Home Office Support

The NICS Home Office was recently named among the top 50 “Best Non-Profits To Work For.”

Office of the President

Mr. Blake Weaver, President

Blake serves the organization by working closely with the Executive Team and Board to ensure missional focus, institutional continuity, and leadership development. Blake is a NICS Graduate (ICS-Uijeongbu), former NICS Employee, and former NICS Board Member. He has been serving as President since March 2022.

Dr. Joe Hale, Founder and Former President

Joe founded the first school in Uijeongbu, South Korea in 1983. Joe and Ann Hale have been based at the Home Office since 1997. Joe served as President until February 2022.

Office of Finance

Chris Wilson, Vice President of Finance

Chris Wilson oversees the financial operations of the network. As a member of the Executive Team, he helps shape all major financial initiatives for the organization. Chris joined NICS at the Home Office in 2022.

Finance Department

Kim Ponder, Finance and Accounting Manager

Kim keeps accounting records and creates financial reports for the Home Office operations and other agency funds, as well as US Dollar accounts belonging to the individual schools. Kim joined the Home Office team in March of 2013.

Audra Dickerson, Staff Support Specialist

Audra 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.  Audra joined the Home Office team in October of 2022.

Donna LaCroix, Staff Support Specialist

Donna 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.  Donna joined the Home Office team in June of 2013.

Don LaCroix, CPA, NICS/Oasis Financial Consultant

Don previously served as the NICS Finance Director from 1994-1998 and rejoined the Home Office team with his wife Donna in September 2005. Don is currently supporting the organization through consulting on a variety of financial issues along with doing some work specifically for the NICS Comptroller and CFO.

Office of Global Operations

Dr. Duane Jobe, Vice President of Global Operations

Duane supervises global operations for the network including instruction standards and academic development, operations, and financial policies and budget oversight of the schools. He also directs the hiring and professional evaluation of school leadership, and coordinates leadership development. Duane has served with NICS overseas from 1999-2017 as a teacher, principal, and school director, and in the international headquarters since 2017. His service includes schools in Uijeongbu and Seoul, South Korea; Nagoya, Japan; and Nairobi, Kenya. Duane earned his doctorate in Educational Leadership, and holds a Texas state teaching certification, as well as ACSI lifetime administrator and superintendent certifications.

Lydia Zuidema, Director of Academic Development

Lydia directs academic development for network schools, collaborating with administrators to enhance instructional leadership, and serves as an accreditation consultant and evaluator. She assists Dr. Jobe in supervising and evaluating schools’ compliance to the network Standards of Best Practice (SBP). Prior to joining the NICS/Oasis Home Office team in July 2014, she served at St. Joseph Christian School in St. Joseph, MO, as superintendent, elementary principal, and director of development for twenty-four years. In all, Lydia completed thirty-five years in K-12 schools in Kentucky, Ohio, California, and Missouri. She holds an education specialist degree in Superintendency, and is lifetime certified in the state of Missouri as both elementary and secondary principal, and holds K-12 teaching licenses. She holds lifetime certifications with the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).

Tim Thompson, Director of School Operations

Tim oversees school operations for seven of the NICS/Oasis schools. He collaborates with school directors and their staff to further school growth and development within the Network. Prior to joining the Global Operations team in 2023, Tim completed 10 years of service at the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) as Director of Accreditation, International Division. He also served at NICS in the School Services department from 2010-2013. Tim was head of school at three schools in the United States in addition to serving as Director of Hinkson Christian Academy in Moscow, Russia for eight years. Tim has a M.S in Educational Leadership and lifetime administrative certification with ACSI.

Jesse Newman, Director of Staff & School Services

Jesse oversees several programs related to NICS/Oasis staff members and schools: records and statistics on current staff, placement of administrative candidates for the Network, directing the agency’s pre-field training event (called IMPACT), and managing the agency’s child safety program. Additionally, he oversees school operations for two NICS schools. Jesse served in Christian school ministry in the USA (Texas) and South Korea from 1986 until 2007 when he joined the Home Office team.

Troy Lundy, Director of Global Finance

Troy serves as an important link between the Home Office and our member schools around the world. This office receives, reviews, and analyzes financial reports from the schools as required by organizational policy. Troy works closely with the school directors & business managers, visits member schools and reviews financial policies and procedures while onsite. Troy’s department is involved in the development of the financial standardization process of all schools within the network. Troy and Jennifer served with NICS/Oasis in Ankara, Turkey from 2003 to 2012 before joining the Home Office in July 2012.

Jamie Broadaway, Global Operations Administrative Assistant

Jamie provides administrative support for the Global Operations department. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Belhaven University. Jamie joined the Home Office team in September of 2023.

Yoshi Johnson, Member Care Consultant

Yoshi serves as the consultant for member care in the network’s schools. She works closely with each school’s Local Member Care Associate (LMCA). She and her team employ the Christian Wholeness Framework (CWF) as they aim to promote holistic care that nurtures each staff member’s wellbeing. Additionally, she is a trainer and administrator of the CernySmith Stress Assessment (CSA). Together with her husband, Derek, Yoshi has served with NICS/Oasis since 1999 in Uijeongbu, Korea; Ankara, Turkey; Southeast Asia, and she is currently located in Kula Lumpur, Malaysia. She has served as the Member Care Coordinator since August 2022. Previously she served as a Local Member Care Associate, teacher, and a mental-health counselor.

Office of US Operations

Jed Hale, Vice President of US Operations

Jed is responsible for oversight of all of the operational functions of our US Headquarters. This includes Mobilization, Marketing, Information Technology, Human Resources, and Facilities and Logistics (including shipping services). Jed has lived in Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore, and was taught in two NICS Schools. Jed has served with NICS in the Home Office since 2007.

Jennifer Champlin, Office Administrator

Jennifer provides resources and administrative support for the NICS Home Office. This includes supporting the Executive Team, filing local government registrations, coordinating home office building usage, monthly reporting for various departments, and all around assistance as needed. She has lived in 6 different states and has a Bachelor of Science from Brown University. Jennifer joined the Home Office team in January 2012.

Marketing Department

Bethany Williams, Marketing Director

Bethany strategically promotes NICS/Oasis to the world by expanding our reach to increase brand awareness and engagement. She also assists in connecting with educators, business professionals, and leaders who have a desire to serve overseas. Additionally, she develops relationships with mission-minded individuals, churches and organizations, and the local community who support our mission to share the gospel all over the world! Bethany joined the Home Office team in September 2022.

Mobilization Department

Gari Smith, Mobilization Director

Gari coordinates the recruiting efforts in the midsouth region of the USA by networking with students on college/university campuses and attending education fairs and mission conferences. Gari also manages our digital/online recruiting efforts.  She also screens applicants, gathers information, and matches prospective teachers to positions posted by our administrators. Gari taught with NICS in Nairobi, Kenya from 2011-2016 and has been a part of the Home Office team since 2016. 

Dr. Dwayne Spearman, East Coast Regional Recruiter

Dwayne assists in the recruiting efforts in the eastern region of the USA by networking with students on college/university campuses and attending education fairs and mission conferences. Dwayne encourages all interested candidates to visit the NICS website to complete an online application. He attracts new interest to NICS/Oasis by posting job openings with College & University Career Services as well as Internet Career Sites. He also develops and maintains the university partnership program. Dwayne served with NICS in Lima, Peru from 2011-2013 and has been a part of the Home Office team since 2017. 

Dr. James Rodgers, West Coast Regional Recruiter

James assists in the recruiting efforts in the western region of the USA by networking with students on college/university campuses and attending education fairs and mission conferences. James encourages all interested candidates to visit the NICS website to complete an online application. He also attracts new interest to NICS/Oasis by posting job openings with College & University Career Services as well as Internet Career Sites. James has served as a teacher and administrator in New York and Texas. He has been a part of the Home Office team since 2019.

Angela Cason, Mobilization Specialist

Angela screens applicants, gathers information, and matches prospective teachers to positions posted by our administrators. She also assists in recruiting efforts around the midsouth. She has a heart for missions and relationships. Angela is a former educator and school director. Angela joined the Home Office in November 2022.

Susan Sevey, Mobilization Specialist

Susan screens applicants, gathers information, and matches prospective teachers to positions posted by our administrators. She also assists in the recruiting efforts in the midsouth area. Susan has 20 years of experience serving in NICS schools in Nairobi and Seoul as a teacher and as a school administrator. She joined the Home Office in November, 2024.

Human Resources Department

Amanda McPhail, Human Resources Director

Amanda oversees the offboarding and onboarding processes of NICS/Oasis staff, maintains accurate employee records, and ensures that NICS/Oasis is meeting best practices and government regulations regarding personnel records. She also assists in the coordination of the NICS insurance programs. Amanda joined the Home Office team in 2018.

Information Technology Department

Jeremy Broadaway, Information Technology Director

Jeremy is responsible for all technology initiatives at the Home Office. He works to ensure that all technology needs are met so that the Home Office can work as efficiently and effectively as possible. Jeremy joined the Home Office team in 2018.

Facilities and Logistics

Dwayne Ponder, Facilities and Logistics Manager

Dwayne manages all aspects of Home Office campus projects for maintenance, improvement, and repair. He also manages the organization and utilization of the warehouse. He oversees any shipping and receiving needs for our schools and provides logistical support for our major events. Dwayne joined the Home Office in October 2023.