Our Mission
Reach Advisory Partners offers executive-level conversation, counsel, and encouragement to leaders of Christian ministry organizations…
… to enable them to lead faithfully and well, addressing challenges effectively and planning for the future strategically;
… in fulfillment of their respective missions and visions; and
… by God’s grace and for His glory.
Our Value
Reach delivers executive-level, strategic, relationship-driven, and affordable counsel, from a team committed to operational excellence, professional competence, and growth of mission.
Most importantly, we deliver this counsel within the framework of our commitment to biblical fidelity, Christ-centered ministry, and gospel impact.
Our Leadership
Niel B. Nielson
President
Niel is President of Reach Advisory Partners, providing counsel to leaders of Christian organizations of all kinds, including ministries, educational institutions, and churches.
With four decades of experience in financial markets and the corporate sector; local church leadership as pastor and elder; ten years as president of a Christian college; and board leadership in a wide range of for-profit and not-for-profit contexts — Niel is uniquely qualified to help to guide organizations into the next stage of operations and growth, in fulfillment of their missions.
Niel’s professional and ministry roles have included:
– Professor of philosophy at Bethel University (St. Paul, MN);
– Derivative products trader, portfolio manager, and HR senior executive with Chicago Research and Trading Group (Chicago/New York, European, and Asian financial exchanges);
– Managing director of JV Dialog (Russian-American joint venture);
– Senior executive in mergers and acquisitions with Servicemaster (Downers Grove, IL);
– Associate pastor of College Church in Wheaton (IL);
– President of Covenant College (Lookout Mountain, GA);
– Board of trustees of Maclellan Family Foundation (Chattanooga, TN);
– Board of directors of Covenant Transport (publicly-traded transport/trucking company, Chattanooga, TN);
– Founder and CEO of Dew Learning and Servant Interactive (educational technology companies);
– Boards of directors of 150+ publicly-traded investment funds in the First Trust family of funds;
– Board of directors of Crossway Books and Bibles (Christian publishing company, Wheaton, IL);
– Managing director of Light and Hope Educational Foundation (55 Christian schools, 3 university campuses, and 43,000+ total students throughout Indonesia);
– Board of directors of Siloam Hospitals (publicly-traded hospital group with 40+ hospitals throughout Indonesia);
– Boards of directors of Matahari Department Stores and Matahari Putra Prima (publicly-traded retail groups, with 300+ stores throughout Indonesia);
– Founding elder of Karawaci Presbyterian Church (PCA church in Jakarta, Indonesia, with church network throughout Indonesia).
Niel was born in Dallas, Texas, USA, and attended Wheaton College (B.A., Philosophy), where he played on the tennis team and sang in the Men’s Glee Club, and Vanderbilt University (M.A., Ph.D., Philosophy).
Niel has been married for 43 years to Kathleen (www.KathleenNielson.com), and they have 3 married sons (2 in the Wheaton area and 1 in Indonesia), and 7 granddaughters. Niel and Kathleen attend Christ Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Roselle, IL.