Officers/Management
Our officers are appointed by our Board of Directors to manage the day-to-day operations of WELS CEF.
James V. Buelow
President
Lake Mills, Wisconsin -Age 63
Mr. Buelow has been an employee of the Synod serving in Real Estate Management since February 2000. From 1969 to 1987, he served as Vice President and also as Cashier at Jefferson County Bank. From 1987-1993, he served as Vice President of Finance/Administration at Jefferson Cold Storage Corporation. From 1993-1997 he served as a Registered Representative at Equitable Life Assurance Society. He served as our Vice President from February, 2000 through April, 2002. Since May 11, 2002, Mr. Buelow has served as our President.
Jared J. Justman
Vice President
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin -Age 32
Mr. Justman has been an employee of the Synod serving in Loan Origination Management since August 2002. From 2000-2002, he was employed as a Claims Representative with State Farm Insurance. Prior to his employment with State Farm, he worked in various insurance related positions. Mr. Justman graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1999 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing and Risk Management/Insurance.
Kenneth C. McGhee
Vice President
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin -Age 59
Mr. McGhee has been an employee of the Synod serving in Loan Servicing Management since July 1998. From 1975 to 1988 he served in various capacities at GMAC. His positions included Credit Representative, Dealership Auditor and Special Collections Manager. From 1988 to 1997 he owned and managed CEREAS Credit Services, a credit counseling service and credit reporting agency specializing in residential mortgage credit reports.
Robert J. Moerchen
Treasurer
Franksville, Wisconsin -Age 66
Mr. Moerchen is Assistant Treasurer and Director of Risk Management for the Synod. From April, 2002 to August, 2006, he served the Synod as its Manager of Cash and Banking. Mr. Moerchen is a Certified Treasury Professional (CTP). From 1964 to 1967, he served as the General Accountant for Wells Manufacturing Corporation. From 1967 to 1998, he held various financial positions at Outboard Marine Corporation, most recently as its Assistant Treasurer. From 1998-2001, he served as Corporate Treasurer for Morris Material Handling, Inc. From 2001 to April 2002, he was an independent treasury management consultant. Mr. Moerchen graduated from Elmhurst College in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.
Timothy J. Probst
Vice President
Delavan, Wisconsin -Age 52
Mr. Probst has been Vice President of the WELS CEF since September, 2007. He is also our Investment and Development Manager and has served in such capacity since January 2007. Between July, 2005 and November, 2006, Mr. Probst was an investment representative for Community Bank of Delavan, Wisconsin. From January, 1998 to May, 2005, he was a financial associate at Thrivent Financial. Mr. Probst obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Life Sciences Communications and Marketing from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin in 1983. During the past five years he has been a registered representative with the following brokerage firms: J. W. Cole Financial, Inc., LaSalle St. Security, L.L.C., Princor Financial Services Corporation and Thrivent Investment Management Inc.
Gene H. Williams
Vice President
Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin -Age 81
Mr. Williams is responsible for issuing our Certificates, paying and accounting for all interest and principal on our Certificates, sending notices to investors of maturity dates and sending offering circulars. Prior to assuming his current position, he served the Synod in a management information services capacity, from 1988 to 1993, on a full time basis, and during the preceding five years on a part-time basis. From 1967 to 1988 he served in various management positions in information services. From 1957 to 1967 he served as Controller for a manufacturing company. Mr. Williams graduated from University of Wisconsin with an Associates degree in Marketing and a Bachelor of Arts degree - Business Administration with a major in Accounting.