Our Team
Meet the face behind the Mission 2535 Dominican Republic Outreach team
Rick Romano | Founder & President
Rick and Tammie met at college and were married in 1990. Rick and Tammie have four grown children; Jonathon, Rebekah, Abby and Moriah. Rick served in four churches over 13 years; Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada, Mt. View Alliance Church in Shelton, Washington, Owen Sound Alliance Church in Canada, and East Hills Alliance Church in Kelso, Washington. In the summer of 2004, Rick had the opportunity to help at LIFE Youth Conference in Phoenix, AZ. At that point, he stepped out in faith to start the first short-term site with the C&MA in Ensenada, Mexico.
M25/35 is situated on 10 acres of land in the Cibao region where he has been working since 2015: we have planted plantains and yuca, built a furniture/plastic recycling factory, aquaponics greenhouse, chicken coup, and purchased several goats. His desire is to reach the least of these through job training, food/water, education, and medical. Using these four foundations as ways to share the gospel, and meet the needs of people in remote areas of the DR.
Jon Romano
Jon was born in Canada and grew up in a family involved in ministry. His journey took him from Canada to the USA, and eventually to the mission field in Mexico. It was while in Mexico that Jon felt a calling to enter ministry, but after the Romano family moved to the Dominican Republic, he was uncertain about his specific path. Jon attended Crown College, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a minor in Bible studies. Jon currently oversees all the businesses at Mission 2535, while also leading short term mission teams onsite.
Keilah Olmeda
Keilah grew up in Lancaster, PA with her parents and two brothers. She grew up attending church with her family and came to know and follow Jesus in middle school. She later attended Eastern University for college and graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry and minors in Youth Ministry and Spanish. Keilah developed an interest in missions in high school but did not experience her first mission opportunity until college, when she interned with Mission 2535 during the summers of 2022 and 2023. During those summers, the Lord began revealing His call on her life for mission work. In response, she surrendered her plans for her future to the Lord and committed to following His leading.
Over the past few years, Keilah has been actively involved in her church, Grace Community Church of Willow Street, serving as a junior high youth leader. She also spent two years working for a missions’ organization as their Partner Relations Team Coordinator. In June of 2025, she joined her church on a short-term mission trip to the DR, and during that week, Tammie approached her about joining the Mission 2535 staff full-time.
Keilah is driven by her heart to serve and love God and His people. She loves showing the love of Christ while connecting with people and building intentional community and relationships.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Scott Himes | Chairman of the Board
Scott Himes was born December 24, 1960 and raised in York Pennsylvania, self-employed,
owner of Controlled Environment Technologies since 1992. Was employed in 1985 as a field service technician before purchasing the company in 1992.
Controlled Environment
Technologies provides Design / Build solutions, service and installation of HVAC equipment and building automation control systems serving the industrial and commercial markets. He has been married to his wonderful wife Pam for (27) years and cherishes the time he can spend with his children, Matthew and Lauren. Scott is a member of ValleyView Alliance Church and currently serves on the Elder Board.
Since his time at ValleyView GOD has allowed him to serve in different ministries, Treasurer, Blessings-O-Hope, Team leader for missions to Africa and the Dominican Republic. He enjoys camping with his family and spending time with friends. He is excited to serve on the Mission 2535 board and is looking forward to building new relationships and expanding GOD’s vision in the Dominican Republic.
Terry McCormick | Vice Chairman of the Board
Terry was born and raised in Glenside, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Penn State University he successfully pursued a career in the Fashion Industry in NYC. Terry and his wife Adele settled in the Princeton, N.J. area with their children Megan and Matt. They are enjoying their new role as Grandparents.
Terry is most passionate about using his gifts and creative abilities building God’s kingdom. That journey has allowed Terry to serve on the boards of Princeton Alliance Church (6 years), Windsor Chapel (5 years) and now Mission 25/35 (3 years plus).
It is both exciting and rewarding to serve on the Mission 2535 board. The Godly leadership of Rick and Tammie Romano is inspiring. Their heart for missions and the desire to reach the less fortunate is evident through job training, food/water, education and supplying medical needs. Our desire is to use these four foundations as ways to share the word of God, while meeting the needs of people in remote areas of the Dominican Republic.
Corina Schoenke | Treasurer
Cori Schoenke lives in Waukesha, WI, a suburb of Milwaukee, and has been married to her loving husband Paul for 26 years. Cori is a CPA and an audit partner with Wipfli LLP, a national CPA firm. Cori’s passion for missions came about by a trip to China and Vietnam. Cori and Paul have always been weekend warriors, but after talking with a pastor on that trip, thought about putting those skills to use for God’s kingdom instead of our own. We started a fund at our church to see if anyone was interesting in helping to fund mission trips to members/friends of Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Greendale, WI. A mission was born called God’s Work Today. Paul, myself, and our pastor are co-leaders of God’s Work Today. We have been on 13 international short-term mission trips over 11 years and have about 15 to 20 dedicated people that come with us on the trips. The fund helps to cover about half of the cost of the trips to anyone who wants to go.
We met Rick and Tammie while on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic back in 2018 where we helped build the furniture factory and school at the Community of Hope. We were so impressed by the far-reaching ministry and how God is working through Mission2535 to reach the “least of these” in the Dominican Republic. I’m honored to be a part of Mission2535 and pray that God continues to use this mission to reach many for His kingdom.
Brad Farrow | Board Member
Brad is a finance executive with over 20 years of experience at publicly listed organizations primarily in the Consumer Goods industry. He holds a MBA in Finance from Villanova University, and spent his career across geographies such as Philadelphia, New York and most recently Toronto. Brad currently holds the position of Finance Director at Mondelez International.
Brad is passionate about missions and strives to bring professional experience to enhance the impact of Mission Twenty Five-35. He first met Rick and Tammie at Owen Sound Alliance church in Canada while Rick was leading the youth ministry. Since then, Brad has partnered with Rick and Tammie and other organizations in various missions trips to Mexico, Guatemala, and now Dominican Republic. Outside of work and missions, Brad enjoys spending time with his family, Heather (wife) and two children, Mya and Jaden.
Christina Welke | Board Member
Christina has been married to her husband, Anton, for 25 years, and together they have two children, Nolan and Gloria. She has built a successful professional career as a Senior Technology Advisor and Solution Sales Consultant at Marco Technologies, where she has served for the past decade.
Christina and Anton are residents of Plainview, Minnesota, where they both grew up and continue to invest in their community. In 2013, during a vacation to the Dominican Republic, they felt a clear calling to serve—an experience that would shape their future in ministry. Since 2020, they have served as mission trip leaders at Christ Community Church, leading teams to the Dominican Republic and helping support communities through hands-on ministry.
In addition to their international mission work, Christina is actively involved in a local adult detention center ministry, where she and her team share church services and messages of hope with incarcerated individuals.
Outside of work and ministry, Christina and Anton enjoy an active lifestyle. Whether cheering on their kids at the ball field or spending time outdoors riding side by side, hiking, boating, or fishing, they value time together and the relationships they build along the way.
Justin Holko | Board Member
Justin joined M2535 in 2026 and also serves as SVP/Head, Global Oncology Business Unit at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. He, his wife Kandice, and their four children reside in New Jersey. Justin met Rick and Tammy in 2011 and saw firsthand how their vision and passion for people has allowed for dramatic expansion of the gospel while improving lives for those in need. He is excited to join them and the M2535 board in spreading the gospel and expanding impact for the people of the Dominican Republic.
Todd Grager | Board Member
Todd Grager was born and raised in Strasburg Pennsylvania. While growing up, Todd was part multiple short term missons teams with his youth group at First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg. Todd married his wife Natalie in 2007 and they were blessed with two children, Avery and Coen. Todd and Natalie became deeply rooted in their faith as members of Grace Community Church of Willow Street. Todd went on his first trip with Mission 2535 during the summer of 2018. Todd has been coming back for just about every year since his first trip. As Todd continued to attend trips, he started bringing the rest. of his family which led to Todd and Natalie leading teams to the DR with Mission 2535.
Todd and Natalie absolutely fell in love with the work that the Lord is doing through Mission 2535 in the Dominican Republic, and the Romano's have become part of their Grace Community Church Family. Todd is grateful to be able to continue this journey with Mission 2535 as he serves on the board, and looks forward to how the Lord is going to continue changing lives in the Dominican Republic,and the lives of those that are called to serve with Mission 2535.
Michael C. Zachariades | Board Member
Michael C. Zachariades, married to Georgene, for 41 years. We have 2 sons, our oldest Ian, married to Kristen and we have now three granddaughters Sophia, Zoe and Elaine. Ian is a partner in a large diner here in New Jersey, Kristen is a senior marketing analyst. Our second son, Christos is married to Lorena. They are married one year, this past October 2024. Christos works for one of the largest HVAC supply companies and Lorena is a music therapist.
We have attended Princeton Alliance Church since 1999. Georgene volunteers with K- 4-year-olds. I am long time Senior High Leader. I have been on more than a dozen various missions trips. Add in Life Conferences and Lake Champion events and I have lost count on the various trips over the years. Georgene is Special Ed teacher, in particular Autistic Children and on a part-time basis does in-home programs. I am now semi-retired and work as supply chain consultant. I specialized in liquid bulk logistics shipping chemicals and various other products in bulk on board vessels for international shipments. I had the great opportunity to travel quite a bit thru out the USA, Europe and other places.
Steve Wylie | Board Member
Steve Wylie has spent the majority of his life living in Ohio and discovered his love for international mission work back in 2012 when he took his first trip to Peru. Since then, Steve, often accompanied by his wife Stephanie, has made trips to work with a number of different missionaries in various locations around the world. In 2018 Steve first visited the Dominican Republic and was introduced to the Community of Hope Project as well as the Romano family. Since then, after falling in love with the ministry in the Dominican Republic, he has devoted his mission work to supporting Mission 2535.
Steve and Stephanie Wylie live in Columbus, OH with their four children and are members of Worthington Christian Church.
Steve is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Theology and Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary and is the Chief Revenue Officer for a company in the digital privacy protection industry.
Jeff Brettell | Board Member
Jeff Brettell was born and raised in and around Toronto, Ontario. He has been married to his loving wife Yvette for 24 years. Their children are Tyler, Austin, Kent and Madison, all of whom are now adults living in the Toronto area (save for Austin who currently lives in Manchester, England.)
Jeff came to faith in Georgetown while attending Living Hope church, where he remains a member. It was while working with the youth of Living Hope that Jeff first participated on a mission trip and met Rick and Tammie. Over the course of multiple missions trips their relationship grew and Jeff developed a strong passion for the work being done through Mission 25/35. After prayer and thoughtful consideration (and an invitation from Rick) Jeff joined the Mission 25/35 board in 2019. He has hosted the Mission 25/35 Podcast since its creation in early 2020.
Jeff’s daily work life is a confluence of sales, technology, coaching and speaking engagements all of which he performs as a member of the CoreLogic team.
Brie Lucas | Board Member
Brie Lucas and her husband, Drew, reside in Manalapan, NJ with their four children where they operate a 100-acre cattle farm. They are active members of GraceWay Bible Church, and enjoy spending time remodeling their fixer-upper, hiking, reading, and traveling. Brie assists Drew with marketing for their outdoor landscape lighting company and runs a successful social media-based small business. She also homeschools their children, ranging in age from preschool to high school. Her passion for missions in the Dominican Republic began in May 2013 when she and Drew visited there on a church sponsored mission trip. Inspired by the ministry’s impact, she became a board member in January 2019, and is honored to partner with this organization to provide tangible support to communities in the DR in Jesus’ name.
Sharon Rossman-Ralph | Board Member
Sharon Rossman Ralph was born and raised in New Jersey. She has had a variety of careers including Thirty years in the dental field, home healthcare and for the past Thirty- Four years and currently works as Executive Assistant at Fairview Cemetery and is also the only person in the Cemetery Industry in NJ that is a Certified Celebrant. Sharon has two children, three step-children and seven grandchildren, who keep her busy and blessed.
Sharon and her Husband Richard reside in Westfield, NJ and are looking forward to retirement and heading down to Florida someday soon. Sharon has been on several Missions Committees throughout her life and is very involved with missions in her present church.
She has served on 20 years of mission trips and has been a supporter of the Romano's ministries both in Mexico and Dominican Republic. Sharon joined the board in January 2023. Sharon's passion is one of service, hospitality and working with people and her heart and support through Mission2535 is being fulfilled, no project is too small or too large that she won't take on.
