Network of International Christian Schools
The NICS home office is located in Southaven, Mississippi just outside of Memphis, Tennessee. Southaven offers all of the southern charm and hospitality that you would expect in a small southern town but also has all of the conveniences of a large city. The Memphis International Airport and FedEx's main distribution center are only twenty minutes away and are two conveniences that have proven to be a necessity for an international organization like NICS. Our central location makes travel into and out of the Home Office convenient and economic. After stating the obvious, the main reason NICS is located in Southaven has to do with the President and Founder Joe Hale. When asked, "Why Southaven, Mississippi?" Joe often jokes and says, "After living most of my life in some country on the other side of the world, we are where we are because, Momma said so." The truth is out.
July, 2009 Home Office Staff
Office of the President
Joe Hale, Founder and President
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The Office of the President oversees the overall development of the agency, including inquiries about establishment of new schools, major fund-raising projects and administrative hiring, development and accountability. Joe founded the first school in Uijongbu, Korea in 1983. Joe and Ann Hale have been based at the Home Office since 1997.
Dennis Lugar, Senior Vice President
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Dennis Lugar oversees the operations of the Home Office and assists the President in the administrative functions of the agency. Dennis and Susan Lugar served with the Hales in Korea from 1981 to 1992. The Lugars rejoined NICS at the Home Office in 1999.
Office of Educational Affairs
Stephen Stark, V. P. Educational Affairs
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Steve's primary responsibility is to serve as the representative of the President to the NICS Board regarding oversight of NICS Schools. Steve and Rhonda Stark have served with NICS since May 1993 in Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul, and joined the Home Office team in June 2002.
Department of Human Resources
Jesse Newman , Director
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The Human Resources Department includes the Acquisition, Nurture/Placement, and Member Care divisions of the NICS/OASIS Home Office. Jesse served in Christian school ministry in the USA and Korea from 1986 until 2007 when he and Lisa joined the Home Office staff.
Allan English, Human Resources Specialist: Logistics and Insurance
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Al coordinates all aspects of the NICS health insurance program, manages logistics for shipping and receiving, Pre-Field Orientation and the Annual Leadership Conference, and assists the department by serving NICS staff worldwide. Al and Wanda English joined the Home Office in January 2002.
Acquisition Division
Sean Garrick, Acquisition Coordinator
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Sean is responsible for recruiting teachers and staff at all network schools. He travels extensively each year visiting churches, conventions, and college/university campuses. He provides prospects with an initial spark of excitement about NICS/Oasis, answers their questions, and encourages them to complete an online application. Additionally, he coordinates the annual NICS/Oasis Job Fair held each February. Sean and his wife Tonya joined the Home Office team in June 2008.
Jennifer Petcher, Recruiter
Jennifer assists with recruitment efforts by attracting new interest in NICS/Oasis by posting job openings with College & University Career Services as well as Internet Career Sites. She also visits college/university campuses and conventions encouraging interested candidates to complete an online application. Before joining the NICS Home Office in April 2009, Jennifer served two years in Asia as a journalist for a non-profit organization.
Nurture/Placement Division
Rhonda Stark , Nurture/Placement Coordinator
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Rhonda screens applicants, gathers information, and matches prospective teachers to positions posted by our administrators. She also assists new staff members with visa information and processing. Rhonda and Steve Stark have served with NICS since 1993 and joined the Home Office team in June 2002.
Ann Hale, Nurture/Placement Specialist
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Ann is responsible for the initial screening of all applicants’ Profiles that are received. She handles the data input into our database, and distributes the approved Profiles to the other coordinators. Ann and Joe Hale founded the first school in Uijongbu, Korea in 1983. Ann also served in Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore before joining the Home Office in 1997.
Susan Lugar , Nurture/Placement Specialist
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Susan screens applicants, gathers information, and matches prospective teachers to positions posted by our administrators. Susan and Dennis Lugar served with the Hales in Korea from 1981 to 1992. The Lugar family rejoined NICS at the Home Office in 1999, and Susan joined the Human Resources Department in June 2007.
Tim Mudder , Nurture/Placement Specialist
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Tim screens applicants, gathers information, and matches prospective teachers to positions posted by our administrators. Tim and his family have been supporters of NICS for many years. Tim and Amanda joined the Home Office in November 2007.
Missy Parks , Nurture/Placement Specialist
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Missy screens applicants, gathers information, and matches prospective teachers to positions posted by our administrators. She also assists new staff members with visa information and processing. Before joining the Home Office team in October 2009, Missy served as a public school teacher in the United States, as an overseas teacher with the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) in three countries, and with Oasis International Schools.
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Member Care Division
Shelley Brumbaugh , Member Care Coordinator
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The Member Care Division provides support for current staff while helping new staff in their transition to overseas service and departing staff with their transition back to their homeland. This office coordinates Pre-Field Orientation, Missionary Appointments, fund-raising assistance, and prepares the NICS Prayer Bulletin. Shelley and Gary Brumbaugh served with NICS in Austria from 2001 to 2003 and joined the Home Office in 2008.
Finance Department
Lonnie Buller, Director
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The Finance Department keeps accounting records for the Home Office operations and other agency funds, as well as accounts belonging to the individual schools. Lonnie is also responsible for the financial accountability of the schools to the Home Office. Lonnie and Nancy Buller have served with NICS since 1997 and in the Home Office since July 2000.
Gary Brumbaugh, Comptroller
The Comptroller serves as an important link between the Home Office Finance Department and our member schools around the world. This office receives and reviews financial reports from the schools as required by organizational policy. The comptroller makes regularly scheduled visits to all member schools and reviews financial policies and procedures while onsite. Gary and Shelley Brumbaugh served with NICS in Austria from 2001 to 2003 and joined the Home Office in 2008.
Tonya Garrick, Staff Support Specialist
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Tonya is responsible for processing donations, sending receipts and disbursing financial donations to staff. This office handles all donor relations and financial matters associated with staff members. She also sends periodic reports to both staff and donors. Tonya and her husband Sean joined the Home Office Team in June 2008.
Chris Fryar, Staff Support Specialist
Chris is responsible for processing donations, sending receipts and disbursing financial donations to staff. This office handles all donor relations and financial matters associated with staff members. He also sends periodic reports to both staff and donors. Chris and his wife Beverly served with NICS in Brasilia from 2006 to 2009 before joining the Home Office Team in January 2010.
Finance Department - Oasis International Schools Division
Don LaCroix, Central Asia Business Manager/Oasis Grant Manager
Don is responsible for maintaining the accounting records for the federal grant and overseeing financial compliance with the grant. Don previously served as the NICS Finance Director from 1994-1998 and rejoined the Home Office team with his wife Donna in September 2005.
IT Department
Jed Hale, Director
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The mission of NICS IT is to ensure the Home Office is technologically sound in order to serve our schools enabling all to efficiently carry out the mission of NICS. Jed has lived in Korea, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia. Jed and Whitney have served with NICS since 2007 in the Home Office.
Development Department
Blake Weaver, Director
The Development Department exists to promote the ministry of NICS locally, nationally, and internationally, and to cultivate relationships with donors who desire to contribute to the ministry. Blake is a NICS alumnus having graduated high school at the International Christian School of Uijongbu, South Korea. Blake and Christi began their service with the NICS Home Office in 2008.