Jen joined the Thrive team as Chief Executive Officer in September 2025.

She has been traveling internationally for most of her life, with a focus on training, empowering, and encouraging local leaders and cross-cultural workers in Central America, West Africa, Western Europe, and in South Asia for the past decade. As both a cross-cultural and care worker herself, Jen is excited to bring her unique perspective and experience to the Thrive team. Both she and her husband D have been involved in global work for the past 15 years. Jen received her Master of Arts in Religion from Redeemer Seminary in Dallas.

Jen also comes to Thrive with a strong background in marketing, graduating from The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. She has worked in marketing, including owning her own marketing consultancy business working with social impact brands, for many years.

Jen and her husband D have a feisty yellow lab, Bomber.

Kevin joined the Thrive staff as Chief Operating Officer in February 2011. He is a strengths-based leader who leads relationally with a passion for a connected and loving team culture. He has helped move Thrive to be a cloud-based work environment that's more data-driven and agile to the needs of women ministering overseas.

Prior to Thrive, Kevin worked with YWAM for twelve years in a senior leadership role in Denver. He had the opportunity to disciple and train hundreds of workers and lead numerous outreaches and leadership conferences all over the world. During those years, he developed a passion for empowering and equipping workers by helping them thrive in their continued service to the Lord.

Kevin earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology from Truman State University in Missouri in 1995, which led him to work in cardiac rehabilitation at a hospital in St. Louis for a few years.

Kevin is married to Simone, and they have three beautiful children.

Julie joined Thrive at the end of 2024 as our In-House Graphic Designer. She has a background in graphic design, marketing, customer service and printing. Julie has a heart for encouraging women in their faith, as well as cross-cultural work. Working at Thrive is a perfect blend of all of her passions and she is thankful to be part of the team!
Julie has a degree in Graphic Communication from Cal Poly State University in California and an Associates degree in Graphic Design from WCTC in Wisconsin. In her free time she loves all things creative as well as being outside running, hiking or biking - especially when she gets to enjoy these activities with her family.

Abigail is passionate about the mission of Thrive and loves meeting with people and connecting on a heart level. She is a certified life coach with the International Coaching Federation, and a veteran trainer of those who desire to become life coaches. Previously, Abigail taught theatre at the high school and college level. While they lived in Texas, Abigail and her husband Scott founded a nonprofit to minister to relationships and co-authored the book Authentic Conversations. She has enjoyed joining her extended family in the Denver area, and continuing to live life with her four kids.
In her free time Abigail enjoys reading, walking in nature, drinking coffee, and watching productions.

Maggie joined Thrive at the end of 2024 as our Administrative Coordinator, with a unique eye for detail, problem-solving, and rich experience working in ministries.
Maggie is always looking for a problem to solve. Growing up in a small church, she found a passion for finding solutions that tailored to the community she was in. Now, Maggie has a passion for connecting with people and supporting them in any way she can. She is so excited to continue doing that with Thrive!
In Maggie’s free time, she loves reading, hiking, and playing board games with her husband.

Leigh joined the Thrive team in November 2013 as the International Retreat Coordinator. God has used her to serve and develop women for Kingdom service for over a decade. She enjoys encouraging and empowering women to be all that God created them to be and brings her organization and passion for planning to Thrive.

Leigh loves spending time with her two kids, Owen and Emma, hiking gorgeous Colorado trails, traveling, health and wellness, and photography. She graduated with a degree in Graphic Design and has worked in design, personnel management, and business administration. She enjoys helping others discover and utilize their unique gifts and strengths and loves being part of the incredible Thrive family.

Kris brings thirty-five years of accounting experience to Thrive. She oversees the financial reports, retreat reports, volunteer support, and attendee sponsorships. She was invited to a Celebration Event for Thrive and was moved by the care for women working cross-culturally. At one time, she thought she wanted to work overseas, but God had other plans.

In the past five years she has focused on accounting for churches, new church plants, and small ministries. Her passion has been to assist, train, and help ministries to get on the correct path with their finances. Kris has served on the Women’s Ministry team in her church. She is currently taking a two-year program with the Women’s School of Leadership Ministry.

Lynn has been a Thrive retreat volunteer since 2014. She helped start the Alongside arm of the ministry in 2017 as a volunteer, and has since expanded the team. In 2021, Lynn joined the Thrive staff as the Alongside Coordinator.

She and her husband Ray have been married for 39 years, and live in Colorado Springs, CO. They have three married adult children and seven grandchildren. Lynn and Ray have made several trips to the Middle East to visit their son’s family of six living and ministering there. With this family connection, Lynn is familiar with life on the field and has a heart to encourage women by connecting them with a Mentor, Spiritual Director, or Life Coach through Alongside. She enjoys golf, the outdoors & glass art.

Arden joined Thrive in early 2020 as the copywriter, with a background in marketing and communications. Since joining the team she’s served in various roles, now managing much of Thrive’s written content and coordinating Connection, the daily devotional ministry.
Arden graduated from Baylor University with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Religious Studies. She spends her spare time outside enjoying hiking, fly fishing, camping, skiing, and trail running.

Karyn Ward joined the Thrive Board in April, 2023. Karyn has served as a volunteer photographer with Thrive since 2018 and has loved being able to capture precious moments of women at retreats in places like Cyprus, Estonia, and Prague. She also served as a mentor in the Alongside program. Karyn is honored to join the board as she fully supports the mission and heart of Thrive.

With a long history of volunteering in her community, Karyn has served on the board of several local service organizations chapters as well as her church vestry. She also taught a program in her church women’s ministry for 15 years and has been involved in Bible Study Fellowship, often in leadership, for 25+ years. Karyn is also a Dallas CASA (court appointed special advocate).

Karyn is a CPA and her formal education includes a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Science in Taxation, both from the University of North Texas. Karyn and her husband of 37 years live in Dallas. They have three adult children, one of whom is married, and recently became grandparents.

Cathy Roberts joined the Thrive board in January 2018. Cathy lives in Colorado Springs. She serves as the Director of Leader Development with Greater Europe Mission. She has also cared for missionaries for over 20 years alongside her husband, Rick, who serves as the Associate Director of Member Care for GEM. Cathy has served on a church staff, and has had the blessing of being salt and light to the corporate world through various positions, currently working as an Executive Coach.

Rick and Cathy have two sons, one daughter-in-law and an adorable grandson. She loves to invest in the lives of women in her neighborhood, workplace and around the world. She's been a counselor on several Thrive retreats.

Vicky Gunning grew up in the small town of Stroud, Oklahoma and has loved Jesus her whole life. In grade school she was deeply impacted by watching the Lord take over her entire hometown through revival. Her prayer has been to see that again! Vicky currently attends Anglican Church of the Resurrection in Flower Mound, Texas and serves as a volunteer on staff leading the prayer ministry and small groups. She served on the Leadership Council (vestry) for 5 1/2 years and as Senior Lay Leader (senior warden) for 2 of those years. She is a recent graduate of the Selah Anglican Spiritual Direction program, is a trained Stephen Minister, and is in the aspirancy phase of discerning the diaconate. She recently was elected to the Diocesan Council (governing board) of her diocese of Christ our Hope for a 3-year term. Vicky has been married for 38 years to Michael and they have one son Ryan (23) and two dogs.

Vicky recently retired from law practice as a partner with the international law firm of Locke Lord LLP (now known as Troutman Pepper Locke) where she spent 34 years as a commercial real estate and finance lawyer. She served as Dallas Office Managing Partner and led as the Co-Chair of the firm's global Finance, Banking and Real Estate Department. During her last 2 years of law practice she oversaw culture for the law firm's 20 offices and has experience in helping shepherd healthy cultures in organizations. She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Accounting and Southern Methodist University Law School.

Dale and his wife Lisa have lived in Edmond for over 35 years and have attended Faith Bible Church for 16 years. They have been married for 36 years and have three children, (Allison, Trey, and Catherine) and eight grandchildren. Dale graduated from East Central University in 1987 with a degree in Marketing and has been in the chemical distribution business for over 36 years. His previous 10 years have been with Brainerd Chemical Co. as President and VP of Sales. Dale retired at the end of 2025.

Dale is very involved in several ministries at Faith Bible in Edmond, OK. He co-leads one of the Adult Bible Fellowship classes, he served 3 years on the Elder board (2021-2023) he was chairman of the elder board in 2023. Dale also has oversight of the usher ministry and Faith’s deacon body. His wife Lisa is active in the music ministry, Faith’s women’s ministry and volunteers at the Hope Pregnancy Center in Edmond, OK.

Jen joined the Thrive team as Chief Executive Officer in September 2025.

She has been traveling internationally for most of her life, with a focus on training, empowering, and encouraging local leaders and cross-cultural workers in Central America, West Africa, Western Europe, and in South Asia for the past decade. As both a cross-cultural and care worker herself, Jen is excited to bring her unique perspective and experience to the Thrive team. Both she and her husband D have been involved in global work for the past 15 years. Jen received her Master of Arts in Religion from Redeemer Seminary in Dallas.

Jen also comes to Thrive with a strong background in marketing, graduating from The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. She has worked in marketing, including owning her own marketing consultancy business working with social impact brands, for many years.

Jen and her husband D have a feisty yellow lab, Bomber.

Kim Johnson joined the Thrive Board in January 2025. Kim lives in metro Atlanta. She has served on the Diaconal Ministry Team in her local church. She is the Director of Women’s Ministry at Reformed Theological Seminary-Atlanta (RTS). She is also a part-time RTS student pursuing a Master of Arts Biblical Studies. Kim came to faith in high school, yet during her undergrad years of college, God used the local church and a campus ministry, Campus Outreach (CO), to mature her faith. The Lord has developed a heart for discipleship, women’s ministry, and global work in Kim. She loves investing in the lives of women. Kim is married to Byron, and they have five adult children.

Idella is a seasoned executive with 26 years at JD Edwards, where she began as an accountant and rose through every functional area to serve as Vice President for customer-facing departments, overseeing ~750 employees across London, Tokyo, Sydney and Denver. She played key roles in the company’s IPO and its eventual sale into what is now Oracle Corporation. Idella is an experienced board member, having served on both for‑profit and nonprofit boards including National Christian Foundation, Generous Giving, Women Doing Well, Providence Network, Women Vision, Save Our Youth, Thrive Ministry, Inner City Christian School and Strong Cross Ministry (South Africa).
Today, she leads a Bible study at her church and facilitates programs for Generous Giving and Women Doing Well and is involved with Women of Vision Charlotte (World Vision).

Eric joined the Thrive Board in May 2020. His connection with Thrive began through his wife Rose who volunteered at the Thrive retreats in Beaver Creek and Croatia. His career was in the business world and he currently serves as the Generosity Leader for his church.

Eric also serves on several non-profit boards supporting global workers in Kenya and in other international locations. He and Rose lead a program in their city for those dealing with Grief and Loss. And love being Grandpa and Nana to five beautiful grandkids!

Jessica Mills is the co-owner of Mills Family Consulting, where she serves nonprofits as a dedicated and strategic fundraising consultant. She specializes in helping ministries design and execute major donor events that align with their mission and produce meaningful fundraising impact. Jessica also equips new and emerging development professionals through practical, hands-on training that builds confidence and long-term success in the fundraising field.
Jessica’s calling is to connect resources, passions, and needs for the greatest impact on His Kingdom. She carries a deep heart for those on the front lines of ministry and considers it a privilege to come alongside them with encouragement, clarity, and practical support.
She holds a Master’s degree in Community Counseling from Denver Seminary (2006) and a Bachelor of Science in Family and Human Services from John Brown University. She also serves on the Development Committee for New Life Ranch in Colcord, Oklahoma, contributing her expertise to strengthen the organization's mission and sustainability.
Based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, Jessica lives with her husband and their two energetic sons. When she’s not consulting or coaching, she’s navigating Lego landscapes, dodging flying balls, and keeping the snack supply fully stocked.

Kevin joined the Thrive staff as Chief Operating Officer in February 2011. He is a strengths-based leader who leads relationally with a passion for a connected and loving team culture. He has helped move Thrive to be a cloud-based work environment that's more data-driven and agile to the needs of women ministering overseas.

Prior to Thrive, Kevin worked with YWAM for twelve years in a senior leadership role in Denver. He had the opportunity to disciple and train hundreds of workers and lead numerous outreaches and leadership conferences all over the world. During those years, he developed a passion for empowering and equipping workers by helping them thrive in their continued service to the Lord.

Kevin earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology from Truman State University in Missouri in 1995, which led him to work in cardiac rehabilitation at a hospital in St. Louis for a few years.

Kevin is married to Simone, and they have three beautiful children.