GPFD - Key Persons

Abigail Bridgman

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Advisory Board

Alais Morindat

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Advisory Board

Alexis Martin

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Advisory Board

Amon Ariyo Tusingwire

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Advisory Board

Amy Holter

Job Titles:
  • Consultant
Withamaster'sdegreeininternationaldevelopmentandexperienceworkingforlocalandinternational,largeandsmallorganizations,AmyHolterisamonitoring,evaluation,andlearningconsultantatGlobalPartners.Shehasextensiveexperiencedesigning,analyzing,andproducingreportsonqualitativeandquantitativeimpactevaluationsandspecializesincommunity-ledprogramming.AmyisalsotheDirectorofIntegrativeProgramsatCatholicCharitiesofSantaRosa.

Andrea Mendoza

Job Titles:
  • Member of the US Team
  • Program Communications Manager
AndreaholdsaBachelor'sDegreeinCommunicationsandMediaStudiesfromSonomaStateUniversity.Withabackgroundinmarketing,shebringsacreativeapproachtowardscontentcreationandoutreach.Whenshe'snotworking,Andreaislikelytobefoundhikingorcampinginthewoods.

Andy Witthohn

Job Titles:
  • Secretary

Anna Haight - VP

Job Titles:
  • Vice President
Boardmembersince2012andformerboardmember2000-2004.Annabringsbroadmanagementandhumanresourcesexperiencethroughher20+yearsataglobalJapaneseownedconglomeratewithitsUSheadquartersinSanFrancisco.AnnahastraveledwithGlobalPartnerstoAfricathreetimesinthelasttwodecadesdeepeninghercommitmenttocommunity-drivendevelopmentandeducationasprovenwaysforwardforself-sustainability.ShecurrentlyprovidesconsultingservicestoavarietyofbusinessesasapartnerinGroundworkinMillValley,CA.

Arianna Clyde

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Advisory Board

Clara Millicent Onyango

ClaraisaCommunityFacilitatorbasedinHomabayCounty,Kenya.SheholdsaBachelorofArtsinCommunityDevelopmentandexperienceinmobilizationandfacilitation.

Daniel Casanova

Job Titles:
  • Executive Director
  • Member of the US Team
DanielleadsGlobalPartnersforDevelopmentastheExecutiveDirector,arolehehasheldsince2013.WithaBAandMAinHumanitiesandPhilosophyfromDominicanUniversityofCalifornia,hiseducationalbackgrounddeeplyinformshisapproachtocommunitydevelopmentandsocialjustice. Boastingover25yearsofexperienceinthenonprofitsector,Danielhashonedhisexpertiseinboardandcommunityrelations,resourcedevelopment,programandclinicalservicesmanagement,andgrantwriting.Hisworkhasspanneddiversepopulationsandissues,fromsyringeexchangeprogramsinLosAngelestoeconomicempowermentprojectsinTanzania. Adedicatedphilanthropist,Danielcontinueshisfamily'slegacyofserviceandcare,drivenbyadeepcommitmenttomakingapositiveimpactintheworld.Outsideofhisprofessionalendeavors,heenjoysplayingbasketball,swimming,andcherishingmomentswithhiswifeandchildren.

David J. Castenholz - Treasurer

Job Titles:
  • Treasurer
Boardmembersince2012,andformerboardpresident1993-1998.DavidjoinedWorldRunnersin1979andbecameaboardmemberin1989.Usingmarathonsasavehicletoraisefunds,DavidbecameamajorcontributortoGlobalPartnersforDevelopment.BeingdeeplycommittedtomakingadifferenceinEastAfrica,DavidhassignificantlymultipliedGlobalPartnerscontributionsthroughhisadvocacy.HisleadershipwaspivotalintheemergenceofGlobalPartnersforDevelopmentfromWorldRunners.DavidhastraveledtoEastAfricaseveraltimes.ApracticingattorneyintheStateofCaliforniasince1987,DavidholdsaB.A.fromStanfordUniversityandJ.D.fromBostonUniversity.

David Stare - President

Job Titles:
  • President

Don Harris

Job Titles:
  • President Emeritus

Dora Achieng

Job Titles:
  • Member of the East African Team
  • Programs Manager
DoraisourProgramsManagerresidinginMbita,HomabayCounty.SheholdsaProfessionalCertificateinStrategicManagementinLeadershipfromTheKenyaInstituteofManagementandaBachelorofArtsdegreeinPsychologyfromtheUnitedStatesInternationalUniversity-Africa.Withoverfiveyearsoffieldexperienceineducation,younggirlsandwomen'srights,sheisskilledincommunityengagement,datacollectionandprojectevaluation.SheisalsoatalentedWriterandCommunicator.

Emmanuel Nene Odjidja

Job Titles:
  • Grant Specialist and Program Evaluator
  • Knowledge Broker and Academic Researcher
EmmanuelNeneOdjidjaisaprogramevaluator,knowledgebrokerandacademicresearcherwithovernineyearsofexperienceworkingindevelopment,conflictandfragilesettings.HehasconsultedandworkedwithseveralorganisationsinGhana,SouthSudan,Burundi,Mali,BurkinaFaso,TunisiaandSriLanka.Hisresearchandprofessionalinterestslieinusingparticipatorymethodstodevelopevaluationmethodsthatenhanceinclusivityandempowercommunitieswhilepromotinglearning.AttheGlobalPartnersforDevelopment,hesupportsdesign,implementationandanalysisofimpactevaluationsmainlyusingrobustquasi-experimentalandexperimentalmethods.Hehaspublishedwidelyinreputablejournalsandperiodicallyreviewsthreeofthose.HeholdsanMScinGlobalHealth(Distinction)fromtheQueenMargaretUniversity,Edinburgh,UK.HespeaksEnglishandFrench.

Eugenia Kimble

Job Titles:
  • Administrative Manager
  • Member of the US Team
  • Office Manager
EugeniaKimbleisourOfficeManager,shejoinedGlobalPartnersinSeptember2023.SheholdsaBachelorinAdvertisingandMarketingandspeaks3languages.EugeniawasborninArgentinaandraisedinSwitzerlanduntilshemovedtoCaliforniaaboutadecadeago.Sheadorestravelingwithherfamily,tastingnewrecipesandcollectingmemorykeepsakesfromhertravels. EugeniaishappilymarriedtoaPhysicalTherapistandhastwolovelychildren.Herfavoritehobbyisbaking,especiallywithherkids.

Festus Juma

Job Titles:
  • Member of the East African Team
  • East African Director
  • Executive Director of Society Empowerment Project
  • Kenyan Country Coordinator for Global Partners
FestusJumaistheKenyanCountryCoordinatorforGlobalPartners.Hemanagesongoingpartnerrelations,identifiesnewpartnersandprojects,andmonitorsongoingdevelopmentwork.HealsooverseestheKCWASHprogram,whichisfundedbytheVineyardstoVillagesinitiativeandprovidescleanwateratschoolsinwesternKenya. InadditiontohispositionatGlobalPartners,FestusistheExecutiveDirectorofSocietyEmpowermentProject(SEP)inNyanzaProvinceofKenya.FestushasadiplomainSportsManagementandProjectManagementandanumberofcertificationsinBusinessandSportsManagementandAdministration.

Jeremy Walker

Job Titles:
  • Director
JeremyWalkerhasstrongbusinesssectorcontactsandisanexperiencedadvocate.HehasbeeninvolvedinthePhiladelphiabusinessandpoliticalcommunitysincearrivingin2003andisalreadyanemergingleader.In2006,Jeremystartedhisownlawfirmandworkedondozensofcampaigns,forgingstrongrelationshipswithawiderangeofelectedofficialsandtheircounterpartsinthebusinesscommunity.Hehasbuiltoneofthearea'sbest-respectedminority-ownedlawfirmsinPhiladelphia. JeremyhasexpandedhisexpertiseandworkinRealEstateandDevelopmentandtransportation.In2013,helaunchedSTSCTransportationServices,Philadelphia'sfirstminority-ownedandoperatedbuscompany,withafleetoffivesbuses.In2014,JeremybrokeredadealandbecameoneofthreeownerstotakeovertheoriginalChinatownBusTerminal.Hestartedrunningatravelagency,FocusTravel,outofthelocationaswellashisnewcompanyYepTour.Today,Jeremyhas93busesthatrunmoretripstoNYC,SC,NC,FLandGAthananyotherbuscompany. In2017,JeremycreatedNationalDriverSolutionsatruckingcompanythatservicessomeofthelargestcompaniesintheregionsuchasShoprite,NissanandGeneralMotors.Jeremybrokersnewcontracts,renegotiatescurrentcontracts,andoverseesfinanceswithaccountants.Healsooptimizeshumanresources,meetswithcustomersandoverseesvariousdepartments.Jeremy'sextensivebusinessexpertisewillbeatremendousassettoGlobalPartners'board.

John Malago

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Advisory Board

John S. Cullison

Johnretiredin2015after42yearsinbanking,includingadecadeininternationalbankingbasedinLondon.JohnhashadaninterestinAfricasinceservingasaPeaceCorpsVolunteerinruraldevelopmentinEthiopiaandlaterasManageroftheCommercialBankofMalawiLtdinBlantyre.JohnhastraveledextensivelythroughoutAfricaandtheworldbothinhisbankingcapacityandpersonally. JohnpresentlyservesasaConsultanttoXiOWaterSystems.JohnisaformermemberoftheBoardofDirectorsoftheAmericanRedCrossBayArea,theSanFranciscoOperaAssociation,andformerParksandRecreationCommissioneroftheTamalpaisCommunityServiceDistrict. Johnandhiswife,Diana,enjoytennis,hikingandtravel.JohnholdsB.S.andMBAdegrees.

Linda Lea

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Advisory Board

Marisa Mazria Katz

Job Titles:
  • Editor
  • Reporter
  • Editorial Producer
MarisaMazriaKatzisareporterandeditorwhohascontributedtonumerouspublications,includingtheNewYorkTimes,FinancialTimes,WallStreetJournal,Vogue,NPR,Marketplace,TimeandtheNewYorkReviewofBooks,onsubjectsaswide-rangingascultureandheritageinconflictzonesandthegeopoliticsoftheMiddleEastandNorthAfrica.ShehasbeenawardedmajorgrantsfromtheKeithHaringFoundation,theTrustforMutualUnderstandingandtheAndyWarholFoundationforhereditorialwork.In2009shereceivedfundingfromtheUSStateDepartmentforafour-year-programthattaughtjournalismtoteenagersfromamarginalizedcommunityinCasablanca,Morocco.In2018MazriaKatzservedasoneofthefirstKickstarterFellows,andlaterthatyearshefoundedtheCraigNewmarkPhilanthropies-fundedprogramtheEyebeamCenterfortheFutureofJournalism,anaward-winningprogramwhosecentralmissionistoplacewritingbyartistsinmajormediapublicationsliketheNewYorker,theGuardian,WiredandtheAtlantic.MarisaholdsadualBFAdegreeinfilmandTVandtheaterfromNewYorkUniversity'sTischSchooloftheArtsandanMA(magnacumlaude)inMiddleEasthistoryfromTelAvivUniversity.

Mary Morindat

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Advisory Board

Mwajuma A. Ally

Job Titles:
  • Tanzania Program Manager
MwajumaA.AllyisaFacilitatorandisbasedintheSingidaRegionofTanzania.MwajumaholdsaBachelorDegreeinCommunityDevelopmentwithaconcentrationinManagementofCommunityDevelopmentProgrammes.PriortojoiningGlobalPartners,shegainedexperienceincommunityengagementbyvolunteeringattwoTanzanianorganizations:PastoralWomen'sCouncil(PWC)andSupportForInternationalChange(SIC).Inhersparetime,sheenjoyspursuingentrepreneurialendeavorsandreading.

Naome R. Ruhombe

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Advisory Board

Peter Verbiscar-Brown

Job Titles:
  • Executive Director Emeritus
Returningboardmember2012andformerexecutivedirectorandboardmemberofWorldRunnersandGlobalPartners1982-2010.AgraduateofLoyolaUniversity,Chicago(BA)andtheUniversityofHawaiiSchoolofPublicHealth(MPH),Peterworkedforfederalandlocalgovernmentsinhealthplanningandbeenpresidentofcommunityandinternationalcharitablefoundations.Heoversawhundredsoffundraisingrunningeventsandguidedthedisbursementof$10+milliontowardendinghungerandpoverty.PeterremainsdedicatedtopartneringdonorswithAfricancommunitiestowardpractical,sustainablesolutionstobetterlives.Hehasrun60marathonsandultra-marathonsforpledges,andisnowanavidbicyclist.

Rene Bagaygay

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Advisory Board

Ria Pullin - COO

Job Titles:
  • Member of the US Team
  • Operations Director
CommunicationsDirector,joinedGlobalPartnersinOctober2021.SheholdsaMasterinBusinessAdministrationwithaconcentrationinMarketingandInternationalLeadershipandManagementfromHolyNamesUniversity.RiahasexperienceinarangeofindustriesfromAccounting,FinancialPlanning,Hospitality,andEntertainment.ShehasbeenacommercialactressandmodelintheSanFranciscoBayAreaforoveradecade.Riaisanon-camerahostforcomputerbasedlearningcoursesandtrainsexecutivesintheareasofMarketing,BusinessEthics,Leadership,Management,Inclusivity,andSales. RiaisanAirForcebratthathaslivedinfivecountriesandhasattended12differentschools.Sheisamomoftwo,asailor'swife,andresidesinPetaluma,California.

Roshan N. Kaderali

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Advisory Board

Samuel Acquatey

SamuelKingsleyAcquateyisastudentattheUniversityofGhanapursuingadegreeinComputerScienceandStatistics.Hehasapassionforleveragingdata-drivensolutionsforsocialimpact.Outsidetheclassroom,Samuelisanavidchessplayerwhoisenamoredwiththestrategiesandtacticsemployedinthegame.

Sara D. Henning

Job Titles:
  • Consultant
  • Director of Strategy
SaraHenning,DirectorofStrategy,joinedGlobalPartnersinApril2016.SheholdsaB.S.inBusinessAdministrationwithaconcentrationinMarketingfromtheUniversityofMissouriandJ.D.fromtheUCLASchoolofLaw.Shehasexpertiseindevelopingandmanagingprogramsandextensiveexperienceworkingwithinternationalorganizations. Afterworkingasalitigator,SarachangedcareerpathsandendeduptravelingforseveralmonthsinEastAfrica,trainingteenstobecomepeereducatorsinSantaMonica,CAandeventuallyhelpingtoplanandimplementaHIV/AIDSTreatmentSummitinLosAngeles.SaranextmovedtoSouthAfricatoservewiththeU.S.PeaceCorps.AsaPeaceCorpsvolunteer,Saraconductedlifeskillstrainingsforyoungwomen,establishedalegalaidclinicinherruralvillage,taughtclassesataprimaryschoolanddevelopedtrainingprogramsandmonitoringandevaluationtoolsforaNGOsupportingpeoplelivingwithHIV/AIDS.

Wendy Greene

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Advisory Board