Meet Our Team

Kelsie Wessels

LLFC Director

Meet Kelsie Wessels, LLFC Director!

Kelsie has worked for H.E. Butt Foundation since 2016. She previously served as the Assistant Director of Programming for Laity Lodge Family Camp and moved into her current role fall of 2021. Kelsie’s history with the H. E. Butt Foundation began in Summer 2009 when she began serving as seasonal staff on Work Crew at Singing Hills. She continued working summers for LLYC as a Counselor, Work Crew Boss, Girls’ Director, and intern through 2015 and frequently worked weekend retreats at Family Camp over those same years.

Kelsie was born in Pasadena, TX, but claims the Texas Hill Country as home. Her family moved to Kerrville when she was in elementary school and after graduating from Texas A&M University, she returned to Kerrville. Kelsie and her husband, Kevin, have known each other since high school and have a long history of friendship as well as wonderful memories working together at camp in the summers. They love hiking, kayaking, and traveling together. When Kelsie isn’t at Family Camp, you can often find her spending time with friends and family.

“My time at camp has been extremely formational and transformative to me as a person, and I love getting to be a small part of joining in the work the Lord is doing in this incredible Canyon. Camp is an absolutely beautiful setting that is made more beautiful for me by being a sacred place that is filled with great depth and rich connection to the Lord and to others. I also love the amazing team of people I get to work with and our awesome staff – I feel like we all bring out the best in each other!”

Joshua Gill

LLFC Assistant Director

Meet Joshua Gill, LLFC Assistant Director!

Josh began working for the H. E. Butt Foundation at the end of January 2022. Before joining the Laity Lodge Family Camp team, he worked in youth and children’s ministry at several churches.

Josh was born in Kentucky and has moved all around, including living in the Texas Rio Grande Valley for 16 years and in San Antonio for the past six years. His family just recently moved to Kerrville. Josh is married to Veronica and together they will be celebrating seven years of marriage this May. They have one daughter named Grace who will be turning one year old in May as well. Fun fact: Josh’s wife, Veronica, was a camper through the Foundation Camp program for 5 years – long before Josh knew about the H. E. Butt Foundation! Josh loves being a parent, exploring restaurants with Veronica, mountain biking, action movies, game night, and learning new things.

“The LLFC team is knowledgeable, fun loving, skilled, kind, and overwhelmingly hospitable. Both the office and the Canyon are beautiful with so many details that point to care and that reflect our Creator. They say if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life, and this fills me with excitement and creativity.”

William Collins

LLFC Operations Director

Meet William Collins, LLFC Operations Director!

William has worked for the H. E. Butt Foundation since 2003. He previously served on the Guest Services & Foundation Camp team before moving into his current role at Laity Lodge Family Camp in 2016.

William is from Houston, TX. He attended The University of Texas where he completed his Bachelor of Arts and later completed a Master of Arts in Teaching from Rice University. Before moving to Kerrville, TX in 2002, William lived in Basalt, CO. William is married to Barbara and together they will be celebrating 40 years of marriage this July. William and Barbara have six daughters – Paige, Hattie, Chandler, Adelaide, Rebekah, and Sydney. They also have 8 grandchildren – Mary Ann, JW, Henry, Winnie, Trotter, Lewis, Yates, and David. William loves running and traveling with Barbara on weekend adventures in her vintage trailer.

“I love the structure and the flow of LLFC. Being a year round program it keeps me focused and energized knowing that we are going to do it all over again in 2 weeks. Working with passionate and competent teammates who recognize and support each other’s roles make the job fun. Add to that the energy and enthusiasm of 40+ college staff and the smiles, laughter, and engagement with our guests, and it makes my job, the dream job.”

Amanda Oliver

Guest Care Specialist

Amanda grew up in Georgetown, Texas, and has two younger sisters. She received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Tarleton State University and has a range of prior employment, including running outdoor bootcamps, selling steel in Georgia, and working at a local construction company. All of these paths have revolved around serving others. That is where her passion stays. She loves to learn and constantly searches for ways to be better, whether that is at work or at home.

Amanda is married to her husband Chase, who just joined Hill Country Chiropractic and Wellness. He has served the last five years as a chiropractor in Stone Oak. Amanda and Chase have two smart and athletic children. Cayden will be 10 years old this month, and Hadley will be 6 years old in June. They are both very active in sports. The Oliver family currently lives in Waring, just outside of Comfort. They enjoy anything that involves being active and outdoors, including sports, hunting, fishing, cookouts, etc. Amanda loves to run, and it proves to be her best stress reliever.

Amanda says, “I am extremely excited to join the H. E. Butt Foundation. Over the past 10 years, I have been placed in multiple professions, and I longed to find where God was leading me. When I interviewed a few weeks ago, I felt like I found my place. I will be able to harness many skills from my vast background to really hone in and fulfill this roll within the Foundation. I look forward to learning about all of you, your families, and your backgrounds. I hope to be an asset to your team.”

We’re excited to have Amanda on the team!

Marie Phillips

LLFC Administrative Assistant

Meet Marie Phillips, LLFC Administrative Assistant!

Marie has worked for H. E. Butt Foundation since 2014. She began in an administrative role for the Risk Department and moved into her current role at Laity Lodge Family Camp in 2016. Before working for the Foundation, Marie worked for 13 years for a Property Management Company in Dallas, TX.

Marie grew up in Kerrville, TX and attended Tivy High School, where she was a member of the choir and the dance team. She is the youngest of four girls and her current household is ever changing with the support of family, friends, and the urging of God. Marie lives in Kerrville and is grateful to be back home near family. Marie has two dogs, Siddalee and Baylah, and her depth of care is obvious in her passion for and involvement in foster care and dog rescue.

“The LLFC Team is a small unit of amazing folks with very different roles and workloads, yet we all strive for the same goal of serving our campers with excellence and hospitality. Administrative Assistants carve out their work by supporting others, as it’s their role to do so. Oh, how very humbling & overwhelming it is to work in a place that not only ensures you are successful within your work, but actively stands shoulder-to-shoulder with you during the low and high valleys of life.”

Cary Hendricks

Executive Director of Laity Lodge Camping Programs

Meet Cary Hendricks, Executive Director of Laity Lodge Camping Programs!

Cary has worked for the H. E. Butt Foundation since 2013. He previously served as an LLYC Director at Echo Valley for two years, the Senior Director of Laity Lodge Family Camp for six years, and then moved to his current role fall of 2021. Cary’s history with the H. E. Butt Foundation began in 1985 as a Singing Hills camper. He attended LLYC every summer as a camper and staff member throughout his college years, and during one of those staff summers met Jenny, who would eventually become his wife.

Cary was born in The Woodlands, TX, attended Austin College in Sherman, TX and lived in North Texas post graduation before moving to Illinois for the following nine years – where their children Seth, Stella, and Sloane were all born. Their family moved back to Texas ten years ago. Cary has completed a Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary and is currently working towards a Doctor of Ministry degree also from Fuller. Cary loves running, reading, and participating as the #1 fan of any youth sport in which his kids are competing.

“There is so much to love about what I get to do with the H. E. Butt Foundation and Laity Lodge Camping Programs. Mostly though I enjoy building, leading, and working together with a team toward a common goal that is significant. All of this is true in the work I get to do here. I get to work with the most talented and selfless people I know. I get to be stretched in my understanding of leadership. I get to work with this team toward a goal of creating space where kids and families are strengthened and grow in their faith. What is there to not love about that?!”

Kate Batchelor

Executive Assistant to Laity Lodge and Camping Programs

Meet Kate Batchelor, Executive Assistant to Laity Lodge and Camping Programs!

Kate has worked for the H. E. Butt Foundation since 2013. She began as an Administrative Assistant that summer, then served as the Guest Care Specialist for Laity Lodge Family Camp from 2014 through the end of 2021. At the start of 2022, she moved into her new role supporting the Executive Directors of Laity Lodge and Laity Lodge Camping Programs as well as their program teams. Kate also attended Family Camp back in the 90’s before Headwaters was brought to fruition.

Kate grew up in the Hill Country. Kate earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Texas A&M – Corpus Christi. After graduation from college, she taught at public elementary schools in both San Antonio and Midland, TX. Kate is married to her husband Aaron and together they have two children. Kate lives in Kerrville, and she is beyond grateful to be back and living close to extended family. Faith, family, loving others well, and staying functionally fit are Kate’s top priorities in life.

“I love my new role because I get the chance to work with amazing people across the Laity Lodge, LLFC, and LLYC program teams. From this viewpoint, I am able to experience the ways in which the H. E. Butt Foundation’s mission to ‘cultivate wholeness in people and institutions for the transformation of communities’ plays out in each unique program.”

Matt Huffman

LLFC Executive Chef

Jordyn Deases

LLFC Associate

Meet Jordyn Deases, LLFC Associate!

Jordyn began working for the H. E. Butt Foundation in November of 2021. She previously worked on Laity Lodge Family Camp summer staff, starting in 2017 – serving as a cook, in the Outpost, and as a counselor. Before moving into her current role Jordyn worked as a nanny as well as a registered behavior technician in Austin, TX.

Jordyn was born in Kansas but grew up in Corpus Christi, TX. She completed a Bachelors of Psychology from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi. Jordyn moved to Kerrville in November when she began this role. Jordyn loves hiking, climbing, paddle-boarding, cycling and reading.

“I have loved the Canyon since my first summer! I feel like I can truly be myself and am fully loved by everyone around me while doing it. I have also seen transformations among families and campers while at LLFC which has been the most special thing. I also luv my team 4ever.”

Dabney Quinn

LLFC Associate

Meet Dabney Quinn, LLFC Associate!

Dabney was born in Beaumont, Texas, and grew up in Boerne with his two sisters. He started working with the Foundation in 2018 at Singing Hills and began working with LLFC in 2019. Dabney loves being outdoors, hiking, climbing, building computers, and playing video games.

He says, “LLFC completely changed my view on camp. Growing up, I was always so scared and intimidated by camps, but Family Camp was able to help me realize how loved I am.”