DESIGN OUTREACH - Key Persons
Abe Wright's work has contributed to many innovations, and he is named as an inventor on 29 granted U.S. patents. For his efforts and contributions, Abe was chosen to receive the first-ever DePuy Synthes Never Stop Moving® award in 2011. As Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Abe leads DO's research and development efforts and new technology initiatives. Abe holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Messiah College and a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Denver. Abe and his wife, Lisa, live in Columbus, Ohio, with their three children. They are actively involved in their church and desire to show God's love to a hurting world. They enjoy all things outdoors and can often be found working in their garden or hiking in the woods.
Job Titles:
- Director
- More about Dean / Dean Jessup
Bradley Bryant, CPA, manages financial statement assurance and consulting engagements within the manufacturing, distribution, and construction industries for Plante Moran, the 13th largest certified public accounting and business advisory firm in the U.S. He has more than 10 years of experience providing financial services to public and privately held companies of various sizes and industries. Bradley started working with Design Outreach in 2012 and has helped set up the organization's treasury and accounting operations. Bradley desires to further the Design Outreach mission while helping to bring LifePump to as many people as possible. Bradley, his wife Erin, and their three children enjoy spending time with family, playing sports, being outdoors, and traveling to the Outer Banks.
Bryan Clay has nearly 30 years of experience in finance and accounting. Having retired from Honda in 2021 where he served in the Accounting/Finance Department, Bryan spent most of his career in supplier risk management, working with cross-functional legal and purchasing teams in the intervention and restructuring of financially distressed suppliers. He received his bachelor's degree in accounting from Mt. Vernon Nazarene University and an MBA from Ashland University. Bryan and his wife, Tracie, live in Gahanna, Ohio, where they raised their two children. They attend a local church, and Bryan volunteers at the 254 Youth Center. Bryan enjoys hiking. traveling, cycling, and golfing.
Job Titles:
- Database Coordinator
- Stewardship Database Coordinator
Cate Richter is the Stewardship Database Coordinator for Design Outreach. She developed a passion for international ministry in developing countries when she was 11 years old on her first mission trip to Haiti. During her time there, she saw firsthand how meeting the physical needs of a community has the power to open the door to spiritual conversations and transformation. An Ohio native, Cate earned her bachelor's degree in English with a minor in intercultural studies from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. She is excited to see how God will continue to use Design Outreach to build His Kingdom through meeting people's physical needs.
As DO Technician, Chad Benninger lends his creative skills to the testing and prototyping of new technologies in the industries of water access, sanitation, and healthcare while assisting in the fabrication of mechanical components using computer numerical control (CNC) mills and lathes. Chad holds a bachelor's degree in industrial and innovative design from Cedarville University. He is thankful to be part of Design Outreach's mission to bring physical and spiritual healing to the world and to work close to home in the town he dearly loves.
Job Titles:
- Technical Manager
- WASH Technical Manager
Chizela Moonga first learned about Design Outreach during a LifePump training workshop in 2018 where he became persuaded that LifePump is the best technology to date for providing access to groundwater. Chizela is now the WASH Technical Manager for the Zambia Field Office. He received a bachelor's degree in development studies from Zambia Open University and a diploma in water engineering from the University of Zambia's Natural Resources Development College. He spent 11 years working with the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation, both as a decision maker and hands on in the field. Chizela believes that providing water to needy communities helps them to see the love and care of Christ. He loves spending time with his wife Blessings and his three children.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of Environmental Compliance for Moving Water Industries
Danielle Londeree, P.E., is Director of Environmental Compliance for Moving Water Industries (MWI), a family-owned business that she helps operate with her two brothers. Having grown up in a family business manufacturing water pumps for various applications around the world, Danielle understands the importance of reliable water technology. She is thrilled to be able to combine her extensive experience in pump technology with her passion for solving the challenges communities face in the developing world. Danielle holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering, a Masters of Engineering in Potable Water Systems Design, and a Masters of Theology in Biblical Studies. Danielle has published a women's Bible study, and she enjoys homeschooling her five children, being outdoors, gardening, raising chickens and rabbits, and reading books by Jane Austen.
Job Titles:
- Director
- More about Dean / Dean Jessup
Dean Jessup is currently retired from daily operations of an animal agriculture products development company, Agrarian Solutions, but remains President of the Board. In retirement, he has had the opportunity to become deeply involved with mission efforts. Some earlier mission work was connected to a boy's school in Honduras, El Sembrador, which operates a farm in support of the school. It was on a trip to Honduras that his wife, Jan, encountered a rural family that had no water source. This opened their eyes to the global problem of access to clean water. Shortly after, they were introduced to Design Outreach, which provided an opportunity to give back and help in alleviating this global problem.
Job Titles:
- Technician
- LifePump Technician
Dickson Wandawanda has been working in borehole drilling for over 20 years-15 years with Waterboring Contractors, 8 years with World Vision, and now Design Outreach. Dickson is passionate about being part of a ministry that creates sustainable and long-lasting technologies that address the world's most pressing challenges in various fields. While serving as a Malawi Field Office LifePump Technician, Dickson is also studying irrigation technology at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Dickson is married to Rhoda and has three children.
Dr. Beatrice Chisenga, a native Malawian, earned her Ph.D. with research in micro-insurance for hand pump sustainability in her home country. Dr. Chisenga has 12-plus years of experience working in managerial positions and providing technical support in international development projects in Malawi including Safe Motherhood, Save the Children, and CARE International. Dr. Chisenga serves as Regional Director working to support community development efforts, lead advocacy work, and develop supply chain infrastructure and distribution systems in Malawi, Zambia, and beyond.
Greg Bixler, Ph.D., P.E., is Co-founder and CEO of Design Outreach. Dr. Bixler started his mechanical engineering career at Battelle where he worked with interdisciplinary teams of engineers involved in a variety of R&D programs. He came up with the idea for Design Outreach in 2007 after seeing extreme poverty up close and personal in Central Asia and realizing that he could help alleviate suffering using his engineering skills. In 2010, Design Outreach was born. Greg's endeavors have led him to 26 countries where he has witnessed the need for appropriate technology firsthand. In addition to serving on the leadership team of Design Outreach, Greg also teaches an appropriate technology course at his alma mater, The Ohio State University. He and his wife are active in their church and have three kids.
Job Titles:
- Project Management Fellow
Greg retired in 2015 from Battelle and currently provides project management services to medical, consumer, and industrial markets through his consulting company, Project Management Excellence. He spent most of his career managing projects in medical product development, in systems ranging from cardiac ablation to optical cervical cancer detection. A mechanical engineer by training, Greg has also designed instrumented golf clubs, French fry vending machines, residential gas meters, and structural test equipment. Greg started working with Design Outreach in April 2020 and is currently the project manager for the LifeLatrine project, which seeks to improve rural, single-family sanitation. He is married to Eileen and has two grown children. He enjoys golfing, swimming, and bike riding.
Job Titles:
- Project Engineer
- Project Engineer II
Hannah Tilley is a Project Engineer II on the Design Outreach R&D team. With experience in medical device development and a passion for bringing the Gospel to the nations, Hannah is excited to use her expertise to help Design Outreach develop life-saving medical equipment for developing countries. Hannah earned a biomedical engineering degree from the University of Cincinnati, where she helped launch an international student ministry. She enjoys music, baking, and spending time with friends and family.
Job Titles:
- Technician
- LifePump Technician
Harry Mlauzi was first introduced to LifePump during an installation in Chitipa District, Malawi. He now serves as a LifePump Technician working out of the Malawi Field Office. Before joining DO, he worked for 32 years in the Ministry of Water and in the irrigation/sanitation industry. Harry also has many years of experience with borehole rehabilitation, borehole drilling, community mobilization, water point committee trainings, and much more.
Job Titles:
- Malawi Field Office Engineer
Jeremiah Ben Sakala is a Malawian national as well as a seasoned specialist in water supply and sanitation, with professional experience spanning over 16 years. He has worked in senior management positions both in government and international NGOs, such as World Vision International (Malawi and Rwanda) and Concern Universal. Jeremiah holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Malawi and a polytechnic and postgraduate certificate in International WASH from the University of Nevada-Reno/DRI, among other qualifications. He joined Design Outreach as Malawi Field Office Engineer to help with the monitoring, testing, and designing of DO technologies.
Josh Blankenship is a Project Engineer on the R&D team, with a specific focus on WASH (Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene) projects. This includes research, design, and testing of new products in the WASH sector, as well as working to improve current technologies in the field. He believes that Christ is glorified when we seek to love others by providing them with the highest-quality technologies. Josh is a graduate from The Ohio State University, with a B.S. in biological engineering. He enjoys most outdoor activities, playing board games, and a good bowl of mac ‘n' cheese. He also spends much of his free time as a volunteer Young Life leader.
Job Titles:
- Stewardship & Administrative Coordinator
Kari Cox is the Stewardship and Administrative Coordinator at Design Outreach. She earned her bachelor's degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and was born and raised in Gahanna, Ohio, home of the Design Outreach headquarters. In her free time, she serves as a youth leader at her church and enjoys reading and exploring unique places with friends and family. She is thankful to be a part of an organization that loves Jesus and is committed to using their God-given passions to serve the Lord.
Katelynn Martin holds a Bachelor of Science in journalism from Ohio University and has been working as a grant manager since 2014. She has worked for a variety of organizations including small local nonprofits, international organizations, and a large healthcare system. When she is not working for Design Outreach, she is spending time caring for her four children. She and her husband have two biological sons and, as foster parents, they usually also have two additional children as part of their family. It is her joy to work for an organization that does truly good work for an eternal purpose.
Job Titles:
- Medical Engineering Fellow
Mark recently retired from DePuy Synthes Joint Reconstruction, a Johnson & Johnson company, where he served as senior engineering fellow for the Knee Team. Mark has over 30 years of experience in orthopedic medical device research and development, including working with some of the original clinical pioneers in total knee replacement. He was the recipient of the Johnson Medal for the Attune total knee replacement system and is inventor/co-inventor on over 30 patents. Mark was part of the original LifePump design team and traveled to Central African Republic to install the first prototype pump. He has more recently been helping to lead the emerging DO Medical division to understand and appropriately address technology needs in developing nations.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager
- Stewardship Project Manager
Mary Hannah Bixler serves as Stewardship Project Manager and has been involved in Design Outreach from the beginning. Growing up as a missionary kid in Brazil and serving as a missionary in Central Asia uniquely prepared her for DO's ministry. Mary Hannah earned her bachelor's degree from Grace College and master's degree from Walden University. Her heart is to see all believers use their God-given skills and abilities to demonstrate the love of Jesus to the world. Mary Hannah loves to garden, read, and go for long hikes in new places.
Job Titles:
- R & D Partnerships Director
- the R & D Partnerships Director
Michael Cook is the R&D Partnerships Director, responsible for recruiting and mentoring DO volunteers and members of the Fellows program. He also leads design projects, trains DO staff and field partners on newly developed technologies, and shares DO's mission through speaking engagements and relationship building. Prior to joining Design Outreach, Michael worked in engineering for over 25 years, including 18-plus years in orthopedics, and is named on 24 patents. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering technology from Purdue University. When he's not working, Michael helps pastor a local congregation with support from his wife, Rebecca. They have two sons and one daughter-in-law and enjoy camping, playing games, and bicycling across the U.S. to raise awareness for clean water in Africa.
Job Titles:
- Principal Engineer
- Principal Engineer on the R & D Team
Naja Robinson is a Principal Engineer on the R&D team. She has an electrical engineering degree from Carnegie Mellon University and a master's degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Virginia. She spent 10 years at GE Healthcare designing medical imaging devices, including MRI & CT machines, and holds two patents in remote data monitoring. Naja is Six Sigma Black Belt certified and has extensive experience in project and team management. Prior to Design Outreach, Naja served as assistant pastor of women's ministry at Vineyard Columbus, where she was on staff for 6 years. Naja enjoys interior decorating, traveling, and spending time with her husband, Eric, and their three kids.
Randy Snyder first became involved with Design Outreach shortly after he and his wife Tess attended a presentation by Co-founders Greg Bixler and Abe Wright. They were inspired by DO's humanitarian and Gospel-centered mission and were eager to support the ministry. Randy is currently in his 13th year at Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio, where his role is Vice President, Financial Services & Investments. Previously, he spent 25 years at Sprint, working primarily in financial roles. Randy earned a BSBA in accounting and an MBA from The Ohio State University. Randy also serves on the Board of East Side Grace church where he enjoys playing guitar and bass with the worship ministry. Randy and Tess have five adult children and nine grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Retired Engineer
Ray is a retired engineer with 38 years of experience in industrial plant maintenance, processing, and corporate engineering, primarily with Fortune 500 companies. He has visited all 50 states, lived in 13, and taken water mission trips to Nicaragua, Guatemala, Rwanda, Haiti, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Ray's desire is to be a humble servant of Christ by playing a small part in bringing clean water and the Gospel to people in need. As Manufacturing Engineering Fellow, Ray works to ensure that DO's technology is operating at its highest potential while looking for ways to continue making improvements in the future. Ray splits his time between Ohio and Michigan while pioneering the DO R&D Fellows program. Ray has been married for 39 years to his wife, Dorie, and they have two daughters.
Job Titles:
- Officer
- Chief Stewardship Officer
- Senior Development Director
Rhonda Davis is the Chief Stewardship Officer of Design Outreach. Over the last 20 years, Rhonda has served as senior development director for some of the most respected nonprofits at the local, state, national, and international level-from COSI (The Center of Science and Industry) to the American Red Cross. Leveraging her strengths in strategic planning and innovative resourcefulness, Rhonda stewarded relationships and life-changing dollars to generate the greatest impact and lasting change through these organizations. She desires for every individual to experience Christ's promise of life at its fullest. Rhonda is grateful for an opportunity where she can combine her professional skills with Christian ministry.
Job Titles:
- Manufacturing Operations Director
Rich Arthur is the Manufacturing Operations Director for Design Outreach. With over 40 years of experience in manufacturing, Rich brings much-needed expertise and service to DO through his volunteer work and his company Exact Machine Corp, of which he is President and Owner. Rich has traveled extensively with DO to do installation and maintenance training with the organization's partners. He and his wife Shelley have been married for 30 years and have three children and one grandson. In addition to his work at DO, Rich also serves as an elder at East Side Grace Brethren Church and on the advisory board for Knox County Technical Center. When he's not overseeing the LifePump manufacturing and shipping process, you can find him on the golf course or basketball court.
Job Titles:
- Analysis Fellow
- Structure and Analysis Fellow
After 45 years of structural engineering and testing experience at Battelle, Rick-fondly known as RickO-serves Design Outreach as a Structure and Analysis Fellow and provides engineering support for any DO projects that require his expertise in testing, structural analysis, and problem solving. Rick has been involved in a variety of research projects in the areas of analytical and experimental structural analysis, including finite element stress analysis techniques, structural test equipment design, materials testing, and the selection, installation, and operation of data acquisition systems. Rick holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Science in Engineering Mechanics from Michigan Technological University. Rick's hobbies include curling and beekeeping. He and his wife, Peggy, have two married children.
Russell holds both a bachelor's and master's degree in civil engineering from the University of Liverpool. After graduating, he spent eight years working as a structural engineer and project manager at AECOM specializing in nuclear decommissioning. Russell joined Design Outreach after witnessing the impact of LifePump firsthand while on mission in Zimbabwe. He serves as the Field Programs Director and is responsible for the successful implementation of Design Outreach's technologies worldwide. Russell and his wife, Lydia, live in Liverpool, UK, with their son. They serve on the leadership team at their church and enjoy exploring the outdoors, traveling, and gardening.
Job Titles:
- Accountant
- DO Malawi Field Office As Its Accountant
Sangwani Banda serves the DO Malawi Field Office as its accountant. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in accounting from Exploits University and believes that God has called him to this field to serve Him in the best way he can. He loves being a part of an organization whose purpose is to reach as many people as possible with the Gospel of Jesus Christ while meeting their physical and economic needs. During his free time, he enjoys playing basketball and chess as a way of connecting with people and learning new things.
Job Titles:
- Officer
- Stewardship Officer
Susan Hammond is the Stewardship Officer at Design Outreach. A native of Tennessee, she earned her bachelor's degree in global studies from Warren Wilson College. A short-term mission trip to Malawi in 2009 was life-changing for her, helping her recognize that she is part of a global community of faith. Her professional experience includes working in community development and church settings, with most of her time spent in stewardship of resources for affordable housing development. She and her husband have three delightful children. Together, they enjoy playing games, sharing home-cooked meals, and hiking. Susan is pleased to be a part of the Design Outreach team, bringing hope and help to others in the name of Jesus.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Senior Engineer of Product Development at Medartis, Inc
Thomas Holton is Senior Engineer of Product Development at Medartis, Inc. He first heard about Design Outreach through Abe and Lisa Wright while attending Mission Point Community Church in Warsaw, Indiana. As an engineer, he appreciated the thoughtfulness of the LifePump design and volunteered with the LifePump 2.0 project under Abe's leadership. In 2019, he had the privilege to assist in installations and training in Central African Republic. Having firsthand field experience put God's amazing work through Design Outreach into context and forever changed his perspective on Living Water and the importance of sustainable solutions. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from Taylor University and has been a dedicated Design Outreach volunteer for nearly six years.
Job Titles:
- Relationship Manager
- Relationship Manager / Titus
Titus Nnensa is a marketing professional with 34 years of working experience. He has held senior marketing and customer-service positions in organizations that specialize in freight, manufacturing, and information technology. His experience in customer service, marketing, operations, logistics, and general management is an asset in his position as Relationship Manager for the DO Malawi Field Office. Titus, who at one time wanted to be a Catholic priest, has a desire to see people among poor, rural communities receive the love of Christ through his work at DO. He holds a bachelor's degree in social sciences and a post-graduate diploma in marketing with The Chartered Institute of Marketing. Titus loves playing golf, networking, and being with his family. He is married with two daughters and two grandsons.