Staff at the Presbyterian Center
Luke manages PDA’s financial and program responses to international disasters, providing initial assessments, working with partners to design and develop program proposals, and providing ongoing monitoring of program implementation.
Video Production Producer/Director
David is a producer and director for PDA video production. He produces, directs, and promotes documentaries for PDA for the purpose of tracking and sharing stories of disaster relief and recovery. He also develops and facilitates PDA Story Ministry initiatives with survivors and their communities that educate the public about the continuum of disaster preparedness, disaster, and disaster recovery.
Pamela serves as the “information officer” for PDA. She works to build effective relationships with constituents by providing current reliable information and resources for their interpretation needs and assisting to find solutions for more complex inquiries. She drafts material for the website, social media (i.e. Facebook), and PDA-RIN and works closely with administrative assistant to coordinate and monitor posting of information. She is the editor of the Mission Mosaic magazine, serves on the ACT Communicators Reference Group, and works to support the ministry of PC(USA) congregations engaged in refugee ministry and to increase sponsorship activities.
Eden provides coordination between PDA-related volunteer hosting sites and prospective volunteer work teams; manages the toll-free PDA Call Center number and is the main contact for teams who would like to explore and/or schedule PDA short term mission opportunities; helps manage distribution of PDA materials located at the Ferncliff Disaster Assistance Center.
Janeth provides support for PDA staff, volunteers and contract staff, provides support in the organizing, preparation and implementation of training events and gatherings, tracks volunteer activity and maintains such records as requested.
Jenny provides administrative support for the communications office within PDA. She helps prepare information for the PDA website and other electronic communications; supports work teams involved in short term disaster recovery mission trips; manages volunteer recognition; responds to interpretive resource requests from congregations and middle governing bodies; assists with writing letters of thanks for financial and volunteer supporters; and assists with alternative giving and other special projects.
National Associate
John trains, recruits, coordinates and manages the PDA National Response Team. He works with middle governing bodies to enable response to disasters in their area and tracks our national responses. He is responsible for decision making around where we respond and at what financial level. John is also active in various areas of providing spiritual care to disaster survivors and others affected by trauma, and he provides linkage to government agencies and other important groups in Washington, D.C.
Beth provides support to the coordinator and associates in oversight of the administration of PDA program, including networking, partnerships, correspondence, budgets, finances, fund allocation and reporting. Provides support for hospitality and contract staff and volunteers who work with presbyteries and congregations. When requested, manages projects and programs of PDA including tracking payments, monitoring and securing reports from the grant recipients and reviewing reports from volunteers working on field projects.
Hospitality Associate
Rick works with the PDA National Response Associate to train, recruit, coordinate and co-manage the PDA National Response Team. Working with middle governing bodies, congregations, National VOAD partners and other organizations, he helps to establish and offer consultation about the operation of Presbyterian Volunteer Villages where volunteer work teams can be hosted as they help rebuild disaster-affected communities. Rick also oversees PDA equipment and operations at the PDA National Call Center/Warehouse.
Mission co-workers
Mission co-worker
(Central America)
Carlos is a PC(USA) mission co-worker based with CEPAD in Nicaragua and working half time with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. He began his work with PDA coordinating the response to the 2001 earthquake in El Salvador. Since then he has become a Sphere trainer for Latin America, and expanded his work regionally. Carlos will represent PDA regionally in disaster response, mitigation and training work. He will also provide training and support to the development work of CEPAD in Nicaragua.
Liaison for Tsunami Recovery
Rebecca (Becca) is a PC(USA) mission co-worker teaching systematic theology at Jakarta Theological Seminary in Jakarta, Indonesia. Becca began her service with PDA in the response to the 2004 Asian tsunami. She is fluent in the local language and during the initial response stage served as the interim regional coordinator for the Action by Churches Together (ACT) Medan, Indonesia, office. The seminary has agreed to a portion of Becca's time being dedicated to continued PDA liaison work with partners in Indonesia during the ongoing tsunami recovery stages.
