Board of Directors

Our board consists of dedicated and faithful volunteers that set forth to make IOM a ministry dependant on the work and life of Christ in each staff, volunteer and board member.

Rick Kratz, CPA

Bio: Married to wife Donna and father to two children, Aaron and Rachel.

Current: A Phoenix businessman and partner at Pittman & Murdough—a financial investment firm.

Board: Rick is the chairman of the IOM board. Rick is one of Steve's most faithful friends and fellow prayer warriors. His leadership to IOM as chairman of the board, small group leader, editor, prayer team member and financial advisor is cherished.

Testimony: I am apart of IOM because of the work God has done in the lives of my family. I have been associated with this ministry since 2001. The growth that I and my family have experienced is immeasurable. Their Christ-centered approach to ministry is refreshing and life-changing. I am committed to their vision, mission and purpose. It is my desire that many take the time to "get to know" this ministry. The rewards are eternal.

E-mail: rkratz@IOMAmerica.org

Ron Akre

Bio: Married 16 years to Suzanne and have been blessed with two children.

Currently: Director, Media Services for Central Life Sciences in Phoenix

Board: I am serving in this ministry in the hope that it will grow and continue to be a tool for God to change lives and families.

Testimony: IOM has touched my life in a great many ways. My wife and I have each individually, and together collectively, grown and experienced positive change by way of the Godly Christian counseling provided by the ministry. Our children have benefited and thrived on the biblical parenting teachings that we have learned and adopted in our home. Additionally, I have become a more productive and organized businessperson by virtue of the lessons taught by IOM. In short, the Lord is using the ministry to equip me to be a better husband, father, lay church leader, employee, steward, and most importantly, a bond slave to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

E-mail: rakre@IOMAmerica.org

Joseph Kezele, MD

Bio: Married 22 years to Patty, 3 children: Matthew, Sarah and Andrew. Served as an Emergency Physician for 23 years.

Current: Presently serves as President of the Arizona Origin Science Association, a young—Earth Creation Ministry.

Board: I decided to serve on the IOM Board in order to use my abilities to give back to the ministry, in order to help it grow and be able to reach many more people with life changing teaching and counseling, enabling them to become more like Christ and to be better equipped to share His truth with others.

Testimony: This Ministry helped me to deal with family and life issues by enabling me to see that doing good things is not adequate, but rather I need to be doing the specific good things my Heavenly Father wants me to be doing to fulfill His plan for me and for others. By going through the counseling process and being trained to think in these new ways, I became better equipped as a husband, father, servant at church and leader at work. Part of this was learning to recognize how others may be trying to manipulate me and how to respond to that in a constructive fashion. Another part was learning to make better use of leadership skills to serve the Lord in all of these roles He has given to me to fulfill.

E-mail: jmkezele@IOMAmerica.org

Steve Phinney—Cofounder & CEO

Bio: Married to his wife Jane for over 30 years, father to three grown daughters; Abigail, Elizabeth and Jessica and grandfather to four. He and his wife have been in "full-time" ministry since 1980.

Steve is a professional counselor and conference speaker who has been in the professional people-helping field for over 30 years. His experience includes social work, care & guidance for the handicapped, individual & family/child therapy, mentorship, small group leadership, in-patient care, leadership development, and pastoring.

He is the author of works such as Faithful Father, Sexual Temptations of Man, Knowing Your Spiritual Gifts, Men & Warfare, The Principled Patriarch and others. His love for Christ is contagious and devotion to helping people is refreshing.

Current: President and Co-founder of IOM America and the co-founder of the Men Mapping Outreach Ministries and Strong Waters women's ministry.

E-mail: sphinney@IOMAmerica.org