Paloma Tarrant, Region Coordinator & Team Facilitator

Born and raised in Chihuahua, Mexico, Paloma was exposed from a very young age to the amazing impact short-term missions bring to both visitors and guests. A graduate from 'Tec de Monterrey' (ITESM) with a degree in International Business, Paloma also holds an MBA in International Management from Thunderbird, School of Global Management.

After graduate school Paloma joined General Electric (GE) in their Human Resources Leadership Program, and after graduating the program worked as a Human Resources Manager for a group of 250+ people for the GE Supply division in Shelton, CT. After living in the "corporate world" for a little over 3 years, Paloma and her husband Greg decided to move back to Chihuahua to be closer to family and become more involved with community outreach in her hometown. After working as a staff member with Initiatives for a year and a half, Paloma moved to an associate staff role and continues to help by coordinating all mission trips to Chihuahua, México.

Jeremy Nilson, Team Facilitator

In the process of fundraising support in order to join the Initiatives staff as soon as possible, Jeremy comes to us with experience in youth ministry, missions and worship leadership. Jeremy majored in Youth and Family Ministry at Augsburg College, and has worked in several roles related to directing and coordinating youth events. He is one of the worship leaders at Living Presence Lutheran Church, where he also provides leadership in their web maintenance and design department. If you would like to contribute to Jeremy's fundraising, please contact us.

Ben Green

Ben was born in Colorado in 1979.  Along with his parents he moved to Costa Rica when he was 6 years old for one year, and then to Venezuela for the next 9 years as missionaries.  This time instilled in him a love for the Latino people, Spanish language, futbol, tropical fruit, and Caribbean beaches. 

Ben Graduated in 2002 from the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago with a BA in International Ministries.  He was married in 2003 to Jill Buer from Willmar MN.

Ben has been given the opportunity to travel and minister in Guatemala, Ecuador, Honduras, and Mexico including a trip with Initiatives to Chihuahua, Mexico. Ben and Jill are currently serving in a Willmar MN Hispanic church plant.

 

Andrew Hendrickson

Andrew has been a valuable member of the Initiatives team since 2003 when he was employed as the Project Coordinator. In 2004 he transitioned into an Associate Staff role. He spent 6 months in 2005 in Guatemala and Mexico improving his Spanish and has been leading teams for Initiatives International ever since.

Andrew graduated from Northwestern College - Iowa in 2002 with a degree in Elementary Education. He is well-known by our teams and by the ministry partners with whom we work. He is currently living in Willmar, MN helping with a new Hispanic church.

 

Greg Tarrant

Greg studied at John Brown University where he was involved with both domestic and international mission trips.  After graduating from JBU in 1999 with a major in International Business, Greg spent the next six years working in El Paso, TX, earning a MBA in Phoenix, AZ, and working in Westchester County, New York. 

In March 2006 he and his wife Paloma moved to Chihuahua, Mexico, her hometown, where Greg currently directs a Spanish language school, Interaction.  He has enjoyed the connection with local ministries and having the opportunity to serve with Initiatives as associate staff in his new home of Chihuahua.

 

Richie Kucinski

Richie is a Bethel College graduate with a B.A. in Elementary Education with a Spanish emphasis who has been a part of our staff for several years. He has been on three Mexico trips with Bethel College Spring Break teams, as well as numerous other trips as a translator and Associate Staff member. Richie also spent a semester studying in Guatemala, and then rounded out his college experience by student teaching in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Richie’s Spanish skills, understanding and appreciation of intercultural settings, and passion for the people of Latin America have been a blessing to Initiatives International. He is currently teaching kindergarten students at a Spanish immersion school in Forest Lake, MN. Richie married his wife, Erin, during the Summer of 2005.

 

Jose and Saskia Pineda

Jose is a long time family friend of Dave, and plays an important role in our ministry in Guatemala by receiving and facilitating teams there. He is completely bi-lingual and bi-cultural and does a fabulous job of bridging the cultures for our team members. He also runs a travel/tourism business in Guatemala City called “CorSTA" Corporation Servicios Turisticos ABBA.

His love for people, Guatemala, missions; and his wealth of knowledge about Guatemala are vital to Initiatives International. Jose, his wife Saskia, their three children and Jose’s mother, Telma are also wonderful hosts at their Guest House, a frequent R&R destination for I.I.I. teams.

 

Jessicah Inman

Jessicah Inman graduated from Bethel University in 2001 with a major in Spanish and a minor in Mathematics. She first traveled abroad on a STM trip after her sophomore year in college when she went to the Dominican Republic. She then traveled to Guatemala for a semester during her junior year, where she fell in love with the culture, the people and the language. She returned about six times to teach English, study Spanish, and just live there.

She has traveled to Chihuahua and Monterrey, Mexico, five times serving as a translator, team leader, and Initiatives International staff. She lives in Minneapolis, MN with her husband, Tim, and cat, Charlie.