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Leadership Team

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Bob Burckle

President

Bob Burckle is President of Eastern European Mission and also has served on the EEM Board over 20 years. He spent years working as an Electrical Engineer with a Bachelor and Master’s degree from the University of Louisville. While working in the industry, he earned his MBA in Marketing and Finance from the University of North Texas. Bob’s work in small and large technology companies has allowed him to apply best business practices to the operations at EEM. He has traveled extensively in different countries as part of his responsibilities as a missions chairman, deacon, and elder at various churches. He has been married for over 40 years to his wife, Joan. They have two adult daughters, Lauren and Brittany, and two granddaughters, Harper and Madison. Bob is humbled to know that he and his colleagues have been chosen and are privileged to spread God’s Word throughout Eastern Europe.

Dirk Smith

Vice President

Dirk’s responsibilities consist of the oversight of fundraising and marketing and assisting with US operations. Dirk joined EEM following his highly successful tenure as a development officer with his alma mater, Harding University. An accomplished manager, he earned experience in business development with an eye for revenue building through positions with firms like Jackson & Coker in Dallas, TX and T. Williams Consulting serving clients in PA, NJ and NY. He holds a BA in Mathematics and an MBA with a focus on Organizational Development and Ethics. Dirk was married to his beautiful, spirit-filled wife Wendy for 34 years. Wendy battled ALS for 4 years and went to her perfect rest on January 9, 2023. Dirk resides in the greater Nashville area and is Dad to three adult children, Taryn, Tyler and Trevor. Dirk is an experienced presenter and storyteller and loves sharing the stories of what God is doing through the ministry of EEM.

Bart Rybinski

Vice President of European Operations

Bart is a native of Warsaw, Poland, and has been serving with EEM as the Vice-President for European Operations since 2007. He currently works out of the EEM office in Vienna, Austria. He read the Bible for the first time at the age of 17, when he was an exchange student with a Christian host family in Oxford, OH. He became a Christian in 1995 and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management in 1997 in Warsaw. During his studies, he worked as a project manager in the budding IT industry in Poland. Through many experiences, God led him to Oklahoma Christian University, where he earned Bachelor’s degrees in Biblical Studies and Marketing and a Master’s degree in Ministry. During that time, he served as the Single Adults Minister at Memorial Road Church of Christ in Edmond, OK and was involved in short-term mission work in Europe and Central America. Bart is married to Tamika Rybinski, and together they have three children. Bart enjoys skiing, hiking, traveling, and spending time with his family.