Staff
Kadesh Foundation is currently entirely volunteer-run.
Board Members
Matthew Ackerman
President and Founder
Matthew was born and raised in North Platte, NE. He has enjoyed a successful business and marketing career. He has been the president of Energy Place Inc. National Sales Coordinator NSA and Executive Diamond Director, Lume International, and the founder of the 20-year-old company, Concrete Saw and Core Inc. He is the founder and president of Samone Property Management Inc. and ASONP LLC. He is a partner in North Platte Berean Church and has been involved in various men’s ministries.
Thomas Werblow
Board Member
Tom has been active as a Bible teacher and elder in the Berean Church for 30 years. He owns and operates his own civil engineering company since 1983, serving over 20 communities. He is the City Engineer for North Platte, Nebraska. He was a member of Youth For Christ Board for 10 years. Tom attended Iliff School of Theology, the University of Nebraska, and Purdue University from which he received his Master’s degree in Civil Engineering. He has held positions in city, county, state and Federal government. He volunteers daily at a local grade school, reading books to a 5th grade class which he has done for the past four years.
Craig Johnson
Board Member
Craig began with Kadesh as an IT consultant and his involvement grew over the first few months to a board member working to educate the community about the problem of human trafficking. Craig has input into Kadesh’s website, app, and road show educational presentations.
Peter Johnson
Board Members
Pete Johnson has been interested in sex-related issues since he earned his Ph.D. and began to teach at the University of Illinois in 1970. He has since picked up a second master’s degree in counseling from Lincoln Christian Seminary and became a licensed counselor in NE in 2000. He teaches psychology at Mid-Plains Community College, NE. He has specialized in sex-addiction treatments including EMDR, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and positive psychology. He helps to strengthen clients’ Christian walk. His interest in sex-related issues and the sin associated with them is his primary reason for being involved in Kadesh.
Ted Olsen
Board Member
Ted Olsen was born and grew up in Africa as the son of missionaries. He met his wife, Judy, in Cape Town, South Africa, went to university there and worked for several years in the local news media. He was also the South Africa correspondent for the ABC radio news network’s 300-plus radio stations in the U.S. He and Judy felt God’s call into full-time missions in 1981, where they have served ever since. They are working internationally in India, Nepal, Myanmar, and Kenya. There focus is on people groups unreached with the Gospel. Ted and Judy also serve as advisors to New Light Nepal.
Judy Olsen
Board Member
Judy and her husband Ted serve with Global Fellowship. They equip pastors and lay people to reach the unengaged and unreached peoples. Their main focus countries are Nepal, India and Lake Victoria islands in Kenya.
One of the tools they use is orality. Judy does training in preparing and presenting Bible stories using inductive Bible discussion – all oral style.
This training is used ( but not limited to) evangelism, discipleship, church planting, local church ministry and short term mission trips.
Advisory Board
Additional advisors who support Kadesh Foundation by lending their insight and experience.
George Cheek
Advisory Board Member, Director of Maranatha Foundation
A member of Maranatha Camp’s staff member since 1973, George has served as the second Executive Director and again later as Interim Director. Since 2005 he has been executive director of the Maranatha Ministries Foundation. He and his wife, Jan, have two grown children: Kris and Tara.
Marcel Sanchez
Advisory Board Member
Friend of Matt Ackerman for over 20 years, believer in Jesus Christ for over 40 years, and married to my wonderful wife Teresa for 34 years. I live to preach the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. I’ve been walking with Kadesh Foundation for over five years, and can see the tremendous need for deliverance and discipleship for the victims and survivors to be set free, and transformed into new creations in Christ.
Melissa Kramer
Advisory Board Member, CPA, PC
Missy has been helping with the accounting of Kadesh Foundation for five years.
Ann Frohman
Advisory Board Member, Esq.
Ann Frohman served 20 years in the Nebraska Department of Insurance including as its General Counsel, Deputy Director, and Director. In 2012, she established Frohman Law Office to implement insurance advocacy strategies for large and small insurance clients, as well as providing legislative and corporate transactional expertise before governmental entities.
Volunteers
Anthony Ramirez
Operations Manager
Anthony lives and works at Maranatha Bible Camp, with his wife, Laura, and kids, Teddy and Lily. He has served there as Kitchen Manager and is now serving as IT Manager & Assistant to the Director. Anthony also met our president, Matt, at the same camp. After working with Matt in the storage business for three years, he continues to volunteer for Kadesh Foundation as able. He helps with the website and in other small operations capacities.