Staff

Office Staff

Kelly Ballard, Finance Specialist
Kelly processes accounts payable, reconciles bank accounts and generally makes sure money is properly tracked and going to the correct places. While doing all that, she still manages her roles as mother of three and pastor's wife. Kelly is a huge fan of Disney World and has visited Mickey and company 16 times.

Nikki Brown, Program Development Manager
Nikki guides ALM program management in 15 countries including development, planning, monitoring and evaluation. She interacts with a wide range of non-governmental organizations and international partner agencies, as well as facilitating government grants. Nikki came to ALM from the agency world, where she worked with major corporations throughout the Southeast on public relations and marketing initiatives. She is a proud Hoosier but stayed in the South after graduating with a B.S. in marketing from Bob Jones University. Nikki is very active in her church and loves exploring the beauty of South Carolina with her friends and family. She also enjoys being the world's greatest aunt.

Kristy Collins, Program Information Coordinator
Kristy helps to ensure that ALM's more than 30 international projects are run effectively. She is a cum laude 2008 graduate of Presbyterian College with a B.A. in religion. Kristy comes to ALM from The Bair Foundation, where she gained experience in program development and implementation, policy development and governmental reporting. She loves music and is currently working towards a master's degree in counseling.

Beverly Elmore, Director of Finance
Beverly joined ALM 17 years ago. During this time, she has worked in all areas of the finance department. Beverly is responsible for all financial records as well as the cash management and operating budget. She also coordinates employee benefits including insurance, retirement plans, HSA accounts and workers' compensation. Beverly has a B.S. degree in financial management from Clemson University. She has a passion for people affected by leprosy and has enjoyed the opportunities to visit projects overseas.

Karen Gordon, PHR, CCP, Executive and Human Resources Administrator
Karen handles human resources, but spends the majority of her time working on special projects and assisting the president and CEO. Karen has more than 20 years of experience in the human resources and legal fields. She holds a B.A. in political studies and a post-graduate certificate in paralegal studies, both from Meredith College in North Carolina. Karen is a certified Professional in Human Resources and a Certified Compensation Professional.

Larae Harvey, Development Process and
Analysis Manager
Larae manages ALM's national direct mail program to more than 30,000 individual donors. She worked with Christian Blind Mission for 12 years as direct response marketing manager. Most recently, Larae worked as the director of donor relations for Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County where she implemented fundraising strategies through direct mail and cultivated foundations and major donors.

Sarah Hesshaus, M.A., Communications Manager
Sarah manages marketing, public relations, communications strategy and grant writing. She seeks to raise the profile of ALM and to inspire people to support its mission. From an international healthcare consulting firm to a science museum and several construction management companies, Sarah has successfully promoted both for-profit and non-profit organizations for more than 12 years. She has a B.A. from Calvin College and a M.A. in French from Middlebury College. After growing up in Boston, Sarah appreciates the fabulous climate of upstate South Carolina and is still shocked that she can plant vegetables in early March.

Christina Miller-Colton, Donor Relations Officer
Christina is responsible for fostering relationships with major donors and churches and for providing counsel on all aspects of ALM's fundraising activities and events. She has traveled to both India and Nepal to see ALM's projects firsthand. Prior to joining ALM, Christina worked in Washington, D.C. as a fundraiser and event planner for a host of non-profits, associations, corporate clients and political candidates. Additionally, she has experience working in the U.S. House of Representatives and for a national news organization. Christina has a B.A. in political science from Trinity University. When she is not busy being a control freak, Christina enjoys traveling, volunteering and gardening.

Jim Oehrig, M.A., Chief Program Officer
Jim oversees the selection, monitoring and evaluation of our partners, programs and projects in 15 countries as well as inter-organizational coordination, member care of ALM field staff, and cooperation with ALM's development and finance teams. He graduated from Houghton College with a B.A. and received a M.A. in Latin American studies / international development from the University of Connecticut. Jim also did post-graduate work at the Centre for Development Studies at the University of Wales, Swansea. Before joining ALM, Jim and his wife were World Relief staff members in Honduras and Guatemala; from 1993 to 2005 they served with MAP International from the Latin America Regional Office in Quito, Ecuador. After repeated tries, he has still failed to qualify for American Idol.

Julia Quast, Fundraising Coodinator
Julia provides support to ALM's development department. She joins ALM after moving south to Greenville from Wisconsin. She has a B.A. in psychology from Trinity Christian College and is certified in non-profit marketing. Julia is an enthusiastic Green Bay Packer fan who enjoys spending time with her family and friends and her golden retrievers, Charlie and Lucy.

Bekah Schwanbeck, Volunteer and Community
Relations Coordinator
Bekah is responsible for coordinating volunteers for support services and special events as well as raising awareness about ALM in the local community. She graduated from Jacksonville State University with a B.A. in Sociology and Broadcast Communications. Although she grew up in the South, she spent the last few years in southern California working with the high school ministry at Saddleback Church and then as a volunteer coordinator at a social services non-profit. Bekah is married to a youth pastor and absolutely loves serving in ministry alongside him. She is a big fan of Auburn football, "I Love Lucy" and cooking Southern food.

Linda Sholtis, Donor Relations Officer
Linda builds relationships with major donors to ensure they understand ALM's vision and mission and to identify their specific interests within our ministry. She also assists donors with planned giving opportunities such as charitable gift annuities, stock gifts and wills. Linda is currently working on becoming a Credentialed Christian Nonprofit Leader through the Christian Leadership Alliance. Before joining ALM, she held the position of personnel manager at Snelling Services in Greenville. For eight years she had a "fun, side job" as a wedding coordinator. Little known fact: In her late 20s and early 30s Linda performed in community theatre.

Bill Simmons, President and CEO
Bill is passionate about the mission of ALM. He sets the pace of the organization, helping to maximize the potential of the ALM team. He brings more than twenty years of management experience to his role having served as President and CEO of two nationwide, Christian, retail chains. Born in Tennessee, Bill spent his teenage years in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then Zaire), where his parents were missionaries. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in political science. Bill has served on the boards of several non-profit organizations. He thinks nothing of a quick lunchtime bike ride to the top of nearby Paris Mountain and back. An avid photographer, Bill returns from every trip to the field with photos showing both the deep need and God's stunning grace at work through the ministry of ALM.

Barkley Sippel, Donor Relations Officer
Barkley is responsible for building relationships with ALM's supporters. He brings more than twenty years of general business experience to ALM and has served as president of several national organizations in both the Christian retail trade and the home decor industry. Born and reared in Greenville, South Carolina, he drifted to the coast and played baseball at The Citadel where he earned a degree in business administration. He enjoys spending free time with his family either playing sports or in the great outdoors on their farm in the Mississippi delta.

Robert Bowers, OTR, M.S., Missionary and CBR Specialist, Bangladesh
Since 2001, Bob, an occupational therapist, has served as an advisor, mentor and trainer to staff in projects throughout Bangladesh. He works directly with leprosy-affected individuals and is constantly looking for ways to improve projects and help with community-based rehabilitation programs. Bob has an enthusiasm for sharing the Gospel through helping people with their physical needs. His wife and three children joyfully serve alongside him and consider Bangladesh as their true home.

Ma. Gemma C. Cabanos, M.D., M.P.H., Regional Liaison for Western Pacific Region
Gemma is seconded to the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Regional Office as a Medical Officer. In this role, she acts as a regional focal point for leprosy, coordinates with WHO country staff, and supports leprosy reporting, case-finding, training and stigma reduction. Before joining the staff of ALM, Gemma was executive director of the Philippine Leprosy Mission for seven years. She has extensive experience working at both WHO headquarters in Geneva and in the Philippines for the Department of Health. Gemma plays several instruments, including the piano and guitar, and also paints using acrylic, oil and soft pastels.

Hugh Cross, BSc (pod), Ph.D., Technical Consultant, Nepal
Previously based in the Philippines, Hugh and his wife now live in Nepal. He provides support to ALM partners and projects around the world, but primarily in Asia. He is a member of the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations (ILEP) Technical Commission and a United Kingdom State Registered Podiatrist. Prior to receiving his Ph.D. in podiatry, Hugh worked as a veterinary technician and shepherd. According to Hugh, "I work with and for some of the most disadvantaged people on Earth. They give me so very much that time seldom passes when I do not feel uniquely privileged and purposeful." Hugh is also the resident storyteller at ALM and is always comically relaying his antics.

Deanna Hagge, Ph.D., Missionary and Research Scientist, Nepal
Deanna works as the Head of Labs at Anandaban Hospital and is in charge of overseeing all leprosy research activities. Deanna performed her graduate and post-doctoral training at the National Hansen's Disease Program based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She currently oversees Tribhuvan University MSc students working on their thesis projects at the research lab and is a guest lecturer at local Nepali universities. She enjoys life in Nepal and can no longer stand to eat rice when she returns to the U.S. because it's just not good enough.

Jacques Kongawi, M.D., Country Representative, DR Congo
Jacques oversees ALM's leprosy and Buruli ulcer control programs in DRC and is a liaison with the Ministry of Health. He was the 2009 recipient of the prestigious Damien-Dutton Award, given to an outstanding individual who has made a significant contribution to the elimination of leprosy. Jacques enjoys spending time with his children and finding new and creative ways to travel the 'exciting' roads in DRC. He is also the consummate joke teller.

Linda Lehman, OTR, M.P.H., C. Ped., Technical Consultant, Brazil
Linda began her work with ALM in 1984 and has never looked back. An internationally recognized occupational therapist, Linda's passion is prevention of disability (POD), community-based rehabilitation (CBR) and field-based training. She works with ALM partners focused on leprosy and Buruli ulcer around the world, primarily in Brazil and Africa. Linda also enjoys traveling the world in her free time and could win any passport stamp competition thrown her way.

Paul Saunderson, M.D., MRCP, Medical/Research Director, Norway
Paul received his medical degree from Cambridge University and has been involved in leprosy work since 1981. He directs all research-related initiatives for ALM and spends much of his time traveling and evaluating projects. Paul serves on several World Health Organization (WHO) advisory and technical committees and is a member of the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations (ILEP) Technical Commission. He enjoys making the rest of the ALM staff jealous by sending photos of the beautiful views from his home in Norway.

Tin Shwe, M.D., Country Representative, Myanmar
Tin Shwe has been with ALM since 2000 and is involved in all aspects of the leprosy work in Myanmar. He serves as International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations (ILEP) liaison officer and provides counsel to the World Health Organization (WHO). Tin Shwe has been working with Myanmar's national leprosy program for more than 35 years and has extensive experience in leprosy research and medical work. Tin Shwe is married and has three children, with several grandchildren that keep life interesting.