Senior Leadership
Robert Briggs
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Robert Briggs serves as President and CEO of American Bible Society. He previously served as Senior Vice President of the U.S. Ministry team. In that role, he focused on the goal of seeing 100 million Americans engaging with the Bible by 2026.
Briggs has served many roles at American Bible Society, including Vice President of the Mission Advancement team, overseeing double-digit growth in donations for the last three years. Prior to that, he led Global Service Ministry. He was also responsible for launching a research initiative in 2006 that provides American Bible Society with project research and validation services.
Internationally, Briggs has served as a member of the Global Council of United Bible Societies, chairing the nominations committee. He is a founding member of the steering committee for Every Tribe Every Nation, which brings together the largest Bible agencies in the world that are working to ensure that 100 percent of the world’s population have access to heart-language Scriptures.
Briggs is a graduate of the University of Missouri’s journalism program. Before joining American Bible Society, he held leadership roles with the American Diabetes Association and co-founded Cityhill, a Christian publishing company. He and his wife Susan live in Philadelphia. They have five adult children and three grandchildren.
John Clause
Senior Vice President for Advancement Ministry
John Clause is Senior Vice President for Advancement Ministry at American Bible Society. He joined the organization in February 2020 and has vast experience in leading and managing relational marketing, major gift development and global philanthropy in the non-profit sector.
Clause served as Vice President of Global Philanthropy at Children International, Kansas City, Missouri. There he oversaw all relational development work, gift planning, donor communications and strategic institutional partnerships. Other positions he held include Senior Vice President of Prison Fellowship International, where he was responsible for all private fundraising channels, and National Vice President of Development and Philanthropy for World Vision. He was there for more than 17 years and oversaw all major fundraising activities in the United States.
Clause is a member of the Christian Leadership Alliance and has served on the advisory board of the National Council of Churches and the governing board of Movement.org (formerly The New York City Leadership Center).
He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Colgate University and his Juris Doctorate from Ohio Northern University School of Law.
John and his wife Susan have three grown children, Bethany, Sharon, and Christie, as well as two rescue dogs, Jack and Rosie.
Andrew Hood
VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL MINISTRY
Andrew Hood was named Vice President of Global Ministry for American Bible Society in 2018. His affiliation with the organization dates back to 2007 when he worked as a freelance photographer. Soon afterward, Hood joined the staff as Director of the Communications team and later served as Director of the Trauma Healing Ministry.
With leadership experience in business, hospitality, communications, and ministry, Hood brings a wide range of experiences to his role.
He is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in writing and philosophy. He also has a master’s degree in fine arts from Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Hood lives in Philadelphia with his wife Leah and their two sons, Emery and Soren.
Stephen Kao
General Counsel
Stephen Kao joined American Bible Society as General Counsel in 2017, bringing with him more than two decades of experience, having served as Senior Counsel at Gammon & Grange, a private law firm outside of Washington, D.C.
Kao also brings a passion for ministry. He led a CRU ministry in North Carolina, promoted restorative justice with Prison Fellowship Ministries in Washington, D.C., and served as president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Columbia University.
Kao graduated with honors in political science from Columbia University and earned his Juris Doctorate at the University of Virginia School of Law. He lives in the Philadelphia area with his wife Teresa and their three children, Caleb, Bethany, and Micah.
Karina Lucero
DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES
Karina Lucero is serving as Interim Director of Human Resources, leading a dynamic team of professionals responsible for serving the organization in all aspects of Human Resources.
Lucero joined American Bible Society in April 2000 and has served in a wide variety of leadership roles including publications, ministry programs, research, and operations. Over the past five years, she has been working in Human Resources, leveraging her organizational knowledge to lead key initiatives that increase organizational effectiveness.
Prior to joining American Bible Society, Lucero worked at a brand consulting firm, helping businesses develop brand strategies at an organizational and product level.
She is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in international relations and French.
Nicole Martin
DIRECTOR, U.S. MINISTRY
Nicole Martin currently serves as the Director of US Ministry. Martin joined American Bible Society in 2016 as a City Mobilizer in Charlotte, NC and progressed as the National Cities lead, supporting Scripture Engagement efforts in cities across the US.
A former management consultant with Deloitte Consulting in Chicago, Martin has also previously served as an Executive Minister at a multi-site church in Charlotte, NC. Martin teaches courses in Ministry and Leadership Development at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and is the author of two books: Made to Lead: Empowering Women for Leadership and Leaning In, Letting Go: A Lenten Devotional. Martin has authored several articles that have been featured in USA Today, Christianity Today, and The Charlotte Observer. As a nationally recognized speaker, Martin has been inducted into the prestigious Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Board of Preachers at Morehouse College. She was also selected as one of the Charlotte Business Journal's Top 40 Under 40.
Martin is a graduate of Vanderbilt University with a triple major in Human and Organizational Development, Educational Studies, and French. She earned her Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and her Doctor of Ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She serves on the Board of the National Association of Evangelicals and is also a member of the Board of Trustees at Gordon College in New England.
Martin currently resides in Baltimore with her husband, Dr. Mark Martin, and their two daughters, Addison and Josephine.
James J. Puchy
VICE PRESIDENT, U.S. MINISTRY AND CHIEF OF STAFF
James J. Puchy, who joined American Bible Society in 2010, serves as Vice President of U.S. Ministry and Chief of Staff, overseeing strategic and operational planning. He specifically directs ministries to the Ground Floor for America, Armed Services, multi-language audiences, Roman Catholics, and prison communities. Puchy also supports operations for American Bible Society’s Board of Directors.
Puchy retired from the U.S. Army in 2011 after serving in the Army Chief of Chaplains’ Office as Commandant and Director of Sustainment and Information since April 2008. He was the founding pastor of Helemano Community Chapel in Hawaii, Continental Community Chapel in Fort Monroe, and Chapel Next in Fort Belvoir.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and English from Rutgers University, as well as master’s degrees from University of Southern California, Alliance Theological Seminary, Syracuse University, and U.S. Army War College. He earned a doctorate in education from University of Southern California and a post-doctoral certificate in leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary. A retired Army colonel, Puchy also has an extensive military education.
Puchy and his wife, the former Rebecca Lynn Genshaw, reside in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.
Mark Wilson
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Mark Wilson joined American Bible Society as its Chief Financial Officer in 2017, bringing with him a wealth of experience as a finance leader with proven success in nonprofit organizational growth.
In his previous role with Philabundance, Wilson worked to ensure that 90,000 people throughout the greater Philadelphia region received the food they needed each week. Deeply passionate about God’s Word, Wilson is excited now to be using his gifts of financial strategy, innovation, and servant leadership to serve the mission of American Bible Society.
Prior to Philabundance, Wilson was employed by AmerisourceBergen and KPMG. He also served as the CFO of Westminster Seminary.
A Certified Public Accountant, Wilson received his master’s degree in business administration from Baylor University.
He lives in the Philadelphia area with his wife Nathalie and their three sons, Max, Luke, and Benjamin.
