OUR TEAM

Most people can make their present circumstances tolerable, but to be able to steer others toward future success, you need real vision. Kevin had no problem succeeding as a senior business executive, college professor, or in any other of his pre-Outreach pursuits. But, his well-earned sense of accomplishment was always accompanied by a higher sense that he could help make the world a better place in more significant, meaningful ways. He jumped into the role of Outreach’s President and CEO where he combines his tireless dedication to excellence with his uncompromising commitment to helping people. Outreach’s success is humanity’s success, so the fact that Kevin’s behind the wheel is great news for everyone.

FUN FACT: It sounds like we’re flattering him because he’s the President and all, but if anything, we’re being modest on his behalf.

A degree in Nonprofit Leadership and study in Central America set Charlotte firmly on the international nonprofit path. As Senior Director of Marketing, she’s our Chief Creative Problem Solver who creates campaigns, drives our social media and website forward (right here!), and creates the conditions for our story to spread far and wide. She’s our ever-engergized marketing machine who’s motivated to work every day to communicate that at Outreach, we “empower people living in poverty around the world to solve their own problems and live happier, healthier, more hopeful lives.” And, as you may have guessed by now, she’s kind of a nice person.

FUN FACT: Charlotte prepares to teach her spin class by selecting motivational songs with the right tempo. So she’s not just listening to Justin Bieber for fun. It’s work.

After a few victory laps of the upper management tiers in Big Banking, Amanda’s considerable number-wrangling skills were sharp enough to cut glass. Sensing that her expertise could be employed for the unlimited good of all humankind, she joined Outreach, and has since ascended to Senior Manager of Donor Services, ushering in an era of frictionless, error-free mastery of all possible details.

FUN FACT: She enjoys a game of billiards. And she won’t get all defensive if you say “that’s not even a sport.”

After you hear about everything Nikki does in a day, you might be surprised to find out that she’s just one person. Her title of Chief Financial Officer would seem like the pinnacle of Things To Be In Charge Of, but she doesn’t stop even close to there. She leads all Outreach operations, oversees long-term financial success, leads Donor Services, and manages our headquarters building. Oh, and she’s the entire Human Resources department. And this is all after a morning rowing workout. And not on a machine, but kayaking on actual water. The cold, wet kind that’s outside.

FUN FACT: She wants to meet your dog.

Andrea’s mastery of digital design and online visual content is matched by her skill at creating amazing three-dimensional art. And she can’t decide which one she finds more satisfying. As a graduate in Industrial Design from the Universidad de la Salle in León, Guanajuato, Mexico, she learned the art of observing a need and creating a concept to solve it. Now, Andrea uses her unique combination of artistic talents to create visual solutions that show the world how Outreach empowers people. And that’s a beautiful thing.

FUN FACT: Andrea lived in Cozumel for 14 years. That’s a tropical island paradise. For 14 years. If you’re not feeling jealous right now, you didn’t read that right.

What do you do with over 15 years of experience in community-development programs, non-profit sectors, and rural sociopolitical contexts — work that involves coordinating outreach programs and conducting research on youth culture, and social and political dynamics? And what if you also hold a Ph.D. in Social Anthropology from the University of Kansas and are a research fellow with the University of the Free State’s Center for Gender and African Studies? If you’re Elene Cloete, you combine your empathy and expertise to embody Outreach’s ideal Director of Research and Advocacy, and you do amazing things every dang day.

FUN FACT: Her interest and passion for all manner of dams and dam-related topics exceeds that of even the most fastidious beaver. It’s incredible.

From the moment Chris first read Robert Frost poems as a kid, he knew he’d be a writer for the rest of his life. The world finally agreed with him a couple decades later by giving him a job writing jokes and poems for greeting cards. Then it was on to children’s books, magazine articles and internet gibberish. 2,400 cards, 14 books and ten hundred thousand blog posts later, he finally gets to lay down some work of real value as Content Manager for Outreach.

FUN FACT: Chris has earned two writing awards and one World’s Greatest Dad mug.

With all the big brains at Outreach, you’d think it’d be tricky to name the brightest among us… until you meet Felee. During her decades on Team Outreach, she’s added a galaxy of new skills and become a licensed social worker. In recent years, she’s lent her insights to newer field team members around the globe as our Senior Manager of International Training and Mentoring, helping them grow into the sort of world-changing facilitators embodied by Felee herself.

FUN FACT: Felee’s as dynamic in her off-hours as she is on the job, making the most out of life and savoring all the joys of travels — including new, wild foods, unique methods of transportation, and the occasional swing at a corn festival in Nepal.

Every day, there are more things going on around Outreach HQ than can be counted on all the fingers and toes of all the staff members present. Laura is a beacon of calm amidst the frenzy of inspiration and accountability around her. After 13 years practicing law followed by 13 years perfecting her parenthood of three now-teenagers, her powers of conflict resolution are legendary. Thankfully, her desire to empower others drew her to Outreach, where her world-class efficiency matches our global ambitions.

FUN FACT: Lists “CrossFit” as an occasional hobby, which only confirms our suspicions that she has more energy than anyone we know.

As a graduate in both Nonprofit Leadership and Applied Critical Thought and Inquiry, whatever Mckenzie may lack in years she more than makes up for in accomplishments, especially in the industry of Helping People. She’s helped through, (deep breath)… New Roots for Refugees, the Alzheimer’s Association, Gateway to Hope, Union Station of Kansas City, an NGO in Spain called ABD, Outreach International internship, volunteering, fundraising, planning awareness events, donor appreciation (inhale!)… and she’s had more leadership experiences than you have time to read about right now.

FUN FACT: Mckenzie figure skated competitively for 12 years. And, she loves a good theme party. This is either the best or the worst intersection of interests we’ve ever heard of.

A globe-hopping childhood sparked Alex’s lifelong passion for other cultures, and an abiding affection for structure(s) helped her find a path that wound its way from an architecture degree at Washington University, to a Masters from Vanderbilt in International Education Policy and Management, then later, to Outreach, where she’s able to put it all to use as Director of Field Finance.

FUN FACT: Grew up in a house with a full-size trampoline in the living room. Not kidding.

In Casey’s own words, she’s not afraid to speak out against injustices and empower others to do the same. So it comes as no surprise that she created an entirely new field of study at Graceland University where she graduated with a degree in Communications and Social Change. And that massive achievement is the extent of her accomplishments. Except for being Student Government President, a rare recipient of the Student Life Award, a political campaign captain, a national speech and debate qualifier, and a policy-changing advocate for so many causes that she had to come up with some new ones on her own. Now she’s an integral member of our marketing team, where she (surprise) communicates about our work for social change, community development and putting an end to poverty around the world.

FUN FACT: Will work for tacos.

Cassidy has your dream job: As Senior Manager of Training and Support, she travels the world for much of the year, immersing herself in other cultures, solving problems, making plans, building lifelong friendships, and amassing enough stories to win every dinner party conversation for the rest of her life. It’s not luck that brought her to Outreach – she spent her formative years growing into the sort of expert who can get where she’s headed without ever losing her way.

FUN FACT: Is always quietly hoping you’ll want to talk about hyenas.

Everything Andrea builds is meant to last. From her days slide-ruling her way up the ladder of a Seattle-based architecture firm, through to her tenure as Outreach’s Chief Field Operations Officer, the first component is support, and the last is a thorough inspection. Outside of work, she can be found indulging the other half of her brain as she chases her artistic impulses wherever it leads.

FUN FACT: Brings an extra suitcase on overseas trips just so she can fill it with gifts for her family, friends, acquaintances, and anyone else who’d appreciate it.