Chad Detwiler – President & CEO (July 19, 2018)
A native of Oklahoma and an active volunteer team leader, Chad got his first experience in mission during his middle school years serving with his church in the Appalachia Mountains of Kentucky repairing homes. Since that time Chad has led over 25 missions internationally and nationally, and as many local missions building and repairing homes, churches, and schools. Chad continues to fill leadership roles within his church, teach Bible studies, and lead a men’s biannual camping experience he co-founded in 2002. Chad holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Airway Science Management and a minor in Geography. With a background in management, Chad gained valuable work experience with a wide range of global and national companies preparing him for his role with ROAD.
Following the devastating tornados in May 2013, Chad had the opportunity to join his long time friend and fellow missioner Richard Norman, who was serving as the Oklahoma United Methodist Director of Domestic Missions over their disaster response ministry. Chad was able to utilize his skills in mission and management to forward that program unitl it was closed in October 2018. Chad and two of his co-workers, Kevin Walker and Hal Wright then started a new nonprofit to carry on this work called Recovering Oklahomans After Disaster.
Chad is an avid indoor soccer player, recumbant bicyclist, and private pilot. Along with his wife Shari, they serve in the mission field together, have two grown daughters, and enjoy hiking and kayaking.
Luke Pratt – Director of Development (February 12, 2024)
Luke has worked professionally in disaster relief since 2012. He was an Emergency Manager for the state of Oklahoma from 2012 to 2013 specializing in mass care and long term recovery for families and individuals. Following the central Oklahoma tornadoes in 2013, he joined the Oklahoma United Methodist Disaster Response Ministry. He worked with volunteers, church host sites, and partner organizations to repair homes until 2016.
From 2016 to 2024, Luke served as the Individual Assistance Officer for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. He was responsible for managing multi-million dollar federal grants, coordinating and delivering Federal assistance from FEMA and other agencies after disasters, and partnering with private sector partners to provide services statewide for emergency events of any scale. In early 2024, Luke joined Recovering Oklahomans After Disaster.
A life-long resident of Oklahoma (with a few detours), Luke is a fourth generation Oklahoman and is called to public service. He served in the Oklahoma Army National Guard and in the United States Army from 2003 to 2010. Luke met his wife Caroline while she was volunteering with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, assisting disaster survivors after the 2013 tornadoes. They have two sons and reside in Oklahoma City. Luke holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Oklahoma.
Cindy Brown – Operations Manager (April 15, 2024)
Cindy Brown has been a transplanted Oklahoman since 1997. She grew up in Lee’s Summit, a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. Cindy is a longtime Kansas City Royals and Chiefs fan, and has recently started following NASCAR. Cindy and her husband Al have two grown children Zachary and Ashley, along with their spouses and 6 grandsons. The Browns enjoy golf, camping and pretty much anything outside – if they are not home, they are doing something outside.
Public Service came about by accident in October 2013 when a friend recruited Cindy to help with disaster recovery following the May tornadoes. She began working for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security as an Individual Assistance Specialist. Throughout her service Cindy had a variety of roles on multiple Federally declared disasters in Oklahoma in 2013, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Her primary responsibilities included program administration, coordinating and conducting damage assessments, organizing sheltering and feeding during emergencies, and leading Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) operations for the State of Oklahoma. She has assisted with DRC’s for the CampFire in California as an Individual Assistance Subject Matter Expert and for Hurricane Florence in South Carolina as Disaster Survivor Assistance/Disaster Recovery Center Coordinator. Other duties included grants administration, financial monitoring and administration, and stakeholder engagement for post-disaster housing and human services needs.
Cindy brings experience from various industries, showcasing her adaptability and strong work ethic. She started her career in customer service as a domestic travel agent, then was an office manager for a home health agency, and later worked as a granite coordinator for a building supply company before entering the world of disaster assistance. In October 2022 Cindy was recognized as a Certified Public Manager CPM®.
Katie Swanson – Program Manager (November 12, 2024)
Katie has been actively involved in the nonprofit community of Oklahoma City since 2013. She began her first job just a few days before the devastating tornadoes struck Moore in May 2013, only a couple of miles away from her new home. Over the past decade, she has collaborated with government programs and local organizations to increase access to nutritious food and healthcare for Oklahomans.
A proud graduate of Oklahoma State University, Katie holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Nutrition and a master’s degree in International Studies with a focus on Human Development.
Katie is a world traveler with Oklahoma roots. She has backpacked through 25 countries with her husband and has walked across Spain, Sweden, and Norway. After living abroad for two and a half years, Katie is excited to be back in her community, helping her fellow Oklahomans. When she’s not planning her next trip around the world, Katie enjoys spending time in nature, practicing and teaching yoga, writing, and kiteboarding.
Hal Wright – Project Manager (November 1, 2018)
A native of Oklahoma and blessed with a Christian foundation, Hal is a retired home builder and general contractor. Following the May 2013 tornado he had the opportunity to join Oklahoma United Methodist Disaster Response as a Project Manager and in 2018 became a founding Project Manager with Recovering Oklahomans After Disaster. His life has been enriched by the many volunteers he has had the honor to work with restoring disaster survivors lives.
Hal and his wife Ranae are active in their church and community. They have grown children and many grandchildren.
Gary Bailey – Project Manager (February 24, 2020)
A born again Christian since 1997, Gary is now living a fully changed life with a desire to serve the Lord. After serving on a few missions in Mexico, the opportunity came for Gary and his wife to serve on mission to Brussels and Paris within the Turkish communities.
Shortly after the European missions, the devastating earthquakes in Haiti occurred. Gary had a background in construction which fit perfectly for an opportunity through his church to become a part of an ongoing mission for the next 5 years. During that time God opened doors allowing him to spend numerous weeks a year in Haiti, not only rebuilding, but teaching and growing in their communities.
Once the needs had been met in Haiti, urgent needs from Hurricanes all over the U.S. became the next calling. During this period of time the desire was put on his heart to get his degree in Christian Ministry, in order to strengthen his heart and mind with God’s word, allowing him to better serve others in the mission field. This was a calling that God laid heavily on his heart.
Since then, Gary has been blessed to serve as a Chaplain during devastating events as well as working to help people get their lives back together. After the storms in the spring of 2019 in Oklahoma, Gary and his wife saw a news report in December stating how many people still had critical needs and there were no workers to fulfill the role. This is when Gary had is heartfelt desire to be in leadership with Recovering Oklahomans After Disaster. His time with ROAD has been one of the most powerful blessings of ministry in his life and is thankful for God entrusting a small part of these lives, hopes and dreams into his hands through His watchful care.
Through every storm is a God given opportunity to changes someone’s life!!!! Henry Blackaby stated “look at where God is working and join in”.
Gary and his wife Tammy of 43 years are active diver’s and enjoy helping with their son’s dive shop.
Sam Trinite – Project Manager (May 1, 2020)
A native of Chicago, Sam was an active missioner with the UMC NOMADs. While serving in Oklahoma in February 2018 with a NOMAD team, he met Kevin Walker and Chad Detwiler. Sam found disaster recovery very rewarding. Following his obligations through the summer working at a church camp in Montana, Sam returned to Oklahoma the next winter on his own to continue to serve disaster survivors in need alongside Kevin and Chad and being afforded the opportunity to build a disaster survivor a new home alongside Bill Mast with the Mennonite Disaster Services.
While Sam was working again at the church camp the following summer in Montana, Chad called and offered him a position as a project manager with ROAD. Following prayer, Sam felt God had equipped him through missions, his previous experiences in Oklahoma, and summers in Montana, so he accepted this role in a much-needed ministry.
Sam enjoys serving at a local church as a drummer and handyman, car shows, and early morning walks with his dog.
Marc Fleischer – Board Director , Chairman (June 29, 2020)
As an attorney and certified financial planner, Marc practiced law for 15 years and now serves as a financial advisor with Fleischer and Johnson Wealth Management. He obtained an Associate of Arts from Hesston College, a Bachelor of University Studies from the University of Mary and a Juris Doctor from Oklahoma City University School of Law. He is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA®) and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®).
Marc’s heart for those less fortunate was awakened while serving with Chad on three international missions to Belize. When asked in 2020 to help support ROAD’s mission, it was an easy decision to join Chad in helping Oklahomans in need.
Marc and his wife, Jennifer, live in Oklahoma City with their children Calvin and Grace. He is an active participant and volunteer at Crossings Community Church and enjoys playing golf and following the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Vikings.
Teresa Coffman – Board Director, Treasurer (January 1, 2024)
Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Teresa graduated from Putnam City High School and then attended Central State University graduating with a degree in Accounting. As a certified CPA she spent four years in public accounting and thirty two years for a restaurant franchise retiring in 2020.
Ed Bevers – Board Director, Vice Chairman (March 29, 2022)
A lifelong Methodist, Ed is familiar with the history of the Methodist disaster response/recovery efforts and has participated in cleanup and rebuilding efforts for several years. With two daughters, Ed participated in nine different district missions with high school students and sponsors and worked from Texas to South Dakota and Tennessee to Colorado.
Ed spent almost 39 years working as an engineer for electric power distribution cooperatives in Oklahoma and retired from the Rural Electric Cooperative in Lindsay. He acted as the FEMA representative for his company and continues to help on disasters for his former employer. He is a chainsaw enthusiast and continues to work on the family farm.
Jay Blough – Board Director (January 1, 2023)
Jay grew up on a farm in Iowa. His formal education includes an Associate degree from Hesston College
in 1967 and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Emporia State University in 1970. His informal education began on
the farm, through summer jobs and continues today as a entrepreneur.
Jay brings to ROAD his knowledge learned from his lifetime experiences as an entrepreneur in the
building materials and construction industry. He has been involved in many phases of this industry
including, business administration, in manufacturing and distribution of cellulose fiber insulation, retail
of commercial and residential roofing, insulation and siding at multiple locations, 3 years as a regional
vice president for a national building distributor, sales and land development of acreages units, retail
safety supply stores and commercial warehouse management. Early on he learned that his success was
dependent on God’s blessing and the wonderful people who worked for him.
Jay has served on various church boards as a trustee and new construction areas. He is actively involved
with the annual Oklahoma Mennonite Relief Sale which supports MCC, the church world relief
organization. He is also involved with Mennonite Economic Development Associates which provides
start-up funds for third world entrepreneurs. For the last 25 years, he has been actively involved with
Mennonite Disaster Service and other service projects most recently completing a 9 year term as
Oklahoma MDS Chairman. He has been blessed by those whom he has served and by the volunteers he
has worked along side. He has enjoyed learning to know the people and working with various disaster
organizations involved with VOAD.
Jay and Mary, his wife of 55 years, have been blessed with 4 children, their spouses and 8 grandchildren.
He especially enjoys spending time with family, working outside with big machinery and in his shop.
Their recent purchase of a piece of property with a large lake will provide a lot of opportunity for
recreation and for Jay to use his big equipment.
Through Jay’s Anabaptist heritage, he developed a strong sense of compassion for those hurting from
disaster with no means of recovery on their own. Although he would rather be swinging a hammer,
serving on the ROAD Board provides an opportunity to use his God given abilities developed over a
lifetime to continue to make his faith live through service.
“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:26 NIV
John Andres – Board Director (August 11, 2024)
John graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in General Business. He has worked for Builders FirstSource for the past 24 years. During this time, he has collaborated with residential new construction builders in Houston, Atlanta, and Oklahoma. He is currently the Area Manager for all locations in Oklahoma and Arkansas.
A friendship with board members Chad and Marc inspired John to join the group in 2024. In 2019, John and his wife, Stephanie, were foster parents. At Chapel Hill Methodist Church, they lead an outreach program that helped Jordan’s Crossing women furnish their homes through donations.
John and Stephanie have three wonderful daughters. They enjoy hiking in National Parks and adventuring together. John is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys whitewater kayaking, rock climbing, and hunting.
Andrea Painter – Board Director, Secretary (August 20, 2024)
Andrea is a native Oklahoman who runs a solo law practice in Oklahoma City. In 2004, she graduated from Washburn University with a Bachelor of Arts in English, and in 2008, she earned a Juris Doctor from Oklahoma City University School of Law. Andrea spent the first several years of her legal career working for a corporation where community service was encouraged. Among other outreach projects, her tenure there included being part of a crew mobilized to clean up tornado damage after storms blew through the Oklahoma City metro. Seeing the devastation first-hand left a lasting impression, and Andrea was honored to accept the invitation to join ROAD as an opportunity to further serve her neighbors as they need assistance recovering from disaster.
In 2004, Andrea married her high school sweetheart, Zach, and they have two daughters, Ava and Maddie, who now complete their family. Andrea is an active member of Covenant Community Church in Yukon where she and her husband serve in children’s ministry and co-lead a community group. In her free time, Andrea loves traveling and spending time with her family.
PAST BOARD DIRECTORS
Kevin Walker, ROAD Co-Founder (2018-2024)
Jim Webb, Accounting Solutions (2021-2024)
Danny Moss, Retired, United Methodist Clergy (2018-2022)
Guy Ames, Retired, United Methodist Clergy (2018-2022)
Ray Bitsche, OKC Community Foundation Consultant (2018-2022)
Judy Benson, Benson Law Firm (2018-2022)
Kendall Trupp, KPMG (2018-2021)
Linda Johnston, Tulsa County Social Services (2018-2020)
Christa Figgins, Legal Aid (2018-2020)