Board Members

Paul Schmidt is the President of Palisade Investments and husband to the TRS Executive Director, Tina Schmidt.  He lives with Tina and their 4 children in Sartell, Minnesota.  Paul received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of St. Thomas and has worked in the investment banking business since 1995.  Paul actively volunteers as a coach for football, track and hockey, which gives him the ability to share his gift of coaching while ministering to the youth in his community.  Serving the vulnerable children of Sierra Leone in partnership with his wife, Tina has become a God-ordained ministry in Paul’s life.  His experience as the father of 2 adopted children from Sierra Leone is the driving force behind his passion to serve God’s children and give a voice to the voiceless.

Kelly Grams has been involved with TRS since its beginning.  Having walked alongside Jason and Erica through their adoption, her eyes were immediately opened to the people in Sierra Leone and the widespread need.  She was there to help open The Covering, has helped with sponsorships, and also assists traveling teams to SL.  Pictured with her is her husband, Jeremy Grams, a residential remodeler.  They live in Spring Hill, TN.

Francis Pyle is married to Lori and the father of 3 wonderful children.  He has served on the board since early 2010, and is involved in a variety of the organization’s needs.  In his professional career with supply chain consulting and management, he helps guide TRS with the supply of goods and decision-making that best serves the children and staff members of The Covering.  He currently resides in Louisville Kentucky with his family.

Todd Harman received his bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University and after completed his M.B.A. at Ohio University.   His undergraduate focus was accounting and logistics.   His experience has primarily been in the insurance industry, where he worked as an accountant and underwriter for Midland Mutual Insurance and was the Assistant Vice President of Annuity Operations and Assistant Vice President of Project Management, both for Can Insurance.

He has a diverse range of professional experience including accounting and controls, annuity operations, long term care and Life Insurance Management.   He is currently the Executive Director of Just Hope International, a nonprofit focused on helping the poor and disadvantaged worldwide.  He currently is employed by Hope Investments LLC , trading equities, exchange-traded funds, indices and options.

Dr. Jennifer Diers and her husband Doug live in Pella, Iowa where she works as an assistant professor of education at Central College. They have three biological children and currently serve as a host family for Lucy who is in the United States on a medical visa from The Covering. Jen has spent over 15 years working in the areas of special education, child development and teacher training.

Dan Leonard and his wife Charlene have four boys, one of whom was adopted from foster care.  He is an owner of a business that provides energy and environmental solutions for buildings.  Dan lives in Nashville, TN.

Jason Rust (Kansas City) has a wife and four kids that he doesn’t deserve.  Jason masks his lack of trust with perfectionism, enjoys acting smarter than he really is, likes dreaming about having worldly things, is arrogant, controlling and loves boasting in himself.  Thankful for Grace.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV)