our leadership
The President, assisted by a Leadership Team, leads REI under the overall direction of a Board of Directors. The Leadership Team consists of the following members.
Doug became the President and CEO of REI in 2018. Prior to that he worked as a systems analyst for the United Technologies Research Center, a litigation attorney for two of Maine’s leading law firms, and in leadership for a non-profit organization. He has spent a fair amount of time overseas, including three years in South Korea and eight years in Singapore. Doug received a B.A. from Amherst College and a J.D. from Cornell Law School.
K. Douglas Erdmann
President and CEO
Jay joined the REI team as the Director of Operations in the spring of 2014. His role includes four distinct functions – Chief Financial Officer, Director of Administration, Corporate Treasurer and Corporate Secretary. Jay has a B.A. in Business Administration from Dordt College and brings to his roles over 30 years of non-profit leadership experience, specializing in both finance and human resources. Jay has lived in the Colorado Springs area for a majority of his life and enjoys the Colorado Rocky Mountains and simply being outdoors with his wife and two sons.
Jay Smidt
Vice President for Administration & CFO
Graduating with a B.A. in Communications: Journalism from the University of Northwestern, Wendy began her career in publishing, working in Minneapolis before she and her husband moved overseas. Wendy joined REI in 2019 after living and working in Kazakhstan for 14 years, where she also served on the board of directors for a local charitable nonprofit for several years. Leveraging resources to see transformation in developing countries motivated her from the beginning and continues to inspire her work today.
Wendy Moore
Director of Communications
David has spent decades in organizational leadership, education and professional development. His attention has been primarily focused on the United States, but he has also taught extensively in Kazakhstan. He joined REI in 2023, and his leadership, development and educational experience have added significant value to the team. David holds a B.A. in Sociology and Philosophy from Grace College as well as a master's and doctoral degrees.
David Staff
Director of Field Staff Care