Brian Hughes, President
One of the co-founders of Youth Missions International, Brian was a youth pastor for eight years. He has a BA in Christian Theology from Seattle Pacific University and a Masters of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. He has been involved in short-term mission trips since he went on his first trip to Venezuela in 1998 as a youth. Since then, he has participated as a team member on mission trips to Ireland and inner-city Pasadena and led eight youth mission trips across the United States and internationally. Brian trained and sent teams with AWANA's Missionary-In-Training Program for three years, including leading a team to Brazil before helping form YMI. Brian enjoys baseball, soccer, football, good guitar music, and seeing God at work in different cultures around the world.

Kendall Clary, YMI Team Director
A recent college graduate, Kendall received a Bachelor's Degree in Religion from East Texas Baptist University. Originally from a town near Dallas, Kendall followed God's call to the Pacific Northwest, where she interned with a church as their youth leader. After graduation she has returned to the Northwest with YMI and a passion for reaching more young people with the Gospel in the Seattle area. This passion, combined with her gift of administration make Kendall the right person to oversee the YMI Team program for the organization.

Rose Velasquez, Latin American Missions Specialist
Rose is a graduate of Seattle Pacific University, with a Bachelor's Degree in English. Rose has expansive mission experience. Rose went on her first international mission trip in 2004 to Bolivia through Awana's MIT program. Since then, she has gone on mission trips to Brazil, Guatemala and Ukraine. In 2008, she was an intern running sports camps in the US and internationally for Uncharted Waters, a sports ministry based in Colorado Springs. Rose enjoys writing, scrapbooking, photography and watching "Lost".

Diane Picha, Director of Development
Diane has been working in the nonprofit sector for 16 years after attending Washington State University. Her experience as a professional in the nonprofit world is invaluable to the inner workings of Youth Missions International. One of her passions has been volunteering as an adult leader on short-term youth missions trips. She has been on four trips around the United States from the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana, to Brooklyn, NY, to New Orleans doing Hurricane Katrina Relief with her church's youth group.

John Yao, Missionary Photojournalist
John is a professional wedding and lifestyle photographer from Southern California. Taking a 1 year sabbatical from his career, John is teaming up with YMI to serve as a missionary photojournalist under Project Resonate. John graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a degree in Business Management and Photography. John's previous mission trips have brought him serve in Native American reservations, Mexico, and Costa Rica. John is excited to harmonize his passion in photography with his work for God.

Josie Becker, Ministry Development Intern
Josie is currently a sophomore at Olympic College in Bremerton, WA. She is pursuing her Associates of Arts before transferring to a university where she will major in Education. Josie has been highly involved in mission work since 2005, having gone on two international trips, one US trip, and participated in many US sports camps. She has a heart for mission work and a passion for people. Josie enjoys ultimate frisbee, reading, hiking, and hanging out with friends.