Our Current Board
Paul Larsen
Board President
Paul grew up in a large, wonderful family in Idaho and loves being the dad of a not-quite-as-large but equally wonderful family in Indiana. He has worked as a chemical engineer since 2007 and is currently employed at Corteva Agriscience in Indianapolis. Paul enjoys playing sports, camping, and maintaining equipment for his kids’ lawn mowing business.
Geoff Nielson
Treasurer
Geoff has lived in the Zionsville area for the last 12 years and loves to give back to the community he now calls home. After spending 2 years living with the people of Guatemala, he developed a desire to help others integrate into a new location they can call home. He is the father of 3 and enjoys traveling and spending time with his family. Geoff is a Healthcare Supply Chain executive and is responsible for the procurement, receiving, distribution and logistics for 39 hospitals across the Midwest. https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-nielson-a010211/
Mary Stehle
Secretary
Mary is a strong single mom of two who loves running half marathons and chasing home remodel projects when she’s not traveling with her kids for work projects that take her across the country. Her family has lived in Indiana for over thirty five years, but she will always claim Kentucky as home (God’s country) where she was born and went to school (Western Kentucky Unviersity- Go Big Red!).
Kelli Nielson
At-large
Kelli is the mother of three young adults and new to life as an empty nester. She is excited to have more time to focus on helping refugees transitioning to life in Indiana. She enjoys teaching swimming to both adults and children. She also has been teaching private piano lessons for 16 years. She loves hiking, traveling, music, and spending time with her family.
David Thompson
At-large
David is a born-and-raised Hoosier who is from Crawfordsville and has lived for the last 20+ years in Zionsville. He is a licensed attorney and works for Kittle Property Group as their general counsel. His hobbies include reading, cooking, music, travel, and spending time with his kids and grandkids. https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-thompson-5519a219/
Alisa Olson
At-large
Alisa has 7 kids and loves teaching, playing games and exploring the outdoors with her family. When she is not managing the mischief caused by her children, she enjoys reading and running at a very non-competitive pace. She is an attorney, musician, speaks Spanish and loves to travel. While serving a mission for her church, she became passionate about helping those struggling to get a fresh start and is now excited to help refugee families through Welcome Pattern.
Jenny Larsen
Fundraising
Jenny enjoys being mother to her kids, teaching youth classes at church and instructing online computer science classes. In addition, she loves gardening, walking, swimming, reading about history and people, and learning languages. She and her husband, Paul, are currently waging a war on invasive species on their rural Indiana farmland!
Nicole Empey
Designer
Nicole is the mother of three teens despite having never grown up herself - as evidenced by the large fairy garden she diligently maintains in her yard (@fairy.inviting). She’s a freelance designer who appreciates spontaneity, exploration, and most things done outdoors - even weeding.
Nick Empey
Web Master
Nick was raised in northwest Indiana. He finds himself begging his kids to join him at the table for a game these days, but he also enjoys songwriting and the creative process. He's a pharmacist at the local pharmacy and appreciates his 5 minute commute.
Our design team
Want to Join Us?
Would you like to help sponsor a family through Welcome Pattern? Click the button below or email refugee.sponsors@welcomepattern.org to join us and learn about refugee sponsorship.