People Who Make Us Successful

William “Bill” Benson, Founder and Program Director from Sugar Grove, Ohio. A long time sailor in the Caribbean and frequent visitor of the Dominican Republic, Bill has made it his life’s work to help the people he has met on his travels. After over ten years of construction in the Dominican Republic directing Village Mountain Mission, Bill felt called in 2018 to make a greater impact by ministering directly to the children and families, thus the creation of Rising Sun Missions. Bill’s thirty years as administrator for the Boy Scouts of America provided his experience in managing volunteers, working with youth, fundraising, and networking. At 82 years of age, Bill is a wonder, playing tennis regularly and hiking the trails around his home with his best friend Archie, a Australian Cattle dog. Bill is widowed, has four children and ten grandchildren.

Dawna Evans, Secretary from Logan, Ohio. A supporter of the Mission since its inception, Dawna joined the Board of Directors in 2022. She has assembled and led five crews to the Dominican Republic and been instrumental in creating a program of activities for crew members to follow while in country. Dawna has a doctorate in pharmacology and is the pharmaceutical manager at Columbus’ Doctor’s Hospital, bringing her organizational skills and attention to details to everything she does. In addition to recording the activities of the Board, Dawna manages communications with Mission sponsors through Facebook and mailings and assists with the distribution of the Mission’s newsletter. She serves as Elder at Antioch Alliance Church and uses her beautiful voice as part of the worship ministry. Dawna’s husband Nathan is her number one fan and has joined her on many of the mission trips.

Brad Woltz, Treasurer from Circleville, Ohio. A board member since 2021, Brad brings his financial skills as CEO of RVM Construction to the Mission. His responsibilities include developing annual budgets, tracking donations and expenses in the U.S. and Dominican Republic, managing reports, filing necessary documents with government agencies, and providing accurate financial data on a monthly basis. Brad makes it possible for the Mission to stay on track by looking at costs of everything from bananas to gasoline, evaluating spending trends and following sponsor participation throughout the year. Brad has two children, one who participated as a member of a crew.

Autum Barry, Member at Large from Rockbridge, Ohio. A member of the board since 2020, Autum first visited the Dominican Republic with Rising Sun Mission in 2019 with her husband, Caleb. Autum brings her knowledge and experience in the field of education to the mission’s programs. She has previously participated in missions work in Macedonia, Peru, and the US. Autum’s husband and two children are essential team members of our Hide-Away-Hills Fundraising Dinner.

Michael “Mike” Budzick, Vice President from Logan, Ohio. A board member since 2021, Michael has made multiple trips to the Dominican Republic. A familiar face in the Columbus, Ohio communities, he served as Chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, is known for his wild game dinners and love of fellowship. At Antioch Alliance Church he served on the Governing Board for 38 years, as Elder at Antioch Alliance Church 36 years and teaches Bible studies. Michael brings wisdom and spiritual understanding to the issues the Mission faces in the U.S. and Dominican Republic. He loves baseball and is frequently seen playing catch with Ronald Lantigua during his mission trips. God has blessed him with many talents and is indispensable as the President’s right hand man.

Raquel Drake, Member at Large and Translator from Pickerington, Ohio. A multi-year traveler to the Dominican Republic beginning in 2014 with Village Mountain Mission construction projects, Raquel is a founding member of Rising Sun Missions. Born in Bolivia, Raquel uses her Latin heritage and language skills to interpret conversations and guide the board in matters of culture. She has a close relationship with our Dominican staff and is able to bridge any communication gaps the mission encounters. Raquel is able to expand the mission’s reach as she relates to village influencers beyond Rising Sun’s normal boundaries. In addition to her big heart for the Dominican people, Raquel also serves a mission in Honduras. Raquel is married with two daughters, one who participated as a member of a crew.

Rita Reis, Member at Large and Chaplain from Logan, Ohio. Rita is passionate about serving others and has been supporting mission work in the Dominican Republic for years. She was on the first team from the US to Rising Sun Missions and one of the first board members. With over 30 years of experience as a teacher, Rita provides valuable insight for the mission’s programs. Rita works with a team of volunteers to ensure the success of one of the mission’s big fundraisers, the Rummage Sale at the Hocking County Fairgrounds, each year.

Barry Norris, Member at Large from Medina, Ohio. Barry is the newest member of the Board of Directors, joining in July of 2024. He has been a supporter of the mission for several years. Barry is no stranger to the Dominican Republic mission field. He participated in the original construction crew that built the house on the mission property and before that, participated in a construction project with Village Mountain Mission. Barry has a long history of ministry with his church, his community and philanthropic organizations and he served as a professional with the Boy Scouts of America for nearly 40 years. Barry cherishes time with his wife Penny, three sons and three grandchildren and stays active with cycling, golf and pickleball. Barry brings his “people” and “administrative” skills to strengthen the current mission program.