Board of Regents

Rev. Dr. Paul R. Naumann, Chairman

Naumann (Portage, MI) is a 1980 graduate of Concordia, Ann Arbor, MI. He has served as pastor at Trinity, Oshkosh, WI; on the campus of Concordia University, Mequon, WI; and currently serves as senior pastor at St. Michael in Portage, MI.

He has served on various circuit, district and synodical committees and volunteer positions, as well as in the community. He was elected to the BOR by the MI District at their convention in the summer of 2009. Naumann currently serves as the chairman of the Board of Regents.

Mr. Fred Watkins, Vice Chairman

Watkins (Mentor, OH) earned his bachelor of arts from Colby College, masters of business administration from Cornell University and his Juris Doctor degree from Case Western Reserve. He is a member of the order of the Coif and of the Ohio Bar. Watkins is CEO of the National Telephone Supply Company, which was founded by his grandfather in 1901. He has served on the Koinionia Homes Board for the mentally impaired, Western Reserve Society, American Revolution Essay committee and Eagle Scout Award committee.
 

He has served on the Board of Directors of the downtown Rotary Club of Cleveland and the Board of Deacons of Faith Lutheran Church. He has also served as organist and choir director at the church. He is serves as the Vice President of the Board of Regents.

Bowers (Olmsted Falls, OH) currently serves as executive director of the Ohio District Lutheran Church Extension Fund, Inc., a position he has held since 1994. Bowers worked 25 years with the Illuminating Company, Cleveland’s largest electric utility. During his career, he held several management positions in their Controllers and Human Resources departments as well as assisting as a loaned executive with United Way of Greater Cleveland.
 

During his time with the Ohio District-CEF, the corporation has grown to be a $40 million dollar financial arm of the Ohio District-LCMS lending funds to missions and self-supporting congregations for new ministry opportunities and new or improved school and church facilities. Bowers currently serves as secretary of the Board of Regents.

Hadjas (Clinton Township, MI) retired from Comerica Bank as senior vice president after 45 years in the banking industry. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Wayne State University.

An active part of his community, Hadjas is a member of the Robert Morris Association and Commercial Finance Association; he is treasurer of Mt. Clemens Regional Medical Hospital Foundation, Historic Trinity Lutheran Church and Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Hadjas also serves as president of Mel Ott Hardball League and chairman of Lutheran Night Comerica Park.

Leege (Loveland, OH) is retired from Procter & Gamble Company and works part-time as an engineering consultant. Leege graduated from Valparaiso University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

Elected at the June, 2009 District Convention as the MI District President. He has served the following churches as pastor: Our Savior, Marlette, MI; St. Peter, Arlington Heights IL; and Our Savior, Lansing, MI.

Moerhring (Decatur, IN) currently serves as pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church, a charter member congregation of the LCMS. He previously served as a pastor in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. He is a member of The Friends of Wyneken and is on the board of directors of The Fort Wayne Bach Collegium.

 
Mr. Dan Nickodemus
Nickodemus (Ann Arbor, MI) is the Reginal Director of the Great Lakes
Region for Thrivent Financial.  He  earned hisB.S. degree  in Business Administration at Central MI University and his Master of Business Administration  from Northwood University.

Nickodemus has had over 20 years as a financial advisor, manager and leader.  He has worked in hospitality management, and is a certified financial planner and chartered financial consultant.  He and his wife Kathy are members at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor.  He serves on multiple boards, and loves to travel,  enjoys music, landacaping and outdoor recreation.

Preus (Plymouth, MN) is a partner and senior attorney with Meagher & Greer law firm in Minneapolis. He has more than 25 years of experience representing insurance carriers nationwide.

On a pro bono basis, Preus has worked with many pastors and church leaders who need legal help. He also sits on the board of a non-profit organization that funds religious materials written in native languages around the world. In addition, he is chairman of the Charter Commission of the City of Plymouth, is a former member of the board of directors of the LCMS, the Plymouth City Council, the Plymouth Planning Commission, and the Board of Regents of Concordia University - St. Paul.

Putz (Kinde, MI) currrently serves as an adjunct professor at Saginaw Valley State University, Baker College and Davenport University.

Her home congregation is St. Peter in Kinde, MI, where she also serves as a Sunday School teacher. Putz was elected to the BOR by the MI District at their convention in the summer of 2009.

Ronald Salvner is a consultant for Lutheran Child and Family Service of Michigan, where he served as chief financial officer for many years. He attends Peace Lutheran Church in Saginaw, Mich.

Schonsheck (Northville, MI) is C.E.O. of Schonsheck, Inc., a building design, construction and land development company out of Wixom, MI. His home congregation is St. Paul in Hamburg, MI.

He has served as president and elder of his congregation and on various community boards as trustee, Board of Directors member, and in advisory and coordination capacities. Schonsheck was elected to the BOR by the MI District at their convention in the summer of 2009.

Sramek is the finance manager in the greater-St. Louis area. She resides in Mascoutah, Ill., and is a member of Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church.

Wrucke (Evansville, IN) is presently the academic program coordinator and the Evansville site manager for Oakland City University. He has worked in education for more than 30 years, serving Lutheran and public schools as a teacher, coach, athletic director and principal.

A product of a Lutheran grade school, Wrucke graduated with a B.A. degree in elementary education from Concordia River Forest (80) and obtained his M.S. in educational administration from Concordia Wisconsin (95). He has held membership in LEA and NAESP and is a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Evansville.