Staff

Todd is the Executive Director of BASIC College Ministries. After living on a public college campus for several years, Todd developed a passion to see students' lives transformed by Christ. He now travels extensively speaking in the Northeast and organizes large conferences for students. He graduated with an MBA from the Rochester Institute of Technology after studying at SUNY Brockport and Elim Bible Institute. He lives with his wife Elisabeth in Lima, NY where he attends Elim Gospel Church.
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Driven to make a difference in her generation, Elisabeth began speaking in schools and youth groups at the age of 16 and continued working with at-risk teens throughout college. After graduating, Elisabeth represented New York State for the Miss America Organization and spent a year motivating students to serve others. She discovered her passion for college ministry while starting a BASIC group as a resident director at SUNY Delhi. She serves as the BASIC office manager and loves speaking on college campuses.

Chris is the Assistant Director of BASIC College Ministries. He was a student leader with BASIC at the SUNY Oswego campus and has never lost his heart for college students since then. He works advising new groups, traveling and speaking, and writing a blog for campus ministers among other things. He and his wife, Cheryl, have started BASIC groups at SUNY Geneseo, Monroe Community College, and the University of Rochester. They have a daughter and Cheryl still volunteers with BASIC regularly.

Cathy is the Financial Director for BASIC. She has been involved with BASIC since its inception in 1978 when she was a student leader at the State University of New York at Oswego. She has two daughters and lives in Lima, NY.

Justin is the Senior Web Developer for BASIC College Ministries. He is excited about using the skills and gifts the Lord has developed in him to bless BASIC. Justin has been designing websites since 2000 and is enrolled in the Web Development program at Alfred State College. Justin holds 11 certifications, including Master CIW Website Manager and Master CIW Designer.

Jonathan played Division 1 football at the University at Buffalo and gave his life to God in college. He was the first ever collegiate athlete to win the “Frank Reich Call to Courage Award,” which had formerly only been given to professional football players. He won the award along with Kurt Warner. He will focus on speaking at the many BASIC groups, networking with other churches and connecting with Juniors and Seniors in high school to get them involved with BASIC. His goal is to be a motivational speaker while still moving in the supernatural.

Josh is a full-time Campus Minister in Syracuse, NY. Through a dynamic speaking style, he challenges audiences to take action and practice the key Biblical principles that God has promised will change the world. One of his dreams is to eventually pastor a local church that will harness the energy and talents of passionate college students, like those in BASIC, to transform the way society views Christianity. Josh is a graduate of Elim Bible Institute in Lima, NY and has a Master’s Degree in Ministry from Southwestern Christian University in Oklahoma.

Greg is a full-time musician who passionately serves God with his skills in performing music. He plays drums in several groups including TFHNY and Christopher Hopper Band. His dream is to encourage and empower students to live out their dreams at any cost. Greg graduated from Nazareth College with a degree in Music Business. He wholeheartedly believes in teaching grace and speaking life while playing with intense energy and expecting that people will receive God’s best for them.

Joanna Kresse is excited to be joining the BASIC staff after serving as a leader in the University at Buffalo BASIC group for the past 2 years. She also has been a youth leader with NOWgen for the past 6 years and led worship for the ministry for 4 years. God has given her a passion to work with students on college campuses to change our world. Her hope is to challenge this generation to lay down their dreams, and pursue God's dreams for their life.

Ryan is the BASIC director at SUNY College at Oneonta. He is ecstatic about joining the BASIC crew to make an impact for Jesus Christ in his generation. He is a recent graduate from SUNY Oneonta with a BA in Music Industry. After graduating, Ryan could not deny the overwhelming call that God placed on his life to return to SUNY Oneonta to minister to college students full-time. He was recently wed to Kimberly, and they are both extremely excited to unlock the potential that God has in store for college students in Oneonta, NY.