Board Directory
| Staff Directory
(E-mails) |
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Phil Largent
Founder & President |
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Koos Basson
Africa Director |
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Noemi Vera
Women’s Ministry Director |
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Bookkeeper
Accounting |
Robert J. Booth
Rob is president of RMB Inc, a software and services company based in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. An British citizen by birth, he is a graduate of Trent Polytechnic in Nottingham, England where he received a BSc (Honors) in Quantity Surveying, majoring in Law, Economics and Construction. Rob also completed the Leadership Training Course with Torchbearers International (begun by Major Ian Thomas) at Capernwray Hall, United Kingdom in 1986. Rob has served on various boards and as a deacon in his previous church in southern Colorado.
Rob has been married to Amy since 1989. Together they are growing in their faith and attend a local fellowship in Estes Park, Colorado. Both Rob and Amy have traveled extensively and have been part of many short term missions teams.
As other IMD board members, Rob desires to encourage pastors, staff, and lay persons to get involved in spreading God's Word and to assist in equipping them to minister through their own God-given skills and talents.
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Jerry D. BryantJerry Bryant is president and CHAIRMAN of the board of directors of Washington Investment Co. which consists of 17 banks. He is a graduate of Missouri University where he received a B.S. degree in Agri-business. He has served as president and chairman of the Independent Bankers of Colorado. He is on the board of directors of the Bankers Foundation of Colorado and serves on Governor Owen's Small Business Council for Colorado. He is on the Federal Legislation Committee for the Independent Community Bankers of America.
Jerry and his wife, Carmen celebrated their 35th anniversary the summer of 2006. They have three children: Jeremiah, Jared, and Chrissy.
Jerry has a heart for world missions and sees the need to enlist people to spread God’s Word in all parts of the world. He has been instrumental in supporting many different mission endeavors. He has also been on mission trips to other countries: three to Mexico and one to India.
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Dan BragassaMy wife is Veronica. We have Jordan, Dylan, and Lauren as children. God laid hold of Veronica and me through relationships we formed in a small group. Through those groups we began learning about and trusting in Him. I accepted Christ during this time. Since, it has been and continues to be a process of Him growing my faith and reliance on Him. I have had opportunities to serve the Lord through my local church as a small group leader, men’s ministry leader, board of directors, mission team participant and more.
My primary interests in IMD are twofold. First, the mission of equipping believers, leaders and the church is near to my heart. Secondly, much of the way I experience life is relationally. Having the privilege of being in a small group with Phil and Nancy Largent for the last two years has been a blessing. Phil has taught us, challenged us and encouraged us but mostly he has modeled for us an earnest pursuit of the Lord’s intentions for his life. I have had the opportunity to meet others from the IMD team, listen to their passions and desire, and hear their stories of how the Lord is working in their ministries. Through all of this I believe the desire I have to serve IMD’s Board is God’s doing. I believe God has equipped me with desires, skills and experiences that are beneficial to IMD’s mission. Being a part of that mission is a privilege.
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Lesta Johnson
I am excited to be a member of the Board of Directors. My interest in this ministry developed and then flourished through the opportunity to be a part of a team involved in training church leaders in the northern province of Zambia along with Koos Basson (IMD Africa, Director). As I spent time with the women of the villages, my heart was touched both by the similarities and the differences in our lives. I saw first hand the difference “knowing Christ” makes in a world that is full of hardships – hardships about which most of us only read.
I live in Estes Park, Colorado with my husband Steve with whom I traveled to Zambia. We have been married 25 years and have 3 children: Forrest, Christina and Annika. We are involved in our local church which has included taking part in several short term mission teams. I am a nurse with a special interest in pediatrics and women’s health issues.
I am pleased to serve the Lord as a member of the Board of Directors of IMD International. As directors, we seek to find His way in reaching unreached people groups and training them to reach their family, friends and neighbors for Jesus.
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Dr. Phil Largent
Phil serves as President of IMD International. From my roots in Northwest Arkansas, God has walked me through ministry in some of the most exciting, impacting conservative evangelical churches in America. Saved as an adult; God immediately thrust me into service in 1973. Formal education came after getting involved in ministry; culminating in a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Southern Baptist Center for Biblical Studies in Jacksonville, Florida.
The Lord has graciously assigned multiple opportunities to serve Him and His servants in other countries and with multiple ethnic groups. Teaching and training the people of God is what God has called and assigned me all these years.
Since November 1993, when God gave birth to IMD International, it has become obvious that this is the progression of ministry God had planned for me. The one hallmark of walking with God that has been impressed on me more than any is this; Surrender all you have to God, He will direct you and use you as He pleases.
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Robert E. 'Bob' Largent
Bob is an organizational and leadership development consultant, providing a number of practical people-oriented solutions to companies worldwide. He has over twenty-four years active duty service with the United States Air Force, where he served in a number of key leadership and staff roles, retiring in 1992 in the grade of Colonel. Since that time, he's served as Director of Human Resources and Vice President, Retail Operations for a regional oil company, and later, executive director of a statewide, not-for-profit human resource management consulting organization. Bob was the Director of Air Force Programs for Totalis Consulting Group immediately before becoming the Federal Marketing Director for Tandberg, a leading global provider of telepresence, high-definition videoconferencing and mobile video products and services.
Bob has a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Personnel Administration, from the University of Arkansas. He is also a graduate of the United States Air Force Air War College. He is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources.He and his wife of nearly 30 years, Becky, reside in Harrison, Arkansas. Bob desires to see IMD International grow and reach the multitudes who need the training and teaching the ministry offers.
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Al Lepper
Al is plant manager of the Ball Plastics, Inc. plant in Chino, California. A graduate of Carson Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee, his degree is in accounting. Soon after entering the manufacturing industry his leadership qualities resulted in a move to management. His career, spanning 28 years and 6 moves to different states, has afforded him daily opportunities to examine his faith, evaluate his personal growth and to mentor those under his leadership. Each move was a journey in faith and for over twenty years now, Al has had a passion for Bible Study and teaching others. He has also served as deacon, Sunday School Director and as a board member of Carson Newman College's Alumni Association.
Al lives in Chino Hills, California, with his wife, Sue. They have two grown daughters Erin and Amanda. They also have one grandson, Joshua, age two and a half. Before moving to California, Al and Sue lived in Arvada, Colorado, where Al taught a "new believer's class" that developed into a weekly Small Group Bible Study for more than two years. It was during these years at Foothills Community Church that Al met Phil Largent and first learned about IMD International. A relationship developed between Christian brothers and was solidified through small group Bible Study. Phil's passion to equip pastors was contagious and together with Al's passion for Bible Study, Al was quickly on board supporting the IMD efforts.
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Sandra Weingardt
Sandra Weingardt is a native of Colorado. She is an Executive Manager for the CEO of a Colorado based financial institution that owns seventeen community banks. Sandra has been married to Ed since 1991. Their blended family consists of three daughters, one son, and two grandchildren. Sandra has a vital growing relationship with the Lord which expresses itself through worship of the Father, involvement in local church ministry, and to ministry in Honduras. Her local church ministry includes facilitating weekly Bible studies as well as organizing and assisting the welcoming ministry. Sandra enjoys keeping close to the Lord and encouraging others to do likewise. Sandra's passion is loving people to the Lord by being the tool God uses.