OUR board

Informed board globally placed with various areas of expertise

Who is on our board?

We are thankful for our wonderful governing boards composed of individuals with a passion for bringing lasting Help and Hope to the most vulnerable.

Our board is fully volunteer, serving with huge hearts and great minds.  These men and women are successful businesspersons, medical leaders and/or community leaders.  We are truly blessed to have a diverse and informed board globally placed with varied expertise.

Geneva Board

Norman Hawkins

Geneva Board Chair

PETER RAHM

Geneva Board Secretary

Terry Dalrymple

Geneva Board Member

Scott Gillis

Geneva Board Member

Lana Jones

Co-Founder & Geneva Board Member

Dr. Art Lindsley

Geneva Board Member

Adrian Hardi

Geneva Board Member

Cindy He-Schmidt

Geneva Board Member

US Board

Scott Gillis

US Board Chair

Katherine Jara Skinner

US Board Vice Chair

Norman Hawkins

US Board Secretary

Linda Jo Caron

US Board Member

Vicki Gillis

US Board Member

Scott McCormack

US Board Member

Sargon Davoodi

US Board Member

Michael Puerner

US Board Member

Mitchell Porch

Associate US Board Member

Norman Hawkins

Geneva Board Chair
US Board Secretary

Norm has been Secretary of the GHNI US Board since January 2020 and Chair of the GHNI Geneva Board since January 2021. Norm and his wife, Barb, have been supporters of GHNI since their 2016 short-term trip to GHNI’s field location in Amman, Jordan. While there, they assisted in the work with Syrian and Iraqi refugees. Practicing in law firms for over 37 years until his retirement in September 2021. Norm worked as a labor and employment attorney, representing management. He represented organizations from small to large, including Fortune 500 companies. Norm and Barb live north of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Peter Rahm

Geneva Board Secretary

Peter brings over 20 years of professional leadership and non-profit experience and has valuable training in social media content and online marketing. Multilingual, Peter’s mother tongue is German, and he is fluent in English, French, and basic knowledge of Spanish. He assisted NGOs in countries such as Switzerland, USA, Bulgaria, Mongolia, Rwanda, Mozambique, Kenya, and Columbia. Peter met GHNI Founders Hal and Lana Jones at an international gathering, and from 2001 to 2003 helped to set up the foundation of GHNI in Geneva, Switzerland. Besides traveling with Hal and Lana to Kenya, Peter sponsored GHNI projects in Afghanistan and Armenia.

Terry Dalrymple

Geneva Board Member

For over three decades, Terry has championed the cause of the world’s poorest by training and mobilizing workers for Transformational Community Development (TCD) worldwide. After a decade of service in the Philippines, Terry pioneered Medical Ambassadors International in nine countries in Southeast Asia, working with partners to establish TCD programs in more than 400 communities. Later as International Coordinator at Medical Ambassadors, he guided the expansion of the global movement. In 2009, Terry founded the Global CHE Network, an alliance of organizations in 136 countries working to bring holistic transformation to a million villages.

Scott Gillis

US Board Chair
Geneva Board Member

Scott has served on the GHNI US Board as Treasurer or Co-Treasurer from 2004-2021 and since 2020 has served as a Geneva Board member and member of Geneva’s finance and field governance committees. Scott is a finance, systems and governance expert who has served on a number of financial services and nonprofit boards since 1989. Prior to his retirement, Scott served 30 years as a senior finance and systems executive with AIG and its predecessors. Over the years, he has held various board director certifications from the American College of Corporate Directors and the National Association of Corporate Directors.

Lana Jones

Co-Founder
Geneva Board Member

Lana, a graduate of the University of Hawaii, worked closely with her late husband of 52 years, Hal Jones, by assisting in their very successful real estate company as a trainer, acting as campaign secretary when he ran for political office and won, and now as co-founder and board member of Global Hope Network International. She is a member of the GHNI Geneva Board and the Office of the Founder, communicating with staff, partners and donors. Lana remains hands-on by assisting with field reports and staff training conferences. Lana also serves on the Executive Committee of the Geneva Institute for Leadership and Public Policy (GILPP).

Adrian Hardi

Geneva Board Member

Born and raised in Bülach, Switzerland, Adrian now lives in Eglisau north of Zurich at the Rhine River. With his background in Education, Training, Economy/Finance and Aviation, Adrian currently works as a long-haul pilot for Swiss International Airlines and also as an Examiner in the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA).

Adrian was inspired by his belief that it is more blessed to give than to receive when a friend recommended he join the GHNI Swiss Board. He is excited to contribute to the success of GHNI bringing help and hope to the hidden and hurting.

Cindy He-Schmidt

Geneva Board Member

Born in Shanghai, Cindy attended university in the USA and earned an MBA and a BS in Economics. She then moved from HR in the World Bank in DC to the Bank of International Settlements in Basel, Switzerland and is currently working in the Global HRBP IT/Digital & Group HR Syngenta Group.

Cindy met GHNI Founders Hal and Lana Jones and was impressed with GHNI’s achievements. Serving on GHNI’s Swiss Board, Cindy was drawn to help developing countries with public administration leadership. With 20+ years of experience in HR, she desires to help developing organisations and leaders around the world.

Dr. Art Lindsley

Geneva Board Member

Dr. Art Lindsley serves as our Specialist for Leadership Development. He is also on the Executive Committee of the Geneva Institute for Leadership and Public Policy (GILPP). Dr. Lindsley met our late founder and CEO Hal Jones at a conference in 2010 and was invited to come to the GILPP conference, attending every year since. He is the Vice President of the Institute for Faith, Work, and Economics and most recently served as President and Senior Fellow at the CS. Lewis Institute since 1987. He is also co-founder of RTS’s Washington, DC. campus. Dr. Lindsley earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, a Master of Divinity, and a PhD in Religious Studies.

Ed Sowers

US Board Chair

Ed’s great business sense has benefited GHNI’s US Board since 2006. With decades of experience in top hotel management positions, in 2001 Ed founded DMP Hawaii and is now President. He has overseen properties of hotels and condominium resorts. Ed served in leadership positions in the Maui Visitors Bureau, Hawaii Visitor and Convention Bureau, Civil Service Commission, Food Bank, a host of others and is recognized as an innovator and creative leader. Ed’s first involvement with GHNI was a trip in 2005 to China.

Linda Jo Caron

US Board Member

Linda Jo joined the US Board in 2022. She has served as Co-Chair of the HR and Admin Committee for the Board since the fall of 2020. She has served on other non-profit boards for many years. Linda Jo is a corporate attorney, working in house at various corporations since 2006. She has an MBA from Western Michigan University and a Juris Doctorate from Michigan State University. Linda Jo has traveled extensively on both aid trips and for pleasure and looks forward to taking trips with GHNI and continuing to assist the organization in its mission to offer help and hope to the hidden and hurting.

Vicki Gillis

US Board Member

Vicki has served on the GHNI US Board since 2004 and on various other non-profit boards since 1993. She has owned and operated residential real estate rental businesses since 1999, but says her passion is to bring true and lasting Hope to people whose lives have been devastated by wars or natural disasters. Vicki holds a degree in International Relations and has experience leading or assisting short-term trips on almost every continent, with a particular heart for Central Asia. Her first two trips with GHNI to Pakistan and Afghanistan captured her heart forever. Her passion is to sit in the homes of refugee families and offer help and hope.

Scott McCormack

US Board Member

Scott is a third-generation real estate developer from Honolulu, Hawaii with extensive experience spanning over 37 years, encompassing a variety of senior management positions for major projects and master planned communities in Hawaii and US West markets. Scott now resides in Boise, Idaho with his family and wife, Amy. They feel privileged and honored to know GHNI Founders Hal and Lana Jones for over 20 years and assisted Hal in 2018 at the annual GLIPP event in Geneva, Switzerland, gaining firsthand knowledge of the global impact of GHNI. Scott says it’s a great honor and responsibility to be on the board and is proud to be a part of GHNI.

Mitchell Porch

Associate US Board Member

Mitchell grew up in West Africa-Kankan, Guinea until he was about 8 years old, and then in Dakar, Senegal until he was age 16. He moved to the USA on his 16th birthday to the frozen tundra of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. He studied Engineering at Calvin College in West Michigan and is currently working as a sales engineer selling magnets and specialty hinges.

Mitchell was invited by board member Norm Hawkins if he was interested in joining the GHNI US Board. Mitchell looks forward to helping provide leadership and awareness of the work being done through GHNI.

Sargon Davoodi

US Board Member

Born in Tehran, Iran, Sargon studied Economics and International Business there. At age 19, his family fled to Athens, Greece and migrated to Toronto, Canada. He began his 32 year career working for Costco Wholesale and is now the General Manager in Southern California. For 14 years, Sargon led teams to serve refugees from Iraq, Iran, Syria and Afghanistan in Jordan. As a former refugee, Sargon appreciates the impact GHNI has on the lives of so many forgotten. He feels serving on the US Board for GHNI is a blessing and privilege. Sargon loves teaching and investing in future leaders.

Katherine Jara Skinner

US Board Vice Chair

Katherine is a global marketer and innovation growth executive with a unique combination of 20+ years of leadership experience drawn from top Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Strategic Growth Consulting, and Data Technology. She has a passion for sustainable development and has strategized for companies such as The Coca-Cola Company, Nestle, Kimberly-Clark, Wendy’s, Walgreens, Playtex PepsiCo and IRI. Katherine is currently a partner with Sevendots, a global strategic growth consultancy. Katherine was raised in the US and Venezuela, is fluent in English and Spanish, and has earned a Mechanical Engineering degree and Masters in Business Admin.

Michael Puerner

US Board Member

Mike joined the GHNI US Board in 2023. He is excited to contribute to GHNI's world impact and international affairs while building sustainable programs in underserved world communities.

Mike has served for two decades as a senior legal advisor and executive with a 135-year old US insurance company. He has served on numerous industry boards and committees. An expert in governance and risk management, Mike works to provide ethical and sustainable solutions. Mike and his wife Jerri live in Ada, in West Michigan.

DONATE BY CHECK

If you prefer to donate by check, please mail your check to:

Global Hope Network International
934 N. Magnolia Ave.
Suite 310
Orlando, FL 32803

DONATE FROM SWITZERLAND

For all projects or staff - including our efforts to prevent Coronavirus in some of the most vulnerable communities:

GHNI Switzerland
27 Chemin des Crets Pregny
1218 Grand Saconnex
Geneva, Switzerland

Download a payment slip (ESR, BVR)

Or give by direct wire or transfer -

In Favor of  Global Hope Network International
Purpose: Your designated purpose for funds
Bank Name: Credit Suisse SA
Bank Address: 8070 Zurich, Switzerland
Bank Clearing No. 4835
BIC CRESCHZZ80A
Account / IBAN: CH81 0483 5043 3460 4200 1