God’s love, transforming deepest need into thriving joy
Leadership
KELLY MILLER
President and CEO
Kelly Miller has been involved in Christian outreach to many of the world’s most vulnerable for almost 30 years. His career began in the marketing and advertising sector, but then God called him to work in international non-profit ministry with organizations such as World Concern and Landesa, and providing consulting services to other international non-profits.
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Kelly Miller
His ministry work has taken him to over 35 countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Caribbean. For both his personal and professional life, Kelly has always sought the Lord for His direction and is excited to continue to do so as Cross International’s president and CEO. Read our Q&A interview with Kelly
ZACH OLES
Vice President of International Programs
Zach Oles currently serves as the VP of International Programs for Cross International. Zach joined Cross in 2010, in response to the Haiti earthquake. He spent the next eight years with Cross building partner capacity and improving programs across multiple humanitarian sectors.
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Zach Oles
Today, Zach brings these relationships and experiences to his current role, serving 14 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Zach is also proud of his time spent as a Peace Corps Volunteer, which started his journey in international development and missions. He also draws support from his MS studies in Sustainable Development, his faith in Christ, and his wife and daughter.
LENORA FOSTER-BRANCH
Chief Administrative Officer
Lenora Foster-Branch joined Cross International as their Chief Administrative Officer in 2020, overseeing Accounting, HR, Operations and IT.
Her career in the field of accounting has been a journey of seizing every opportunity to improve her performance and the performance of those around her from audit to management.
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Lenora Foster-Branch
She has worked in a leadership management position in the non-profit world for about 20 years.
As she will attest, perfection may not always be possible, but her work ethic drives her to apply all she has learned to tackle difficult challenges and solve persistent problems in the realm of finance and strategic planning.
Her methods are inventive, her diligence to detail, her organizational, auditing and time management skills lend themselves to simplifying archaic and time-consuming tasks for herself and team members. Her varied work experiences inform her strategies to supervise and motivate team members to work synergistically to realize their full potential together as a unit and as an organization. As a believer in Christ, Cross International came at a pivotal time in her life when she was engaging the idea of how she could use her time to serve others in Christ’s name. Her motivation is in Philippians 4-13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
As she will attest, perfection may not always be possible, but her work ethic drives her to apply all she has learned to tackle difficult challenges and solve persistent problems in the realm of finance and strategic planning.
Her methods are inventive, her diligence to detail, her organizational, auditing and time management skills lend themselves to simplifying archaic and time-consuming tasks for herself and team members. Her varied work experiences inform her strategies to supervise and motivate team members to work synergistically to realize their full potential together as a unit and as an organization. As a believer in Christ, Cross International came at a pivotal time in her life when she was engaging the idea of how she could use her time to serve others in Christ’s name. Her motivation is in Philippians 4-13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
KATHERINE LAVIN
Vice President of Development
Katherine Lavin is a faithful advocate for impoverished communities who joined Cross International after serving in leadership fund-raising roles at large international organizations. She also served as a development consultant to libraries, churches, and Christian schools.
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Katherine Lavin
Katherine is originally from rural Illinois and earned a Master’s in Public Policy at Harvard University.
Prayerfully and effectively serving as the link between CI’s donors and the families they transform is bringing new purpose to Katherine’s career. She is particularly excited about the lasting impact CI is making in Guatemala, where she has been inspired by mission trips, and is always eager to share the joy of CI’s Christian service.
Prayerfully and effectively serving as the link between CI’s donors and the families they transform is bringing new purpose to Katherine’s career. She is particularly excited about the lasting impact CI is making in Guatemala, where she has been inspired by mission trips, and is always eager to share the joy of CI’s Christian service.
DEBORAH BENSEN
Vice President of Marketing and Media
Serving as a Vice President of Marketing and Media for Cross International, Deborah’s passion for social causes plus her experience in media, marketing, and fundraising has led to multi-level private and government fund development to benefit the impoverished.
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Deborah Bensen
Having traveled to projects in 40+ countries, she has helped to develop awareness and funding for hunger relief, emergency disaster aid, safe water, medical aid, and orphans & vulnerable children (OVC) programs through private funding and government agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).
Prior roles include 15+ years in NGO team leadership plus working in television media at three national cable TV networks. She served a two-year appointment on USAID’s Advisory Council on Volunteer Foreign Aid, where she chaired USAID ACVFA’s Public Outreach Subcommittee. She has also served on the board of Christian Service Charities and on the board of the ACCORD Network. Deborah is an Emmy-voting member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (ATAS). Her Master’s thesis was on the use of media for behavioral change. She is also an ordained elder in her church.
Prior roles include 15+ years in NGO team leadership plus working in television media at three national cable TV networks. She served a two-year appointment on USAID’s Advisory Council on Volunteer Foreign Aid, where she chaired USAID ACVFA’s Public Outreach Subcommittee. She has also served on the board of Christian Service Charities and on the board of the ACCORD Network. Deborah is an Emmy-voting member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (ATAS). Her Master’s thesis was on the use of media for behavioral change. She is also an ordained elder in her church.
Board of Directors
Rev. Jimmy Dodd
Chairman
PastorServe CEO and Founder
Dr. Joe White
Secretary & Director
President of Kanakuk Kamps / Men At The Cross
Kelly Miller
Director
President & CEO, Cross International
Mr. Darrell Borne
Director
President of D. Consulting, Inc.
Mr. Michael Eissey, III
Director
Business Development Director at Skout Secure Intelligence
Mr. Antoninus Hines
Director
CEO at Integrity National Corporation
Dr. Mark Montoney
Director
Medical Officer of Contessa Health
Mr. Cedric Wade
Director
Principal at Caring Transitions of Scottsdale
Mr. Will Walton
Director
Principal at International Farming Corporation
