Koinoina Foundation

Staff

President. Andrew Williams was born in Muskegon, Michigan and graduated from Albion College in 1992 with a B.A. in English. He started his career in the mental health field, working with at-risk clients released from the state hospital. In 1995, Williams traveled to Africa for the first time and worked in the refugee camps that housed victims of the Rwandan Genocide in Goma, Zaire (now the Congo). Before becoming President of the Koinonia Foundation, he worked for the Martin County School District as an English teacher and award-winning debate coach. Williams lives in Grand Rapids, MI with his wife and sons.

Ashley Garrigan

Director of Operations, Treasurer. Ashley Garrigan began working with the Koinonia Foundation in 2007 as a volunteer leading the pilot project for the Wall of Words program, which brought thousands of books to schools around Rwanda. She is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, where she received her B.A. in political science in 2004. She has also studied at the London School of Economics. Ms. Garrigan is currently working toward her M.Ed. in Literacy Studies at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids. In her spare time, she volunteers as an ESL tutor and on the Green Drinks Grand Rapids planning committee.

Programs Manager. Beata Musabyimana is from the Southern Province of Rwanda. She has previously worked as a nutritionist for several organizations, including the Rwanda Ministry of Health. Before joining the Foundation, Ms. Musabyimana provided training to women’s cooperatives in areas such as capacity building, no-violence communication, and HIV/AIDS. She holds degrees in food sciences, travel operations and tourism, and computer science. She is fluent in Kinyarwanda, French, and English.

Intern, Winter 2010. Nicole Joyce is a business student at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, MI. During her semester at the Koinonia Foundation, Nicole made her first trip to Rwanda, where she was responsible for providing business training sessions to the women of the Beacon Program. Her valuable lessons in accounting, marketing, and creating a business plan taught the women the basic skills needed to create and run a sustainable business. Nicole will graduate in May 2010 with a B.A. in general business and business management. In her spare time, she enjoys playing volleyball and watching the Detroit Redwings.

Board

Founder and Chairman. When Dale L. Williams, M.D. saw an unmet need for medical care in his Muskegon community, he sacrificed his thriving family practice and opened the Koinonia Medical Center to provide low-cost, mostly-free medical care to the poor. For 20 years, Williams served as the CEO and medical director at the Muskegon Heights center. While running the Koinonia Medical Center, Williams also worked as a missionary and medical philanthropist for those in impoverished nations. Through his work in several developing countries, Williams was called to found the Koinonia Foundation in 2004.

Williams currently serves as chairman of Pan’s Innovative Science and Technology, LLC (PiSAT).  He is also a member of the American Academy of Family Practice, the American Medical Association and the Christian Medical Society. After a life-time of providing health care to residents of Muskegon, Williams retired from family practice.  Williams currently resides in Grand Rapids, MI with his wife, Christel.

President. Andrew Williams was born in Muskegon, Michigan and graduated from Albion College in 1992 with a B.A. in English. He started his career in the mental health field, working with at-risk clients released from the state hospital. In 1995, Williams traveled to Africa for the first time and worked in the refugee camps that housed victims of the Rwandan Genocide in Goma, Zaire (now the Congo). Before becoming President of the Koinonia Foundation, he worked for the Martin County School District as an English teacher and award-winning debate coach. Williams lives in Grand Rapids, MI with his wife and sons.

Vice President, Engineer. William Greenhoe is President of Pan’s Innovative Science and Technology, LLC. He has more than 10 years’ experience in innovative energy product development. Prior to joining PiSAT, he served seven years as Vice President of Operations for Harding Energy. During his tenure, he directed the writing and implementation of the company’s manufacturing procedures, increasing production efficiency from 60% to 95%. Greenhoe also designed new cells and modifications to enhance the performance of batteries and coordinated a China-based team to develop new products. Additionally, he spearheaded a federally-funded joint grant with Ames Laboratories and Iowa State University to research the particle size of hydrogen storage alloys. Greenhoe received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan.

Ashley Garrigan

Director of Operations, Treasurer. Ashley Garrigan began working with the Koinonia Foundation in 2007 as a volunteer leading the pilot project for the Wall of Words program, which brought thousands of books to schools around Rwanda. She is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, where she received her B.A. in political science in 2004. She has also studied at the London School of Economics. Ms. Garrigan is currently working toward her M.Ed. in Literacy Studies at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids. In her spare time, she volunteers as an ESL tutor and on the Green Drinks Grand Rapids planning committee.

Secretary. Dr. Sheri Strothers is a teacher of communication at Grossmont College and graduate of the University of San Diego’s School of Education and San Diego State University’s School of Communication. She has been recognized county-wide as a “Chamber Leader” and for excellence in teaching and mentorship.  She has been serving in Africa with the Koinonia Foundation since 2005. Sheri makes her home in Jamul, California with her husband, Scott, their children, and their two dogs.  She is a member of Jamul Community Church and serves the greater community in multifarious ways.

Director. Pauline Nadeau, Chief Master Sergeant, United States Air Force, retired. Ms. Nadeau served 25 years in the Air Force before retiring in 2007. She finished her service in Kigali, Rwanda, where she served as operations coordinator for the Defense Attache’s Office. During her time in Rwanda, she worked on a Department of Defense President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief program for the Rwanda Defense Forces and also coordinated the construction project for the Kigali Health Institute Polyclinic. Under her leadership, the Rwanda Defense Forces won the 2006 Spirit Award. Ms. Nadeau has been volunteering with the Foundation since 2006 and was appointed to the board in 2008.

Director. Lambert Mucyo was born in the Southern Province of Rwanda and is a partner at Murika, Ltd. in Kigali. Mucyo holds a B.Sc. from the University of Windsor in Ontario. He has worked in various public and private institutions in Rwanda, including ministries such as RIEPA. He is married with three children.