Executive Leadership
Philip S. Tuttle - President & CEO
For more than three decades, Phil Tuttle has been a vital member of the Walk Thru the Bible family. While pastoring in central Illinois, he began teaching Walk Thru the Bible's live events in 1988. Since that time, he has served as Dean of Faculty, Senior VP for International Ministries, and Global Teaching Pastor before becoming President and CEO in 2007.
A native of Normal, Illinois, Phil received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Education and Bible from Wheaton College in 1980 and his Master of Theology degree in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1984.
As President of Walk Thru the Bible, Phil continues to share God's Word throughout the world in churches, Bible conferences, Christian education conventions, and corporate gatherings. He is the author of Raise Up a Child; Crucible: The Choices that Change Your Life Forever; Detour: Finding Purpose When Life Doesn't Make Sense; Chosen: When God Calls Your Name, Revolution: How Millennials Can Change the World; Chiseled: Becoming the Masterpiece God Created You to Be; Refuge: Finding Home in a World of Change; and Rescue: Leading Yourself and Others to Freedom.
Phil's unique blend of biblical instruction, real-life illustrations, and spontaneous humor makes learning easy and enjoyable.
Phil and his wife, Ellen, have two adult children, Emily and Philip, and a daughter-in-law, Erika, and three grandchildren.
Genny Baxley - VP of Operations
Genny Baxley studied music and voice at the University of West Georgia and through serving in that field ended up at Walk Thru the Bible, which turned out to be her true calling.
She has served at Walk Thru the Bible since 1993 in a variety of positions, including Director of Human Resources and Vice President of Administration. In 2019, she became Vice President of Operations, where she oversees live events, products, and publishing—a wide range of resources that not only touch North America but are reproduced all over the world. Most days she still can't believe she gets to be even a small part of what God is doing in the lives of people in all parts of the world through the ministry of Walk Thru the Bible.
She is a Stephen Minister and a certified lay speaker with the United Methodist Church. She also serves on the Board of Directors of She Is Safe, an organization that works to prevent, rescue, and restore women and girls from abuse and exploitation in high-risk places around the world. She and her husband, Allen, live in Cumming, Georgia.
Michael Gunnin - Chief Growth Officer & Executive VP
For more than 15 years, Michael Gunnin has been working with donors and ministries to create partnerships that fund important Kingdom advancing causes globally. He joined Walk Thru the Bible in 2014 to lead the advancement team. In 2019, he was named Walk Thru the Bible's Chief Growth Officer. And in 2023, he was named Executive Vice President.
Michael is a native of Atlanta. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Point University in 1999 and Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 2002.
Prior to Walk Thru the Bible, Michael has served in advancement positions both in higher education and global Christian ministries. He has also served as a pastor and an adjunct college instructor.
Michael and his wife, Molly, live in Newnan, GA, with their three boys, Bradley, Grayson, and Dylan.
Rich Leland - VP of International Ministries
Rich Leland received a B.A. degree from Washington Bible College with a major in Bible. While attending college Rich sensed that ministry was God’s calling for his life. After college, Rich went on to receive a Masters in Systematic Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary.
Rich served three years as Minister of Education in a New Jersey church; followed by almost eight years as senior pastor in a Boston suburb. In 1986, Rich and his family moved to Nantucket where he served as senior pastor for over 30 years.
His relationship with Walk Thru the Bible dates back to 1983 when he became a part-time live event instructor. About a decade later, he had the opportunity to begin teaching Walk Thru the Bible's resources internationally. And from 1996-2006, he served as Walk Thru's director of international training. He became the VP of International Ministries in 2018.
Rich is married to Linda and they have two daughters and four grandchildren. They enjoy vacationing at a lake in Southern Maine. Rich and Linda's lives revolve around Bible teaching, enjoying the beauty of Nantucket, and being revitalized at the lake.
Donna Pennell - VP of Advancement
Donna Pennell is a graduate of Georgia State University with a BBA in Marketing. An Atlanta native, Donna has served with Walk Thru the Bible since 2006 in a variety of positions, including editorial manager and director of marketing and communications. In June 2022, she was named Vice President of Advancement.
Donna loves what she gets to do at Walk Thru the Bible: advancing God's Kingdom each day, and helping people everywhere live God's Word.
She is married to Don, and they make their home in Atlanta, GA.
Lee Helling - Director of International
Lee graduated with a business degree from a Johannesburg university. He has been in full-time ministry in Southern Africa for 32 years serving as the Regional Director for Walk Thru the Bible Southern Africa since 2005. Remarkable of the ministry in this region is its work across the broad spectrum of the church in Africa. Since July of 2022, Lee also serves the Walk Thru the Bible international team.
Lee has significant experience in the non-profit world including marketing, sales, administration and leadership. He has a passion for pioneering new ministry initiatives. His dream is to see every community in Southern Africa impacted with Walk Thru the Bible’s transformational resources and live events. Lee is married to Brigette and they have three daughters.
Board of Directors
Dr. John H. Isch – Chairman
John Isch has been involved with Walk Thru the Bible almost since its inception. He is a retired cardiovascular surgeon from Indianapolis where he founded and served with a large clinical practice for thirty two years. Over the years he has performed many roles in the medical arena but now limits his professional involvement to the coaching and mentoring of younger physicians. He currently serves on the Board of the Navigators, the Advisory Board of the Ron Blue Institute at Indiana Wesleyan University and chairs the Board of the National Christian Foundation-Indiana. He and his wife, Mary, are committed to the church and serve by hosting and leading Bible studies and discipling men and women. They have three married children and ten grandchildren.
Thomas W. Steipp - Vice-Chairman
Tom is a semi-retired business executive who has served in the US Air Force and held a variety of senior positions within large organizations before assuming the leadership role at a couple of public and private companies. He now splits his time between activities on startup technology Boards and continuing his longtime association with the leadership of faith-based nonprofit organizations. He and Deb were married in 1973. They have been blessed with two married children, a son Chris (Katie), and daughter, Michelle (Tim), and share the joy of six grandchildren.
Rich Dippolito - Treasurer
Rich is a senior real estate professional with more than twenty years of entrepreneurial and institutional experience in developing, redeveloping, and managing retail, mixed-use, and senior living properties. For 22 years, he was a partner with Concordia Properties, specializing in the development and management of projects throughout the Southeast. He is now VP, Re/Development of Brixmor Property Group. He has a BS in Architecture from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Kelly, live in Chicago.
Judy Huber - Secretary
Judy Huber lives in Scottsdale, AZ. She and her husband, Ron, started Time Systems Inc. in 1978. Judy held the position of Vice President of Administration and together they built the business of taking time management training seminars to Fortune 500 companies all across the U.S. and Canada. In 1995 Time Systems was sold. Today, she serves as Chair, Women of Momentum Committee at Phoenix Seminary where the main focus is raising funds for the Women of Momentum Scholarship Fund. She currently serves on the Boards of The Center for Arizona Policy and Phoenix Seminary. Judy has two married daughters and now enjoys every opportunity to spend time with her seven grandchildren.
Ed Bryant - Director
Ed Bryant earned a bachelor's and master's degree in actuarial science from Georgia State University, and he is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries. Ed spent his professional career with Towers Perrin, a large international management consulting firm where he was the managing director/principal for the firm's Southeastern offices. He was also president of his own consulting firm, Bryant Advisory Group, and also served as chief operating officer for Firstdoor, Inc., a human resource technology firm. In addition, he served as executive vice president and chief operating officer for Walk Thru the Bible from October 2005 through March 2007. Ed and his wife, Lorraine, live in North Carolina.
Chip Chuckney - Director
Chip Chuckney received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Indiana University, where he came into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Upon graduation, he served with CRU (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) for several years. Since that time, Chip has enjoyed an entrepreneurial career combining residential construction and real estate investment.
Chip has held various leadership positions in his church, including serving as an elder, chairing and serving on building committees, and helping give direction to the marriage ministry. He has also served on the Board of a ministry that funds church construction globally. Chip was initially attracted to Walk Thru the Bible because of his passion to help provide support for under-resourced believers and the persecuted church.
Chip and his wife, Kate, have been married 40 years and reside in Williamsburg, Virginia. They enjoy mentoring younger men and women as they journey through life. As empty-nesters, Chip and Kate love traveling, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with their four grown children, their spouses, and six precious grandchildren.
Dr. Carter Harsh - Director
Carter Harsh has been a practicing neurosurgeon in Birmingham, Ala., since 1991. He is involved in his church in a variety of positions, including the global missions leadership team. He has served on the boards for the Christian Medical Ministry of Alabama and Briarwood Christian School, and in leadership for Young Life. He and his wife, Cindy, have four children.
Cathy Tanana - Director
Cathy was the Director of Women’s Ministries at Highland Park Baptist Church in Southfield, Michigan for 12 years. She continues to teach the young moms group at her church, lead Bible Study for the Detroit Tiger Wives, and enjoys speaking to women’s groups on a variety of subjects. She has been married to Frank Tanana, retired Major League Baseball pitcher, for 40 years. She was raised in Long Beach, California where she studied dance at Long Beach State and then met Frank while he was playing for the then California Angels. After stops in Boston, Texas, and New York, baseball took them to Frank’s hometown in Detroit, Michigan, where they reside today. Along the way, their ministries grew and so did their family. They are the proud parents of four daughters and have four sons-in-law and 14 grandchildren.
Karen Melby - Director
Karen Melby lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is the mother of five adult children and Nana to 8 little ones and counting. She was married to Scott Melby for 30 years until the Lord called him home in 2016. Karen loves teaching and discipling women. She is on the leadership team of a community Bible study where she is able to live out her passion of teaching and encouraging women toward a growing relationship with the Lord. Karen is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and has served on the boards of Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference, Michigan Theological Seminary, and the National Christian Foundation. She calls Calvary, Grand Rapids her home church. Since the time she was 15 years old, she has loved the ministry of Walk Thru the Bible, when her father Paul Johnson was a founding board member. Karen's own personal walk with the Lord throughout her life has been shaped by this wonderful ministry.
John Van Diest – Director
A book publisher for over 30 years, John Van Diest founded Multnomah Press and Vision House and is presently serving as associate publisher of Tyndale House Publishers. He is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary. Mr. Van Diest has helped to establish publishing in countries like Russia, China, and several Muslim countries. He has served on the board of directors of the Portland Rescue Mission, the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association, and Trout Creek Camp. He currently serves on the board of the Teeny Foods Corporation.