 | Gerson Ruiz GuityFounder and PresidentMission Renewal International is led by President and Founder Gerson Ruiz who has worked with non-profits for over 17 years. Mr.Ruiz studied medicine at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH) and at Escuela Latinoamericana de Ciencias Médicas (ELAM) Cuba completing 5 years total of medical school. He worked as a surgical assistant, and served on medical brigades throughout Central America and Cuba for over six years. Mr. Ruiz decided to put medical school on hold and shift toward work in international affairs in 2009 after seeing a little girl die of hunger while on a medical brigade in the mountains of Central American. He wanted to tackle the issues of poverty from a larger angel than what he could provide from the medical field. He subsequently graduated with an advanced degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Unitec in Tegucigalpa, Honduras completing his internship at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Mr. Ruiz deeply values family and enjoys being a husband and a father to two lively boys. |
Amy Schmitz RuizCo-Founder of Mission Renewal InternationalAmy Schmitz Ruiz is the co-founder of Mission Renewal International and is married to Gerson Ruiz Guity. Ms.Ruiz serves as secretary and a director and has worked in non-profits on four continents with over 20 years of experience in missions especially in education and children’s programs helping people in developing countries rise above their circumstances. She graduated with a B.A. in English and minor in Religion from Azusa Pacific University (1999) and a M.A. in Theology (2002) with an emphasis in missions from Bethel Seminary San Diego. She spent 9 years working as a teacher in the USA and Honduras. One of her favorite roles is as wife and mother to two wonderful sons. |  |
 |
Robert (Bob) GaudiDirector, Treasurer and CFO for Mission Renewal InternationalMr. Gaudi has over 44 years of experience in financial and personnel management and leadership positions. He began his professional work experience as a US Naval officer and naval aviator during which he served in numerous positions including six years as comptroller for a Naval Air Station, and then for a large Pacific Fleet logistics staff. Following his 27-year naval career, Mr. Gaudi worked for a not-for-profit corporation of over 900 employees directing human resources. After retiring from that position, he then served six years as a civilian employee of the US Navy working as a program manager and business manager for a large US Navy base. Mr. Gaudi earned his BA in Geography (Urban Planning) from Southern Illinois University and later attended the US Naval Postgraduate School earning his degree in Financial Management. |
Iris GeistDirector for Mission Renewal InternationalMs.Geist has volunteered at the Torrey Pines Docent Society since 2001 and served as board secretary in 2003. She served on the board at Friends of Albert Einstein Academies while her daughters went to their Elementary School. She has volunteered countless hours at at her church especially in the children’s ministries. She is passionate about helping people succeed, both at work supporting customers, and outside of work through supporting good causes and volunteering. She was born in Germany and moved to the United States with her husband Christian in 1998 to work as a software engineer. She has worked in the San Diego area in the support departments of three Southern California technology companies over the last 20 years. She is the proud mother to two amazing daughters. |
 |
 |
Greg HoffmannDirector for Mission Renewal InternationalHe is married to Cindy (Herzig) Hoffmann and they have 3 grown children and 9 grandchildren. Rev. Hoffmann attended Pacific Lutheran University (BA in music education, ’77), Fuller Seminary (MDiv, ’86) and Luther Northwestern Seminary (MTh, ’93). Prior to entering seminary he served as Youth Director at Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church in San Mateo, CA (’77-81) and has served as Associate Pastor at Peñasquitos Lutheran Church from 1987 to the present. |
