Our Staff

Henry Doorn - Executive Director

Henry was appointed Executive Director of Barnabas Foundation in 2000. A Chicago area native, he began his career with the accounting firm of KMPG Peat Marwick, earned a CPA in 1981, and was continually promoted within the organization. He left public accounting to become the Chief Financial Officer of Brinson Partners, an investment management firm in Chicago, where he became a managing partner. Henry attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI and holds a B.S. degree from Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, IL. Henry's financial experience and expertise combined with his passion for Christian stewardship contribute to the important Christian leadership style that distinguishes the gift planning services of Barnabas Foundation.

Amy Bakker Baty - Director of Planned Giving Services

Since joining our ministry in February 2006, Amy has demonstrated outstanding legal and planning skills, as well as organizational leadership.  Her 17 years of private practice experience and track record of quality service at Barnabas Foundation, combined with her Christian commitment, qualify her to lead our Planned Giving Services team.   Amy is a graduate of Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI, with a Bachelors of Business Administration degree and University of Illinois College of Law with a Juris Doctorate. Most recently she has been a partner in the firm of McNeil, Karafa, Baty & Saunders, LLP, Grand Haven, Michigan where she focused her practice on estate planning and probate administration.  Amy resides in Michigan and apportions her time between our main office in Tinley Park , IL and our Grand Rapids , MI office.

Bob Zeilenga - Senior Estate Planner

Bob specialized in tax and estate-planning during his 17 years of law practice in California. He was a partner in a law firm that focused mainly on tax and estate planning matters. His professional services included participation in the trust and probate section of the San Luis Obispo County Bar Association. Bob's specialization in Estate Planning, Trust Administration and Tax Planning produced charitable giving plans for many clients which benefited major Christian organizations. He joined Barnabas Foundation in 1995 as an estate planner and later served as Director of Planned Giving Services. Bob has a B.A. degree from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI and received his law degree from Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, CA. He manages the foundation's California office.

Steven J. Baker - Senior Estate Planner

Steve practiced law in Michigan for 5½ years before joining the Grand Rapids office of Barnabas Foundation in 1995. He specialized in Taxation and Benefits Law and estate planning in the law firms of Paramenter O'Toole and Thomas H. Andrews, both in Muskegon. Steve holds a B.A. from Calvin College in Grand Rapids and a degree from the University of Detroit Law School, where he was an editor of the U. of D. Law Review. He serves on the board of the Muskegon Christian School Educational Foundation. Steve manages the Michigan office of Barnabas Foundation.

Don Long - Senior Estate Planner

Prior to joining Barnabas Foundation, Don concentrated on estate planning and business succession matters during the last 6 years of his 27 years as a practicing attorney. As a solo practitioner in Minneapolis since 1991, he describes himself as "a planner, a protector and a preserver." Don holds a B.A. degree from Minnesota State University in Mankato and earned a Juris Doctorate at Hamline University of Law in St. Paul, MN. He is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association. He's served on boards of the Wayzata Community Foundation, Greater Wayzata Chamber of Commerce, Christian Legal Society of Minnesota and has served as a volunteer for Twin Cities Christian Legal Aid and Prison Fellowship Ministries. Don provides estate planning services from his office in Minneapolis.

Dave Vander Ploeg - Estate Planner

During his 26 years of law practice in St. Joseph, Michigan, Dave specialized in the acquisition and sale of companies, as well as tax and estate planning. He then served five years as Executive Director of Back to God Ministries International in Palos Heights, IL. As a founder and later Executive Director of Barnabas Foundation for seven years, Dave is totally familiar with and committed to its ministry. He has a B.A. degree from Michigan State University and a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. Dave has served on a number of corporate boards and professional committees as well as contributing to the boards of charitable Christian organizations.

Kurt Knoll - Director of Investment Services

Since joining the staff, Kurt has been the primary contact with Barnabas Foundation's investment consultant, developing asset allocation models, proposing portfolio design, and evaluating investment manager performance. He is the key representative to Barnabas Foundation's Investment Committee and is responsible for implementing their decisions. Kurt works closely with member organizations on effective asset management strategies. He previously served as Barnabas Foundation's Director of Finance and Administration, and prior to that, held positions of Chief Financial Officer, VP Finance & Administration and Corporate Controller with various companies. Kurt is passionate about stewardship and is a Crown Ministries trained Financial Budget Counselor. He graduated Cum Laude with a BS in Accounting from Northeastern Illinois University.

Karen Layland - Director of Communications & Stewardship Education

Karen directs the communications and marketing endeavors of Barnabas Foundation.  She also heads up the stewardship education efforts for both member organizations and churches.  Prior to her current position, Karen established a marketing department for Bible League, a member organization, and served for three years as its VP Marketing. Previously, she spearheaded Barnabas Foundation’s initial branding efforts as Director of Marketing. Karen’s professional background includes marketing communications positions with CRC Publications, ABC Radio, Knapp Communications and marketing consulting with Fortune 500 companies. Her commitment to Christian communications includes work with Presbyterian, Reformed Church in America and the Christian Reformed Church denominations.

Laura De Vries - Church Relations Associate

Laura has extensive background in the stewardship education program of Barnabas Foundation. In 1992, she joined the foundation and began working with staff to meet the needs of churches in this important area. After attending the Southwest School of Business in Chicago, Laura served as a legal secretary. She later became the assistant to the Director of Development at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL. As Church Relations Associate, Laura is responsible for stewardship education programs and resources including the Good Steward Ministry program for churches; information about the Legacy Foundation for churches; and newsletters and general communication with churches.

Lynell Dykstra - Marketing Specialist

Since 1994, Lynell has served Barnabas Foundation in the Executive Director’s office as Executive Assistant. In that capacity, she worked with the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Investment Committee and was Secretary of the Foundation. In addition, Lynell has handled communications with the almost 200 Barnabas Foundation member organizations. A graduate of Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, Lynell majored in Business Administration. Her career includes service with rep firms, engineering firms and a Child Support Recovery Unit. In her marketing position, Lynell provides expanded marketing services for member organizations and Barnabas Foundation. She is instrumental in newsletter and external communications development, as well as the foundation’s annual planned giving conference.

Cindi Riemersma - Client Services Administrator

Cindi brings over twenty years of management experience in a variety of non-profit organizations to her role as Client Services Administrator. Prior to joining Barnabas Foundation in 2002, she served as Director of Operations with the Illinois Chapter of The Nature Conservatory and as Business Manager and later Director of Finance and Administration for the Milwaukee Art Museum. Her background also includes financial and management consulting services for a number of non-profit organizations. Cindi holds a BS in Accountancy degree from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI. Cindi works with clients in making gifts to Barnabas Foundation, as well as managing the ongoing relationships with many of our Stewards Fund, Charitable Trust, Gift Annuity, Member Asset Management and Legacy Foundation clients.

Kevin Butler - Controller

In 1997, following graduation from Trinity Christian College, with a major in accounting, Kevin became part of our financial department. He is the Trust Administrator and Controller for Barnabas Foundation. In this capacity, he works in management of donor accounts with the donor-advised Stewards Fund and all other established accounts.

John Sharp - Information Technology Manager

John joined Barnabas Foundation in 2001 as Manager of Information Systems. He came directly from Lucent Technologies where he was a senior engineer in the Standards and Engineering, Computing Facilities group. His career at Bell Laboratories / Lucent Technologies spans 32 years during which he moved from specialization in electronics research to focus on computers and communications. At Barnabas Foundation, John is responsible for computer technology, databases and is instrumental in the development and update of our website.