Our Team

Founders

Craig is a 4th generation farmer from Chico, CA. Craig and Jen met at Azusa Pacific University in 2006. After college, Craig moved to Etna to join the staff of Kidder Creek Camp (part of Mount Hermon) and in 2010 Jen joined the camp staff as Ranch Camp Director. They were married by the end of that year and six months later they started Rockside Ranch where their love for farming and redemptive program ministry come together.

Executive Director & Host Family

Nick studied at Biola University earning his Bachelors degree in Theology and his Masters degree in Ministry and Leadership. He loves cultivating a connection to life and land with the students. Nick is committed to helping students overcome crisis and eager to guide them as they discover the fullness of life through relationship with God. In his free time you can find Nick exploring the mountains with his family.

Email Nick

Director of Development

Abby grew up in Scott Valley and always knew she’d come back. Her time at Biola University, Kidder Creek, and Mount Hermon shaped her love for community, and radical hospitality. What she didn’t expect was that Rockside would become the place where God wrote a love story she didn’t expect. Now married to Cain, she feels grateful to call the ranch home and to serve in the place where they both know God has called them. She loves slow mornings with her coffee, cooking for the people she loves, backpacking in the mountains, and walking around the ranch with her dog, Hazy.

Email Abby

Director of Admissions

Zack is from San Diego, CA with a background in entrepreneurship and overseas missions. Zack first visited Rockside Etna in 2020 and immediately fell in love with the mission. He loves connecting with student candidates and their families. In his free time he loves surfing with his wife, playing music and making short films. 

Email Zack

Director of Alumni & Family Support

David serves as a Crisis Counselor and Support Specialist at Rockside Ranch. Appointed Director of Alumni and Family Support in January 2020, he has been instrumental in helping young men overcome life’s challenges. Drawing on his extensive background working with individuals who have faced adversity, David provides compassionate guidance to students, alumni, and their families.

He is dedicated to helping individuals build resilience, rediscover their true identity, and live according to God’s original design—a life that overflows with beauty and harmony. David’s work centers on empowering survivors not just to survive, but to thrive.

Email David

Creative Manager

Asher is a Scott Valley local. As a teen he spent many hours learning photography and videography.
For the past few years he has worked as a freelance creative with the goal of combining his passion for digital arts and a desire to serve God alongside other young Christians in his community. He is excited to now be on the Rockside team to help share the many stories of restoration.

Email Asher

Executive Director & Host Family

Nick studied at Biola University earning his Bachelors degree in Theology and his Masters degree in Ministry and Leadership. He loves cultivating a connection to life and land with the students. Nick is committed to helping students overcome crisis and eager to guide them as they discover the fullness of life through relationship with God. In his free time you can find Nick exploring the mountains with his family.

Email Nick

Workforce Manager

Kristopher served 23 years with the US military where he led and supervised hundreds of troops at a time and thousands over the course of his career. Upon retirement, he and his family moved to Scott Valley after hearing a calling to ministry. Kris uses his background and training to develop leadership, organization, and effective teamwork at Rockside Ranch. In addition, Kris is actively pursuing a Theological Seminary degree.

Email Kris

Grounds Manager

Cain was born and raised in Rapid City, South Dakota. He was in crisis when a friend told him about Rockside Ranch. He completed the 8 month Student Program in 2022. After completing the program, he felt led to join YWAM and do their 6 month Discipleship Training School. During his time with YWAM he sensed God was calling him back to pour into the young men at Rockside. In his downtime you will find Cain working out, playing cribbage or studying the bible.

Email Cain

Registered Nurse

McKenna earned her B.S. in Nursing at Point Loma Nazarene University. She is passionate about approaching health, wellness, and recovery holistically. McKenna is working hard to grow Rockside’s medical program and our team of medical professionals. She lives with her husband, Nick, at the Ranch in Etna and loves to bake fresh bread and other goodies. You will also find McKenna exploring the surrounding wilderness on her time off with Nick and their dog “Z”.

Email McKenna

Farmhouse Director

Jacob grew up in Memphis, TN. He developed a love of the hospitality industry during four years at a local steakhouse. He then moved to Scott Valley in 2015. Upon arriving, he worked at Scott River Lodge as the sous chef and then in 2018 as the Chef de Cuisine. He met his wife Megan and they were married in the fall of 2016. They have two kids, Adelaide and Cooper. He enjoys coffee, reading, fountain pens and notebooks.
Email Jacob

Farmhouse Butcher Shop

Before coming to Rockside, Chris ran a professional farrier business for 25 years. He has been married to his wife, Lindsey, for 18 years and they have three beautiful children. Chris loves Jesus and is grateful to be part of the Rockside community.
Email Chris

Director & Host Family

Since moving to Shady Creek Farm in 2014, Zach (Site Director) and Jordyn have had a passion for not only raising nutrient dense, naturally healthy food, but they have also had a passion for raising up people. They have added eight kids to the family via adoption and foster care, and their farm has been able to offer work, a place to stay, and a mentoring opportunity to people in transition or crisis. They are thrilled to launch Rockside Great Lakes and see lives change.

Email Zach or Email Jordyn

Farm Operations & Logistics Manager

Cory has been a mechanic of vehicles and golf course equipment since 2006. In early 2022, He felt the Lord leading him to Rockside Ranch Great Lakes, where he could utilize his love for farming. He has been friends of Zach & Jordyn Osburn since 2017, and been through some life restoration with them walking along side of him and his family. Now is his chance to pay it forward, with God at the center. He and his wife Lisa have been married since 2008. They have two daughters and two sons.

EMAIL CORY

Program Manager

John was born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan and has two children. He was a trade plumber for over 15 years and found himself lost without purpose. He completed the student program and was radically changed by the love of Jesus. Since joining the staff, John has had the privilege of leading other men in the path of life restoration. John can fix just about anything and is a tremendous asset to the program and the team.

Email John

DIRECTOR & HOST FAMILY

The Veals are from Sturgis, South Dakota and got connected to Rockside through our friends the Falcons and Painters. Matt and Ketura served as youth pastors at Open Bible Chuch in Rapid City for nine years, and Matt retired from a career as a deputy with the Pennington County Sheriff's Office in December.  They have known RJ, a graduate of the Rockside program, since he was a little boy. Matt shared “Once we saw the transformation in RJ happen - we knew this was something we wanted to be a part of.” 
Email Matt

Program Lead

Joe grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota and was a member of Matt Veal's youth group. A deep love for people and a calling to ministry led him to Rockside. Joe feels privileged to work with the staff in Black Hills and is delighted to bring the Kingdom of God to the hearts of the students. His hobbies include backpacking, fishing, hunting, and writing.

Email Joe

Chairman

Joe lives in Grass Valley, CA with Judy, his wife of 34 years.  He has two children and three grandchildren.  He has served in church leadership for decades in the roles of deacon and elder and has a passion for men’s discipleship.  Serving on the Rockside board is a return to his roots in Scott Valley where he grew up.  He is a financial advisor and operates Sierra Financial Advisory, an investment advisory firm.

Vice Chairman

Steve is a former professor at Azusa Pacific University and Dean of Christian Studies at Grand Canyon University. In 2016, Steve founded Sanctuary Claremont, a nonprofit church and coffee house in Southern California. Steve has mentored hundreds of students over his career.

Secretary

As a little girl, Jen dreamed of starting a ranch for healing and restoration. She grew up in LA, but spent her summers in Big Sky country Montana. After graduating from Azusa Pacific University in 2009 and co-founding Rockside Ranch in 2011, Jen became a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and has dedicated herself to wellness education and instruction at Rockside Ranch. 

Treasurer

Craig is a 4th generation farmer from Chico, CA. Craig and Jen met at Azusa Pacific University in 2006. After college, Craig moved to Etna to join the staff of Kidder Creek Camp (part of Mount Hermon) and in 2010 Jen joined the camp staff as Ranch Camp Director. They were married by the end of that year and six months later they started Rockside Ranch where their love for farming and redemptive program ministry come together.

Beau and his wife Nicole live in Utah with their five children. They love history, foster care, and being outside. Beau has been a professor, caterer, hall director, church planter, piano teacher, fast food cashier, and consultant. Today, Beau works alongside Patrick Lencioni at the Table Group, an organizational health company dedicated to changing the world of work. Beau has co-authored two books. He is also on the board at Portland Seminary where he received his doctorate.

Mark is the Dean of Career and Technical Education at the College of the Siskiyous. Before moving to Siskiyou County, Mark spent over 20 years at Cal Poly State University managing the University's 6,000-acre farm. He holds a Bachelor's in Agricultural Business Management and a Master's degree in Agriculture from Cal Poly. In 2011, Mark and his family moved to Siskiyou County and became the President and General Manager of Belcampo Farms.

Joel has spent over a decade in Silicon Valley leading various teams at Okta as they have grown from ~140 employees to over 6,000 employees and $2+ Billion in revenue. Outside of work, Joel is bi-coastal with his Wife (Autumn) and son (Jonah). Joel is passionate about security, leadership, and giving back. His focus as a board member is to help scale Rockside to impact as many men in crisis as possible.

Kari grew up in Yreka and married her high school sweetheart, Jason in 1998. They bought their first business that launched their journey of work and life together 24/7. They raised her younger siblings and adopted their nephew years later after losing her brother in Iraq. Kari has a heart and passion for those who have walked through hardships and trauma and desires for all to know they are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. She has a degree in business admin and financial accounting and serves in marriage ministry.

Josh is a former executive at Mercer Advisors where he was the Head of Wealth Management. His responsibilities included the integration of acquired firms, organic growth, and client experience as a growth strategy. He is a Certified Financial Planner (r) with a degree in Economics from Westmont College. He lives in Denver with his wife Jennifer and their three children.