Staff

We look forward to serving your team with leadership training, supporting you with personalized coaching, and strengthening your ministry with innovative resources.

Pastor Don Sutton, Board Chairman

Strengths: Strategic, Maximizer, Arranger, Focus, Learner Pastor Sutton serves as Board Chairman and adjunct leadership trainer with Grace in Action. He has been a parish pastor since 1979 serving both missions and large, established congregations. Until his retirement from parish ministry in 2021, he served as Ministry Coordinator at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm, MN. In addition to his role as a parish pastor, he has been a leader at the circuit, district, and synodical levels. Pastor Sutton not only has a passion for ministry, but also for planning and helping leaders to be the best that they can be to God’s glory as they lead fellow Christians in carrying out the Great Commission. His specialties are Great Commission Leadership, strategic planning, team building, and CliftonStrengths. [fl_builder_insert_layout id=”4409″ type=”fl-builder-template”] Contact Don

Dr. Todd Russ, Executive Director

Strengths: Ideation, Context, Restorative, Strategic, Belief Dr. Todd Russ serves as Executive Director. He joined the Grace in Action team fulltime in 2022 after serving on the Board of Directors. He has spent 31 years in K-12 school leadership and education with ministry stops in Florida (Ocean Drive, Pompano Beach), Colorado (Shepherd of the Valley, Westminster), Wisconsin (Pilgrim, Menomonee Falls) and most recently, Minnesota, at St. Croix Lutheran Academy. These ministry opportunities have shaped the way that Dr. Russ sees organizations and ministry. The people, leaders, vision, and operational structures impact the ability of a ministry to seize opportunities for Gospel proclamation. His experiences at St. Croix Lutheran Academy shaped how he views culture. He is passionate about helping the body of Christ see and value differences within its members. He and his wife Sara have two children on earth and one awaiting them in heaven. His specialties include: team building, leadership development, and strategic planning. [fl_builder_insert_layout id=”5134″ type=”fl-builder-template”] Contact Todd

Greg Schmill, Facilitator and Leadership Coach

Strengths: Learner, Achiever, Input, Connectedness, Responsibility Greg Schmill has been a WELS teacher/administrator for over forty years, having served a total of thirteen years as principal and upper grade teacher in Delano, Minnesota, and in Maitland, Florida. He has also served as a teacher, guidance director, and assistant principal at Manitowoc Lutheran High School for fourteen years. He next served as the synod’s Forward with Lutheran Schools (FWLS) educational consultant, where he worked with congregations to begin and strengthen full-time children’s ministries. He continued synodical service for five more years as the Director of the Commission on Lutheran Schools (CLS). His passion for supporting and encouraging WELS school and church leaders led him to accept the call to begin serving with Grace in Action. He develops and delivers leadership training and coaching support for WELS/ELS pastors, principals, and ministry leadership teams. His specialties include team building, spiritual-emotional-physical health and resiliency, CliftonStrengths, leadership/life coaching, communications, and service to multi-generations. [fl_builder_insert_layout id=”4399″ type=”fl-builder-template”] Contact Greg

Steve Granberg, Ministry Leadership Partner

Strengths: Connectedness, Harmony, Belief, Relator, Developer Steve Granberg, before joining the GIA team, spent over 30 years serving as principal for two Lutheran Elementary Schools and for two Area Lutheran High Schools. Steve’s ministry background includes urban and outlying district experiences as well as service in the “heartland.” He enjoys serving the church at large, assisting with district and synod work – including twelve years of service on the WELS Commission on Lutheran Schools. He appreciates all he has learned from servant-leaders throughout his ministry years, and he is blessed to be able to support leaders and leadership teams in their work to reach and teach the lost and to grow and encourage the found. Steve’s wife Leslie teaches at a Lutheran Elementary School, and they have three grown children. [fl_builder_insert_layout id=”4411″ type=”fl-builder-template”] Contact Steve

Chuqee Fletcher, Director of Cultural Competency

Strengths: Adaptability, Belief, Positivity, Harmony, Restorative Chuqee Fletcher serves as Director of Cultural Competency with Grace in Action. He has a variety of previous ministry experience having served as a lay leader at Garden Homes Lutheran Church and on staff at Lighthouse Youth Center, both are in Milwaukee. He also currently serves as the Director of School Culture and Outreach at Shining Star Christian Schools. He graduated from Martin Luther College in 2012 and Wisconsin Lutheran College in 2017, receiving his MA in Education with an emphasis in Leadership & Innovation. His passions include cultural diversity, outreach, sports, and youth development. He and his wife Erika, who teaches at Garden Homes Lutheran School, live in Milwaukee and have four children. [fl_builder_insert_layout id=”4443″ type=”fl-builder-template”] Contact Chuqee

Peter Wolfgramm, Director of Operations

Strengths: Harmony, Consistency, Responsibility, Discipline, Relator Peter Wolfgramm serves as Administrator and Presenter with Grace in Action. He has a variety of ministry experience having served as a teacher or staff minister in several congregations throughout the midwest since 1996. His passions for ministry include outreach, youth, Bible study, and organizing events. He and his wife Missy live in Appleton, Wisconsin, and have a college age son. [fl_builder_insert_layout id=”4397″ type=”fl-builder-template”] Contact Peter

Gary Jeffers, Development Director

Strengths: Positivity, Belief, Adaptability, Ideation, Maximizer Gary Jeffers serves as Development Director with Grace in Action. He is a California native and has lived in Arizona since 1983. He was in banking for over 20 years and was a Thrivent Financial representative for over 12 years. Although never a called worker, Gary has served at various WELS churches in elected positions and on numerous boards and committees. Additionally, Gary was involved in the creation and start up of two mission congregations in the Phoenix area. He is passionate about being a Growth Group leader. He and his wife Brenda have two daughters and three grandchildren. His specialties include leadership, financial training and advice, and fundraising. [fl_builder_insert_layout id=”4398″ type=”fl-builder-template”] Contact Gary

Jo Theimer, Administrative Assistant

Strengths: Empathy, Relator, Developer, Responsibility, Adaptability Jo Theimer serves the Grace in Action team as the Administrative Assistant. She has a variety of business, educational, and administrative experience in her career. Her passions for ministry include reaching out to lost souls, coordinating outreach events and serving people. She enjoys spending time with family and traveling in her spare time. She and her husband Jeff live in Appleton, Wisconsin, and they have a grade school age daughter.

Shawn Herkstroeter, Coaching Coordinator

Competition, Significance, Learner, Achiever, Focus Shawn Herkstroeter has 28 years of WELS school ministry experience. He graduated from Martin Luther College in 1996, earned a Masters in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 2004, and completed the School of Professional Life Coaching Program through Light University in 2021. He enjoys making an impact for our synod on a larger scale including 12 years of service on the Commission on Lutheran Schools. He is a lead consultant for BluePrint Schools and an adjunct professor for Wisconsin Lutheran College. He believes that one’s three-legged stool–spiritual, emotional, and physical health is paramount for personal wellness and ministry effectiveness. He strives to love his wife and children like Jesus does and enjoys working out, golfing, bow hunting and pheasant hunting with his bird dog, Bella. [fl_builder_insert_layout id=”11297″ type=”fl-builder-template”] Contact Shawn

Stephanie Janke, Ministry Coach

Strengths: Belief, Relator, Responsibility, Deliberative, Arranger Stephanie Janke brings over 20 years of professional experience in coaching and human resources. She graduated from Drake University in 2003, and in 2013 earned her Masters in Education with an emphasis in Athletic Administration from Northcentral University. She currently serves as the Director of Human Resources for Gustave A. Larson Company, a Wholesale HVAC/R Distribution organization with 500 team members across 16 states. She enjoys golf, working out, and supporting her children in their various school and sport activities. She and her husband live in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and have three children.

Jamie Walta, Ministry Coach

Strengths: Learner, Input, Intellection, Developer, Harmony Jamie Walta graduated from Martin Luther College in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree in education. She is passionate about early childhood education, and has spent the last 14 years as a dedicated preschool director and teacher. She is currently serving as the Early Childhood Director at Faith Lutheran School in Fond du Lac, WI. She was blessed to meet her husband Kris at Martin Luther College, and the two have been married since 2001. Together, they have three loving children: a college son currently attending MLC, and two high school daughters enrolled at Winnebago Lutheran Academy. In addition to her professional work, Jamie enjoys reading, hiking, exercising, and traveling. In the past, she has served as an NTI mentor through Martin Luther College, and now looks forward to coaching and supporting others in ministry through Grace In Action. Her love for connecting with people and hearing their stories fuels her passion for sharing Jesus and walking alongside others in their ministry journeys.

Christine Doebler, Ministry Coach

Strengths: Empathy, Developer, Belief, Connectedness, Individualization Christine Doebler discovered her passion for life coaching in 2008 when a coach helped save her husband’s public ministry. Since then, she and her husband, Matt, have become certified Christian Life Coaches through the National Association of Christian Counselors. Together, they have team-taught on Biblical sexuality and served cross-culturally for the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) World Missions in Asia for over a decade. Now living in Brisbane, Australia, Christine serves as an Evangelist for Friends Network. She credits her strong Christian mentors for shaping her coaching skills and fostering a vibrant prayer life. Christine is passionate about writing mission stories, contributing to her husband’s blog Gospel Centered Mentoring, and sharing the joys of cross-cultural ministry. She cherishes her roles as a wife, mom to three adult children, and “Mimi” to her 5-year-old grandson and soon-to-arrive granddaughter.

Becky Foxen, Ministry Coach

Strengths: Individualization, Responsibility, Adaptability, Connectedness, Empathy Becky Foxen graduated from Martin Luther College in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She has spent her adult life living in various places around the world, partnering with her husband, Ben, in loving God’s people and sharing the gospel as God gives opportunity. Ben and Becky have four kids in grade school and high school. She currently teaches German classes for Amazing Grace Virtual Academy, an online WELS high school. She also leads Music and Physical Education classes for homeschool families in the neighborhood where her family lives in Lusaka, Zambia. Becky has always found personalities, human nature and habits intriguing. In 2024, Becky completed the Foundations for Christian Coaching certificate. She is passionate about Christian education and the individual heroes who make teaching their life work. She considers it a privilege to get to create a supportive and encouraging environment in the coaching setting.

Nicole Raboine, Ministry Coach

Strengths: Learner, Belief, Connectedness, Developer, Achiever Nicole Raboine is an experienced educator with over a decade of service in various roles, including Kindergarten teacher, mentor, substitute teacher, small group facilitator, curriculum developer, and Regional Leader. She now volunteers alongside her therapy dog, Finley, supporting students of all ages through reading and engagement activities. A lifelong learner, Nicole is passionate about guiding others on their journey to health and wellness in all areas of life, with a focus on spiritual well-being and identity in Christ. Her strong communication skills and attentive listening enable her to seek positive, God-centered solutions to meet others’ needs. Nicole draws daily inspiration from God’s Word, her husband, and their three children. In her free time, she enjoys running, biking, coaching basketball, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Megan Herkstroeter, Nutrition Coach

Strengths: Restorative, Focus, Achiever, Competition, Activator Megan Herkstroeter is a registered nurse specializing in an inpatient cardiac unit and a certified nutrition coach through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. She also holds minors in Sports and Exercise Science and Athletic Coaching. Currently in the final stages of her graduate studies, Megan is pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing and will graduate as a nurse practitioner in December 2024.

Carrie Blumer, Ministry Coach

Strengths: Developer, Empathy, Restorative, Connectedness, Harmony Carrie Blumer graduated from MLC and was called to teach at St. Phillips in Milwaukee along with serving as the music director. In 2003, her husband Ben, was called to serve at Bethlehem in Lakeville, Mn. There she served as music director, which included directing choir, music ministry for children, and leading music for VBS. She currently serves in roles as a leader in women’s small group ministry and NXTGen’s college women’s ministry, vocal leader at worship services, and has coached and walked alongside women during difficult times. She joined Crosstrain in the fall of 2018 and is certified as a marriage and life coach. She currently is coaching pastor’s wives, teachers, and ministry and missionary couples alongside her husband, Ben. She values the blessing of a Christ-centered marriage and has passion for encouraging and supporting couples to grow together in their marriage. She enjoys spending time with her husband and 4 kids, loves music and worship, has a passion for health and wellness, and encourages others in their walk of faith.

Phil Punzel, Ministry Coach

Strengths: Harmony, Achiever, Learner, Discipline, Arranger Phil Punzel brings 29 years of experience in WELS school ministry, dedicated to nurturing faith and education. He earned his undergraduate degree in education from Martin Luther College in 1995 and later completed a Master’s in School Leadership and Innovation from Wisconsin Lutheran College in 2018. Phil serves on the board for Grace in Action and as an executive board member for the Wisconsin Coalition for Religious and Independent Schools. Passionate about holistic well-being, he emphasizes the importance of spiritual, physical, and emotional health for personal growth and ministry effectiveness. Grateful for his Savior, his family, and the meaningful connections God places in his life, Phil is committed to faithfully serving in leadership and ministry.

Tim Payne, Ministry Coach

Strengths: Learner, Responsibility, Context, Connectedness, Developer Tim Payne brings 17 years of experience in WELS school ministry, serving as a PreK-8 principal and teacher. A graduate of Martin Luther College in 2008, he furthered his education with a Master’s in Education – Leadership Emphasis from MLC in 2017. In 2022, Tim earned a School Management and Leadership Certificate from Harvard Business School Online. With a deep passion for ministry, Tim serves on the Board of Directors at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School. A recent mission trip to Zambia, where he visited schools of the Lutheran Church of Central Africa, ignited his commitment to strengthening these schools, a cause supported by the Vulnerable Children’s Foundation. Tim is dedicated to fostering positive, servant leadership-beginning with his wife and son and extending to his work and community. He values time with family and friends, whether playing games, engaging in activities, or enjoying meaningful fellowship.