Jim has been participating since 2007 on YPM construction trips and has been a Board member since 2014. He is married to Ann, has three grown sons and two grandsons. With 44 years in the electric utility industry, Jim is now a retired electrical engineer. As a member of Northminster Presbyterian Church, is active in Building and Grounds, and Mission Teams. “I love the Mayan people and their love of God and for each other. I believe in the YPM purpose and hope to remain active for many more years.

Grace first came down to Leona Vicario on a mission trip in 2018 and then returned every year she could. After visiting five times, she joined the board in 2025 and decided she wanted to spend more time with Wilian and Erly and their mission in Quintana Roo. So, she moved to Mexico in January 2026. She plans to stay for a year to learn and assist wherever she can. Grace's career is in immigration law where she helps immigrants apply for their work permits, green cards, and U.S. citizenship. She has always been drawn to learn from other cultures and deeply values the hospitality, patience, and resilience her clients exemplify. Grace's home base is in Holland, Michigan, though her connection to YPM is through Northminster Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Illinois, the church she grew up in.

Rich joined the YPM Board in 2019.  He is an Elder at First Presbyterian Church, San Antonio where he currently co-chairs the Global Mission Committee.  He led the initiative to bring a Living Waters For The World water system to Leona Vicario providing clean water to the local community.  After a career in various accounting and internal audit roles with large international retail organizations, he currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer for San Antonio Academy. Originally from Ohio, and a graduate of Indiana University, he is an avid Big Ten sports fan.  He has been married to his college sweetheart Linda for 36 years and they are the proud parents of Amy, who is a media and event specialist at District Harley-Davidson in Gaithersburg, MD and Kevin, on a Post-Doctoral assignment at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD.

Emmy has been a board member since 2024 and first learned about YPM when Willian and Erly presented to her church. Emmy’s professional career is in international affairs and nonprofit management and it was all sparked by service trips to Temuco, Chile, and Las Maravillas, Mexico, in high school and college. Just like YPM’s trips, working alongside the Mapuche and Maya people brought God’s light alive for Emmy and she is so excited to reconnect with that passion working with YPM.

Cynthia grew up on the Texas border, has spoken Spanish since childhood and holds a BA in Spanish. Her first mission trip was to Guatemala in 2005. 2008 was her first Medical Mission Trip with YPM with FPC San Antonio. “What I love most about YPM is the leadership and mission: Wilian and Erly are visionaries dedicated to bringing educational opportunities and healthcare to the underserved Maya population. The people are charming and winsome, and it is a blessing to serve in whatever capacity I can in order to help bring about positive change in their lives.

Lori is new to the YPM board in 2026, but has been serving on YPM construction trips since 2019. She loves getting to know the Maya people and sharing God's love wherever she goes. Lori is a member of Northminster Presbyterian Church in Peoria, IL where she is currently serving as an elder, youth leader and on the mission team. She is a retired engineer from Caterpillar and now spends her time volunteering at Northminster and at an inner city nonprofit where she works in the afterschool program for middle school students teaching trades and educational classes. Lori loves the outdoors and spends free time hiking, kayaking, and gardening. She is married to Roger and they have 3 adult children.

Career - Rev. Mark Hughey received his Master of Divinity degree from University of Dubuque Theological School while serving at a church in Wisconsin. He then went on to Pastor in Omaha, served 4 churches in Illinois, in Bloomington, LeRoy, Bolingbrook, and Coal City. He is currently pastor in Cambria Wisconsin.  He has served on several mission/humanitarian aid organizations. Rev. Hughey has his health and life coach certification, as well as taken classes toward a masters degree in counseling and is currently completing a massage therapist certification.He is also involved serving in disaster management, in two suburban counties of Chicago. He worked with the 2015 Coal City tornado doing disaster management, serving with Team Rubicon and Americorp.  He has completed CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) certification.

Family & Hobbies – He is married and lives in Illinois. Mark loves to kayak, bike and hike. His interest in nature has created his dabbling in photography.

Mike Gross is currently serving as pastor of United Presbyterian Church in Ft. Morgan, Colorado. Mike has also been a Special Ed, Social Studies and Physical Education/Health teacher and sports coach. He has a B.A. from Western State College (now university) in 1987 and a M.A. from UNC in 1994. Mike and his wife Mary have been married since 1987, have three children. He loves working with YPM!

Rev. Ted Thode is currently a Parish Associate at First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham, Michigan.  As a Parish Associate, Ted assists with leading worship and the youth. He and his wife, Erica, have three young daughters.  Ted became a Parish Associate at FPC in January 2016.  Before coming to Michigan, Ted served as a pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, from 2011 to 2013.  Ted graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2011. Ted runs a small e-commerce business when he's not volunteering at FPC.

Ted joined the board for YPM in April 2024.  He is excited to be part of the board and looks forward to working with YPM.