Joining Forces To Achieve a Common Goal
Board of Directors
Ken Krieger, President, has been actively involved in resettlement of refugees in the United States since 1999. He and his wife, Jen, have adopted two children from Sierra Leone in 2000 and 2002, which resulted in regular trips to Africa. Since his adoptions, Ken has been working to improve conditions for children orphaned during the war. He is a founding member of EduNations. A father of four, Ken is a School Psychologist for Niagara Falls City School District in New York, where he has worked for nearly 20 years.
Dean Weaver, Vice President, has been actively involved in education and empowerment for children in Africa since 2002, and has spent time in Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Kenya. Dean and his wife, Beth, have six children, three of whom are adopted internationally, including Isaac and Isatu who are orphans from Sierra Leone. Dr. Weaver is the Senior Pastor of Memorial Park Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, PA and the national Co-Moderator of the New Wineskin’s Association of Churches.
Ken Houseknecht, Secretary, has been working to expand educational opportunities for the children of Africa since 2002, and has made two visits to Sierra Leone over the last five years. He is a founding member of the EduNations board. A father of three, he oversees Investor Relations for Gibraltar Industries, a manufacturer, processor, and distributor of products for the building, industrial, and vehicular markets, with customers throughout the world.
Mike Bader, Treasurer, joined the board in 2007. He has six children, and with his wife, Jodie, has an adopted daughter, Fanta Marie, from Sierra Leone, and another, Rose Isolde, from Liberia. In his capacity as treasurer he has traveled to West Africa. A CPA and attorney, he is a Vice President at Sanderson & Company Investment Consultants, LLC based in Buffalo, New York.
Rick Kennedy is a founding member of EduNations and sits on its Board of Directors. He and his wife, Christine, have three children, including a daughter, Mabinty, whom they adopted from Sierra Leone in 2003. Rick is a partner in the firm Hodgson Russ LLP where he has practiced environmental law for the past 25 years. He sits on its Board of Directors and is the firm’s Assistant General Counsel.
Chris Delposen joined the board in 2008. He is CFO of Softwriters, a company which writes software for institutional pharmacies, and has held a number of senior financial positions in his career. He obtained his MBA from West Chester University in Pennsylvania and undergraduate degree at Geneva College. In addition to his work with EduNations, Chris is a Board Member and CFO of Opportunity Builders, a not-for-profit developer of affordable housing.
Mark Visnic joined the board in 2008. Mark previously served eight years in Latin America as a project manager of US Agency for International Development Rule of Law projects and was a member of the Florida Bar from 1985 through 2003. He currently is a managing director of the equity and fixed income derivatives group of PNC Capital Markets in Pittsburgh, PA and also serves as an advisor to a microfinance development group that provides assistance to microfinance institutions worldwide.
Peter Ciotta, who joined the board in 2008, has more than 20 years experience in journalism, public relations, and corporate communications. He is Director, Communications/Business Development for Performance Management Partners. Peter is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and he earned a Master of Strategic Communications degree from Seton Hall.