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We created BAMmatch because many entrepreneurs desire help to create jobs and impact their struggling communities.
We created BAMmatch because thousands of business people have the skills and experience to help. We created BAMmatch to help you all find each other. BAMmatch is a service for the whole BAM community. BAMmatch is provided by Transformational Ventures. We create jobs in struggling communities around the world, in cooperation with spiritual outreach, health care, education, and justice initiatives.
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Leadership Team |
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Bruce Swanson, Founder/Director :: Transformational Ventures
Bruce worked with WorldVenture in Portugal from 1983 to 1993, focusing on church startups and leadership development. During those years, Bruce also created a community-based approach to drug prevention and treatment.
In 1993, Bruce joined WorldVenture's leadership team and was responsible for training, contingency planning, crisis response, team development, and other services for 550 missionaries in 60 areas of the world.
In 2002, Bruce shifted to Organizational Development and led WorldVenture through a re-org, worldwide strategic planning, and in the creation of new mindsets and services, to increase effectiveness. In 2006, he shifted his focus to complex new partnerships and, ultimately, Business as Mission.
Along the years, Bruce completed master's degrees in New Testament and Counseling Psychology, as well as some course work in management and organizational leadership.
Bruce likes to mountain bike, hike, hang out with his wife, keep up with their three grown kids, and help out at a local community work with kids at risk.
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Tom Beck, Co-founder/Consultant :: Synergos Solutions, LLC
Tom earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Arizona and his M.B.A. in finance from Southern Methodist University.
He was a founding partner of Blockbuster Midwest (d.b.a. Blockbuster Video) in 1986. During Tom's 3 year tenure Blockbuster grew from one unit to over 400 units with revenues of $450 million.
In 1992 Tom was a founding partner of Boston Chicken, Inc. and for six and a half years he was a senior officer overseeing the development of many aspects of the corporation, including franchise development, international development, organizational development, and human resources.
Tom has served as a guest lecturer at the Northwest Graduate School of Theology, Denver Seminary, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, and the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley where he also served as adjunct faculty.
As President of Synergos Solutions, LLC and a partner with Vantage Alliance, Tom consults with a variety of businesses, churches, and NGO's.
When he is not traveling, Tom plays golf with his wife and tries to figure out ways to use his many frequent flier miles.
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Michelle McDonald Pride, Project Development :: Transformational Ventures
Michelle earned her bachelor's degree in Economics, Theology and Christian Education from Wheaton College. She also attended Wheaton for graduate school where she finished her M.A. in Intercultural Studies in the spring of 2009.
While at Wheaton, Michelle was actively involved in the college's Business as Mission community. She was a convening member for the 2009 BAM Consultation that produced the Wheaton Declaration on Business as Integral Calling. She has travelled through South East Asia researching and writing case studies on Kingdom businesses.
In the past five years, Michelle has started three businesses. One of these businesses employs refugee women by teaching sewing skills and reusing discarded textiles to create one of a kind products. This business as mission initiative creates opportunities for various skill sets to engage in volunteering, for refugee women to earn an income and for the Gospel to be shared.
At Transformational Ventures, Michelle works with numerous BAM initiatives in all stages of development. From ideas, to startups to development of businesses in operation, she is always excited for a new challenge. She believes in the power of small and medium scale enterprises to transform individuals and communities and has a keen interest in development economics.
When not working, she and her husband Andrew dream of traveling the world many times over and enjoy the perks of living in Colorado. Skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer top their list of activities.
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Guiding Principles |
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BAMmatch operates from a foundation of faith, faith that engages with the problems and suffering in our world. Our guiding principles come from our understanding of the texts of the Bible and from observing life in communities around the world.
God ordained work.
He intends that men and women be engaged in productive, dignified jobs.
Gainful employment produces much good.
For example, increased self worth, better health and education for kids, stronger families and communities, more local stability and peace, and stronger local institutions.
Business people are gifted in leadership, commerce, and risk-taking.
The world needs them to exercise those gifts and operate for-profit enterprises.
BAMmatch works with a wide range of partners.
For example, businesses, universities, government agencies, and NGOs. We partner with local churches because of the tremendous potential they have as agents of change in their communities. We offer job creation to all communities.
Regardless of race, creed, national identity, or political affiliation. We do, however, admit to a bias in favor of the most marginalized and powerless. |
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