Board of Directors

The Friends of Accion Board of Directors is entirely volunteer. It is comprised of 9 individuals from a constituency of churches that provide support to Acción Ministries. Directors serve terms of 3 years each with an option to serve more than one consecutive term. The Board provides financial and managerial oversight for the organization and Accion’s Director.

Current Board of Directors

	Rich Neidinger, President	Rich is a member of First Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC. He helped found Friends of Accion, Inc., and was its first President 2003 – 2014; he returned to the board in 2017. He has been on many work team trips with Accion, dating back to 1990. Rich is an Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at Davidson College.
	Caryn Overbey, Treasurer	Caryn is a member of First Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC. Caryn’s first trip to the Yucatan Peninsula was as a chaperone on a youth trip in 2006. She had participated in adult and youth trips to VIM and led one youth trip.
	Stephanie Guffin, Secretary	Stephanie is a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC, where she has led or participated in multiple work team trips with Accion over the years. Stephanie is a Nurse practitioner.
	JD DuPuy, Director	J.D. is a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC. He has participated in multiple Work Team trips with Acción over a number of years.
	Sherry Gaither, Director	Sherry is a member of Hopewell Presbyterian Church in Huntersville, NC, participating in youth and adult work team trips and on the witness committee. She has known Oscar R. Dorantes since he lived at Hopewell while in seminary in Charlotte.
	Christine Canaga, Director	Christine is a member of Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, VA and has participated in Acción Work Team trips for over a decade.
	Rich Lyman, Director	Rich Lyman is a CPA and has done building mission trips to Mexico and New Orleans as well as working on several Habitat for Humanity homes. His three children have also been on mission trips to Mexico.
	Elise Wallace, Director	Elise Wallace is a former elementary school teacher. She has been to Mexico on 3 mission trips. She and her husband, Chris, have one son, Andrew, who is currently a Junior in high school.
	Lewis (Lew) Thomas, Director	Westminster Presbyterian, Greensboro, NC