heart & Soul Family Counseling Services with the Chaplin’s Association at both Camp Pendleton and Miramar Bases to help service members, their marriages, and family heal after being ravaged by ten plus years of war. This partnership has allowed him to participate in their “Marriage Family & Parenting” Expos held at Camp Pendleton and Miramar for the last several years.

Educated with his Ph.D. in Pastoral Care and Clinical Counseling from Minnesota Graduate School of Theology; he is a certified MFT (Marriage Family Therapist), and belongs to the American Academy of Clinical Family Therapists Association, along with other certifications from Light University and the American Association of Christian Counselors; Addiction & Recovery with the 12 step program from Celebrate Recovery; Premarital & Marital Coaching, Acute Stress Grief and Trauma Care, Crisis and First Responder Training, along with PTSD & Combat Stress Coaching. He has been on the ground floor working with the U.S. Veteran’s Department as a clinical psychologist in their pilot program “The Aspire Center” located in San Diego, CA. Dr. Merritt is heavily engaged with this initiative and also leads assessments for service members with PTSD and readjustment challenges that helps them integrate back into civilian life.

“The opportunity to serve on the Samaritan Aviation advisory board is a privilege and honor that culminates all of my mission efforts thus far. I’ve been informed of the efforts and ministry involvements of Samaritan Aviation through Bryan Yeager the COO, a friend of over twenty years. I look forward to being a part of God’s plans for the future of Samaritan Aviation and the opportunity to serve with such an excellent ministry.”

Advisory Board Member Patrick Clowes is a licensed attorney and a Real Estate Broker. Patrick has served as a senior executive in several corporations and non-profits. He served as Vice President of Human Resources and Administration for Promise Keepers. He has a B.S. in Business Administration and a J.D. from the University Of Colorado School Of Law. He has taught college courses in Negotiations, Conflict Management, Business Ethics, and Business Law. His early career was in urban missions. “My experiences working with Samaritan Aviation in the US and in Papua New Guinea have been some of the most rewarding I’ve ever known.” Patrick has been a Board Member since 2010.

John Davis is the COO and Executive Producer for Michael Jr. Productions. John has recently produced the survival competition series Stranded with a Million Dollars for MTV and the comedic docuseries Coach Charming for TLC. Davis has also managed production on all BASE Productions projects, such as: ESPN’s Sport Science, Nat Geo’s Do or Die! and Syfy’s Fact or Faked; and oversees legal, network relationships, staff, 26 edit-bay post facility, music licensing, animation/grfx, 27,000 sqft soundstage and extending projects to multiple platforms. Davis also played a key role in the development, producing and delivery of Car Warriors, which spanned two seasons. 

Davis first joined BASE as a freelance EIC on Jesse James is a Dead Man, where he successfully delivered the complicated series that had been shut down prior to his arrival. In his 5 years with BASE, Davis is most proud of the pivotal role he played in seeing it sold for a reported $75M USD to Tinopolis Ltd. Davis’s television career spans over 17 years, from his start in post-production, rising to the executive ranks. Davis served as a freelance EIC on several successful programs, including the FOX hit, Kitchen Nightmares. Davis also is an industry leader when it comes to stunt-related programs, starting when he spent two years with CBS Eye Too Productions as the Executive in Charge and Line Producer on Discovery Channel’s hit series Stunt Junkies. 

Personally, John has been married to his wife Julie for over 18 years, they have three kids, and enjoy an active lifestyle as a family living in Texas. He graduated from Southern Nazarene University in 1996, with a BS in Business Management.

Jeff Petersen was the President and Founder of Coal Creek Consulting, a firm that specializes in project management and infrastructure development for wireless telecommunication providers. During his years with Coal Creek, he grew the company to over twenty-five employees, and they became the gold standard in Arizona for wireless services. Jeff sold the company in 2018. Jeff now lives in Texas and has started a new business and is an owner/broker of Transworld Business Advisors of East Texas.

Jeff is a proud parent of three fantastic children who were raised with a love of the outdoors that includes backpacking, hunting, hiking, and winter sports. Jeff exhibits extreme dedication and perseverance through personal challenges such as running twelve half-marathons in one year, hiking rim-to-rim-to-rim across the Grand Canyon (43 miles) in one day, and living an entire year as a vegan.

Jeff’s involvement began when Samaritan Aviation rented office space from his company in Scottsdale, Arizona. In November of 2015, Jeff accompanied Mark Palm on a two-week trip to Papua New Guinea. Jeff was moved by his visit and his interactions with the people of PNG as well as the Samaritan Aviation families serving in Papua New Guinea. Through his interaction with the Board, Jeff has assisted Samaritan Aviation with fundraising from major donors and strategic management consulting.

“My trip to PNG with Mark was a mountain top experience.  I am proud to be a part of an organization that is both loved and respected by the people whom we help”.

Joy Schwertley was born and raised in South Africa. She has an interesting story to tell about growing up and being educated in this wonderful country. Joy decided from a very early age that she wanted to be involved with people and what made them tick, so she chose a career in Psychology. After graduating from University, she seized the opportunity of moving to the neighboring country Namibia to study animal behavior. Soon she became involved in capturing and relocating wildlife to allow for conservation of all the interesting species. During Joy’s time spent in the bush, she captured Rhino, faced a Lion head-on and raised 20 baby Zebra.

In 1995 Joy emigrated to the United States of America and settled in Cave Creek. Joy was proud of becoming an American Citizen in 2006. She started her business Discovery Profiling in 1996 and has been consulting with companies not only in the United States, but Internationally as well. Discovery Profiling Inc helps business owners increase their bottom line by focusing on their most important asset – their employees. Some of the services provided by Discovery Profiling include, Assessments for hiring and selection, Employee development, Team Building, Conflict resolution, Coaching and Sales Development, to name a few.

Joy has performed some very interesting research on human behavior and values in successful businesses and applies her knowledge to assist her clients in growing and improving their companies.

Focusing on human potential is not Joy’s job, it is her passion.

Rick Orred is the owner of Orred Financial Partners, a financial advising firm located in Willmar, MN. Over the past 26+ years, Rick has had the opportunity to serve clients from all over the country by guiding them through the process of planning for their desired income in retirement as well as the years leading up to it.

Having been married to his high school sweetheart for over 33 years, Rick & Shannon have been blessed with four lovely daughters and 3 wonderful sons-in-law. While spending time on the lake with his family is one of his favorite pass-times, he also enjoys the outdoors by hunting and fishing.

During a trip to Papua New Guinea in 2019, Rick had the opportunity to see Samaritan Aviation truly be the hands and feet of Jesus as they lived out their mission of pursuing an unreached people group with the gospel to meet their spiritual need while also meeting numerous physical needs. Being asked to serve as an advisory board member of this ministry that is changing lives with the love of Jesus is an honor for Rick.

Bruce Johnson has been serving with Samaritan Aviation as an Aviation Advisory Board Member since 2006.  He has been a strategic voice and help for our organization providing flight training, aircraft equipment consultation and participating with his wife, Bonnie, in Samaritan’s program launch in Papua New Guinea. 

He and his wife, Bonnie, have spent many years engaged in mission and aviation ministries. Bruce has served aviation ministry participating in strategic program planning, aircraft acquisition, flight training and program fund raising.  He has developed seaplane flight-training programs and trained pilots for African Inland Mission and Samaritan Purse in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, East Africa. In 2007 he served as member of the Strategic Planning Group for Evangelism and Mission Aviation, Amazon Basin, Brazil and has also served in missions in Mexico and Ecuador.  Bruce was very involved in the early formation of Quest Aircraft Company and served on the board from (2003-04). Bruce is currently a team member with World Mission / Dolsys participating in efforts to set up seaplane operations servicing the church and Island people of Lake Victoria as well as providing aviation support to Vine Trust hospital ship operations in Tanzania.

Bruce has forty years of aviation experience flying in Alaska (1973-2013) with over 10,000 hours of seaplane flight time).  His aviation background includes Commercial Instrument, Single Engine, Multi Engine Sea, Kenmore Air Harbor, Kurtzer Flying Service Seattle, Wa. His education includes AAS Sciences degree from Washington State.  Bruce served two tours in the Navy and participated on the Apollo 10 and 11 recovery efforts in the South Pacific as well as Riverboat duty while in Vietnam.  Bruce and Bonnie’s home Church is First Christian at Sandpoint, Idaho.  He and Bonnie serve as Husband/Wife Mission Team Committee Members. Bruce was born in Seattle and married his lovely wife Bonnie and they have two children, Jessica and Megan.

Michelle has a twenty-year private sector background in business and property development and management followed by fifteen years in community development in the NGO space with public health program implementation and administration; good governance and anti-corruption; and inclusive education and resources for persons with disabilities.

Michelle’s national roles include Chair of the Interim Board of Comrade Trustee Services Ltd; Deputy Chair of the Advisory Board for Callan Services for Persons with Disabilities National Unit; Interim Executive of the Central Motu Koitabu Development Convention; and Founding President of the Roger Hau’ofa Kidney Foundation. Michelle has also served on the Boards of Westpac Bank PNG, Independent Director; Transparency International PNG, Treasurer then Secretary; and Boroko Baptist Church, Deacon.

Michelle is the descendant of Tongan missionaries to PNG on her paternal side and has a strong sense of social justice and a heart for service. Michelle has three adult children (two daughters and a son) and three granddaughters.

James, born in Papua New Guinea to an ex-Austrian missionary and educated in Australia as a Civil Engineer, has a heart for missions and reaching nations with God’s love. Since university, he’s been active in short-term missions, starting with a trip to Kazakhstan with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and later to Kenya, where he met his future Australian wife.

In 2012, James, his wife Sharon, and two of their daughters attended a Disciple Training School with YWAM in Kona, Hawaii, which included a transformative two-month outreach in Cambodia. Afterward, he participated in scouting trips to Kenya and Uganda with the Brisbane-based NGO, Droplets In A Stream (DIAS), and later led his family to Kenya as DIAS’s first missionaries to start building The Milele Centre, a Child Rescue Centre.

James has also undertaken short-term trips to Papua New Guinea, including Bougainville and West Sepik Province, to train and support local church leaders and a medical center. Currently a Project Manager for Queensland Rail and Missions Coordinator at his local church in Brisbane, James is excited to work with Samaritan Aviation, hoping to use his skills and passion for missions to inspire others in PNG and globally.

Paul Forehand is a professional pilot, flight instructor, and former flight school owner. While visiting the Experimental Aircraft Associations AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI in July of 2015, Paul noticed an article written about Samaritan Aviation in the daily newspaper. He was prompted to make the trip over to the seaplane base to learn more about their mission and see their second airplane. After talking with Mark Palm about the services SA was providing, it became clear to Paul that a second plane was critical for the operation to be most effective. Paul returned to his church in North Carolina and shared what he had learned with two men’s groups. Both agreed to help support SA with monthly donations.

In February of 2016, Paul’s church was starting a focus on missions, local and world-wide. Bryan Yeager was invited to come and speak. As a result, the church as a whole supports SA.

Paul and his wife of 30 years, Diana, live in Garner, NC. They have three grown children and four grandchildren.

“Providing life-saving services opens the door for the real work of sharing Gods love with the people of PNG”.

John is the senior pastor at New Life Church in Kingman, Arizona.  At the age of twenty-two John responded to God’s calling and entered the ministry.  Since 1984, John has filled many roles as a member and staff member with New Life Church and becoming the senior pastor several years ago.  In 1991 John founded a highly successful ministry called Jacob’s Ladder which is a recovery program for chemical dependency and anger management issues.  The court system in Kingman has sent many people through Jacob’s Ladder once released from incarceration.  John and New Life Church support Samaritan Aviation as well as several other mission organizations and missionaries.

Rebekah was born and raised in Santa Rosa, California. Her participation in several mission trips with her church as a child created a passion for overseas missions she has carried throughout her life. In her early teens, she fell in love with airplanes and all things related to air travel. Her interest in aviation led her to completion of her professional pilot ratings and a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace from Middle Tennessee State University. While living in Tennessee, she met her husband, Steve, who is an F/A-18F weapons systems officer in the U.S. Navy. They have been married since 2011 and had their first child, Tommy, in 2020. Rebekah is now a San Francisco-based first officer on the Airbus 320 for United Airlines. Rebekah remains passionate about the application of aviation, one of the greatest tools for spreading God’s love.

Matthew Palm is a founding board member of Samaritan Aviation. He has served as the lead pastor for Hope Church in Vista, California since 2005. He’s been married over 24 years to his high school sweetheart Melissa and has three boys: David, James, and Jason.

With over 30 years of pastoral experience, he brings a pastor’s heart to every conversation that the board of Samaritan Aviation has. The message is simply that we should care about the people that everybody else walks by. His heart is that we are truly living out the story of the Good Samaritan as an organization, and we never forget the reasons why we do what we do.

Mike Bantz is a civil engineer working as the Pacific Area Manager for CDM Constructors Inc., which is an engineering and construction company that designs and builds water and wastewater treatment plants throughout the world.  Mike has been working in the construction industry for 20 years and his area performs over $100 Million in business per year. 

Mike was first inspired by the Samaritan Aviation dream in 2005 and has been involved with the ministry ever since.  He was able to visit Wewak in November 2013 to evaluate the suitability of land for building our first compound.   He was amazed at how powerfully God is working through Samaritan Aviation in Papua New Guinea. 

Mike lives in San Diego with his wife, Lynda, and three wonderful children.  Mike and Lynda have been shaped by short-term missions work in their early years and feel very blessed to be a part of Samaritan Aviation now.  Mike received a B.S. from the University of Colorado in 1994 and is a Professional Engineer.

Nate and Sue Orvis live in rural Iowa, where they farm as well as run Magnify Consulting, LLC. Their background in corporate risk management and division one coaching uniquely prepared them to consult on operational and team effectiveness. The Orvises have a passion for helping Christian owned businesses maximize their profits for Kingdom ministry. Additionally, they consult with several Christian organizations.

When not working, Nate and Sue enjoy time in the Colorado mountains where Sue can fly fish and Nate can explore new Jeep trails.