Our Staff
Brent Hample, President/CEO
Brent has been studying India since the age of eight, when his 3rd grade class studied the sub-continent. In eighth grade, Brent wrote a research paper on the history and commerce of India.
In 1981, while in college, Brent had a dream one night in which he was called to go to India. In 1987 he made his first journey to India – by himself. It changed his life. He lived in a Dalit Christian orphanage community in Andhra Pradesh for six weeks. While there, he traveled to numerous rural Dalit villages via motorcycle to conduct development work and participate in worship meetings. On that trip, he also contracted amoebic dysentery and almost died.
After returning to the USA, he began speaking in churches, civic clubs, and schools to find child sponsors and raise support for the poor of India. He was motivated by the idea that if he could help save at least one child’s life, his life would have been worth living. He has led numerous medical and volunteer teams to India.
In 1994, Brent founded India Partners to serve indigenous poor communities in India through project support, capacity building, training, and networking.
Brent has been featured in international newspapers, magazines, radio, and television. He has led workshops, conferences, and retreats. Brent has spoken in hundreds of conferences, universities, colleges, churches, civic clubs, and villages. Brent has served in pastoral and leadership positions in various churches, camps, retreat centers, and non-profits in Oregon, Washington, California, and Minnesota. Brent is a member of the World Affairs Council of Oregon and Rotary.
Brent has a deep love and knowledge of music. He played the trumpet in symphonic and jazz bands in high school and college, and now loves to play guitar and sing.
Brent has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Pacific Lutheran University, where he also completed two years of study in ancient Greek. He also attended the University of Oregon and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. At the University of Oregon, he was a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma scholastic honor societies.
Brent loves to camp, fish, play guitar and volleyball. He and his wife of 18 years, Monica, live in Eugene with their three children.
Brian Palmer, Administrative Assistant & Sponsorship Coordinator
Brian graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a B. A. in English and a special emphasis in Creative Writing. Before coming to India Partners, Brian interned and volunteered with book publishers, published a novel and worked in accounts payable for a forestry products company. Mission trips to Mexico during high school as well as a 10-month assignment at World Vision have helped shaped his heart towards the needs of the world's less fortunate.
Brian is a big sports fan--particularly of hockey and baseball--and is also a freelance reviewer of books, films, music and video games for print and online publications. He and his wife, Sarah, live in Eugene, Oregon.
Donna Glass, Regional Representative & Project Coordinator
Donna Glass was born and raised in the Seattle area. While on active duty in the Air Force, Donna was awarded a three-year scholarship and graduated from the University of Washington with a B. S. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. She was stationed in Japan for part of her career. After working in electrical equipment repair, satellite operations and quality management, she retired as a Captain in 1995.
Upon retirement, Donna moved to Oregon with her family and devoted her time outside the home to volunteer work in both school and church. She has served in leadership positions at both the local and state level for her church. She has organized and led several teams to India.
She and her husband, Kevin, have two sons. They reside in Richland, Washington.
Kaytie Fiedler, Regional Representative
Kaytie grew up in Lake Oswego, Oregon, the daughter of a pastor. Kaytie's family has been traveling to India for over 20 years. She has been active in music, dance, and theater all her life. An accomplished event planner, she has produced events featuring Pink Martini, Harry Belafonte, the Smothers Brothers, Buzz Aldrin, the Temptations, and Gregory Hines.
Kaytie attended Oregon State University and Linfield College. She has held sales, development, and leadership positions at various businesses and nonprofits, including the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) and Open Arms International. She is very active in the Portland community, serving on numerous boards, committees, and advisory teams. She has organized and led close to 10 volunteer teams to India.
Kaytie is passionate about helping people find their purpose in the Kingdom of God. She says, "Each one of us has been given a gift that no other human being has. That gift is to serve in a special place God has designed just for you. If everyone followed their God-given calling, there would be no needs in the world": a bold statement on which Kaytie bases her personal ministry. Kaytie's family has a long history of working with the people of India and believes wholeheartedly in the mission of India Partners.
Kaytie and her husband, Lance, have been married for 23 years and live in West Linn, Oregon. They have two grown children.
Lisa Raffin, Accountant
Lisa grew up on Okinawa, Japan, moving to Eugene, Oregon during her junior high years, where she graduated from Churchill High School. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington with an emphasis in Accounting. Prior to India Partners, she has worked in corporate accounting for various industries including aerospace, LPG, and software development.
Lisa, her husband John, and their two sons, reside in Junction City, Oregon.
Genna Berube, Graphic Designer,
Website and
E-Communications Associate
Genna was born and raised in Boise, Idaho. In high school Genna heard about the needs in India through her local church's missions program, which stirred her compassion for the poor and oppressed overseas. Motivated by the need, Genna studied Journalism and International Studies at the University of Oregon, and worked as a communications intern for India Partners while completing her studies. After graduation, Genna served for two years as a ministry intern with The Navigators at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Genna has served overseas short-term in both Bolivia and Central Asia, and is inspired by God's creativity in how He works cross-culturally to reveal His love to all people. Genna strongly believes in the mission of India Partners and desires to see people's lives changed in India through Christ.
In her free time, Genna enjoys reading a book with a good cup of coffee. She also loves expressing her creativity through art, dance and cooking.