Management

Read Taylor-President

Read B. Taylor has been in the international energy business for over 26 years serving worldwide with energy notables UNOCAL, Anadarko and Devon Energy, earning multiple degrees and honors from both USC (University Southern California)  & Pepperdine University (Malibu, California).
Read’s leadership abilities have proven successful in a broad spectrum of arenas.  These areas range from foreign governments, partner and service companies in order to achieve various exploration, operations, and commercial objectives.  His strengths include timely management of foreign projects, building strategic relationships, cultural sensitivities, and developing creative solutions to foreign operations and business development.  Read has promoted the use of technology and research for better decision making and improvements to the business process.
Read is the Founder and President of RICE International Relief Organization and is dedicated to using his International business foundation for creative solutions in providing care for orphans and worldwide humanitarian relief in the most poverty stricken areas of the world.  He has lived and worked in Thailand, Indonesia, China, Turkey, Jordan, Former Soviet Union, Angola, Australia, and Brazil among others. 
Read personally spearheaded relief efforts in Thailand (2004 tsunami relief) and Biloxi, Mississippi (2005 Hurricane Katrina relief).  Read has also been on both sides of the Thai-Burma border where his passion for the people of Burma and friendships made with other aid organizations continues to drive his desire for RICE.
Read’s vision for RICE is to meet the needs of supply in the face of overwhelming demand. He knows in order to get the job done, multiple organizations need to connect and he has the abilities to network people as well as ‘catch & cast’ the vision in the most cost effective manner therefore allowing best use of funds.  

Vicki Wiley-Hawaii and Children's Education

Vicki Wiley is the Director of Children's Ministries at First Presbyterian Church in Honolulu, where she serves the needs of the children up to 8th grade. Vicki is an adjunct faculty member of the Bible Institute of Hawaii where she speaks on a variety of subjects all having to do with the faith formation of our children.
Vicki holds a Master's Degree of Theology from Fuller Seminary and is a writer for Thomas Nelson Bible and Reference Division (Kidsbible.com and the Children's Ministry Sourcebooks 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006).  In addition, Vicki is the Learning Specialist for Group Publishers.

Sharon Totten

Manager International Operations and Administration

Sharon Totten, since 2000, has been focused on victims/survivors of war, extreme poverty, persecution and natural catastrophic disaster.  Countries include: Thai-Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Viet Nam, Philippines & Russia. In 2008 the list will include Nepal.   
For the past seven years Sharon & her husband Glen, have been part of the Partners Relief & Development family based along the Thai-Burmese border working for Refugees and IDP’s of the war inside Burma.  
Sharon was also among the first responders to the most devastated region of Banda Aceh, Indonesia within just days of the 2004 9.0 Earthquake/Tsunami & the 8.7 Earthquake on Nias Island in March 2005, and also led a team to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. 
Sharon’s connection with RICE came in Jan. 2005 and many of her medical projects since then have benefited greatly due to this long term relationship. As a result of their shared vision, she has also become part of the RICE family.
Sharon & Glen work with church & non-church community leaders to provide solid training in Pastoral studies, Psychological (Post Traumatic Stress), Education & Economic Development.  Their primary goal is to train national leaders thus enabling them in turn to train and care for their people in their own culture.
Since the Dec. 2004 earthquake & tsunami, Sharon’s focus has been initial emergency relief and subsequent transition to development during multiple major catastrophic events in Banda Aceh, Nias Island, and Yogyakarta, Indonesia.  In addition, Sharon & her Indonesian team also managed development of multiple children’s facilities, (from Pre-school to Vocational school age kids) all to be the prototypes for future developments, a medical facility, and the Leadership Training Center, along with many other projects.
In the November 2005 issue of PEOPLE Magazine, along with Maybelline New York, Sharon was recognized nationally for her dedication to her work.

Paul Seldes

Paul Seldes is a hands-on strategist with over 25 years of experience in the public safety, emergency management, technology, and financial industries. He is an experienced leader with extensive operations and product development expertise in the US and internationally.


Paul was a survivor of, and responder to the 9-11 attacks in NYC. He was at the base of World Trade Tower Two when the second plane hit. He spent 9 months after September 11, 2001 working on the WTC Task Force first in search-and-rescue and later with logistical and operational support.

He is an active American Red Cross Disaster Services national volunteer and a certified Red Cross Trainer. Paul is a member Congregation Temple Beth Shalom of Vero Beach where he is a member of the board of trustees. He and his wife Paula, make their home in Vero Beach, Florida. When 30,000 families went homeless in Florida’s 2004 hurricanes, Paul stepped in as a lead logisticsl manager.

Raul and Christine Villasenor

Raul and Christine have been serving the Lord for over 28 years in various ministries. As a team, they teach a New Believers “Fresh Start” class at Pilgrim’s Progress Chapel of Fontana.
While seeking and asking the Lord to broaden their vision and territory they found themselves on a Mission Trip to Russia so they could visit sponsored orphanages and have the opportunity to meet one of the children they sponsor. This trip renewed their deep love for children at the orphanages and their passion to do more. 
Made as a joint statement: “The trip increased our desire to help and confirmed our vision to truly know the heart of God for his people, to care for the widows and orphans and to consider the poor”.   
They began to see that God was leading them to serve as missions support pastors. While in Moscow they met Read Taylor from RICE. The rest God is writing now “We are excited to be part of RICE our hearts and our vow is to serve the Lord for the rest of our lives, wherever, however it may please him.  God is truly enlarging our territory”

Raul & Christine joined Read in the relief efforts of Hurricane Katrina and since then have made multiple trips to Mexico, and South America including Peru & Bolivia. In these regions they take RICE medical supplies for free clinics and Raul also leads pastor training seminars.   
In addition to their work in other countries, Raul & Christine manage the daily operations of the RICE warehouse and guarantee shipments are handled with expedient care to reach destinations as far away as Sierra Leone or as close as the Los Angeles Union Rescue Mission.

1Chron 4:10 Jabez prayed to the God of Israel “O that thou wouldst bless me and enlarge my territory. That your hand would be upon me and that you would keep me from pain, and God granted his request”

Marek Helstrom

Marek Helstrom has a powerful ability to connect with people.  He is a skilled leader in the field of individual and organizational development. Marek has worked as the Executive Director of Abundant Life Academy, Leadership Curriculum Designer and Facilitator for CSUB Extended University, Asset Manager for Schlumberger New Ventures, Associate Management Consultant for Procorp Associates, Inc. (working with corporate mergers and start-up companies), Geoscience Team Leader Exploration and Development in both International and Domestic Divisions of Unocal Corporation.      
Marek is a co-founder of Purpose Centered Coaching & Training where he develops and delivers workshops in Human Behavior, Emotional Intelligence, Accountability, Team Building, and Leadership along with his wife, Darlene. Clients include Devon Energy, Department of Water Resources State of California, Insight Health Care, Bakersfield Heart Hospital,  U.S. Navy Chaplain Corp., San Joaquin Adventist Hospital, SportsTech, Abundant Life Academy, Golden State Eye/Medical Group, CASA, and Owens Valley Career Development Center. 
Marek holds a BA in Geography-Environmental Systems from California State University at Northridge, a BS in Geology from the University of Southern California, completed M.S. Geology coursework (no Thesis) the University of Southern California, and holds an M.A. in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix. He is a Master Certified Human Behavior Consultant with Personality Insights, Inc., a Certified Winslow Assessment Consultant, a Master Certified EQ Consultant & Practitioner with Six Seconds, Inc.,  a Certified Anger Management Specialist through the Faith-Based Counselor Training Institute, and is finalizing his Coaching Certification from the Success Unlimited Network ® (an affiliate of and sanctioned by the International Coaching Federation).