Dan and Debbie Shoemaker

Having grown up in Haiti as a missionary kid and then spending 25 years living in Haiti, Dan has a unique understanding of the needs of the Haitian churches, communities, and schools.  As a co-founder of RMI in 1988 and VP/Field Leader of RMI for 17 years, Dan has been able to bring vision and leadership to RMI as it has grown. Since becoming President in 2006, he has had the opportunity to continue this vision by seeing new programs and initiatives brought to RMI’s fields.  RMI’s tagline of seeing lives (both US and Haitian) transformed in Christ and providing hope for their future has been a driving force for him and his team.  In addition to leading RMI, in 2020 he co-founded the United American Chamber of Commerce of Southwest FL.   He received his Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Columbia International University in 2022.  He and his wife, Debbie, have two adult children and five grandchildren. Their son, daughter-in-law and 2 grandchildren live in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  Their daughter and her husband are missionaries with RMI and live in Santiago, Dominican Republic.  They minister to Haitians and Dominicans through RMI’s Ezra Institute School of Leadership.  Although Dan grew up riding enduro motorcycles in Haiti and used that mode of transportation all during his service in Haiti, he fulfilled his dream of getting his US motorcycle license and enjoys riding his 2005 Kawasaki 1600 Vulcan Nomad with the motorcycle club from his church.  He also enjoys reading and cooking.  He recently took up kayaking and enjoys paddling around the backwaters of Southwest Florida. 

As Director of Communications, Debbie is responsible for all of RMI’s publications, brochures, displays and branding.  She also supervises RMI social media activities.  She writes, edits and designs RMI’s products.  Being a TCK (Third Culture Kid – her parents were missionaries with Child Evangelism Fellowship, pioneering CEF’s ministry on US military bases in Germany) helped her transition into being a missionary wife to Dan in Haiti.  During their 25 years in Haiti they raised 2 TCKs of their own.  Their son, daughter-in-law and 2 grandchildren live in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  Their daughter and her husband are missionaries with RMI and live in Santiago, Dominican Republic.  They minister to Haitians and Dominicans through RMI’s Ezra Institute School of Leadership.  She enjoys jewelry making, crafting, gardening, her cats, and time with family.  One of her most favorite thing about living in the US (after 25 years in the tropics) is the fact that the entire house has air conditioning, making living life at home so much more enjoyable.