Meet The Team

NCFCA Christian Speech & Debate

Board

Responsible for the vision and mission of the league, our Board of Directors lead fearlessly with integrity and grace. Their heart for our mission resonates in everything we do.
Christy Shipe 2022
Christy Shipe
Chair
Christy Shipe
Chair
Christy Shipe 2022

Christy Shipe is the NCFCA Board Chair. As a founding member of NCFCA, Christy authored both the NCFCA Guide to Policy Debate and the NCFCA Guide to Value Debate. Christy enjoys leading worship for her church and raising her two sons and three daughters with her husband Rich.

John Blom
John Blom
Vice Chair
John Blom
Vice Chair
John Blom

John Blom serves as the NCFCA Board Vice-Chair. With a bachelor’s degree in environmental resource engineering and an MBA, he is the President of a consulting engineering firm. He and his wife Raquel have two children who participated in NCFCA for five years.

Ravi Paul 2022
Ravi Paul
Treasurer
Ravi Paul
Treasurer
Ravi Paul 2022

Ravi Paul is the Debate Committee Chair. He and his wife Nancy have five children. At East Carolina University, Ravi served as the Interim Executive Director for Global Affairs at East Carolina University (ECU) and earned the highest teaching award before becoming the Chair of the Department of Management Information Systems in the College of Business. In addition to spending time with family and friends, he enjoys playing racquetball.

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Ghena Burson
Member
Ghena Burson
Member
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Lori Krout 2022
Lori Krout
Member
Lori Krout
Member
Lori Krout 2022

Lori Krout is a member of the NCFCA Board and serves as the Chair of the Speech Committee. In addition to homeschooling her children, Lori has instructed vocal and instrumental students for over thirty years. In her free time, she loves to garden. Lori and her husband Scott have four children and one grandchild.

Misun Min 2022
Misun Min
Member
Misun Min
Member
Misun Min 2022

Misun enjoyed 13 years of active participation in NCFCA with her four sons. During that time she volunteered in various roles including serving as the Regional Director for Region 10. She is currently on the board of a family ministry, The Apollos Project, and enjoys being a premarital mentor with her husband Steve at their church in New York City. Misun also loves testing out new recipes and entertaining with friends and family.

Kim Cromer 2022 (2)
Kim Cromer
Executive Director
Kim Cromer 2022 (2)

Kim Cromer is the Executive Director and serves as a Member on the Qualification Committee, providing vision and operational oversight for the organization. She holds an M.S. in Human Nutrition from Clemson University and a B.S. in Biology from the University of South Carolina. Her initial love for educating young people grew as she taught at several community colleges and Christian high schools before homeschooling her own three daughters through high school. Once her girls were old enough to participate in NCFCA, she found a new outlet for encouraging both parents and young people in their faith, leadership, and communication skills. Before becoming Executive Director, she served as Regional Director for Regions IV and IX, and as NCFCA Director of Forensics. Her prayer is to see a generation of young people with a firm foundation of faith and an understanding of how to apply and winsomely articulate truth to their world.

Executive Director

Kim Cromer
Responsible for the direction and accomplishment of our ultimate goals, our Executive Director seeks to meet the needs of our affiliates while leading the NCFCA team.

Education

Innovators and teachers at heart, our education teams lays the foundation for excellent competition. Director of Education, Amy Joy Tofte (IL), is supported by a dynamic task force including Melinda Speece.
Amy Joy Tofte 2022
Amy Joy Tofte
Director of Education
Amy Joy Tofte
Director of Education
Amy Joy Tofte 2022

Amy Joy Tofte is the Director of Education. She and her husband Nathan of twenty-one years have four sons and two daughters who have all participated in NCFCA. After earning a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy and working in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation, Amy Joy turned her attention to raising and educating her children. She enjoys facilitating conversations, spending time with her family, and walking with her husband on a crisp fall day.

Enterprise

Vigilant and organized, our finance team protects and adds to the health of our organization with unceasing dedication. Responsible for our balance of personnel, income, and expenses, they execute tasks with passion and excellence. Headed by Director of Finance, Paula Pinckard (IL), and supported by Finance Assistant, June Mahan (FL), the finance team works with a team of Regional Treasurers including Marcia Reavely, Jason Sheopner, Joanna Nale, Melinda Speece, Kim Nugent, Patty Marr, Shannon Brown and Anne Marie Gray.
Paula Pinckard
Paula Pinckard
Director of Finance
Paula Pinckard
Director of Finance
Paula Pinckard
June Mahan 2022
June Mahan
Finance Assistant
June Mahan
Finance Assistant
June Mahan 2022

June Mahan is the Finance Assistant. She and her husband Michael of twenty-nine years have five daughters and two sons-in-law. She counts raising her daughters and watching them spread their wings as her greatest accomplishments. In addition to her twelve-year involvement with NCFCA, June enjoys gardening, scrapbooking, and cross-stitching.

Rob Herman
Rob Herman
Architect and Developer
Rob Herman
Architect and Developer
Rob Herman

Forensics Team

Responsible for the execution of our competitions, this team leads the 50+ competitions we host each year. Each Regional Director is surrounded by an incredible support team including logistics coordinators, tournament coordinators, and admin. Each member of this team is essential to our organization, impacting thousands of lives across the US with their friendly and professional service.
Kristine Aldrich 2022
Kristine Aldrich
Director of Forensics
Kristine Aldrich
Director of Forensics
Kristine Aldrich 2022

Kristine Aldrich is the Director of Forensics. She and her husband Peter of thirty-one years and have three sons and three daughters who have all competed in NCFCA. In addition to her thirteen years of involvement in the NCFCA, she enjoys gardening, hiking, and walking.

Region 2: Alaska, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington

Maile Higashi 2022
Maile Higashi
Region 1 Director
Maile Higashi
Region 1 Director
Maile Higashi 2022

Maile Higashi is the Region 1 Director. She and her husband Mike of over twenty years have four children. Maile holds a Masters in Physical Therapy from the University of Puget Sound and has homeschooled all four children. In addition to running, hiking, cooking, and hosting, Maile enjoys a good cup of coffee at sunrise. 

Region 1: Hawaii

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Jana Krabill
Region 2 Director
Jana Krabill
Region 2 Director
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Jana Krabill is the Region 2 Director. Jana and her husband Michael have six children and have been a part of NCFCA for 6 years. Jana has long served in various roles within NCFCA and is always encouraged by how God has used the League as a place to “form us all, parent and student alike, into His image.” Region 2: Western Washington and Alaska

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Jen Frater
Region 3 Director
Jen Frater
Region 3 Director
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Starr van Dalen 2022
Starr van Dalen
Region 4 Director
Starr van Dalen
Region 4 Director
Starr van Dalen 2022

Starr van Dalen is the Region 4 Director. Starr and her husband Eric have three children. In addition to serving in the US Navy, she has participated in NCFCA for five years and enjoys quilting, skiing, and playing the piano.

District 3: Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming

Heather Sampsons 2022
Heather Sampson
Region 5 Director
Heather Sampson
Region 5 Director
Heather Sampsons 2022

Heather Sampson is the Region 5 Director. She and her husband Kevin of over twenty-five years have two sons. In addition to teaching kindergarten for twenty years, Heather has homeschooled her own children and coaches the Areopagus KC Speech and Debate Club. She enjoys paddling, gardening, bird watching, and playing games, and spending time with friends.

Region 5: Iowa, Kansas Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska

Lisa Krug 2022
Lisa Krug
Region 6 Director
Lisa Krug
Region 6 Director
Lisa Krug 2022

Lisa Krug is the Region 6 Director.  Lisa and Alan have three children, all of whom have been challenged and sharpened through the NCFCA community.  Lisa holds a Masters in Literacy from Concordia University, thrills to be with a classroom of teenagers, delights in her large extended family, and relaxes best with a flute in hand.

Region 6: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin

Katie Hall 2022
Katie Hall
Region 7 Director
Katie Hall
Region 7 Director
Katie Hall 2022
Rachelle Light 2022
Rachelle Light
Region 8 Director
Rachelle Light
Region 8 Director
Rachelle Light 2022

Rachelle Light is the Region 8 Director. She and her husband Don of over twenty-five years have four daughters and two sons. Rachelle counts raising and homeschooling her children as her greatest accomplishment. In addition to participating in NCFCA for eleven years, she enjoys camping, spending time with her family, and vacationing with her husband.

Region 8: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina

Jen Swick 2022
Jen Swick
Region 9 Director
Jen Swick
Region 9 Director
Jen Swick 2022
Brenda Storz 2022
Brenda Storz
Region 10 Director
Brenda Storz
Region 10 Director
Brenda Storz 2022
Dixie
Dixie Rorem
Region 11 Director
Dixie Rorem
Region 11 Director
Dixie

Dixie Rorem is the Region 11 Director. 

Region 11: Oklahoma and Texas Zip Codes: 75xxx, 76xxx, 79xxx, 88xxx

Debra Oliver 2022
Debra Oliver
Region 12 Director
Debra Oliver
Region 12 Director
Debra Oliver 2022

Debra Oliver is the Region 12 Director. She and her husband have four children, two have graduated, one will compete this season and one is a junior. They have been a part of the NCFCA community for over 5 years. Debra enjoys spending time with her family at the beach, camping, hiking, and biking. She also enjoys trying new foods and then cooking them for her family.

Marketing and Affiliate Communications

Ambassadors of our brand and mission, the marketing team is committed to welcoming families and partners into our incredible community. Responsible for design, messaging, and communications, they seek maximum impact and clarity for our customers. Director of Marketing, Danielle Callier, is supported by a dynamic team of ambassadors including Brenda Bass (VA), Candice Ebel (WI), Sharon Hisler (NC), Jules Johnson (MN), Phil Spencer (FL), and Brenda Storz (MA).
Lisa Schumacher 2022
Lisa Schumacher
Director of Affiliate Communications
Lisa Schumacher
Director of Affiliate Communications
Lisa Schumacher 2022

Lisa Schumacher is the Director of Affiliate Communications She and her husband Ric of over twenty-five years have three adult sons. Her accomplishments include serving as a US Army wife, raising her three sons, and teaching finance, economics, and writing. Lisa also enjoys knitting, reading, hiking, and gardening.

 

Andrea Shope 2022
Andrea Shope
Christian School Liaison
Andrea Shope
Christian School Liaison
Andrea Shope 2022
Julie Johnson
Julie Johnson
Conventions
Julie Johnson
Conventions
Julie Johnson
Meet Mead Vest
Mead Vest
Club Support Coordinator
Mead Vest
Club Support Coordinator
Meet Mead Vest

Mead Vest is the Club Support Coordinator. She has four daughters (two married), three sons, and three grandchildren. In addition to raising and homeschooling her children, Mead enjoys stand-up paddle boarding, renovating old homes, traveling, and relaxing at the beach.

Region 7: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee

Office

Nancy Howard 2022
Nancy Howard
Office Administrator
Nancy Howard
Office Administrator
Nancy Howard 2022

Nancy Howard is the Office Administrator. She and her husband have two boys that have both graduated.

Brenda Bass 2022
Brenda Bass
Executive Assistant
Brenda Bass
Executive Assistant
Brenda Bass 2022

Brenda Bass is the Executive Assistant. Brenda and her husband Scott of thirty-one years have two sons and three daughters. In addition to memorizing three books of the Bible and leading her local club for ten years, she enjoys gardening, quilting, coffee, and spending time with family.

Region 9: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia

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Jennifer Doan
Registrar
Jennifer Doan
Registrar
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Join Our Team
Interested in joining our team? If you work with us, you can grow personally and professionally, while working towards a mission that is making an impact around the world.
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