WHO WE ARE

STAFF

PRESIDENT, CO-FOUNDER

Captain Jamie Spence

Biography

Jamie built and captained Canvasback, the world’s largest aluminum sailing catamaran, which brought medical care to Micronesia. Jamie was the Principal Investigator for the Department of Defense grant “Diabetes and Wellness Outcomes Research for the Republic of the Marshall Islands,” and he led the building of the Diabetes Wellness Center in Majuro. Jamie is an experienced Merchant Marine and also has worked as Department Head in Finance for the City of Alameda. He is a Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow.

Biography

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CO-FOUNDER

Captain Jacque Spence

Biography

Jacque built and was First Mate and Navigator of the 71-foot welded aluminum medical catamaran, Canvasback, which brought medical relief to Micronesia. She acted as co-director for building Canvasback’s Diabetes Wellness Center in Majuro and was the Chief Financial Officer for the “Diabetes and Wellness Outcomes Research for the Republic of the Marshall Islands” Department of Defense Grant. Jacque is an experienced and licensed Merchant Marine Captain. She sits on the Board of Directors of VOENA Children’s Troupe.

Biography

VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT

Jim Ayer

Biography

Jim is an international speaker whose greatest passion is introducing people to Jesus Christ. Jim has authored eight books and has served as a Vice President for Amazing Facts and Adventist World Radio, as the Assistant to the President at Hope Channel and President of Better Life Broadcasting. He is the producer and host of two popular television series, Making Waves, and Remodeling Your Life, which can be viewed on 18 Christian networks around the world.

Biography

REGIONAL CO-DIRECTOR

Kristin Smith, RN

Biography

Kristin Rockwell Smith graduated with a BSN from Southern Adventist University. Worked as a hospital nurse in a variety of units, including trauma, cardiac, renal, ICU, and ER. She has lived in 4 countries, working as a nurse, financial officer, and health educator. Currently she is the financial officer for Canvasback Wellness Center in the Marshall Islands, a beautiful group of islands in the Pacific. She also conducts health education for groups who visit the Wellness Center, schools, and outer islands.

Biography

REGIONAL CO-DIRECTOR

Tanner Smith, RN

Biography

Tanner grew up in Casanova, VA and graduated from Southern Adventist University in 2004 with his BS in nursing. He has worked in many different units and specialties ranging from oncology to cardiology and ICU. In 2015, he answered the call to become the regional co-director at the Canvasback Wellness Center. He and his family fell in love with the islands and have been working hard to set the Marshallese people free from the twin killers of diabetes and heart disease.

Biography

ONBOARD EDITOR

Sterling Spence

Biography

Sterling holds degrees from La Sierra University in Management and Religious Studies as well as an MA in Ethics and Social Theory from the Graduate Theological Union. He grew up with Canvasback and spent months at a time on the original Canvasback sailing catamaran. He has worked for community organizations in the Bay Area such as Bend the Arc and the American Friends Service Committee organizing around prison abolition, progressive tax reform, and housing issues.

Biography

TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR

Linda Sue Martin

Biography

Linda Sue has over fourty years of information technology experience. A graduate of Pacific Union College, she holds a Master's in Business Administration in Technology Systems from DeVry University, from which she graduated with distinction. Linda Sue provides the team at Benicia headquarters with a broad range of technology solutions tailored specifically to keep Canvasback Missions sailing smoothly through every informational or technological storm.

Biography

DIRECTOR OF VOLUNTEER EFFORTS

Elizabeth Miller

Biography

Elizabeth recently transitioned from working as administrative assistant in planned giving, trust services and property management departments of the Northern California Conference. She is now coordinating mission related activities for teams sent to Micronesia, as the Director of Volunteer Efforts (DOVE). She has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, with an emphasis in marketing, from Pacific Union College. She has been a notary public for over 12 years and looks forward to becoming a medical volunteer someday.

Biography

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT / WELLNESS CENTER LIAISON

John Bechtel

Biography

John has over 30 years of administrative duties during his years as a minister. Now that he is entering retirement he is using his experiences as a part-time Executive Administrator to serve and make a difference in the lives of the people in Micronesia. He and Evangelina have dedicated their lives to caring for God’s people and helping them grow in God’s grace.

Biography

WAREHOUSE SUPERVISOR

Garland Crawford

Biography

Garland began in the warehousing, crating and shipping industry in 1972 and later opened his own business along side his brother, Crawford and Crawford Crating. Garland takes pride in having every item needed by a surgery team crated and organized. So that when the 40 foot ocean container leaves the the Canvasback warehouse every item needed to make our surgery team's work successful is packed and ready to be used in the islands.

Biography

CONSULTANTS

HEAD DIETICIAN

Brenda Davis, RD

Biography

Brenda, a registered dietitian, is a leader in her field and an internationally acclaimed speaker. She is co-author of eight books, including Defeating Diabetes. She is the lead dietitian in Canvasback's diabetes research project in Majuro, Marshall Islands. Brenda is a past chair of the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group of the American Dietetic Association.

Biography

YOUTH EXTREME DIRECTOR

Chris Howell

Chris and his wife, Debbie, live in Clarksville, Maryland. They have two daughters, Jasmine and Camilia. Chris and his wife, Debbie, began their mission service in the Marshall Islands in 1986 where they spent a year as student missionaries on the island of Ebeye. They also served as missionaries in Ethiopia, Africa for four years. Chris graduated from Atlantic Union College and holds a BA in Religion. His love and commitment to youth groups keeps him in-touch with the needs of youths. He owns and operates his own carpet dyeing business, Colorful Carpets. And his expertise is in high demand and sends him all over the world speaking and training. To round out his life he is credentialed in Judo.

Biography

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Every successful organization must have accountability. Canvasback Missions is very fortunate to have a team of board members who, themselves, are dedicated to mission service. Our board members possess a wide array of professional experience in many fields. This experience has been a tremendous benefit for the overall success of Canvasback for over 38 years.

WANT TO JOIN OUR TEAM?

CAREER & JOBS