Board of Directors
Board of Directors: Our Board of Directors manages the affairs of WELS CEF. Our Bylaws provide that the Board may have between seven and thirteen directors. Our Board currently has seven members. Each is elected to a four-year term by the Synodical Council. The Synodical Council has 21 members, including the Synod president, a lay representative from each of the Synod’s 12 districts, three district presidents elected by the Conference of Presidents, and six at large members elected by the Synod convention. A director may not serve more than three terms. The following individuals are our current directors:
Richard H. Schleicher- Chairman
Flower Mound, Texas - Age 59
Term expires: 6/30/2012
Pastor Schleicher has served since 1999 as Pastor of Prince of Peace Ev. Lutheran Church in Flower Mound, Texas. He previously served as Pastor at King of Kings Ev. Lutheran Church in Clifton Park, New York from 1993-1999, at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church in Amherst, New Hampshire from 1980-1993, and at Our Shepherd Ev. Lutheran Church in Crown Point, Indiana from 1976-1980. Pastor Schleicher graduated from Northwestern College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary with Masters of Divinity degree. Pastor Schleicher has been a director since 2000.
Jude C. Peck-Vice Chairman
Columbia,South Carolina-Age 50
Term expires: 6/30/2011
Mr. Peck is currently employed by Edens & Avant Realty as a Commercial Real Estate Investment Acquisition Analyst and he also serves as their Insurance Portfolio Risk Manager. He has been with Edens & Avant Realty since 1994. He holds a SC Real Estate Broker’s license and is a State Certified Real Estate Appraiser. After serving in the US Air Force, he graduated with honors from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Real Estate in 1984. Mr. Peck has been a director since 2003.
David P. Waldek
- Secretary
Clifton Park, New York-Age 44
Term expires: 6/30/2012
Mr. Waldek has over twenty years of financial experience with both publicly held and private companies. He is the co-founder and owner of CFO Advisory Group which provides strategic financial and business advisory services to high growth companies. He graduated with a BA in economics from the University of Rochester, New York and earned a MBA from the Simon School of Business, at the same institution. Mr. Waldek has been a director since 2008.
John W. Tappe
Westboro, Wisconsin-Age 65
Term expires: 6/30/2011
Mr. Tappe is currently a co-owner, Vice President and Secretary of Forrest Tappe Builders, Inc., a residential building and development company located in Weston, Wisconsin. He and his son established this business in 1991. Mr. Tappe is the partner and co-owner of Tappe & Tappe Rentals LLC and a Director of Advantage Community Bank. He is also co-owner, Vice President and sales agent with Keller Williams Integrity Realty of Wausau and has been since April 2004. From 2000 – 2004, Mr. Tappe was a salesman with Century 21 Tri-City Realty in Wausau, Wisconsin. He holds a Wisconsin Real Estate Brokers license. He has an Associate Degree in Residential Design from North Central Technical Institute in Wausau, WI, graduating in 1963. Mr. Tappe began his services as a director this year.
Norman W. Mischke
Plymouth, Minnesota-Age 69
Term expires: 6/30/2010
Mr. Mischke is currently retired and has been since September, 2005. Prior to retiring, he spent 33 years as a National Bank Examiner in the Minneapolis office of the Comptroller of the Currency. He graduated from University of Washington – Graduate School of Banking. Mr. Mischke has been a director since 1997.
Paul D. Beitlich
Sarasota, FL - Age 52,
Term expires: 6/30/2013
Mr. Beitlich is a senior partner, since 1990, and full shareholder in the law firm Icard Merrill. He specializes in real estate, banking, foreclosures, collections, workouts, REO, real estate and commercial lending and real estate title law. In 1987 he was elected into partnership with the law firm of Siemon, Larsen, Mattlin & Purdy in Sarasota, FL. In 1988 that firm merged with his current firm. From 1983-1987 he practiced at Siemon, Larsen & Purdy's Chicago office. In 1982 he commenced his career with Williams, Parker, Harrison, Dietz & Getzen in Sarasota, FL. Mr. Beitlich received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse in 1979. He received his Juris Doctorate degree with honors from the University of Flordia in 1982. Mr. Beitlich began his service as a director in 2009.
Joseph H. Worischeck
Chandler, Arizona-Age 76
Term expires: 6/30/2013
Mr. Worischeck is a retired lawyer and has been since August, 2006. He began his legal career in 1961. His area of practice is Estate Planning and Real Estate Law. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of Northern Arizona University Foundation for 25 years. Mr. Worischeck graduated in 1958 from Arizona State College at Flagstaff with a Bachelor of Science degree and in 1961 from University of Arizona with a LLB degree. Mr. Worischeck has been a director since 2002.