About Us
Our Staff: Board of Directors
You won’t find any stodgy attitudes or men who believe they walk on hallowed ground. These guys simply love Jesus and call others to follow Him.
Joe Anady
A pastor who leads a vibrant youth ministry in Hemet, California.
Dave Burdette
Co-founder of Caravan Ministries, a missions-mobilization ministry located in the greater Tijuana area of Baja California, Mexico.
Rob Foster
Lead pastor for Temecula Hills Fellowship Church, in Temecula, California.
Marc Horton
Principal of public elementary school in Hemet, California.
Jim Riley
Founding partner and CEO of an insurance and risk management business in Corona, California.
Steve Salomon
Lead Pastor for The Point in Ventura, California.
Doug VomSteeg
Founder of Ventana Ministries.
Our Staff: Ventana Team
President/Founders, Doug and Carrie VomSteeg
With a gift for making history class fun and understandable and being selected as teacher of the year by his fellow staff in 2004, Doug never imagined leaving the teaching profession. He loved what he did and it was evident by those who knew him. Yet following 14 years of teaching public high school he obeyed a new calling from God. A calling that would ask them to sell everything and simply follow Him. In 2005 he and his wife Carrie (along with their two boys) entered full-time ministry as founders of Ventana Ministries.
Director of Community, Dawn Jacobsen
Originally from New York, this Yankee moved to Santa Cruz, CA a few years back and now considers it home. She has several years of experience in Christian Camping, youth ministry, missions, and adventure programming, along with a degree in Psychology and minor in Religious Studies. She is using her experiences to lead the students and staff through many adventures in Baja. Her love for people and their growth will help to motivate the students and staff to focus on their relationship with Christ and the principles of Ventana Ministries as she serves as the Director of Community.
Director of Marketing, Jon Ahlum
Hailing from his home town of Jackson, WY and having received degrees in Bible and Business, Jon brings a passion and desire to see Ventana continue to grow and mature as a ministry into the future. He’s is not all business though. With a passion for the outdoors, he loves to mountain bike, surf, and run.
Office Manager, Kasey Abrahamian
With her accounting skills and passion for detail, Kasey makes this ministry run efficiently and keeps the government officials happy by completing all the forms they demand. As a wife and mother of two, she loves the flexibility of working from home. Kasey has been with Ventana Ministries since the very beginning, and she has a strong desire to assist in the continued growth.
Female Mentor, Teshia Tucker
Originally from Colorado, with a degree from John Brown University, Teshia spent last year at the Kanakuk Institute in Missouri receiving biblical training for a lifetime of ministry. With a down-to-earth, keep-it-simple attitude, she looks forward to the challenges and opportunities for growth in the lives of the girls she is mentoring. She also hopes to encourage them to live with the mindset that "it's (life) not about me" and to have "no doubts" in what God can do in their lives.
Male Mentor, Aaron Howley
Coming to Ventana from Southern California, Aaron is a general carpenter, youth worker, and surfer. He is super stoked to join the Ventana team and be a part of God-shaping and molding the male students’ world views while living in community with them and serving the needy. He is also in charge of the facilities on the Ventana campus and is looking forward to the many work projects and youth groups coming to serve in Mexico.