His Grace Bishop NICHOLAS
Bishop of the Antiochian Diocese of Miami and the Southeast
Bishop Nicholas was born in Damascus, Syria, in January 1963 to an Antiochian Orthodox family. He attended the French Lycée Laïque elementary and middle school, and the Omia High School. For the first 18 years of his life, he attended the Antiochian Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary in Damascus. Bishop Nicholas worked for nearly 20 years as a Computer Engineer at several companies in the Electronics Design Automation industry, such as ViewLogic Systems and Synopsys Co. Bishop Nicholas was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by His Eminence Metropolitan Philip on April 23, 2004, and to the Holy Priesthood by His Grace Bishop Antoun on January 9, 2005. He was consecrated to the bishopric as the Bishop of Brooklyn on December 11, 2011.
Fr. Hans Jacobse
Spiritual Advisor
Fr. Hans is a native of Holland and has been a priest for almost 30 years serving various parishes and positions. His received his BA in History from the University of Minnesota, an M.Div from St. Vladimir’s Seminary and studied the Greek Language at Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, Greece. He serves St. Peter the Apostle Orthodox Mission in Bonita Springs, FL. He is married with one daughter.
Michael Baclig
President
Michael Baclig is a sales account executive, with over 20 years of experience in sales and account management. Michael earned his Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration from the Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. He is also the Parish Council Chairman at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in Springdale, AR and President of the Antiochian Men Chapter at that church. Michael has been an Orthodox Christian all his life. His father, Fr. Timothy Baclig, is the pastor at St. Michael Antiochian Orthodox Church in Van Nuys, CA. Michael is married to Elizabeth Baclig and he has 3 children, Andrew (age 14), James, (age 11), and Katherine (age 10).
Randall Werre
Vice President
Randall is originally from North Dakota where he was born and raised. He practiced law in Florida for 35 years and his focus was on Dependency Law that dealt with children who had suffered through abuse. Randall received his BA and JD from the University of North Dakota. He is now retired and living in Pensacola, FL, where he is member of St. Andrew Antiochian Orthodox Church. Randall has been married to Betsy Werre for over 45 years and has 2 children and 1 grandchild.
Elias AbuGhazaleh
Treasurer
Elias AbuGhazaleh is a technology professional (software/hardware/security). Elias earned his Bachelors of Science degree in Computer Science from California Lutheran University. He is also the DOMSE DMC Treasurer, as well as serves on the Camp St. Thekla finance committee, manages the DOMSE Facebook page as well as DOMSE communications. Elias is married to Kimberlee AbuGhazaleh and has 2 children (twins), Jessica and Samantha (age 24) and attends Holy Cross Orthodox Church in Ormond Beach, FL.
Burt Noyes
Secretary
Burt Noyes and his wife Tabatha are members of Holy Cross Orthodox Church in Ormond Beach, FL. Burt has spent most of his adult life in the marine trades, making custom canvas products and upholstery for every size of boat. Raised a Jehovah’s Witness, he left the cult in 1998 and started a long migration towards the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Burt has six children and seven grandchildren and serves on the parish council at Holy Cross.
Bryce Kirk
Social Media Director
Bryce Kirk is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in History/Political Science. He is now a graduate student at the University of Arkansas where he studies Sociology/Criminology. A convert to Orthodox Christianity, Bryce was tonsured a reader by His Grace Bishop NICHOLAS in April 2019 at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in Springdale, Arkansas. He serves on the Parish Council at St. Nicholas Church as the Youth Director at the parish and is responsible for leading the local Teen SOYO and YAF Chapters. He is also the President of Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) at the University of Arkansas.
