About HOPE
Leadership
An organization's leaders have the privilege and responsibility of determining the organization's strategic direction and shaping its character. Get to know HOPE's leaders by reading their biographies.
Executive Team
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Peter Greer, President
Peter Greer joined HOPE in July 2004, following extensive education and experience in the field of microfinance. Peter received a BS degree in International Business from Messiah College, and he earned an MPP with a concentration in Political and Economic Development from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Prior to his education at Harvard, Peter served as Managing Director for URWEGO Community Banking in Kigali, Rwanda for three years. He also served as a technical advisor for Self-Help Development Foundation (CARE Zimbabwe) in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and he worked as a microfinance advisor in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. While at Harvard, Peter studied HOPE’s work in the Democratic Republic of Congo for a graduate thesis project. He says his interest in working for HOPE grew as he saw “its unique desire to combine physical and spiritual ministry through the tool of microfinance.” |
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Jesse Casler, Director of Administration and Special Projects
Jesse Casler has been with HOPE since October 2004. His education includes a BA from Eastern Nazarene College and both an MA in International Relations and an MBA from Boston University. The field of microfinance falls at the intersection of these degrees, combining Jesse’s heart for developing countries and his business expertise. Prior to and during his graduate work, Jesse gained experience in international banking at State Street Corporation’s international headquarters in Massachusetts and later at a subsidiary of Advent Software. Jesse spent significant time in Romania and has traveled extensively throughout Eastern Europe and Africa. Jesse has served as a church board member and is deeply committed to HOPE’s Christian mission. |
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Roger Morgan, Director of Programs
Roger Morgan began working for HOPE in September of 2005 and was appointed Regional Director for Africa and Europe in 2006. He is now HOPE’s Director of Programs. Roger holds a degree in medical microbiology from Westminster Medical School, London where he also completed his post graduate studies. Roger worked at Becton Dickinson, a medical device and diagnostics manufacturer for over 20 years as a VP in marketing, supply chain and IT roles at European and World-Wide level. He attended the International Executive Program of INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France. As VP and GM with GHX, he successfully led the healthcare industry’s initiative in Europe to establish an internet trading exchange. To further his work in development, Roger completed the Microenterprise Development Institute at Southern New Hampshire University and IMA International’s Institute for Development Studies. Roger is an active member of St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Brussels where he lives with his wife Karen, their three boys all now living back in the UK. |
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Katie Nienow, Director of Development
Katie joined the HOPE team in June 2006. A graduate of the University of Virginia with degrees in physics and economics and a minor in religion, Katie spent the four years prior to joining HOPE working for the Christian youth ministry Young Life as an Area Director. In her first 2.5 years with HOPE, Katie served in a variety of management positions for HOPE Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), most recently as Operations Manager in Kinshasa. Katie moved back to the United States in April 2009 to accept the position of Director of Development, which involves, as she puts it, "straddling two worlds—leaving one foot in some ways in the field…and yet walking in the U.S. among people who might not have the opportunity to see the work firsthand." |
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Kevin Tordoff, Director of Marketing
Kevin joined the staff of HOPE in March 2008. Kevin spent more than fifteen years in the premium sporting goods industry, with the majority of his time spent leading the marketing communications efforts for the running shoe brand Saucony. Following his work with Saucony, Kevin established a business importing and marketing fair trade home décor products made by artisans in developing countries and consulted for two faith based non-profits focused on sustainable development. Kevin holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Gordon College. Kevin and his wife Sue have one daughter, Kaitlyn. |
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David Wong, Chief Financial Officer
David Wong joined HOPE International in January 2010 after a 30-year career in banking and financial services that included roles as Partner and Director at Arthur Andersen LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Prior to that, he had served in banking executive roles as Vice President and Corporate Controller, Operations Division Executive and Product Development Executive at Tokai Bank, JPMorganChase and Citigroup. His capstone assignments included the turnaround of the Commercial Finance Division as a Vice President of Dell Computers and the startup of the financial services business as the Vice President of Financial Solutions at Stryker Corporation. David holds an MBA in Accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a BS in Management Communication from Adelphi University. |
Regional Country Directors
coming soon
Country Program Directors
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Mercy Allah Asra, Director of HOPE Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Mercy holds a master’s degree in management from the University
of Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire). He
possesses extensive knowledge of financial management, accounting, supply
management, budget control/audit, and human resources development, gained both
through his education and relevant work experience. Mercy’s employment
background includes eight years with United Bible Society as a management consultant
in Togo. From 2002 to 2005, Mercy worked in his home country with World Vision
Chad as the finance manager and later as the acting administration and finance
director. From 2005 to 2009 Mercy has served as executive director of ICAME, a microfinance
institution created by World Vision Chad.
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Andre Barkov, Director HOPE Ukraine and Russia
Andre has been with HOPE Ukraine since May 1999 when he started as a loan officer in Zaporozhye. A year later he became expansion officer, opening new offices and running new branches. In May 2003 he became the program operations manager for HOPE Ukraine. He now serves as director of HOPE’s programs in Ukraine and Russia.
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Simeon Havyarimana, Republic of Congo
Simeon Havyarimana joined HOPE on June 1, 2008, as the director of the Republic of Congo office. Simeon has more than 25 years of experience in leadership throughout Africa and overseas, serving with organizations including Scripture Union, International Bible Society, World Association of Christian Communication, World Sports Outreach, and Geneva Global. He holds a master's degree in communication from Wheaton College (USA).
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Vlad Benjamin Mihut, General Manager for ROMCOM (Oradea, Romania)
Vlad Mihut has been working with ROMCOM since 2003. He is currently responsible for the strategic management of the ROMCOM group, which includes ROMCOM SA (microfinance), ROMCOM INVEST (consulting) and ROMCOM Training (training). Vlad is successfully working to continue to leverage the existing loan fund of ROMCOM S.A. by attracting additional financing and increasing ROMCOM's database of clients. He is also responsible for the strategic development of the ROMCOM network, which at the end of 2008 counted six branches in five cities of Romania. Prior to his work with ROMCOM, Vlad worked with Evanston Capital Advisors in Bucharest, Romania. Vlad received a degree in business management from Emanuel University in Oradea, Romania.
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Festus Muindi, HOPE Rwanda's country director.
Festus’
qualifications have been built over a lifetime of service, including the last
fourteen years spent initiating and managing development projects through
churches among poor and marginalized people groups throughout Africa. He and his wife have worked with
Christian Missionary Fellowship as the only African missionary couple employed
by this U.S.-based mission organization.
During his tenure with Christian Missionary Fellowship, Festus worked as
a team business administrator in Kenya and Ethiopia. Festus later worked as the
Eastern Africa representative for the Mustard Seed Foundation, where he coordinated grant making to churches in
the major urban centers of Eastern Africa. This position incorporated several
trips to Rwanda, during which time he gained familiarity with the country and
the organizations and individuals working in its development sector.
Festus holds a bachelor of commerce
(accounting) from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. He also holds a master’s in
missiology with a focus on Christian leadership from Fuller Theological
Seminary. Further, he recently graduated from Eastern University’s Palmer Seminary
with a doctor of ministry in church and urban renewal. |
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Rita Ngarambe, General Director, Turame Community Finance, Burundi
Rita Ngarambe joined the team in Burundi in September 2006 as director general for Turame Community Bank. Prior to working at Turame, Rita worked for many organizations including Apex Organization of Cooperative Unions, FES, UNDP, Pride Tanzania Microfinance Institution, World Vision Rwanda, and Vision Finance Company. She holds a bachelors of commerce and management degree from the University of Dar Es Salaam, and a post graduate diploma in cooperative management and supervision from Loughborough University (UK).
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Ghenadie Russu, Executive Director of Invest-Credit, Moldova
Ghenadie has been the executive director of Invest-Credit since January 2005. He acquired his diploma of license from the Academy of Economic Studies, Chisinau and his MBA from Grenoble Graduate School of Business. He since has been involved in numerous microfinance and other economic development initiatives.
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Carlos Pimentel Sanchez, Executive Vice President of International Operations, Esperanza, Dominican Republic & Haiti
Carlos Pimentel Sanchez joined Esperanza International as country director in 1998. After ten years of exemplary leadership, Mr. Pimentel was recently promoted to executive vice president of international operations. Mr. Pimentel directs and supervises all functions of Esperanza International’s operations in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Mr. Pimentel received his bachelors of science in business systems analysis and design from APEC University in 1992.
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