MIKE GABELMAN - PRESIDENT
Mike has been leading volunteer teams into other countries for over 25 years. His professional background is in civil/environmental engineering, and has started six companies. Mike also served as an associate pastor from 2008 - 2016 at HOPE Christian Fellowship in San Gabriel, CA. He started flying in 1988, has an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) commercial rating and currently works part-time as a training captain at Ameriflight. He also works part-time during the fire season as a contract pilot for the US Forest Service, flying first-strike fire-attack parajumpers (aka smokejumpers). Mike enjoys keeping Mission Flight connected to the commercial aviation world and has a passion to rally teams together to go and serve where needed most.
MAURICIO GONZALEZ - VICE PRESIDENT
Mauricio runs his own company called Living Water where he designs, builds, and maintains custom ponds, fountains, and beautiful aquariums. Mauricio served as a youth leader and mentor since 2008 and is also a private pilot. Mauricio has been leading teams into Mexico since 2008, is fluent in Spanish, and has an extremely caring and loving heart. He is our lead coordinator with the local people in the remote villages, often going a couple days ahead of our medical and dental teams to coordinate transport to and from the villages, as well as lodging and "kitchens" for our teams.
NATHAN WELCH - TREASURER
Nathan Welch is a certified flight instructor & commercially rated pilot, a Major in the US Air Force where he used to fly, and a Program Manager with Parker Aerospace. While he no longer flies professionally, he was called to volunteer his flight skills after his daughter memorized 1 Peter 4:10 ("Each of you should use your gifts... to serve others"). After eight years of active duty service and 3 combat tours overseas, Nathan & his wife, Amanda, and their two children returned home to Orange County where he joined the Air Force Reserve and Parker, which designs fluid, hydraulic, and flight control systems. He has spent considerable time in the Mexicali region and has a heart for Mexico and its wonderful people.
LYNN EDLUND -SECRETARY AND DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Lynn was a Senior Geologist and program manager at an international environmental engineering consulting company. This experience has been valuable in her part time work at Mission Flight as she coordinates special events, such as SOAR, fundraisers, and volunteers for the mission trips. She also oversees the social media, prepares the newsletter, and provides admin support as needed. Lynn is also a private pilot.
SCOTT COUTTS - MEMBER
Scott Coutts has been an operations manager for small and medium size companies for the past 15 years. He brings this experience to Mission Flight to help with construction projects and clinic support and planning. He went on his first trip in 2017 and loves to sever God with his wife Frances.
FRANCES COUTTS - MEMBER
Frances has worked in the medical field and is currently working as an HR manager at a Fortune 500 company. She has a passion for the Mexican community which gives her the opportunity to serve as a translator, help out in the clinics with X-rays, assisting, and being on the prayer team. Frances is ecstatic and feels honored to be part of Mission Flight since 2019.
EVELYN LO, MD - MEMBER
Dr. Evelyn Lo has been working as an emergency physician for the last 28 years in Southern California. She also serves as the Medical Director for both Acts of Mercy and Medical Mission Adventures. AOM is a disaster relief organization and MMA is a mobile medical, dental, and optical clinic working to serve the least resourced communities in Los Angeles County. She and her husband pastor Epicentre Church in Pasadena CA for the last 18 years.
JOHN HARDY - MEMBER
John also volunteers as our Director Of Operations and has had a full career as a professional pilot with over 30,000 flight hours in just about every type of aircraft imaginable. (Ask him to tell you the story of the circus lady riding a unicycle up and down the isle of the large 4 engine airplane he used to fly and what that did to the trim control for pitch!) John also works as a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) for the FAA, and is a licensed airplane mechanic who helps ensure quality control for Mission Flight.
* Special THANKS to each board member who volunteers their time, talents, and resources!
