Vision and Growth Lead to New Staff at MB Foundation

October 5, 2020

MB Foundation’s commitment to expanding services and ability to provide them to its constituency has resulted in a number of staff hires in the last two months.

Nate Yoder has been named Chief Development Officer and started September 1 in MB Foundation’s Fresno, California office.

Yoder brings experience in leadership having served as the Executive Director of West Coast Mennonite Central Committee where he led 14 staff and had significant involvement in MCC’s Centennial Capital Campaign. He has also served in pastoral roles for 15 years, and four years as a regional leader with the Brethren in Christ denomination.

He holds a B.A. degree from Cedarville University, a Masters of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry degree in Parachurch Executive Leadership from Denver Seminary.

As Chief Development Officer, Yoder will serve as a member of the senior leadership team and direct a team of six field staff, from Kansas and California offices. He will provide oversight and direction for strategies to promote new business partnership opportunities, client support and management, and supporting development of new products and services.

“I look forward to expanding the opportunities for MB Foundation,” said Yoder. “I love to see churches and ministries thrive as individuals generously support the work of Christ’s kingdom.”

Yoder and his family have lived in the Fresno area for the past five years. He and his wife Grace are parents of three children: Hannah, Kyle and Kory. The Yoder family attend North Fresno Church.

A second position has been filled in the Fresno office with the hiring of Marlin Hiett as Church Relations Director. He has served as pastor in various churches for more than 30 years, most recently in Fairview MB Church in Oklahoma.

Hiett will provide leadership to the services MB Foundation offers to pastors, churches and ministries throughout the Mennonite Brethren family, developing relationships to partner in stewardship and generosity. He has a passion and heart for churches and their pastors.

He and his wife, Michelle have relocated to California and now live closer to three of their four children and families.

“MB Foundation is blessed to have these two join our working family. The experience and leadership they bring will help us look toward the future and whatever God has planned for us,” said Jon C. Wiebe, President and CEO.

There has been a growing need for additional staff members at MB Foundation in recent years. The search to fill several new positions was a response to the pressure of expanding services and growing vision of where God is leading. As a result, additional staff members have been added to the Hillsboro, Kansas office. They include Clay Shewey as Loan Associate, Heather Silhan as Client Account Administrator and Alex Wiens, a Tabor student intern.

“Due to our asset growth and increased fiduciary responsibilities we knew additions to our staff would become necessary. While it seems odd to expand staff during a pandemic, we believe it is right and a proper way to respond to our growing constituency. I’m really pleased with how the team has come together,” said Wiebe.