James came aboard as Director of Master’s Touch Ministry and Elgin Wayside Center in 1998. From 2002-2010, he served as the Associate Executive Director, overseeing all internal operations and coordinating the efforts of five of the six ministries. On January 1, 2011, James became Executive Director of Wayside Cross Ministries.

James has over three decades of experience in management, marketing and leadership. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics/Statistics from India, and his Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from Moody Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois.  He is also the recipient of the 2006 Distinguished Service Award from the Alumni Association of the Moody Bible Institute.

James and his wife, Jerusha, live in the western suburbs as do their adult children.

In college, James thrived on activities such as track and field and volleyball. He also enjoyed riding motorcycles. Some of his hobbies are reading books on management, leadership, and theology, and horseback riding.

Phone: 630-723-3428

Tom joined Wayside Cross Ministries in 2018 as a volunteer. Later, he became a staff member, serving as Marketing Communications Coordinator and ministry ambassador. In 2022, Tom was promoted to Development Manager, where he continues to combine his corporate experience and passion for serving others.

Tom has over three decades of corporate leadership experience in marketing and development, having served as SVP Creative Director for Leo Burnett Worldwide. He held similar positions with ad agencies around the country but has always felt most rewarded volunteering with non-profits and Christian ministries throughout his travels like Wycliffe Assoc. and Moody Church Media-Running to Win.

Tom is a graduate of the Center for Creative Studies College of Art & Design, Detroit, having earned a BA in Marketing. He and his wife, Lynne, have been married for 36 years. He has served as Deacon for his home church in New Jersey. Today, the couple resides in the Chicago area and attends Harvest New Beginnings Church in Oswego. Both enjoy sailing, traveling with their dogs, and visiting children in New York.

Phone: 630-723-3434  
Email: swise@waysidecross.org

In October 2014, Steve joined Wayside to manage the Hope Outreach ministry. Steve attended Moody Bible Institute, earning a BA in Bible/Theology, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, earning an M-DIV degree.

Prior to joining Wayside and over span of ten years, Steve was on staff with church planting teams in Vernon Hills, Colorado Springs, and Indianapolis. For 15 years he was also a Fundraising Consultant for non-profit groups, and enjoyed a highly successful career as a Regional Sales Director for Nestle, USA and Great American Opportunities.

Steve and his wife Ami have three children: Emma, who went home to the Lord in 1999, Evan, and Ryan. They attend Christ Community Church.

Phone: 630-952-1104
Email: dkemp@waysidecross.org

Dana Kemp joined Wayside Cross in January 2021 to lead its Lifespring Ministry. Previously, Dana served as a volunteer at Lifespring for several years as a mentor, marketing consultant, and host for special events. She also made weekly visits with her licensed therapy dog Duke.

Dana has more than 25 years of experience working in marketing, specializing in nonprofits. She received an undergraduate degree in business from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from the University of Dallas. Most recently, Dana was the regional communications director for the American Cancer Society in Wichita, Kansas.

Dana has a passion for volunteering and has served as PTA president at her kids’ schools and as a Sunday school teacher at Naperville Presbyterian Church. She and her family now worship at Compass Church in south Naperville. Her husband is an attorney at Molex in Lisle, her daughter Sophie attends Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, and her son John is a freshmen at the University of Illinois.

Dana enjoys playing tennis, working puzzles, reading, crafting, and doting on her dog.

Phone: 847-695-4405
Email: dkrieger@waysidecross.org

Dave joined Wayside Cross in March 2022 as Part-time Director of the Elgin Wayside Center. In 2017 he completed a 46-year career with the U.S. Navy, including 23 years of active duty as a naval officer. The majority of this career was served as a senior health care administrator, including serving on the staff of the Surgeon General of the Navy in Washington, DC.

He has served as a board chair and member for several Christian organizations. He has also served as an adjunct professor at several colleges and universities, teaching courses in health administration, public administration, and business management. Dave holds multiple graduate degrees including his M.Div. from Moody Theological Seminary in 2022.

Dave and his wife, Wendy, live in the western suburbs and have an adult daughter who lives in Rhode Island. They attend the Olive Tree Congregation in Prospect Heights, IL. He enjoys travel, fishing, and reading works of non-fiction to include matters relating to the church as it impacts society today.

Phone: 630-723-3412
Email: smadawick@waysidecross.org

In March 2017, Steve joined Urban Youth Ministry, adding to his role as Senior Chaplain of New Life Corrections Ministry, which he joined in May 2016. Prior to that, in 2015, he had the position of Program Coordinator/Chaplain for Master’s Touch Ministry after a long history of mentoring and leading chapels.

Steve majored in Business at Indiana University and was heavily involved in The Navigators both there and at Ohio State University. Following a retail management career, he became an elder and eventually the Adult Pastor at Compass Church (Naperville) and then the Group Life Pastor at Harvest Bible Chapel Naperville.

Steve is married to Becky, and they have two children. He plays tennis and jogs, but his true passion is “helping the lost and the least to come to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and allow Him to transform their lives.”

Phone: 630-723-3422

Tyler joined the Master’s Touch team as the Assistant Director in January of 2024. Prior to that, he joyfully served as the Development Coordinator at Wayside Cross Ministries for 16 months. He also volunteered with teaching morning classes and preaching in Chapel for Master’s Touch, as well as with Urban Youth Ministry helping with after-school care.

Tyler graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in ministry from Moody Bible Institute, where he then went on to receive his Master’s in Pastoral Studies. During his time in school he completed an internship pastoring/preaching in a small church, and a second interim pastor role after that. He has led and helped lead numerous evangelism/discipleship groups, and has experience in the field of sales and marketing.

Tyler is grateful to be married to his beloved wife, Haley. He enjoys going on dates with her, working out, traveling, reading, and above all worshipping his King, Jesus Christ. He believes the Lord called him to Wayside to make disciples of Christ, by lifting high Jesus’ name and doing all for His honor.