Debbie Michel
June 26, 2025CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS
Born and raised in Chicago, John Grys brings national and local experience to his role as president of Illinois Conference. He has pastored in several U.S. states and served as associate ministerial director for the North American Division. A DMin graduate from Andrews University, John also teaches at the seminary, equipping future leaders while serving the needs of his conference.
President of Indiana Conference since 2018, Vic Van Schaik has served over 25 years in pastoral ministry in Indiana and Iowa-Missouri. He earned both his MDiv and DMin from Andrews University. Known for his thoughtful leadership, he also co-hosts Hope for Life TV.
As president of the Lake Region Conference, Garth Gabriel leads a diverse and mission-driven team across multiple states. With a focus on building strong churches and inclusive leadership, he helps ensure the voices of historically underrepresented communities are present in church decision-making at every level.
President since 2018, Jim Micheff has dedicated decades to serving the Michigan Conference: as a local pastor, youth director, executive secretary, and now president. He brings a strong pastoral heart and deep knowledge of the territory.
Originally from Romania, Titus Naftanaila has served the Wisconsin Conference since 2007, including roles in pastoral ministry, religious liberty, stewardship and personal ministries training and currently at president. He earned his DMin in discipleship and biblical spirituality from Andrews University in 2022.
LAY LEADERS
For 46 years, Arlene Brown-Dominguez has been a dedicated leader within the Seventh-day Adventist Church through numerous leadership roles on the local level and member of several executive committees and boards. Her resume also includes Regional Mission Integration Manager within AdventHealth’s Midwest Region. In retirement, she continues to pour her heart into ministry, actively leading and supporting discipleship efforts within her Illinois Conference church community. Beyond ministry, Arlene enjoys exploring new hobbies, traveling, reading, spending time in nature and embracing opportunities to connect across cultures. She is the proud mother of two daughters, Alexandra and Nicole, and the devoted wife to her husband, Mike.
Sara Ensign serves as operations manager at Aboite Christian School, the church school of Fort Wayne First Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Indiana Conference. She manages registration, reporting, testing, treasury support, and assists the principal. With a degree in interior design, she also serves on the school board and leads church décor. Sara loves water, especially the lake and beach, and cherishes time with her husband, three adult daughters and her Chihuahua, Rico. Her favorite hymn is “In the Garden,” and her guiding verse is Isaiah 41:10, which reflects her trust in God’s constant presence.
Doris Gothard has held numerous leadership roles in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, including serving on the General Conference executive committee and Theology of Ordination Study Committee. She was women's ministries director for the Lake Region Conference and now chairs its finance committee and serves on several others. She is president of Doris Gothard Products LLC and creator of CEJO (You Can’t Eat Just One) gourmet cookies. A keynote speaker, author of 10 books and mentor, she has shared her message across the U.S., Canada, South Africa and Israel. Doris lives in Washington, Michigan, with her husband Donald. They have one son.
Esther LaTour and her husband, Donn, moved to Michigan in 1997 after completing medical residency. She assists in his dermatology and Mohs surgery practice. They attend Battle Creek Tabernacle, supporting evangelism, Sabbath School and hospitality ministries. They've launched CORE, a Bible training program, and support overseas missions, including work in Guam. Esther’s favorite Bible verses are Jeremiah 31:3 and 2 Peter 3:9.
Born and raised in Wisconsin, Micky Wilde attended Wisconsin Academy where she met her husband, Richard. Together they raised two children in Green Bay Wisconsin. Strong supporters of Adventist education, their children attended SDA schools and are both graduates of Adventist Universities. Micky has served in multiple ways including church pianist, school treasurer, Wisconsin Conference Finance Committee member, and regular volunteering. She is a registered nurse and a business co-owner of a dental equipment company with her husband. She enjoys camping and hiking. Her favorite song is “This is My Father’s World” as she daily reminds herself that God is in control.
UNION ADMINISTRATION
Elden Ramirez is the president of the Lake Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, a role he assumed in May 2025. Prior to this, he served as the executive secretary of the Lake Union beginning in 2021. Before joining the Lake Union, he was the undersecretary of the North American Division of the General Conference and previously served as president of the Montana Conference. Elden has ministered across five states in a variety of roles, including academy chaplain, youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter and departmental director in areas such as family life, youth ministries, camp ministries, health and temperance, and national servicemen organization. He also led the Office of Volunteer Ministries at the North American Division. Elden and his wife, Jenny, have two daughters, Elennie and Jasmine. Together, they share an a cappella gospel music ministry.
Ted Huskins is executive secretary of the Lake Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, effective July 1, 2025. Huskins, an ordained minister of the Seventh-day Adventist Church from Asheville, North Carolina, brings 29 years of denominational ministry experience to this role. He currently serves as executive secretary of the Atlantic Union Conference, a position he has held since 2022. His prior leadership includes serving as both president and executive secretary of the Northern New England Conference. Earlier in his ministry, he spent 18 years in pastoral service within the Carolina Conference.
Glynn C.W. Scott has served in the Lake Union Conference since 2000 as associate treasurer and then as treasurer from 2003 to the present time. Prior to serving in the Lake Union, Glynn was secretary/treasurer for the Bermuda Conference from 1997 to 1998 and treasurer for 1999. Prior to the Bermuda Conference, Glynn served as an auditor for Coopers & Lybrand, Price Waterhouse and financial analysis for Fidelity Investments (Boston). Glynn holds a B.S. in Accounting and Business Administration from Atlantic Union College. He is married to Donna-Mae (Young) Scott, and they have two boys, Glenn Jr. and Clifton.
Carmelo Mercado began pastoring in the Indiana Conference, in Hammond. In 1980, he received from It Is Written a request for Bible information from a family who lived in East Chicago, Indiana. He gave the family Bible studies and baptized the mother, father and their daughter, Rosanne, in the Adventist faith. In 1986, he married Rosanne, who currently works as an occupational therapist at St. Joseph hospital in South Bend, Indiana. Carmelo had the opportunity to serve his entire pastoral ministry in Indiana, serving in cities like Gary, Hammond, East Chicago, Richmond, Connersville, New Castle, Indianapolis, Brownsburg, Martinsville and Fort Wayne. He also served as Hispanic coordinator for the Indiana Conference for five years, and also served as NET '98 Hispanic coordinator in 1998. Carmelo has served in his current role as general vice president for 15 years. He is also Multicultural Ministries director for the Lake Union and secretary for the Adventist-laymen's Services & Industries (ASI) Lake Union chapter.
As these individuals commit to representing us at the GC Session, let’s surround them with prayer.
Here’s more information on the process of selecting delegates.
