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TEAM MEMBERS

Hi everyone, my name is Brad Park. I live in Revelstoke, BC. I’ve worked in the sawmill industry for 17 years, I’m now a sawmill supervisor and also specialize in optimization.
I enjoy working and helping others. I’m friendly, easy going and a quiet type. Once you get to know me I’ll make you laugh.
I have 2 beautiful girls; I enjoy spending time with them. My hobbies are woodworking and photography. I like spending time outdoors Kayaking, Mountain biking, Hiking, Rock climbing, camping, snowboarding and snowshoeing. I’m looking forward to meeting all of you. See you soon.

Jocelyne Baker: bighappyfamily@xplornet.com

My name is Jocelyne Baker and I live in a rural community in British Columbia, Canada. I am recently widowed and have four children aged 2,4,6 and 8. My late husband and I always believed we would end up somewhere in Africa one day but it was only in the last couple of years that traveling to Uganda, specifically, had become our real dream. Prior to his death in July of last year, my husband owned and operated a construction company, which I have since taken over. When I first heard about the BeadforLife women in Uganda, many of whom are widowed, like myself, and who are being supported to undertake business ventures of their own, I knew immediately that BeadforLife was an organization I wanted to be a part of.

Joanne Jacoby: bldrnbldr@comcast.net

My brief bio is as follows: I am a 63 year old retired psychotherapist and grandmother of a fabulous 2 year old girl. I live in the mountains of Boulder, Colorado and have volunteered at Beadforlife for the past 2 1/2 years. My hobbies include photography and travel.

Elaine Nave: nenave00@yahoo.com

I'm looking forward to this trip to meet the beaders and help with their village. I was introduced to BeadforLife last May during a tour of East Africa and was very impressed with the organization. We made a whirlwind stop at the headquarters in Kampala and have since spent a lot time on-line reading about the work. I live in Phoenix, Arizona, retired, divorced and the mother of a son and a daughter who are both commercial pilots. I love to travel and believe that travel should include more than beautiful scenery. I truly enjoy meeting people and learning about their customs and their way of life.

Jenny Whitbeck: jaw1218@cox.net

Hi, my name is Jenny and I am from Virginia Beach where I grew up. I graduated with my Master’s in Criminal Justice from Virginia Commonwealth University, and now I am a Commercial Real Estate Agent with Thalhimer Cushman & Wakefield. I am looking forward to going to Uganda and can’t wait to meet everyone!

Lynne Morgan: kanorgan@sbcglobal.net

My name is Lynne Morgan, I recently retired after working for 35 years in the title and escrow business, and I am taking this trip with my sister and my daughter. I currently live in El Dorado Hills, California with my husband and my two dogs. I look forward to meeting everyone in March.

Melissa Clapper: mwclapper@vwc.edu

My name is Melissa Clapper and I live in Virginia Beach, Virginia. I just completed my BA in education at Virginia Wesleyan College, and I will be a first year teacher next year. I am certified to teach middle school grades 6-8 English and social studies. I am taking this trip with my mom Lynne Morgan, my aunt Joanne Jacoby, and my amazing friend Jenny Whitbeck. I look forward to meeting everyone soon!

Bernie Sauers-Nystrom: bernie@nystrom.tv

My name is Bernadette Sauers-Nystrom and I am a 28yr old Philadelphia native, now living in the San Francisco Bay Area with my husband Erik and 3 dogs. I am a teacher in a private junior college, while I work on getting into veterinary school. I have worked in different aspects of the Veterinary field for about 8yrs now. My husband and I are avid travelers and love to see different places and cultures! We became acquainted with BeadforLife last year when we purchased some of the jewelry as guest gifts for our wedding in Croatia. I try to stay active in various types of community service, and am currently involved in Pet Assisted Therapy with my dogs and the National Animal Disaster Response Team. I have always been an athlete and was a varsity rower(crew team) in college. This will be only my second trip on a Habitat for Humanity typed effort. My first was on a trip to Appalachia in high school to build homes for single working mothers in a low income area in Maryland. I'm usually an extrovert, but tend to be on the quiet side until I get familiar with the people in the group-them you'll see a whole different side of me! I like to have fun in the outdoors by mountain biking, running, sculling, scuba diving and rock climbing.

I have always wanted to see Africa and when I heard about this trip, it seemed like a dream come true! I can't wait to meet you all and make this trip an experience of a lifetime!

Celia Falconer: celiafalconer@sbcglobal.net

My name is Celia Falconer. I'm 49 years of age. I live with my 16 year old son, Morgan, and my boyfriend, Mike. I am a Special Education Teacher and a Speech-Language Pathologist. I love my job – I teach preschoolers who have autism. For fun I dance (two step, west coast swing) and hike, bike, read and garden. I'm so excited about our trip. For a long time I've wanted to connect with people who who have different life experiences and to learn more about the world. This seems like a dream come true.

Elise Dickerson: elisedickerson@yahoo.com

My name is Elise Eckerd-Dickerson. I'm originally from Dagsboro, Delaware, but have lived in New York City for the past six years. I'm the youngest of four in a family run by musicians; my father is a music teacher, my Indonesian-born mother a jazz singer. My childhood was saturated with music and theater being that my parents co-owned a dinner theater.

I became interested in the HIV/AIDS epidemic while in college (as a platform while competing in the Miss Delaware Pageant) and volunteered speaking to high schools and colleges about HIV/AIDS education and prevention.

I graduated from Immaculata College in 2001 with a BA in both Music and Fashion Marketing; from there, I moved to NYC with my then-boyfriend, now husband, Taylor...so that he could complete his Master's in forensic science.

So far, living in NYC has proven lucrative for the both of us; I've had the opportunity to mesh my two majors into a creative career (as a make-up artist) that suits me.

Now that my husband has completed his studies, I feel that it is my time to conquer some dreams and aspirations. I plan to use this trip to Uganda, not only to benefit the lives of others, but also to enrich my own. Afterward, it is my hope to go on to law school and become a lobbyist.

Jessica Johns: jjohns@acsd1.org

My name is Jessica. I'm a 28 year old teacher of deaf and hard of hearing children in Wyoming. I grew up in Pennsylvania, but my independence landed me in a tiny town with a population of 100 at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. I enjoy finding uses for my beginning knitting projects, unleashing my enthusiasm in the nonfiction section, exploring the mountains, and baking. This will be my first international volunteer opportunity.

Alice Schmitz: schmitzap@yahoo.com

As to my "bio," I grew up in a little Illinois prairie town which turned into a full-fledged suburb with all its crowdedness and noise. So it was that the majority of our life together was spent in rural Wisconsin where we raised our three sons, taught school, and developed a small Christmas tree farm which kept everyone busy and healthy. It was an idyllic life for us all.

We came to the mountains of North Carolina in our retirement; I feel very much at home here. Even though I have been retired for several years, I am still conscious of the luxury it is to have so much discretionary time. I find I get the greatest satisfaction giving some of it to others. This is why I so look forward to this trip: the work/play combination could not be better!