The Board & Leadership

boardmembers are volunteers and receive no compensation

R. BRENT COOPER

Director of Talsi Christian School Foundation

Mr. Cooper is the founder and named shareholder in the law firm of Cooper & Scully , PC. He has been a supporter of TCS since the beginning and started 4:13 Ministries (now Talsi Christian School Foundation) in 2005 to specifically support TCS. As Director of the Board he provides legal and financial guidance. He and his wife Karen have directed Sekoman Youth Camp at TCS since 2007

MARK FORDYCE

Treasurer of Talsi Christian School Foundation

Mark has over 30 years of experience in accounting, finance and operations.  He’s been the managing Director in Pwc and KPMG for the first part of his career, then a CFO and COO of various investment fund companies. He was the CEO of Blue River Partners which provides back office support to the alternative asset industry and has since retired and is dedicating his time to his wife Kim, kids and grandkids. Mark has been involved with Talsi Christian School Foundation for over 20 years and has served on the Board of Directors for 15 years.  He has a passion for reaching people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and has seen God work in miraculous ways through Inguna and TCS. 

LISA TOWNSEND

Secretary of Talsi Christian School Foundation

Lisa works as Director of Sales and Technical Support at Lennox Commercial segment. She has more than 24 years of experience in industrial engineering and process improvement including a Master Black Belt in Six Sigma. Lisa joined the Talsi Christian School Foundation Board in 2018 after attending multiple youth camps in Talsi and seeing all the great work they are doing at TCS. In her personal time, Lisa enjoys working with teenagers and young adults from both Latvia and USA as well as spending time with family and her dog, Pumpkin.

ZANE GRUZNINA-HOLLOWELL

Marketing and Communications at Talsi Christian School Foundation

Zane is a graduate of Talsi Christian School and currently works for SLB in Houston, Texas as a Technology Center Manager. She received her undergraduate degree from East Texas Baptist University and further pursued a dual JD/MBA from Texas A&M and South Texas College of Law. In her free time she and her husband volunteer at the TCS Camps, events and manage the TCS website and newsletter. She enjoys staying active while playing tennis and spending time with husband and family.

KAREN COOPER

Board Member

Karen Cooper has her degree in education. She has been a passionate supporter of TCS since before it actually began. On the board, she functions as support for the 4:13 Ministries Board. In addition, Karen and her husband, Brent, organize the Sekoman Youth Camp held each summer at TCS.

MIKE CUMMINS

Board Member

Mr. Cummins was involved with commercial banking for 8 years before joining the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) in 1982.  He served in many mid and senior level management positions with the FDIC.  Additionally, he was on the Boards of Director for over 200 corporations related to various banking functions. He has supported TCS since 2001 and worked with Brent Cooper in establishing Talsi Christian School Foundation. He retired from the FDIC in 2012, relocated to Talsi, Latvia to work directly with TCS in various ministries. Mike has returned to the USA after years of service in Latvia and continues to support the TCS Foundation.

JOETTA CUMMINS

Board Member

Mrs. Cummins was involved in church administration and Christian ministries for over 25 years in Georgia; prior to relocating to Texas with her husband, Mike.  Since 2000 she served in various volunteer ministry positions in Lamar Baptist Church. Since moving to Talsi in 2017 with her husband, Mike, she has stayed busy teaching ESL in their home to senior, working with the youth in their local church, tutoring English at TCS during the school year and other various ministries at TCS. The Cummins have returned to the USA and continue supporting TCS and the Foundation.

JOEL TOWNSEND

Board Member

Joel has worked for over 20 years as a Senior Manufacturing Engineer with Triumph Aerostructures.  Joel and his wife, Lisa, were first introduced to Latvia and the amazing story behind Talsi Christian School in 2013 at Lamar Baptist Church, where they felt a calling to serve and partner with the school.  After participating in multiple camps at the school, Joel and Lisa were asked to join the Board in 2016.  Outside of work, Joel enjoys spending time with his family and dog, "Pumpkin", as well as serving as a small group leader for Bible Study Fellowship in Arlington Texas.

BO SHERIDAN

Board Member

Bo has worked over 30 years as a Structural Engineer primarily with LeTourneau and Eastman Chemical.He was initially introduced to Talsi Christian School in 2006 when the TCS choir visited East Texas and began participating in summer camps in 2007. Bo has volunteered and served on the board for a local non-profit for several years. His primary hobbies are spending time with his children and grandchildren along with working on their small farm.

TRALISA SHERIDAN

Board Member

Tralisa has been a Hairstylist for 38 years. In 2020 she started her own salon called The Frizētava (which means Hair Salon in Latvian). Her plan was to be her family’s mission trip prayer warrior; however, God gave her a love for TKS, its students, families. She started going to Talsi Christian School with her husband, daughter and son in 2010 to help with Orphans Camp and then in later years to help with VBS Camp and Latvia now has a forever place in her heart. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her husband, kids, grandkids and making flower arrangements for special events.