WELS Church Extension Fund Staff
The Board of Directors appoints our officers to oversee the day-to-day operations of WELS Church Extension Fund.
Mr. Roser has served as the Executive Director of WELS Church Extension Fund since July 2024. He brings a wealth of experience in finance and church extension work, having previously served as Loan Portfolio Manager from July 2023 to June 2024 and Loan Servicing Manager from January 2016 to June 2023. Before joining WELS Church Extension Fund in 2016, he worked as a home equity mortgage underwriter at JP Morgan Chase Bank from 2011 to 2015. From 2004 to 2010, Mr. Roser was the Executive Administrator for the Lutheran Association for Church Extension, Inc. (LACE). His banking experience also includes management roles in client relations, consumer lending, and loss mitigation. Mr. Roser holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Mr. Westphal has been with WELS since June 2024, serving as the Loan Officer for WELS Church Extension Fund. Prior to this role, he worked in the residential mortgage lending industry, holding positions as a retail division manager, branch manager, and loan originator since 2009, most recently with Bank of England Mortgage. Before that, he served as Director of Operations for a local mortgage banking company from 2004 to 2009, where his responsibilities included sales and staff management, vendor relationship management, portfolio lending, and underwriting. Mr. Westphal is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance.
Ms. Gittel has been with WELS since 1986 and joined the WELS Church Extension Fund team in 2009. She provides service on all existing loans from the time of loan origination all the way up to the day the loan eventually is paid in full when she will prepare the loan for satisfaction. If you have any questions about an existing Church Extension Fund loan, Ms. Gittel is happy to assist.
Ms. Wagner has been with WELS Church Extension Fund since 2016, currently serving as the Investment Officer. In the past, she also worked with new loans and loan renewals. From 1991 to 2000, Ms. Wagner held the position of Investment Specialist at WELS Church Extension Funds. Prior to returning WELS Church Extension Funds, she worked at Heritage Title Company from 2011 to 2016. Her previous banking experience includes various roles at Tri City National Bank, North Shore Bank, and Landmark Credit Union. If you have questions about WELS Church Extension Fund investments, Ms. Wagner is happy to assist.
HOW TO INVEST
Learn about investing with the WELS Church Extension Fund.
LOAN PROGRAMS
Mission congregations can seek mortgage loans and grants through WELS CEF.