Our Staff & Board

Kevin Viening has a heart for reaching young people and families and helping them experience the exchanged life through Christ in practical and meaningful ways. He serves at Upward Bound Ministries, helping provide direction and oversight for the ministry and its programs.

Kevin and his wife, Jen, are actively involved in their church and enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren. Whether serving at church, working with the Upward Bound team, or simply spending time with students and families, Kevin’s desire is to use the opportunities God has given him to invest in people and make an eternal difference in their lives.

Chad leads Zero Gravity and is passionate about creating opportunities for kids to hear the Gospel and understand what Jesus is offering them. He considers it a privilege to build relationships with students, meet them where they are, and share the truth of the Gospel in a way they can understand.

Along with leading Zero Gravity, Chad wears a few other hats at Upward Bound. He helps maintain the ministry’s vehicle fleet and serves as the organization’s unofficial IT director—fixing computers and whatever else seems to need fixing.

Outside of ministry, Chad enjoys turning wrenches, working on just about anything with a motor, and getting out fishing whenever he can.

Chad and his wife, Amber, have six children: Elijah, Elizabeth, Easton, Enzlee, Emma, and Eivin. Amber is a full-time wife, mother, and homeschool teacher and has recently begun a new adventure with Hollow Oak, their whitetail deer farm.

Whether working with students, fixing a bus, solving an IT problem, or spending time with his family, Chad considers it a blessing to serve God and the people He has placed in his life.

Eric Lamer serves as the Middle School Leader at Upward Bound, known to students as One Way Ministries. Youth ministry was not always Eric’s vocation. He worked as an electrician for 25 years before realizing that God had other plans for him right here at Upward Bound. Eric joined the team full-time in 2020, and it has been an amazing journey ever since.

Eric is blessed with a beautiful wife, Shelby, and they have two boys, Jesse and Silas.

He has a gift for sharing the Gospel in a straightforward and direct way. Eric is passionate about building meaningful relationships with middle school students and helping them grow excited about committing their lives to a relationship with the living God.

Tom had been volunteering at Upward Bound Ministries in Zero Gravity since 2013, and is now on staff full time.  Tom has a gift for connecting with the students and a burden for sharing gospel.  

Tom assists in the everyday responsibilities of Zero Gravity, working with an average of 150 students a every week. Tom and his darling wife Kaela have two beautiful daughters.  

Sue joined the Upward Bound staff in May 2024. Coming to this ministry, Sue’s heart was deeply softened to the social and emotional heaviness that middle school students carry in their lives.  She brings a willingness to listen, have fun and most importantly introduce and encourage students in their walk with Christ.

While working in the middle and elementary school programs, she also helps out in the office with the newsletters, and various other responsibilities.

Sue is married to her college sweetheart - Mike. They have 3 married daughters and 3 grandchildren. 

Alexis joined the Upward Bound staff as a Missionary in Training (MIT) in July 2025. Through her time at Upward Bound, she is being equipped to live missionally, learn how to run an office, and grow in her calling to serve as a missionary overseas in the future.

Alexis loves seeing the Great Commission lived out in real life and connecting with students through relationships and shared experiences. Before joining Upward Bound, she participated in a nine-month international missions program called The World Race, where she had the opportunity to share the Gospel throughout Southeast Asia, Europe, and Central America.

Outside of Upward Bound, Alexis enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and getting outside to explore new places.