Qualifications and Experience:

Mary is an immigration attorney, and practices in Omaha, Nebraska. She received both her Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Creighton University. During law school her studies focused on International Law, including Int’l Human Rights Law, Int’l Criminal Law, and National Security and Foreign Relations. Additionally, she served on the Int’l Moot Court Board and was the President of the Environmental Law Society.

Kristy C., CPA
Masters of Business Taxation
Board Treasurer

Qualifications and Experience:

Kristy earned her BA in Economics, cum laude, from UCLA and her Masters in Business Taxation, with honors, from The George Washington Institute of Law. She is the Executive Director of The Forth Street Clinic, which serves the homeless in Salt Lake City, Utah. Kristy has served as Director of Affiliate Financial Consulting for Planned Parenthood of America as well as CFO for Planned Parenthood of Utah. From time to time she instructs classes for the University of Utah's Academy for Non Profit Excellence. She is the proud mother of twin young ladies and a precocious youngster. Kristy enjoys running, yoga, and a good book.

Beth is an Internist practicing in Omaha, Nebraska. She has a special interest in Women's Health Issues and Preventive Medicine. Beth received her MD from the University of Nebraska Medical Center where she also completed her Internal Medicine Residency. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Creighton University. Beth loves her family, her patients, reading and knitting.

Qualifications and Experience:

Halima was born in Somalia and spent many years in Kenya as a refugee. She is currently an Eligibility Specialist with the State of Utah in Salt Lake City and helps new refugees access public assistance. Prior to that, she worked with Planned Parenthood of Utah as Administrative Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer. She is passionate about women empowerment and children well being. Additionally, she currently serves as a member of the Reproductive Health for Refugees committee.

Barbara is a Professor Emeritus with the University of Utah where she retired as an adjunct professor of photography. She remains active as a freelance photographer. Barbara has had numerous exhibits and been published in various publications. She joined OFDC's board because, "I prefer a smaller organization like OFDC where funds are not lost on administrative expenses and overhead. The projects of OFDC are selective and doable. We can't help everyone who is in need, but those supported by OFDC are a step in that direction."

Boyd T., PE/CSE
Board Member
Special Projects

Boyd is a licensed structural engineer who has traveled to developing countries to offer his expertise toward improving infrastructure. This includes the access and distribution of fossil fuels, potable water projects and structural engineering for bridges. Boyd has climbed Mt. Kenya!

Scott F., MBA
Advisory Board Member

Qualifications and Experience:

Scott received his MBA from West Minister College in Salt Lake City. He works as a Staff Accountant for the SEC and its litagation/prosecution staff, investigating volations of federal security laws. Scott recently took unpaid leave from the SEC to work as Resident Investigator for the UN, assigned to the Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)Peacekeeping Mission. He served as secretary/treasurer and board chair of the North Tooele County First Protection District as well as volunteer EMT/Firefighter. Scott joins the OFDC board as he feels, "sustained change in Africa starts at the village level...OFDC produces tangible results with lasting, positive consequences."

Katie is the Director of Information Technology at Mosaic; a not-for-profit that provides services to people with developmental disabilities. Katie holds a bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and received her Masters of Business Administration from Baker College. She loves to read, garden and cook. Being the mother of two small boys, Katie never has a dull moment.

Qualifications and Experience:

Simon is proud of his Maasai culture. He was raised in a manyatta (traditional mud and cow dung hut of the Maasai), had two mothers and 14 siblings. Since Simon is a male, his father sent him to school. Simon worked and saved money so he could attend teacher's college. Simon taught at Talek Primary located on the Maasai Mara. He was also Headmaster for several years before joining Friends of Conservation (FOC) as programs director and later worked for a tree conservancy organization. Currently Simon is Executive Director of Koiyaki Guiding School, a European Union funded NGO that trains Maasai to be tourist guides. OFDC's founder has worked with Simon for almost 20 years.

Qualifications and Experience:

Gonzalo, a Latin American entrepreneur and minority advocate, is the CEO of Centro de la Familia de Utah, an agency of Latino professional managing outreach programs for children and underserved families. He holds an economics degree from Utah State University and an MBA from Thunderbird, School of International Management. He has chaired the education committee of the Governor's Hispanic Advisory Counsil in support of initiatives to address the achievement gap of minority students. He served as the founding chair of the Pete Suazo Business Center where he now coaches and lectures emerging Latino entrepreneurs.

Qualifications and Experience:

As a young girl, Nia dreamed of planting corn in Africa to feed starving children. As an adult she learned about Mohammad Yunus and microcredit (small loans to women), followed her dream and founded the Opportunity Fund for Developing Countries (OFDC). Initially, believing she could "save the world" she established programs in Bolivia, Guatemala, Nepal, Malawi and Kenya. Now more realistic and with volunteer power, OFDC focuses on Kenya - little ripples, making big waves.

Nia was born with a love for indigenous people and stays with them in their remote, rural villages when making her yearly site visits to Kenya. These visits are to ensure your donation is being used as reported and to meet with new communities requesting assistance to a better life - both sides of the ocean learning from each other.

Michele McR.
Bookkeeper

Qualifications and Experience:

Michele was born in Indonesia to a French mom and a State Department dad. She's lived in Japan, Thailand, and Cambodia and spent her youthful summers in France. She helped run her family's flower business in Washington, DC. and subsequently freelanced her graphic design and illustration business before settling down to raise her family in Salt Lake City, Utah, the most exotic place she has ever lived. Michele holds a BFA in fine arts and graphic design.