MPA - Key Persons
Charise was previously an office manager for MPA after a career in finance/ accounting for 20+ years. She holds a bachelor of arts degree from Fontbonne University in Organizational Management - Business and a certificate from Washington University's, University College in Leadership and Development. She is an avid reader and the coach and player of 2 softball teams.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- Vice President, Senior Business Banker for Enterprise Bank & Trust
Christina Anderson serves as Vice President, Senior Business Banker for Enterprise Bank & Trust. She has a combined 7 seven years with Enterprise and the 2017 acquisition of Eagle Bank & Trust. In 2018 Enterprise relocated her to Kansas City making her able to serve the business community across the state and Kansas. Her 15 years in banking began in Human Resources - Talent Acquisition for U.S. Bank, transitioned into Project & Product Management for Eagle Bank & Trust and currently Business Development. She holds a BS in Business Marketing from Fontbonne University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Professor of Radiology at Washington University
Dr. Sherry Teefey is a Professor of Radiology at Washington University, Saint Louis, Mo with a subspeciality in ultrasound. She has been an MPA board member since 2013 with a focus on the Safe Woman Programs (Safe Birth Program, Village Health Center Microfinancing Project, SWAP, and Post Fistula Women's Project).
Fr. Brad is a priest for the Archdiocese of St. Louis and the pastor of St. Simon the Apostle parish. Since being ordained in 1997, he has served at a number of parishes as well as St. Mary's High School. When he arrived at St. Simon parish, he noticed "the cow project" display, and learned about MPA. After meeting Sr. Toni and learning about how MPA directly changes the lives of people, he accepted her invitation to join the board of directors, connecting with "the Church spread throughout the world."
In 2008 Heather began volunteering with MPA and laster in 2009 joined the staff as MPA's Executive Director.
Within her role, Heather strives to advocate for MPA with donors and the community, provide leadership in evaluating program and development performance, put in place the policies and resources needed to successfully fund and implement the mission of MPA, and support the staff so that they are continually able to do their best.
Heather has visited our partners in Africa in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, and looks forward to her next trip in 2021.
In her free time, Heather can be found trying out new recipes to cook for family dinners and spending time with her grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Founder of Jamii Bora Trust
Job Titles:
- President
- Associate Director for Ascension Investment Management
Tyler Blickhan is an Associate Director for Ascension Investment Management with experience in social and impact investing. At MPA, Tyler has utilized his professional experience with impact investing and portfolio management while serving on the Partners and Finance Committees, before serving as Board President in 2020. Tyler moved to St. Louis in 2003 to attend Saint Louis University, having grown up in Quincy, IL. Tyler and his wife Jenna have a special interest in utilizing the power of microfinance to help women and their families acquire the tools necessary to improve their health, education, and financial outcomes.
Jane Nalwadda is a 30-years old from the village of Kyaziza Busagula in Uganda. Jane was born with a natural obstetric fistula. After 3 years of a childless marriage, Jane`s husband...
John DeGregorio joins the MPA board with a degree from Georgetown University in Economics and Government and a Law degree from Washington University School of Law. John has practiced law at Medco Health Solutions (today, Express Scripts, Inc) as well Kimberly-Clark Corp. where he was responsible for commercial, regulatory and litigation matters in Europe, Africa and the Middle East for brands like Huggies®, Kleenex®, Cottonelle®, Viva®, Scott®, Depends® and Kotex®.
Kelly joined MPA in 2019 and assist with office adminstraor duties such as coordinating resolutions to IT issues, filling resource gaps where needed, first point of contact for donors, ensuring paperwork is efficiently streamlined.
As the Director of the Tiffany & Company - St. Louis store located in Plaza Frontenac, St. Louis' premier retail shopping mall, Linda has been serving on the board with an interest in the challenges and potential of the beautiful people of Africa and how microfinance can aid their communities. Along with her husband Ed Hall, Linda currently lives in University City.
Job Titles:
- Digital Marketing Coordinator
- in 2012 As the Digital Marketing Coordinator
Melanie joined MPA in 2012 as the digital marketing coordinator. She works to keep our digital platforms running and up to date for current donors to see what successes our projects are having and for potential donors to learn more about the impact microfinancing can have on an impoverished community.
Melanie has traveled to Africa twice, once in 2012 and once in 2015.
In her freetime, Melanie enjoys spending time biking, playing outside and traveling with her husband and three daughters.
Neema John is a 44-year-old widow and the mother of 4 adorable girls. She was introduced to BUWEA by Consolata, a leader...
Pauline Namuli attributes her happy life to the MPA Cow Project. Pauline Namuli and seven other members of her family are residents of Kalagala Village, Masaka District in Uganda. After being trained on how to take...
Job Titles:
- Program and Grants Manager
Prim Mungwari is originally from Zimbabwe, where she trained as a human rights lawyer and worked extensively in the field of gender and women's rights, from an advocacy and program perspective. She has experience in program and grant management, mainly working to empower women to become self-actors and enjoy their rights. Her academic qualifications include a Masters in U.S law with a certificate in Negotiation and Dispute Resolution from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Masters in Public Administration from the School of Public Policy, Central European University (Hungary).
Prim enjoys traveling, meeting new people, learning new cultures, and experimenting with food - She is also the wife to Michael and mum to Zivah!
Rashid Kudra is a 40-year-old widow with 5 children. Four of her children are in primary school and one in secondary school. Before joining...
Shilpa Thornton, MD joins MPA with unique experience as an Ophthalmologist. With a BA/ MD from the University of Missouri- Kansas City and completing her residency at Washington University School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science Residency she has over 20 years in the medical field.
Tags africa, business, Cow Project, international aid, microfinace, microfinance, MPA, poverty Susan Nampijja, age 67, is not originally from Uganda but moved here with her daughter and 2 grandchildren. They used to live a very hard life with... Read More Learn More
Tim Bubenik is an attorney with McMahon Berger, PC, where he specializes in labor and employment law. While he came to the Board simply looking for an opportunity to give back, he has found his tim e and service extremely rewarding as he has seen the remarkable difference MPA makes in the lives of so many people half a world away.
Antoinette "Toni" Temporiti was born and raised on The Hill in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1975, she joined the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood in O'Fallon.