Bruce Swanson, Director :: Transformational Ventures

Bruce worked with WorldVenture in Portugal from 1983 to 1993, focusing on church startups and leadership development.  During those years, Bruce also created a community-based approach to drug prevention and treatment.

In 1993, Bruce joined WorldVenture's leadership team and was responsible for training, contingency planning, crisis response, team development, and other services for 550 missionaries in 60 areas of the world.

In 2002, Bruce shifted to Organizational Development and led WorldVenture through a re-org, worldwide strategic planning, and in the creation of new mindsets and services, to increase effectiveness. In 2006, he shifted his focus to complex new partnerships and, ultimately, Business as Mission.

Along the years, Bruce completed master's degrees in New Testament and Counseling Psychology, as well as some course work in management and organizational leadership.

Bruce likes to mountain bike, hike, hang out with his wife, keep up with their three grown kids, and help out at a local community work with kids at risk.

David Befus, Training | Small Business Development :: Transformational Ventures

David brings a wealth of knowledge in Business as Mission (BAM), including an M.B.A. and Ph.D. in International Business and Economic Development.  He has been a consultant to the World Bank and USAID and he has developed multi-country micro-enterprise projects with Opportunity International and World Vision.

David has a passion for job creation at the grassroots level, utilizing relatively small amounts of seed capital and local technology.  He recently spent several years creating small businesses and over 400 jobs among displaced people in northern Colombia.

David's leadership experience in international missions includes nearly a decade of serving as President of the Latin American Mission (LAM).  David equips business people in churches to do BAM successfully and he develops curriculum and teaches at universities at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

When he is not pursuing some BAM project, David plays the baritone and basketball and likes to watch all sorts of sports on TV.

Tom Beck, Consultant :: Synergos Solutions, LLC

Tom earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Arizona and his M.B.A. in finance from Southern Methodist University.

He was a founding partner of Blockbuster Midwest (d.b.a. Blockbuster Video) in 1986. During Tom's 3 year tenure Blockbuster grew from one unit to over 400 units with revenues of $450 million.

In 1992 Tom was a founding partner of Boston Chicken, Inc. and for six and a half years he was a senior officer overseeing the development of many aspects of the corporation, including franchise development, international development, organizational development, and human resources.  During his time there, Boston Chicken developed more than 1,200 Boston Market units and more than 600 Einstein Bagel units.

Tom has served as a guest lecturer on business and leadership issues at the Northwest Graduate School of Theology, Denver Seminary, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, and the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley where he also served as adjunct faculty.

As President of Synergos Solutions, LLC and a partner with Vantage Alliance, Tom consults with a variety of businesses, churches, and NGO's.  He coaches their leadership in governance development, organizational development, team development, and leadership development.

When he is not traveling, Tom plays golf with his wife and tries to figure out ways to use his many frequent flier miles.

Gertjan Flikweert, Project Development :: Transformational Ventures

Gertjan (or GJ) grew up in a small town in the Netherlands.  At age 17 he moved to the US where he attended Cedarville University, earning his BA in Operations Management.  In the Spring of 2009, he graduated with an MBA in Non-Profit Management from Boston University.

GJ has had extensive experience in different mission and administrative roles --  in Curacao (with Kinderdorp Hebron), Uganda (with Hope Alive!), and Macau (with WorldVenture), while he was also part of short-term teams to Italy, Brazil, China, and Bolivia.  Eventually, GJ plans to do long-term mission work overseas in a way that combines his heart for orphans and other disadvantaged children and his skills in administration and finance.

For now, though, GJ is working full time with Transformational Ventures, helping in all aspects of operations, especially focusing on managing the Opportunities on the website and Trading Hope, our import/export strategy.

GJ enjoys riding his bicycle, playing football ("soccer" to Americans) or volleyball, or just hanging out with friends.

Krista Morstad, Administrator :: Transformational Ventures

Krista was born and raised in Colorado and graduated with her B.A. in International Ministries from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL.

Krista has worked supporting leaders in the for-profit & non-profit business worlds.  In 2006 Krista left her role as a Region Coordinator with Volkswagen of America, Inc. to serve as the Executive Assistant to the Sr. Vice President of Ministry Leadership at WorldVenture.  Having held positions ranging from ministry field staff to leadership and administration, Krista is positioned well for her role with Transformational Ventures as she combines a passion for business with her calling to see lives transformed around the world.

When Krista isn't holding things together at Transformational Ventures, she likes to climb outside and in the gym, hike & ride her mountain bike.