Founders and Board of Directors
The Founders
Rob & Kelli Nelson
Island Impact Ministries started in 2003 by Rob and Kelli Nelson, is a faith based non-profit organization dedicated to providing medical help, education, and construction assistance to the people of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Rob is from Southampton, NY and is an ordained minister and has been a missionary for 17 years working to provide education for the poorest of the poor. Kelli is from Binghamton, NY. She is an RN with her Bachelors in Nursing who has also served for 18 years as a missionary. They have lived in Haiti for eights years and the Dominican Republic for seven. The Nelson's now reside in Florida with their three children, Holly 20, Ryan 17, and Eric 13.
The Board of Directors
Rev. Roger Blackmore
Rev. Blackmore and his wife Gil are from Coram, NY.
"I am the lead pastor of a great and very unconventional church - Church At The Movies, based in Ronkonkoma, NY and I love doing what I do. We have hundreds of fellow radicals in our congregation who, like me, are committed to doing church for the unchurched."
"I am the lead pastor of a great and very unconventional church - Church At The Movies, based in Ronkonkoma, NY and I love doing what I do. We have hundreds of fellow radicals in our congregation who, like me, are committed to doing church for the unchurched."
Dr. Joseph Papotto
Dr. Joe Papotto and his wife Kelly live in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where he is a primary care physician. He first visited the Dominican Republic as a non-medical person on a medical team. It was on that team he decided to go to medical school and has continued to provide medical care annually ever since. Dr. Joe also is a talented singer and guitar player.
Terry Stanfill
Terry Stanfill is a Financial Advisor from Grand Blan, Michigan. Terry and his wife Lisa make themselves available where ever needed and travel often to the Dominican Republic. Terry is skilled in organization and administration.
Charlotte Pendleton
Charlotte Pendleton and her husband Eric live in Long Island NY, where she is the Children's Pastor of Church at the Movies. Charlotte is also the Board Treasurer. She has a love for the children of Long Island and the DR. She regularly recruits and organizes teams to visit the DR. Charlotte
Ken Swaner
Ken
Swaner and his wife Lenore, of 40 years, live in Patchogue, NY. He is the Team
Coordinator for Island Impact Ministries. Ken is a Viet Nam Vetran from
the USMC. He has an MBA from the NY Institute of Technology and is certified in
Project Management. He has been on multiple mission trips to the Dominican
Republic, Haiti and South Africa.
Jorge and Dottie Leiva
Jorge and Dottie Leiva are from Long Island NY. Jorge is the Director of Marketing for North Shore Long Island Jewish Health Systems. Dottie is the Child Sponsor Coordinator for Island Impact Ministries. Together they began caring for a homeless Haitian boy on one of their trips. They have visited regularly ever since, both in the DR and Haiti.
Beryle Silvernale
Beryl Silvernale is a
retired nurse from Holland Michigan. She
has a BS in Nursing, and a double Masters in Public Health and
Counseling. She and her husband Dr. Dwain Silvernale, were one of the
first medical missionaries to address TB in
Haiti. She currently travels to Haiti and The DR regularly with her
entire family, most of whom are in the medical profession. she loves
spending time with her grand children.
Island Impact Ministries 772.324.8253