Our People

David Miclash, Program Founder

David has a background managing large accounting and administration offices as a government accountant and development auditor. He founded an International Development Consulting Agency, managed Canadian International Development Agency projects abroad and is the founding Director of Alongside International. David's vision is to mobilize and facilitate unique opportunities to engage Canadians in demonstrating hands-on love to support “select” indigenous Christian ministries by strategically bringing help, healing and hope to those in need. David has led over 60 projects teams to many countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, Caribbean, Central and South America. He believes everyone has gifts and skills that can make positive, life-changing differences in people’s lives, thus making the world a better place to live.

Linda Miclash, Sponsorship Director

Linda's passion is for the women and children she meets throughout the world. She is creative in preparing people to use their individual gifts and skills in outreach programs with children, youth and women. Sharing and coordinating the opportunity for a unique relationship with a special boy or girl through sponsorship is close to her heart. She also oversees many details of Alongside's projects.

Dr. Bill Thompson, Medical Director

Dr. Bill Thompson is a well known, highly respected Assistant Professor of Medicine at Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS. He provides medical leadership to team members and performs hands-on medical outreach for suffering people in remote villages and urban clinics.

Dr. Bill is a mature leader who entertains by playing his guitar and performing many hilarious comical presentations. Dr. Thompson believes that God has a different job for him to do on each outreach trip that involves more than medicine.

Ted Dutaud, Engineering Director

Ted has a Bachelor of Engineering (Mech) degree from McGill University, and a post graduate diploma in Business Management. He has worked as an Engineering Manager for several corporations and as principal of Dutaud Design Associates. He is semi-retired.

Ted has been on many mission trips to Africa and the Caribbean, and has served as a church board member and Assistant Scout Master. Ted is married with two boys and one grandchild.

Iain Sommerville, Education Director

Iain holds a Ph.D. in Metallurgy and has taught at University of Strathclyde and University of Toronto, written extensively and presented at numerous international conferences in the area of metallurgy. Saved at the age of seven, and baptized at fourteen, he has spent his life serving in various church ministries and, along with his wife, acted as Secretary for Scotland for the Emmaus Bible School Correspondence Courses. His passion now is to reach out to those in the developing world by providing them with education, clean water and medical services, and hence to lead them to understand that their real need is for the living water and eternal life that only Christ can provide.

Tom Newell, Ministry Director

Tom works for the Ontario Public Service in the Kenora Jail as a Chaplain. In this capacity, he has seen many prisoners free in ways they never expected! Tom's love for God and for people has also been expressed through service as a pastor at Bramalea Baptist Church and as an evangelist with the Billy Graham Association and Luis Palau.

His initial education was in avionics, and he enjoyed operational experience with the Canadian Space Agency when working for Spar Aerospace. Tom is also an accomplished photographer and has taken hundreds of images of the people he has served on Alongside teams in Africa.

Arlene Nagy, Volunteers Director

Arlene has a varied background which includes volunteer participation in church programs, the public school system and many years of community service dedication. She is a proud mother of three children who applies her human resource, and business leaderships skills in the entrepreneurial environment. She is committed to reaching out and helping those who are without the basic human needs and opportunities that most of us Canadians take for granted.

Shawna Hart, Music Director

Shawna has been performing music since the age of two, guided by her father, a multi- Juno Award winner. She is a graduate of the world renowed Humber College music program, provides private vocal and piano instruction and travels with the band, The Penny Merchants.

Shawna has acted as the music leader on several Alongside outreach trips, including Zambia where she organized former street boys into a performing choir. She is now organizing the collection of musical instruments to further provide hope and healing for disadvantaged children through music. Shawna says, "Music, like love is a universal language. It changes lives. What a blessing it is to be a part of this."

Laura Cranna, Medical Coordinator

Laura is a Registered Nurse working for Saint Elizabeth Health Care in London, Ontario. She has been involved in a variety of off-shore projects in Burkina Faso and Nigeria. Her extensive involvement in volunteer work both locally and internationally makes her a valuable asset to the Alongside team.

Laura was called into medical field after seeing the desperation in lives of people in developing countries, especially on the African continent. She is in the process of pursuing a future in international outreaches in order to use her knowledge, skills and the special gifts that God has provided to bring hands-on help, healing and hope to those in need.

Anna Visscher, Medical Co-oordinator

Anna has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of Western Ontario (UWO), and is currently employed in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at Toronto General Hospital. she has been engaged in volunteer leadership, particularly working in youth ministries mentoring teen age girls.

Anna has a desire to use her nursing skills to demonstrate love to needy rural people in Africa. Since becoming a nurse, she has participated in medical outreach clinics in rural villages and has since mobilized and led a team of medical personnel to provide medical care to rural people who are in desperate need of medical attention.