Chaplain Jamie Grubb

Chaplain Jamie Grubb is the Founder and Executive Director of Compassionate Reach International (formerly Hesed Hope). She has a background in psychology and theology, and thousands of hours of education and training in traumatic stress, CPE, attachment theory, and PTSD. She was a Doula and is experienced in maternal healthcare. She is currently enrolled in the Masters of Arts in Global Leadership (MAGL) with an emphasis in Children at Risk, at Fuller Theological Seminary. Jamie is an ordained pastor and endorsed as a chaplain with the Assemblies of God.

Jamie understands first-hand the effects of trauma upon a family and the need for support systems after traumatically losing an infant in 1990. She also has over ten years of national and international trauma and disaster experience, leading crisis teams with the Salvation Army, Red Cross, and Association of Christian Counselors (AACC). She is a contributing writer for the AACC – Crisis and Disaster Division, and other ministerial publications. In addition to her training experience with Compassionate Reach, Jamie is a trainer for several organizations.

Jamie and her husband David have been married for thirty-three years, and together they have eight children, both biological and adopted (three in heaven) and twelve grandchildren. They live in upstate N.Y. with their youngest son Samuel. Jamie has been a homeschooling mom for almost 30 years, actively involved in the lives of her children.

Jamie works full time as a missionary with Compassionate Reach and is currently building a base of support so together she and David can provide trauma support and education to orphaned, vulnerable, and exploited children, and their caregivers throughout the world.

David Grubb

David Grubb has been with Compassionate Reach International since its inception and is a certified crisis responder. His experiences include training and certifications with the ICISF in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), The Salvation Army, the AACC, and FEMA, as well as memberships in several crisis response teams.

His deployments began in Katrina where he was first impacted to help others who were experiencing the effects of loss, and greatly influenced Jamie to pursue her desire for chaplaincy.  He was an integral part of the training team in post-earthquake Haiti, and is an active part of the advisory team for Compassionate Reach.

Together, Jamie and David have been involved with many aspects of ministry and leadership including community outreaches, as well as serving groups such as Intervarsity and Teen Challenge, leading marriage enrichment conferences, and couples counseling.

As an adoptive father, David holds strongly to caring for orphans and widows (James 1:27). He aided in the establishment of orphanages and provided humanitarian aid in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Burkina Faso, and Haiti.

As the father of eight children and with an understanding of the stress caused by economic difficulties, as well as a knowledge of the extensive poverty in developing countries, David is deeply concerned for the children who are survivors of natural disasters. His desire is to see Compassionate Reach work to maintain family preservation in both enabling fathers to be self-sufficient in providing for their families, as well as aid widows and other forms of kinship care for post disaster families.

Jessica Close

Jessica Close has over a decade of experience in Finance and Operations, Jessica’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and attention to detail makes her a vital asset to organizations large and small. Jessica currently works as a manager of two branches with the Berkshire Bank, overseeing all financial operations.

Before this, she held the position of President for 2 companies, providing global business advisory services and business support services for companies seeking operational efficiencies or help with growth and expansion efforts.

Previously Jessica also served as the COO of a B2B service firm, managing over 40 employees and more than 5 million in annual revenue. During this time, Jessica oversaw all company operations, financial, legal affairs and human resource responsibilities. Jessica also held the position as Business Specialist with Bank of America, helping businesses with cash management and financing needs.

Jessica also serves as a volunteer on the host team at Northway Church.

Jessica is married to Scott, and together they have two boys. They are both active in their church.

Rafael Marte

Rafael Marte has over 20 years of experience on fundraising and business development including selecting, managing, training, coaching and mentoring teams as well as securing customer loyalty and forging and nurturing strong relationships with team members and business partners. He has been involved with nonprofit organizations since 1990 and has been part of the development of rural clinics in the remote areas of the Dominican Republic.

Rafael holds various certifications and training including 21 CFR (Code of Federal Regulation) Part 11 (electronic records and systems compliance), current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP), Quality Assurance (QA) audit practices, Project Design for Non-Governmental Organizations, Fund Accounting, B.S.B.A Management Information Systems (MIS) & Accounting, and B.S. Electrical Mechanical Engineering.

Rafael is married to Vicki and together they have 2 sons. As a former boxer, Rafael also encourages mental and physical fitness through training others in the sport. His heart for others is evident in his care of incarcerated prisoners. He is an active volunteer with Kairos Prison Ministries at a high security prison in upstate NY.

Dr. Kevin Ellers

Dr. Kevin Ellers, is the Territorial Disaster Services Coordinator for The Salvation Army in the U.S.A. Central Territory. He is also president of the Institute for Compassionate Care which is dedicated to education, training and direct care. He is an associate chaplain with the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, serves as faculty for the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, and is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors Crisis Response Training Team. He has extensive training and experience in crisis response, disasters, chaplaincy, pastoral ministries, marriage and family therapy, and social services and as an author and speaker teaches broadly in these related topics. He is co-author of The First 48 Hours: Spiritual Caregivers as First Responders, Co-author of CISM: Grief Following Trauma, and author of CISM: Emotional and Spiritual Care in Disasters.

Kevin is the father of three girls, and is married to Jennifer Cisney Ellers.

Bryan Matillano

Bryan E. Matillano was born in a village of San Jose, Dulag, on the island of Leyte, in the Philippines. Bryan was raised as a Roman Catholic, and entered Sacred Heart Seminary, with a willingness to become a priest. Later making the decision to leave the formation he proceeded to become a teacher in the field of Science and English Language. He further earned his graduate degrees with both a Masters of Arts in Education with a major in General Science, as well as a Masters in English.

When Super-typhoon Haiyan devastated the Philippines, Bryan worked as a volunteer with Compassionate Reach International (CRI), assisting in giving Psychological First Aid among school teachers and their pupils, feeding malnourished children, and empowering Barangay Health Workers as community volunteers. CRI best practices were presented in international conferences and under review for journal publications.

At present, he is an Associate Professor in Leyte Normal University, Tacloban City, pursuing his PhD Degree in Biology, with a major in Environmental Science, as a university scholar in University of San Carlos, Cebu City.

 Sheila Simons

Sheila Simons is from San Diego, CA where she has resided most of her life. As a military wife and a mother she has committed her life to investing in her community. Her passion for others, has led her to serve her local church as their primary lay counselor for over six years. Her commitment for the community is evident in meeting with individuals in need from families, youth and cross cultural divides. She has also assisted various ministries as a youth leader, women’s missionary training school pastor and small group leader. Her compassion for others has been her drive in equipping future counselors through training and development, while maintaining a commitment to investing in others through discipleship. With a desire to motivate others, encourage character development, and walk people through healing, she pursued her studies through Liberty University and graduated with her Bachelors in Psychology and Life Coaching. Recently, having recognized the need for trauma care she pursued training in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) with ongoing training. Sheila is enrolled in her graduate program in Professional Counseling, with the intent to become a licensed Christian therapist with an emphasis in Trauma intervention. Her desire is that she could use her skills, knowledge, and experience to equip local churches with the tools they need to assist their congregations in soul care.