ABOUT
The Ron Blue Institute seeks to be a thought leader with great influence committed to changing the way Christians think, act, and communicate about financial stewardship, empowering the church, and changing the world. The Ron Blue Institute delivers biblically-based financial wisdom to the body of Christ by providing thought leadership and content through church, professional, consumer, and academic channels. At the Ron Blue Institute, we see a tremendous opportunity to use biblical financial wisdom to reveal to a skeptical and unbelieving world that God’s word is relevant at all times for all financial planning and decision making by providing supernatural wisdom for the process, timeless and transcendent principles for the decisions, and contentment at all times under all circumstances. Our model is teaching principles and processes (how to fish), instead of prescriptions (giving them a fish). We know that the wisdom in the Bible is always right, always relevant, and never going to change.
RBI TEAM
Ron Blue
Founder and Ambassador
Ron Blue is the founder of the Ron Blue Institute. He has also been the…
Read MoreRon Blue
Founder and Ambassador
Ron Blue is the founder of the Ron Blue Institute. He has also been the founder and co-founder of several organizations to include Ronald Blue and Company. That firm now Blue Trust, grew to advise on over $59 Billion in assets for its more than 10,000 clients nationwide with a staff of over 400 people in 17 offices across the country; Kingdom Advisors (KA), a ministry that trains Christian financial professionals to integrate biblical wisdom into their client advice; and the National Christian Foundation (NCF), a ministry that helps generous people create a biblically principled strategy that empowers Christians to be more faithful, generous, and full alive. Ron is the author of more than twenty books on personal finance from a Biblical perspective. The Ron Blue Institute (RBI) serves Christian universities, churches, high schools, and financial professionals nationally and globally. RBI is dedicated to multiplying Ron’s decades of professional experience and intellectual property through publications, curriculum development, courses, and consultation in multiple outlets worldwide. Ron and his wife Judy have been married fifty-eight years. They have five adult children, thirteen grandchildren, and four great grandchildren and live in Bloomington, Indiana.
Russ Gunsalus
Chief Executive Officer
Russ Gunsalus serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Ron Blue Institute. He brings years…
Read MoreRuss Gunsalus
Chief Executive Officer
Russ Gunsalus serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Ron Blue Institute. He brings years of experience in Christian higher education and denominational leadership to this role. Russ previously served as the Executive Director for Education and Clergy Development for The Wesleyan Church and as an associate professor and Chair of Graduate Studies in Ministry at Indiana Wesleyan University. Russ led financial well-being initiatives for pastors and lay leaders across the country and was also the co-creator and founding COO of Wesley Seminary. Russ and his wife Erica live in Marion, IN.
Larry Lindsay
Chief Academic and Operating Officer
Dr. Larry Lindsay serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the Ron Blue Institute. He…
Read MoreLarry Lindsay
Chief Academic and Operating Officer
Dr. Larry Lindsay serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the Ron Blue Institute. He previously served as Interim Provost and Chief Academic Officer and Chief of Staff for the Office of the President at Indiana Wesleyan University. Larry was the Founding Dean for the School of Health Sciences and the Founding Chairman of the Doctoral Program in Organizational Leadership at the University. He has served as a professor of leadership in the School Leadership, MBA, and Doctor of Organizational Leadership programs. He was the Director of Graduate Studies in Education from 1995-1998, facilitating the instructional design of the Master in Education in Curricular and Instructional Leadership. He also led the development of and chaired the School Leadership Program - Principal Licensure Preparation from 1998 through 2003.
Phil Gelatt
Vice President of Educational Programs
Dr. Phil Gelatt is the Vice President of Educational Programs for the Ron Blue Institute.…
Read MorePhil Gelatt
Vice President of Educational Programs
Dr. Phil Gelatt is the Vice President of Educational Programs for the Ron Blue Institute. He received his undergraduate degree at Clark Summit University, his Master’s from Grace Theological Seminary, and his doctorate in Organizational Leadership at Indiana Wesleyan University. Phil brings over 40 years of Christian education experience as a teacher, coach, principal and school head. He is passionate for Christian education and has experience and expertise in the areas of discipleship, student development, dual enrollment programming, mission statement creation and development, school culture, and life calling and leadership. Phil and his wife, Carol Elise, live in the Indianapolis area.
Shane Whybrew
Vice President of Financial Wisdom Network
Shane Whybrew is the Vice President of the Financial Wisdom Network at the Ron Blue…
Read MoreShane Whybrew
Vice President of Financial Wisdom Network
Shane Whybrew is the Vice President of the Financial Wisdom Network at the Ron Blue Institute. With over three decades of ministry within a context of stewardship and generosity, Shane knows that life’s greatest fulfillment is helping others discover the joy and reward of learning what the Bible says about money and possessions. Shane has served in a variety of roles (from practitioner of fundraising to consultant and pastor). Each role focused on helping others learn and grow in their understanding of biblical financial wisdom. Shane has been married almost thirty years to his wife Kris and blessed with three children (Sadie, Lily, and Kaleb), and one grandchild. In his free time, Shane is at home in the kitchen or around a flat-top griddle or meat-smoker. He loves good coffee and often bring my own coffee to coffee shops when attending a meeting.
Laura Matney
Director of Operations and Project Management
Laura serves as the Director of Operations and Project Management for the Ron Blue Institute.…
Read MoreLaura Matney
Director of Operations and Project Management
Laura serves as the Director of Operations and Project Management for the Ron Blue Institute. Previously serving in leadership and management roles at The Wesleyan Church, Triangle Publishing, and Indiana Wesleyan University, Laura brings over 35 years of experience in operations, manufacturing, inventory management, and marketing. She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Indiana Wesleyan University. Laura has a passion for optimizing processes and enhancing efficiencies through her attention to detail and problem-solving skills. Laura and her husband Bart, married almost 40 years, live in Summitville, Indiana and have two adult children, Garrett and Abigail.
Michael Blue
Director of Discipleship
Michael Blue serves as the Director of Discipleship. He previously served as President and General…
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Director of Discipleship
Michael Blue serves as the Director of Discipleship. He previously served as President and General Counsel for the Ron Blue Institute. Prior to his role with the Ron Blue Institute Michael practiced for ten years as an attorney focusing on business and securities law, real estate acquisition, development and leasing, and estate planning. Michael earned his law degree from Baylor University, where he graduated summa cum laude. Prior to his career as an attorney, Michael worked as a financial planner for Ronald Blue & Co. where he earned his CFP® designation in 2002. Michael has a Master's degree in theological studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a B.B.A. in finance from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas.
Nathan Burk
Operations Coordinator
Nathan Burk serves as the Operations Coordinator for the Ron Blue Institute. Nathan graduated from…
Read MoreNathan Burk
Operations Coordinator
Nathan Burk serves as the Operations Coordinator for the Ron Blue Institute. Nathan graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. During his time at Indiana Wesleyan, Nate served as a Peer Financial Coach, which provided a natural transition for him to join the RBI team. Nathan is currently pursuing his CFP® and CKA® designations and has a passion for biblical financial wisdom. Nathan and his wife Kristy live in Marion, IN and attend Harvest Bible Chapel. They enjoy reading, playing games, and all things outdoors.
Dawn Kulaga
Administrative Assistant
Dawn Kulaga is currently the administrative assistant of the Ron Blue Institute. Dawn served in…
Read MoreDawn Kulaga
Administrative Assistant
Dawn Kulaga is currently the administrative assistant of the Ron Blue Institute. Dawn served in the United States Air Force upon high school completion. Following her time in the U.S. Air Force, she served as an assistant to Financial Advisors for 11 years, which makes her uniquely qualified for her work with the RBI team. Dawn moved back to Indiana in 2018 after living in the Seattle, WA area for 30 years. Dawn brings rich work-life as well as her excellent communicator and strong relational skills experience to RBI.