David S. Toronto: Dave is the youngest of the six children of Wallace and Martha Toronto. He was born in Prague about 8 months before the last missionaries and the Toronto Family were expelled by the communist government in early 1950. Dave retired from the National Weather Service after 30 years of service as a meteorologist (forecaster), regional and local program manager, and office supervisor. He received a B. S. degree in Meteorology as well as a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Utah. Dave and his wife Allison have 5 children and 16 grandchildren. Dave and Allison have been on two LDS missions together since Dave’s retirement.

Lisa Bergantz:  Lisa Bergantz graduated in Molecular Biology with a Chemistry minor from Brigham Young University (‘93). As a wife and mother, she keeps her love of science active by sharing fun science activities with her children at home and in their school. Lisa spotlights these activities and other learning activities for children on her blog (http://SMMARTideas.blogspot.com) and as a contributor to a local Utah television program, “Good Things Utah.” Lisa served a mission for the LDS Church in the Czech and Slovak Republics and enjoys the arts, the outdoors, volunteering in her community and making Czech fruit dumplings for her husband and four children.

James McConkie III: James’s ties to the Czech Republic and Slovakia date back to his time as a young LDS missionary (1990–92). In the years since, he has lived, worked, served, and visited in both countries extensively. Most recently, James served as the President of the Czech Slovak Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2013-2016.  James, his wife Laurel and their four children (Evie, Wilson, Hyrum and George) enjoyed a remarkable three years at the mission home in Prague.  They are particularly grateful for the kindness shown them by the people they met as they worked and traveled throughout the beautiful Czech and Slovak Republics.  James currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he practices law at the Utah-based firm of Workman Nydegger.

Ryan Mecham:  Ryan Mecham serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Powerblanket, a leader in heat-transfer solutions for engineering and manufacturing. He spends his time finding and solving painful problems for his customers. Ryan and his dear wife Heather are the proud parents of two daughters, Ariel and Rachel. Ryan lived in the former Czechoslovakia for nearly two years in the early 1990s and has since returned many times to the Czech and Slovak Republics with the Wallace Toronto Foundation.

Hana Šnajdarová: Hana Šnajdarová was born in Slovakia and is now living in the region of Moravia in the Czech Republic with her husband. She graduated in marketing and management from Tomas Bata University in 2011. She is now working as the marketing specialist for a local company which deals in the trade of building supplies. Hana enjoys working with youth and children through her involvement in the Girl Scouts program and her callings at church. In her free time, Hana enjoys working on creative projects and spending time with her family and friends. She enjoys being out in nature, gardening, playing the piano and dancing.

Jonathon Tichy: Jonathon Tichy spent six years living in the Czech Republic and Slovakia in various business, legal and governmental capacities. He served a mission under President Winder in the early 1990s. He is certified fluent in the Slovak and Czech languages. In the late 1990s he worked for the United States Department of State as a political officer and analyst at the United States Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic. He was named the Honorary Czech Consul of Salt Lake City in 2010. Jonathon is married to a beautiful Slovakian, and they have two children. He works as an attorney for the Salt Lake City law firm Prince Yeates.