John C. Maxwell is an internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker, coach, and author who has sold over 19 million books. Dr. Maxwell is the founder of EQUIP and The John Maxwell Company, organizations that have trained more than 5 million leaders worldwide. Every year he speaks to Fortune 500 companies, international government leaders, and organizations as diverse as the United States Military Academy at West Point, the National Football League, and the United Nations.

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Business Week best-selling author, Maxwell has written three books that have each sold more than one million copies: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leader Within You, and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader.  You can find him at JohnMaxwell.com, on his blog at JohnMaxwellonLeadership.com, and on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnCMaxwell.

Rev. Dr. Jerry and Mrs. Terry Kieschnick

Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick served from 2001 to 2010 as president of the 2.4-million member Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. He currently serves as Presidential Ambassador for Mission Advancement for Concordia University Texas in Austin.

Prior to becoming LCMS president, Kieschnick had been president of the Synod’s Texas District for 10 years. He also served as elementary school teacher, mission developer, parish pastor, foundation executive director, and chairman of the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations.

A native of Houston, Texas, he is a graduate of Texas A&M University (Animal Science) and Concordia Theological Seminary (Bachelor and Master of Divinity). He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Concordia University in Austin, Texas.

Terry Lee Kieschnick was born, baptized, raised, educated, and married in Austin, Texas. She and Jerry have been married 45 years and have two grown children, one son-in-law, and two grandchildren, all of whom live in Texas.

Terry’s professional career included 17 years as store manager and gemology consultant in the wholesale fine jewelry business. She has also served in many volunteer capacities, as chair of numerous community and service organizations, including PTA, Garden Club, Symphony League, Ballet Society, Junior Forum Senior Citizens Home, and Business Woman’s Club.

Rev. Dr. Tom Zehnder

Former FLGA District President, Rev. Dr. Thomas R. Zehnder began his ministry by serving LCMS World Mission as missionary for the Japan Lutheran Church.  From 1970 to 1987 he served in several parishes until he was elected FLGA District President.  In 1997 he returned to parish ministry serving at King of Glory, Williamsburg, VA.

Since repositioning from full-time parish ministry in 2001, Zehnder has continued to serve parishes in interim situations in Arkansas, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin, and is involved in various church-related ministries. He recently completed a 10-year term as a member of the national Board of Directors of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. He is a writer for Wheat Ridge Ministries, a member of the Board of Luther Institute, a Washington D.C.-based Lutheran ministry, and leads retreats and speaks at various church-related events and venues.

From November 2008 until July 2010, Rev. Zehnder served as the executive director of LCMS World Mission. Prior to this role, Zehnder had been serving as an appointed advisory member to the Board for Mission Services. Since September 2010 he is serving as full time Intentional Interim Pastor of Salem Lutheran Church and School, Springdale, Arkansas.

The Zehnders have relocated to Springdale, but maintain their residence in Baileys Harbor, Wis. They have four children and eleven grandchildren.

Rev. Gregory S. Walton grew up in Upstate New York in the Mid-Hudson Valley. He attended Concordia Bronxville for his undergrad studies, where he met his lovely bride, Edith. He also attended Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. His first call was to Trinity Lutheran Church, Toccoa, GA, a mission outpost of the District, where he served 12 years.  His next call to serve was at Faith Lutheran Church and School, Marietta, GA. Walton served in Marietta a little over 10 years before being elected to serve as the President of the FL-GA District in 2009.

He has also served on the Florida-Georgia District Board of Directors as Regional One Pastoral Representative, and as first Circuit Counselor for the Atlanta North Circuit.

He has been married to his wife, Edith, for 27 years. They met at Concordia, Bronxville as students. She is a public school teacher. The Walton’s have two sons,  Alex and Tim, and recently had the joy of adding a daughter-in-law to their family when Alex married his sweetheart, Angie. The Walton’s are recently relocated residents of Orlando, and are enjoying the warmth and sun!

Dr. Dina Vendetti grew up in the Lutheran School System.  She is a 1985 graduate of Concordia Bronxville, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Music Ed and Elementary Ed.  She received her Master of Education from Towson University in Baltimore. 

This past January she graduated Wilmington University with a Doctorate in educational leadership and innovation.  Her dissertation study had to do with teaching leadership skills to second grade students. 

She has completed 26 years of work in Lutheran Schools and currently serves as Principal at St. John’s Lutheran, Dover DE.  In addition to serving as principal at St. John’s she also directs the church choir.  She was the 2006 recipient of Dover’s Great Person Award and is very involved in the community where she lives.  She is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Southeastern District, LCMS.  Her hobbies include cooking and reading, and enjoys taking trips to the beach.