People Who Make Us Successful
Board of Directors
Lita Yarberry, President from Guntersville Alabama. Joining Rising Sun Mission in 2019 after ten years as treasurer of Village Mountain Mission, Lita has traveled to the Dominican Republic over twenty times as part of her mission work . She has lived abroad and traveled extensively both domestically and internationally. Her experience with the American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America and church programs has given her a unique perspective in working with volunteers and children. Lita is a member of Alabama P.E.O. Chapter U, manages the accounts of her LLC and that of her husband Lee’s consulting business. She sings in her church and community choirs, assists in her church’s children’s ministry, and participates in a small group Bible study. Lita’s husband and two children have participated as members of a crew and she is preparing her four grandchildren for future visits.
William “Bill” Benson, Founder and Program Director from Sugar Grove, Ohio. A long time sailor in the Caribbean and frequent visitor of the Dominican Republic, Bill has made it his life’s work to help the people he has met on his travels. After over ten years of construction in the Dominican Republic directing Village Mountain Mission, Bill felt called in 2018 to make a greater impact by ministering directly to the children and families, thus the creation of Rising Sun Missions. Bill’s thirty years as administrator for the Boy Scouts of America provided his experience in managing volunteers, working with youth, fundraising, and networking. At 82 years of age, Bill is a wonder, playing tennis regularly and hiking the trails around his home with his best friend Archie, a Australian Cattle dog. Bill is widowed, has four children and ten grandchildren.
Brad Woltz, Treasurer from Circleville, Ohio. A board member since 2021, Brad brings his financial skills as CEO of RVM Construction to the Mission. His responsibilities include developing annual budgets, tracking donations and expenses in the U.S. and Dominican Republic, managing reports, filing necessary documents with government agencies, and providing accurate financial data on a monthly basis. Brad makes it possible for the Mission to stay on track by looking at costs of everything from bananas to gasoline, evaluating spending trends and following sponsor participation throughout the year. Brad has two children, one who participated as a member of a crew.
Autum Barry, Secretary from Rockbridge, Ohio. A member of the board since 2020, Autum first visited the Dominican Republic with Rising Sun Mission in 2019 with her husband, Caleb. Autum brings her knowledge and experience in the field of education to the mission’s programs. She has previously participated in missions work in Macedonia, Peru, and the US. Autum’s husband and two children are essential team members of our Hide-Away-Hills Fundraising Dinner.
Michael “Mike” Budzick, Vice President from Logan, Ohio. A board member since 2021, Michael has made multiple trips to the Dominican Republic. A familiar face in the Columbus, Ohio communities, he served as Chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, is known for his wild game dinners and love of fellowship. At Antioch Alliance Church he served on the Governing Board for 38 years, as Elder at Antioch Alliance Church 36 years and teaches Bible studies. Michael brings wisdom and spiritual understanding to the issues the Mission faces in the U.S. and Dominican Republic. He loves baseball and is frequently seen playing catch with Ronald Lantigua during his mission trips. God has blessed him with many talents and is indispensable as the President’s right hand man.
Rita Reis, Member at Large and Chaplain from Logan, Ohio. Rita is passionate about serving others and has been supporting mission work in the Dominican Republic for years. She was on the first team from the US to Rising Sun Missions and one of the first board members. With over 30 years of experience as a teacher, Rita provides valuable insight for the mission’s programs. Rita works with a team of volunteers to ensure the success of one of the mission’s big fundraisers, the Rummage Sale at the Hocking County Fairgrounds, each year.
Barry Norris, Member at Large from Medina, Ohio. Barry is the newest member of the Board of Directors, joining in July of 2024. He has been a supporter of the mission for several years. Barry is no stranger to the Dominican Republic mission field. He participated in the original construction crew that built the house on the mission property and before that, participated in a construction project with Village Mountain Mission. Barry has a long history of ministry with his church, his community and philanthropic organizations and he served as a professional with the Boy Scouts of America for nearly 40 years. Barry cherishes time with his wife Penny, three sons and three grandchildren and stays active with cycling, golf and pickleball. Barry brings his “people” and “administrative” skills to strengthen the current mission program.