This is a partial list of volunteers and supporters, in alphabetical order, which is updated semi-annually.

Ermyas Amelga - A Rotarian from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Ermyas is the current club president of the Rotary Club of AA. Ermyas has been very supportive of our footbridge program, and helped greatly in coordinated the Rotary International Grant paperwork.

Jason Anderlite - Ross Construction, Palo Alto, California - Jason was part of the Ross team that traveled to La Burrera, Honduras in March of 2008 to build the first Bridges to Prosperity suspension bridge. Jason can be seen in the video on this website entitled "La Burrera Footbridge Honduras". Also, photos of his effort can be found on our La Burrera Suspension Bridgeproject.

Nahu-Senay Araya - A Rotarian from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. "Nahu" operates an insurance brokerage. He is also an engineer, and was Past Rotary District Governor. Nahu has been our primary Rotary contact in Ethiopia, and he was instrumental in encouraging his club to sponsor our project.

Irund "Sergio" A-wan - worked with the University of Iowa Program team to design and construct the Yabina y Colpa bridgein the Andes of Peru. See Continental Crossingsfor even more information.

Avery Bang - Lead University of Iowa effort to design and construct the Yabina y Colpa Bridge in the Andes of Peru. Click herefor her bio. Avery is now working with Bridges To Prosperity as the Director of Operations. For information on Volunteer or intern opportunities, please contact by E-Mail. See more about the Yabina y Colpa Bridge on theContinental Crossingswebsite.

Matt Barber: A Structural Engineer with Parsons Brinkerhoff, New York, Matt traveled to Honduras and El Salvador in March 2009.

Ivy Beringer - A Rotarian from Gloucester Point, Virginia. Ivy is Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Rappahannock Community College. She has helped give presentations to other Rotary Clubs.

William C. Billings - participated in the 2009 Sebara Dildi Expedition to Ethiopia and helped construct the new 95 meter Suspended Pedestrian Footbridge over the Blue Nile.

Shiferaw Bizuneh (past in 2009) - Shiferaw was a Rotarian from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. "Shif" was the Managing Director of a Construction Firm. He was also a Rotary District Governor and Vice Mayor of Addis Ababa. Shif donated a tremendous amount of his time and energy in hand carrying and coordinating our NGO application process with the various Ethiopian Ministries.

Gary Bunch - Mathews County, Virginia. Gary went to Ethiopia to assist in the construction of the broken Blue Nile bridge. Gary will be in charge of the rock masonry repair work on that bridge. He is being sponsored by several different individuals who could not attend personally. Gary owns his own firm Marine Contractors that specializes in renovations and marine work. Gary is also an accomplished mason and carpenter.

Pete Brezzo - Ross Construction, Palo Alto, California - Pete was part of the Ross team that traveled to La Burrera, Honduras in March of 2008 to build the first Bridges to Prosperity suspension bridge. Pete can be seen in the video on this website entitled "La Burrera Footbridge Honduras". Also, photos of his effort can be found on our La Borrera Suspension Bridgeproject.

Terianne Brubaker - Ross Construction, Palo Alto, California - Terianne was part of the Ross team that traveled to La Burrera, Honduras in March of 2008 to build the first Bridges to Prosperity suspension bridge. Terianne can be seen in the video on this website entitled "La Burrera Footbirdge Honduras". Also, photos of her effort can be found on our La Burrera Suspension Bridgeproject.

Nkole Bwalya - Nkole was the 2007-08 Rotary Governor for District 9210, which covers Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Northern Mozambique. Nkole was instrumental in originating the Rotary Footbridge program in Zambia, and was one of its strong supporters.

Ned Carr - Grant coordinator for the Honduras Footbridge Program, Rotary Club of Warwick.

Jeff Chamberlain - Ross Construction, Palo Alto, California - Jeff was part of the Ross team that traveled to La Burrera, Honduras in March of 2008 to build the first Bridges to Prosperity suspension bridge. Jeff can be seen in the video on this website entitled "La Burrera Footbridge Honduras". Also, photos of his effort can be found on our La Burrera Suspension Bridgeproject.

David Clark - participated in the 2009 Sebara Dildi Expedition to Ethiopia and helped construct the new 95 meter Suspended Pedestrian Footbridge over the Blue Nile.

Randy Clarke - Palm Springs, California. Click here for his bio. Randy is a Board Member who designed and built our original web site. Randy hosts the site at no cost on his private server. He further contributed the funds needed to pay for the page graphics and site modification software. Randy has spent hundreds of hours modifying the site to keep up with project updates, new volunteers, and the evolving mission. Randy, over the years has donated three laps tops to Bridges To Prosperity, as well as lots of other office software products. Contact Randy Clarke by .

Brittney Coll - worked with University Program, Arizona State team at Pena Blanca, Honduras in 2008-2009.

Carol Considine - Norfolk, Virginia. Click here for her bio. Carol is a Board Member and an engineering professor at Old Dominion University. Carol is responsible for our intern and university relations programs.

Bobby Cottam - worked with University Program, Arizona State team at Pena Blanca, Honduras in 2008-2009.

Umberto Croce - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Umberto is the manager of the steel firm Ocfa that fabricated the Blue Nile bridge. In addition to providing Bridges To Prosperity with a special price for fabricating the bridge, Umberto has donated many hours of his own time to provide invaluable information to us on the steel design, and on the wood decking. Also, Umberto, who is a member of the Rotary Club in Addis Ababa, has gained his clubs approval to donate the money to purchase the cement needed to perform the masonry repairs on the broken bridge.

Josh Davidson - Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Josh has assisted us with ideas and structure of our new website. Josh also assists us with donations of specialized equipment from Mc Master-Carr.

Corey Denton - participated in the 2009 Sebara Dildi Expedition to Ethiopia and helped construct the new 95 meter Suspended Pedestrian Footbridge over the Blue Nile.

Heidi Denton - participated in the 2009 Sebara Dildi Expedition to Ethiopia and helped construct the new 95 meter Suspended Pedestrian Footbridge over the Blue Nile.

Rafael Deheza - worked with University Program, Notre Dame teamat Pena Blanca, Honduras in 2008-2009.

Anne, Patrick, Max, and Theo Dewez - Monaco - Anne and Patrick have been bridge supporters from the beginning. After our laptop died in Ethiopia, they donated two new IBM ThinkPads and hand delivered them all the way to the USA from their home in Monaco. Max volunteered in the Andes for two months in the summer of 2006.

Simon Douse: A Electro-Mechanical Engineer with Parsons Brinkerhoff in Sydney, Simon traveled to Timor-Leste in November 2008 to help survey our Project # 056, the Alieu Suspended Bridge.He also traveled to El Salvador in March 2009.

Dan Downing - participated in the 2009 Sebara Dildi Expedition to Ethiopia and helped construct the new 95 meter Suspended Pedestrian Footbridge over the Blue Nile.

Mark Duey - Blair, Nebraska. Mark was a Peace Corp volunteer in Honduras, and has been awarded a prestigious Ambassadorial scholarship by Rotary International, to study in Barcelona, Spain in 2006. Mark spent 4 months in Honduras preparing a feasibility study for us, which greatly assisted our program.

Patrick Duffeler - Williamsburg, Virginia. Patrick and his son Patrick II are owners of one of the oldest and largest wineries in the State of Virginia,The Williamsburg Winery. They are the ones that made the large donation of $45,000 from the Virginia land preservation program possible from the seller’s side. They have further offered to host an annual wine auction at their winery for our benefit. The first annual Williamsburg Wine Auction was held in the late spring/early summer of 2005. This auction has the potential to help us raise over $100,000 annually for our mission.

Bill Ellenbogen, Blacksburg, Virginia - Bill has been a bridge supporter from the beginning. Recently, he played an important role in a large transaction involving Virginia land preservation tax credits that helped raise the largest amount in our history at one time....$45,000!

Michael Ferebee - Traveled to Peru in 2007 to help start the construction on the Yabina bridge. Also raised money to assist the Iowa Continental Crossing University team with the cost of materials for the Yabina bridge.

Amy Floren, PE - Princeton, New Jersey. Click here for her bio. Amy works for Michael Baker. She will be traveling to Peru in September of 2006 as a volunteer to assist with on-site footbridge construction.

Wesley Fordyce - Florissant, Missouri. Wes has built many pedestrian bridges in Missouri, Texas, and New York. Always experimenting with unique and lighter bridge designs. Wes also brings to Bridges his language skills in Spanish, German, French, and Arabic, as well as prior Peace Corp. experience in Guatemala. In February and March of 2003, Wes generously volunteered to pay for his own travel costs to visit a Swiss started bridge program in Vera Cruz, Mexico. What he learns there shall be incorporated into our bridge building plans in Ethiopia and elsewhere. Wes donated tents and 100 meter tape measures for the projects in Ethiopia. Wesley will also be assisting us by traveling to Peru for fact finding, prior to our director's (Zoe Keone Pacciani) arrival in August of 2005. Wesley has also assisted in the new Tres Unidos project in Peru.

Brendan Frantz: Traveled to Peru in 2006 and helped with the construction of the Project # 023- Mezapata Suspended Bridge. Brendan was part of the team of Hampton Road Academy Seniors that led a fundraising effort to provide the cable on Project # 052- Corinto Suspended Bridge. Brendan also volunteered on site in Honduras to help build the bridge in March of 2009.

Forrest Frantz - North Bend, Washington. Click here for his bio. Forrest is one of the original founding members and head of engineering. See his resume in the founding member and board section. In late 2003, Forrest arranged for the contribution of Abney survey instruments for Ethiopia projects. Forest also participated in the 2009 Sebara Dildi Expedition to Ethiopia and helped construct the new 95 meter Suspended Pedestrian Footbridge over the Blue Nile.

Jean Frantz - Des Moines, Washington. Click here for her bio. Jean is one of the original founding members. See her resume in the founding member section.

Ken Frantz - Gloucester, Virginia. Ken is the original founding member, the board director, and full time volunteer. Click here for his bio. Additional information on Ken can be found on our meet us page. Contact him at his Bridges To Prosperity or his personal . Ken also participated in the 2009 Sebara Dildi Expedition to Ethiopia and helped construct the new 95 meter Suspended Pedestrian Footbridge over the Blue Nile.

Marty Frantz - Hayden Lake, Idaho. Click here for his bio. Marty is a Board Member, one of Bridges to Prosperity's original founding members and is the owner of an assisted care living firm Guardian Angel Homesin Hayden Lake, Idaho. Marty contributed financial assistance for the Ethiopia broken bridge survey trip in June, 2001. More currently, Marty is heading up the land preservation fund raising program in Idaho, which has the potential to bring in over $200,000 in contributions to our mission. Marty also participated in the 2009 Sebara Dildi Expedition to Ethiopia and helped construct the new 95 meter Suspended Pedestrian Footbridge over the Blue Nile.

Peter Frantz - Washington, DC Area. No relation to our executive director Ken, Peter is an artist that donated a sculpture to us entitled: "Bridge".See Peter's work here. Peter donated the time and money needed to research and mail a 250 piece mailing to Ethiopian Expatriates that are business owners in the Wash DC area. Interestingly enough, this mailer connected us with Hiwot Menbere and other Ethiopian expatriates, who have been a tremendous help to our Ethiopian mission. Most recently, Peter donated an inflatable kayak to allow our team to cross and survey rivers in the Andes of Peru.

Preston Frantz - Traveled to Ethiopia in 2006 to help repair the Sebara Dildiy bridge on the Blue Nile. Also traveled to Peru in 2007 to help start the construction on the Yabina bridge. Also raised money to assist the Iowa Continental Crossing University team with the cost of materials for the Yabina bridge.

Sarah Frantz - Traveled to Peru in 2006 and helped with the construction of the Mezapata bridge.

Wanda Friend - A Rotarian from Gloucester Point, Virginia. Wanda is a retired banking executive. She is also involved in many other local charities. Wanda has helped give presentations to other Rotary Clubs.

Bernie Gillott - Hampton, Virginia. Bernie volunteered his services to provide us with "voice-overs" for our National Geographic Channel video.

Pax and Lucy Goodson - Newport News, VA - A father and daughter team, Pax and Lucy volunteered in our Honduras program during January and February of 2008.

Fred Grosser - Redwood City, California. Click here for his bio. Fred is a Board Member. He is also the Director of the Nepal projects, and traveled there to assist in the construction of the 2nd Nepal cable way. Fred is also responsible for the transfer of cable way technology from the USGS and Nepal Ecosytems to our organization, thereby allowing us to use this efficient design elsewhere. Among other contributed expenses, Fred paid for all his travel expenses to and from Nepal. Fred spends weeks and weeks every year in producing our annual "Bridge News".

Arun Gupta - Hackettstown, New Jersey. Arun own his own contracting firm and has an unusual passion for traveling. His most recent trip included a "casual" visit to the North Pole! When Bridges put out a request for a volunteer to intern with the United Nations program in Zimbabwe, Arun immediately volunteered to go and pay his own travel expenses. He had been to Zimbabwe recently, so he already knew how to get around in that country. Arun traveled to Harare is April of 2002, and brought back much information on the bridge prototype program there. What he learned shall be incorporated into our bridge building program in Ethiopia and elsewhere.

Rob & Joni Hafley - Yorktown, VA. Rob and Joni have assisted with the wine auction software, displays, and checkout.

Scott Hamel - Denver, Colorado. Scott donated a GPS unit to the Peru program to improve our site surveys, and to increase volunteer safety.

Naved Haqqi - has volunteered for Bridges To Prosperity on many fronts. To support Board Member Ken Hodge's Motorcycle Peru to Virginia trip, he created the following website: rotarybridges7600.org. Naved also assisted with our online presence through extensive work on Wikipedia.

Bill Hart - Newport News, Virginia. Bill is a Rotarian and lead a team of Rotarian volunteers that traveled to Peru to assist in the program there in early 2007. Hampton Roads Academyin Newport News Virginia - The following students of Hampton Roads Academy assisted with the wine auction in 2005 - Chelsea Vonu, Brigham Wall, Anne-Hampton Wall, Laura Kolster, Abbey Broughton, Dasha Afanaseva, Tori Young, Preston Frantz, Walter Abruzzese, Elena Marsteller, and Rebecca Cabot.

Brett and Kim Hargrave - Hayden Lake, Idaho. Brett handled stateside logistics for the May, 2001 Ethiopia broken bridge survey trip. He also paid his own airfare and hotel on the actual survey trip in which his survival training and medic skills were extremely valuable. In 2006, Kim donated time and her talents in helping design our new logo. Brett also participated in the 2009 Sebara Dildi Expedition to Ethiopia and helped construct the new 95 meter Suspended Pedestrian Footbridge over the Blue Nile.

Rick Hassett - Assisted with construction of bridges in Honduras, including the Las Vegas bridge in the Yoro District.

Terri Haynie - Gloucester, Virginia. Terri volunteered her wonderful writing skills to submit several articles to various periodicals to help promote the mission of Bridges to Prosperity.

Kay Helm - Gloucester, Virginia. Kay Helm owns an independent video production firm called Tomato House. She has offered to edit the Ethiopia broken bridge Blue Nile video gratis.

Daire Heneghan - Ross Construction, Palo Alto, California - Daire was part of the Ross team that traveled to La Burrera, Honduras in March of 2008 to build the first Bridges to Prosperity suspension bridge. Daire can be seen in the video on this website entitled "Honduras Suspension Bridge". Also, photos of his effort can be found on Project 034.

Paul Henze - Washington, Virginia. Highly regarded historian and author of Layers of Time A History of Ethiopia, Paul generously donated much of his time in researching the history of the 2nd Portuguese Bridge on the Blue Nile, Ethiopia. In this regard, his library of books (many of which are no longer published), proved invaluable in this regard. Paul also gave us great personal counsel on the land and people we would soon meet. Paul, who give presentations all over the world on his books and Ethiopian research, regularly includes mention of our mission in such presentations.

Leanne Hester - Newport News, Virginia. Our corporate travel agent. She runs the travel department for a large corporation and volunteers her time to research and write all our airline and hotel at steeply discounted rates with no commission. Bank and Anne Hipp - Atlanta, Georgia. Bank and Ann are Founding Members and provide major financial support to our mission.

Ken Hodge - Grant coordinator for the Peru phase II grant in Cajamarca, Rotary Club of Newport News. Click here for his bio. Ken is also a committee member for the Zambia grant, and is heading up a BMW motorcycle trip fundraiser from Peru to the USA.......a 9,000 mile ride!

Mark Holthaus - Mark is a Rotarian, and has been responsible for our Rotarian grant and exchange programs.

Becky Horsely - A Rotarian from Gloucester Point, Virginia. Becky is in the insurance business. She has helped give presentations to other Rotary Clubs.

Norm Jacobson - Norm is a Rotarian from the Seattle 4 Club. Norm is in charge of that clubs involvement in the Peru program. Norm was instrumental in getting our bridge manuals digitized so that they might be made available on our website. Norm is currently working on putting together a team of Rotarians and others to visit Peru and assist in the bridge program.

Richard James - Menlo Park, California. Richard volunteered to pay his own costs to travel to Ethiopia in April and May of 2004, to assist in the training, and supervision during the construction of four bridges in the Keranyo, Desse, Marye and Jorogeta areas. He visited Nicaragua during April and May of 2006 and performed the feasibility study. Richard enjoys meeting people from new cultures, learning their language and customs as well as bringing home samples of their hand tools. He hopes the brooms from Nicaragua evoke less suspicion at the airport than did the hand forged axe heads and picks he carried home from Ethiopia.

Jeremy Johannesen, PE - Westminster, Colorado. Click here for his bio. Jeremy is a principal with McNary Bergeron & Associates, LLC. He has agreed to lead the effort to design a new suspension bridge for our program, as it relates to the preparation of drawings, construction sequence, and manual. This bridge will be more cost effective than our existing suspension bridge design, and will be more capable of use in crossing river flood plains.

Bruce Johinke - Bruce Johinke leads Parsons Brinckerhoff Consult’s International Projects group, and is also the Chairman of PB Power Asia Pacific, and a Senior Vice President of Parsons Brinckerhoff International Inc. Bruce has led the joint B2P/PB effort in Timor Leste and traveled in November 2008 to assist with surveying Project # 056 - Alieu Suspended Bridge.

Jocelyn Johinke - Jocelyn spent time in Timor-Leste over a number of years and has played a significant roll in helping engage the Ministry of Infrastructure in Timor. She also assisted with the survey of Project # 056- Alieu Suspended Bridge.

David Kelvin - Houston, Texas (Rice University) - Click here for his bio. David spent two months volunteering at various bridge sites in Peru during the summer of 2006.

Zoe Keone Pacciani - Gig Harbor, Washington. Zoe was born in Canada, raised in New Zealand and has spent the majority of the past 11 years ‘on the road’. She started out as a back-packer, quickly developed a passion for photography and slowly realized her passion for photography was second to her passion for knowing other people and cultures. This realization led her to work with NGO's - first as a photographer, and for the last few years with Bridges to Prosperity in Nepal, Ethiopia and Peru. To say Zoe loves her job would be an incredible understatement. If you were to ask her why she would reply: “Everything I do from morning to night, in the field and in the office, utilizes my deeply practical side towards the ultimate goal of self-reliance. I have believed in Independence since I was a small child!! I am challenged, motivated and often moved (emotionally) through my communications with the communities I work with. I"t’s a perfect fit." Contact Zoe Keone Pacciani at her Bridges To Prosperity or her Hotmail . Learn about Zoein Ethiopia and Peru. Visit Zoe Keone Paccianiat her new website.

Jutta Kern - Austria, currently Washington DC. Click here for his bio. Jutta currently works for the Austrian embassy in Wash DC. She is a sociologist. She has agreed to travel to El Salvador to prepare a feasibility study for us there.

Debbie Koshiyama - Ross Construction, Palo Alto, California - Debbie was part of the Ross team that traveled to La Burrera, Honduras in March of 2008 to build the first Bridges to Prosperity suspension bridge. Debbie can be seen in the video on this website entitled "Honduras Suspension Bridge". Also, photos of her effort can be found on Project # 034.

Sandy & George Kovats - Washington, DC. Sandy and George are the parents of Zoe Keone Pacciani Pacciani. They sponsored their daughters first trip to Ethiopia, to act as photographer and videographer on the broken bridge Blue Nile Project. Since that time, they have visited and been terrific supporters of Zoe's mission work.

Eric Kuhn - Leipzig Germany Eric is the CEO of Alpin Technik. Eric has agreed to act as the prime sponsor of the Tres Unidos bridge in Peru. Their firm will travel to Peru in late 2005 or early 2006 to perform a needed fact finding and survey. Following completion of a preliminary design, Eric has agreed to find the needed financial sponsors for the bridge, and then return with a team to direct the actual construction. Jana Arnold, of Alpin Technik, is also a integral part of the team. She also assisted us with our new logo design.

Jenna Kusmierek - worked with University Program, Iowa team effort to design and construct the Yabina y Colpa bridge in the Andes of Peru. continentalcrossings.org

Anna Lacey - worked with University Program, Notre Dame team at Pena Blanca, Honduras in 2008-2009.

Steve Lanning - Gloucester, Virginia. Click here for his bio. Steve is a Board Member. Steve volunteered his skills and many hours in designing our web based brochure. His design will allow us to avoid high printing costs for brochures, and easily amend our brochure in the future. Steve also donated 75,000 miles on United to fly our Ethiopia Program manager back to the USA for a Board Meeting. Most recently Steve is responsible for our publications, forms, and organizing our thousands of photographs.

Lucas Lautman - participated in the 2009 Sebara Dildi Expedition to Ethiopia and helped construct the new 95 meter Suspended Pedestrian Footbridge over the Blue Nile.

Mark Lautman - participated in the 2009 Sebara Dildi Expedition to Ethiopia and helped construct the new 95 meter Suspended Pedestrian Footbridge over the Blue Nile.

Hector Lechuga - worked with University Program, Arizona State team at Pena Blanca, Honduras in 2008-2009.

Ney Linares - Missouri. Ney is a native from the Amazon region of Peru, and now is a US resident. Ney is organizing a team to help build a bridge for a community in Peru, called Tres Unidos.

Rob Little - Rob is a Peace Corp volunteer who spent two years in Panama. Rob volunteered in January and February of 2008 to assist us with the La Esparanza footbridge in Honduras. Rob is also heading up the construction of a footbridge in Luguna, Panama. You can read more about his experiences in Honduras and Panama at his blog: http://www.rlittle.blogspot.com/

Rebecca Lynde - Peace Corp volunteer in Yoro Honduras that assisted with communications with the local Rotary Club there.

Robert and Chris Lynds - Paso Robles, California - Both Chris and Robert volunteered in our Honduras program for the entire month of May, 2008.

Brian Lytle - York County, Virginia. Brian is a Board Member, and corporate counsel.Click herefor his bio. In late 2003, Brian arranged for the contribution of distance laser gauges for Ethiopia projects. See: Sponsors - Corporate Sponsors Distagage.com

Lisa Maxwell - New York. Lisa volunteered her graphic talents to assist us in developing our new logo in 2006.

Patrick McHugh - worked with University Program, Notre Dame team at Pena Blanca, Honduras in 2008-2009.

Sean McNichols - worked with University Program, Notre Dame team at Pena Blanca, Honduras in 2008-2009.

Dr. Mengistu Mekonnen - Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Dr. Mengistu acted as the doctor for the Blue Nile project free clinic. During the 10 days the free clinic was open, he saw 1000 patients! Bridges to Prosperity will be making a separate donation to his clinic in Bahir Dar. So, not only will the people on either side of the river benefit by the free clinic set up during construction, the people served by Dr. Mengistu in Bahir Dar will benefit as well from the donation of additional medical supplies. In March, 2006, Dr. Mengistu volunteered to set up and run a free medical clinic in Agam Woha in the Amhara State where 750 were treated in just three days!

Maurizio Melloni - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Maurizio's firm, Wonz-Dar expeditions provided all the logistical support for our broken bridge Blue Nile Ethiopia project. Maurizio volunteered many hours housing and helping our in-country coordinator get things organized in advance of the construction effort.

Hiwot Menbere - Washington DC. Hiwot heads up the Ethiopian Orthodox Charity Fellowship, and will be assisting our Ethiopia mission near the Blue Nile. Hiwot will help us to encourage the Ethiopian Orthodox church to take on more direct humanitarian projects, as a way to better engage their faithful. In March, 2006, Hiwot helped organize a mission to support the Ethiopian Orthodox church with 40 church packets, which included bibles, liturgy, psalms, gospels, vestries, and other church supplies desperately needed.

Hussein Mohammed - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Hussein acted as the nurse for the broken bridge Blue Nile free clinic. He assisted during the incredible effort in treating 1000 patients in 10 days!

Virginia Morrell - Author of the National Geographic Magazine article that inspired both the creation of Bridges to Prosperity and the repair of the Broken Bridge, Virginia has been a continual supporter. Her later book about her expedition, Blue Nile, Ethiopia's River of Magic and Mystery, was the source and inspiration for a second bridge project in Ethiopia, Castiano's Folly.

JoAnn Stevens and Bill Morton - Lynnwood, Washington. JoAnn and Bill are International Rotarians from the Seattle district. They are our Seattle Rotary sponsors, and have volunteered huge amounts of their time in organizing and spreading the word on our mission among the 50+ clubs in their district. They are further credited with raising the initial Rotary seed money needed to gain Rotary International Matching Grant approval. Without their help, inspiration, and vision, the Rotary-Bridges collaboration would not exist. Bill and Joann traveled to Peru in October, 2005 and met with Zoe.

Ron Mosocco, CPA - Williamsburg, Virginia. Our corporate CPA and Board Member.Click here for his bio. Ron handled all the complex 501(c)(3) work and files our annual tax reporting documents. Ron recently initiated the effort to have us receive donations via Virginia land preservation tax credits. This effort helped us raise the largest amount in our history at one time....$45,000! Ron is also one of the primary organizers of the annual wine auction.

Megan Neill – Brooklyn, New York. Megan volunteered her graphic talents to assist us in developing our new logo in 2006.

Henry Ngulube - Henry was the 2007-08 President of the Nkwazi club in Lusaka, Zambia. Henry led the effort and construction on the initial demonstration bridge in the community of Mazwapa.

Cheryl Nice - Gloucester, Virginia. Cheri is a Board Member, handles our accounting, and is the primary coordinator of our annual wine auction.Click here for his bio.

Pauline Nice - Newport News, Virginia. Pauline sponsored one of the volunteers that participated on the broken Bridge Blue Nile project. In March 2006, Pauline helped sponsor the mission to assist the Ethiopian Orthodox church.

Tara Olds – Bettendorf, Iowa (University of Iowa). Click here for her bio. Tara leads a team of seniors at the University of Iowa that performed design work and construction assistance for our bridge program in Peru.

Michael Orsillo - Directed efforts to find more sustainable and cost effective decking solutions in Sub Saharan Africa. Michael is also founder of the Engineering Ministries International. Michael is traveling to Ethiopia in December of 2007.

Brian Osborne: Part of the team of Hampton Road Academy Seniors that led a fundraising effort to provide the cable on Project # 052 - Corinto Suspended Bridge. Brian also volunteered on site in Honduras to help build the bridge in March of 2009.

Harmon Parker - Nairobi, Kenya - Harmon leads the organization Bridging the Gap in Kenya. Visit our Partners section to learn more about his organization. Harmon volunteered to assist the Ross Team during the successful construction of the La Burrera footbridge in Honduras in March of 2008.

Michael Patterson - Assisted with the design and construction of the Muhazi bridge in Rwanda.

Aaron Pettis: A Structural Engineer from Washington state, Aaron volunteered on Project # 055 - Pena Blanca, Honduras during March and April of 2009.

Luis Quintanilla - Lima Peru. Eric created a Spanish based website for Bridges to Prosperity that we were very appreciative of.

Dr. Gaylord Ray - Gloucester, Virgina. Gaylord has assisted our mission with donated medicines. In March 2006, Gaylord donated the medicines for the free medical clinic in Ethiopia (which treated 750 local villagers). He also volunteered in our Honduras program for the entire month of April, 2008.

Dave Reemsnyder - Dave was one that made the large donation of $45,000 via the Virginia Land Preservation possible from the buyers side. He work very long and late hours over the Christmas holidays to make this a reality.

Milosz Reterski - Norfolk, Virginia - Milosz volunteered to travel to Honduras to photograph and video the Ross Construction team while building the first Bridges to Prosperity suspension bridge. Milosz's work can be found in the "Videos" and "See Our Work" section of this website Project # 034 La Borrera. Milosz is now the Central American representative for Bridges To Prosperity.

Carlos Rioja - Rotarian from Lima Peru. Carlos has been a terrific help in helping Zoe get set up with housing, government officials and other matters.

Chris Rollins - Chris is a Board Member. Click here for his bio. He joined Bridges to Prosperity in 2003 with an engineering degree and extensive bridge field experience. He was the Director of Engineering and Construction in Ethiopia (2003-2004). Chris has volunteered hundreds of hours and travel expenses to Bridges To Prosperity in promoting and organizing our mission in the USA and elsewhere. Chris is now volunteering his time to act as Director of Engineering to our mission. He recently spent time with partner Bridging the Gap working on Project # 044- Bombi River Suspension Bridge.

Albin Ronstrom- Newport News, Virginia. Owner of East Coast Truss, Albin is volunteering his time to try to help us develop a light weight truss bridge design, using the technology of tubular steel commercial roof trusses.

Doug and Jenny Ross - Woodside, California - Jenny and Doug organized a 10 person team of their employees and sponsored a bridge in Luire, Honduras. There Ross Construction team helped build and pay for our first suspension bridge design. This design will now be our standard flood plain crossing design. Also, Jenny volunteered prior to the main teams arrival in April of 2008. Jenny also assists us from time to time with English to Spanish translation. Refer to the corporate sponsor section of this website for more information on their teams efforts, and how Ross Construction has lead and assisted in the overall success of our mission.

Derek Roulston - Nairobi, Kenya - Derek is associated with the organization Bridging the Gap in Kenya. Visit our Partners section to learn more about his organization. Derek volunteered to assist the Ross Team during the successful construction of the La Burrera footbridge in Honduras in March of 2008.

Helena Russell - Editor of Bridge Design and Engineering, Helena has been a long time supporter of bringing the commercial bridge industry and bridge building charities together. Helena awarded Bridges to Prosperity its $1,000 readers choice award in early 2005, and later sponsored volunteer Director of Engineering Chris Rollins trip to the International Footbridge Conference in Venice, Italy. Furthermore, Helena has regularly published articles on Bridges to Prosperity, including articles on our Ethiopia program, our Peru program, and our fund raising challenges. Helena's publication can be accessed at: Bridge Design and Engineering

Sergio Sanchez - worked with University Program, Arizona State team at Pena Blanca, Honduras in 2008-2009.

Donna & Casey Sawyer - Newport News, Virginia. Donna and Casey have assisted with the wine auction set up and displays.

Roy Schauben - Ross Construction, Palo Alto, California - Roy was part of the Ross team that traveled to La Burrera, Honduras in March of 2008 to build the first Bridges to Prosperity suspension bridge. Roy can be seen in the video on this website entitled "Honduras Suspension Bridge". Also, photos of his effort can be found on Project # 034.

Rick Schloss - San Jose, California - Rick is currently helping us approach large contractors in California for possible bridge program sponsorships. Additionally, Rick is helping us with logo design, presentations, web banners, and web splash design.

Iain Shearer: After graduating from the University of Nottingham (UK) with a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Iain interned in Honduras and El Salvador during the spring of 2009. He spent the majority of his volunteer tour at Project # 051 - Caseria las Trincheras Suspended Bridge

Yvonne Sheets-Saucedo - Redwood City, California. Yvonne is a Board Member, and was instrumental in formulating the ideas for our membership drive, and is now our volunteer membership director. Yvonne continues to contribute hundreds of hours every year building our membership and helping to promote our mission.

Andy Shore - Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Andy helped designed and build our web site, and he hosted the site at no cost on his private server until March of 2004. For more information on this interesting person see Andy's personal web site.

Drew Small - Part of the team of Hampton Road Academy Seniors that led a fundraising effort to provide the cable on Project # 052 - Corinto Suspended Bridge. Drew also volunteered on site in Honduras to help build the bridge in March of 2009.

Rocky Sombe - Rocky is a member of the Nkwazi club of Lusaka, Zambia. Rocky and his wife Betty hosted the Rotary team from the Newport News club of Virginia in early 2008.

Bob Sowell - Williamsburg, Virginia. Click here for his bio. Bob is a Board Member, and responsible for board relations and recruitment. Bob also assist each year in the annual wine auction.

Robbie Sowell - Williamsburg, Virginia. Robbie traveled to Peru for 30 days in June-July of 2006 to volunteer and assist with on site footbridge construction.

Haydi and David Sowerwine - Menlo Park, California. Founders of Ecosystems, Nepal, Haydi and David have been our partners from the early days, given their interest in pedestrian transport and other sustainable technologies. You can read more about their unique mission work at: Eco Systems Nepal.

Randy Stacey - Poquoson, Virginia. Randy went to Ethiopia to assist in the construction of the broken bridge Blue Nile bridge. He contributed his expenses, air fare, and hotel. Randy is an Electronic Technician for the Port Authority of Portsmouth. Randy has a wide variety of construction skills, including cable rigging, that will be of great benefit to the bridge building effort. He and "friends" donated a cable puller and equipment for Ethiopia projects. Randy also participated in the 2009 Sebara Dildi Expedition to Ethiopia and helped construct the new 95 meter Suspended Pedestrian Footbridge over the Blue Nile.

Terry Stacey - participated in the 2009 Sebara Dildi Expedition to Ethiopia and helped construct the new 95 meter Suspended Pedestrian Footbridge over the Blue Nile.

John Steele - A Rotarian from Richmond, Virginia. John owns a convenience store company. He is also the past president of the Gloucester, Virginia club. John has helped with our Rotary Grant paperwork, our NGO paperwork processing, and giving presentations to other Rotary clubs. In early 2006, John donated a camera to be used in Peru for digital web photos.

Brigitte G. Steinmetz - participated in the 2009 Sebara Dildi Expedition to Ethiopia and helped construct the new 95 meter Suspended Pedestrian Footbridge over the Blue Nile.

Katie Sushinsky - worked with University Program, Notre Dame team at Pena Blanca, Honduras in 2008-2009.

Larry Sweet - Bridges To Prosperity Board member spent 2 weeks in Peru in October of 2008 and returned to El Salvador in April 2009 to work on Project # 051 - Caseria las Trincheras Suspended Bridge, Project # 052 - Corinto Suspended Bridge and Project # 053 - Cuisnahuat Suspended Bridge. Larry also led the 2009 Sebara Dildi Expedition to Ethiopia and helped construct the new 95 meter Suspended Pedestrian Footbridge over the Blue Nile.

Girmachew Tadesse - Washington DC. Girmachew volunteered to translate some of our broken bridge Blue Nile project video from Amharic to English. Girmachew has also acted as our liaison with the Ethiopian embassy.

Tom Tebbens - Calverton, New York. Tom is the Owner of Tebbens Steel, and will be assisting the effort to design a new suspension bridge for our program, especially the preparation of steel fabrication drawings, field welding procedures, and manuals. With his assistance, we will make our program more locally sustainable, by allowing all steel fabrication to be done in small regional town welding businesses, rather than in the large capital city steel fabrications shops. Doing so will reduce costs, and greatly increase the chances of our program success.

Daniel Tibbetts - worked with University Program, Arizona State team at Pena Blanca, Honduras in 2008-2009.

Kirk van den Boogaard - Kirk volunteered to spend two months in Ethiopia assisting with on-site bridge construction and training. Kirk was most involved with the Moletis bridge project located just north of Dessie. Kirk further gave a presentation to the Board on his Ethiopia experiences at the 2005 Seattle board meeting. Kirk is in training to run an in-country program, and traveled to Peru in April/May of 2006 to complete that training.

Angela Viegener - Cologne, Germany - Angela volunteered in our Honduras program in January of 2008.

Klaus Viegener - Attendorn, Germany. Klaus financially sponsored the free clinic that was set up during the broken bridge Blue Nile bridge project. The free clinic served over 1000 patients from the local villages on either side of the bridge, and also treated several construction related injuries. Klaus also donated tools from his company, which were given as gifts to the Elders during the survey trip. In 2006, Klaus donated funds to both support the Tres Unidos project, as well as the support other Peru training programs.

Preston Vineyard - An Engineer with Parsons Brinkerhoff, New York, Preston traveled to Honduras and El Salvador in March 2009.

Carroll Vogel - Seattle, Washington. Carroll is an engineering advisor to the board, and volunteered many hours in creating the design for the Ethiopia broken bridge project. His firm Sahale LLC specializes in pedestrian bridges. Carroll is also working as a volunteer consultant in the effort to design a new suspension bridge for our program.

Mark Wagner - Grayslake, Illinois. Mark volunteered his graphic talents to assist us in developing our new logo in 2006.

Ryan Wallace - worked with University Program, Iowa team effort to design and construct the Yabina y Colpa bridge in the Andes of Peru. Continental Crossings.

Nevada Wier - Santa Fe, New Mexico. A Professional photographer that shot the National Geographic expedition down the Blue Nile, it was Nevada's inspirational photograph that started Bridges to Prosperity. Her photograph of the broken bridge over the Blue Nile captures the essence of our mission. Nevada spent many hours helping us in the very beginning, including digging out some of her unpublished photos of the bridge, which later proved invaluable in the preliminary design process. Without her original encouragement, Bridges to Prosperity might never have been started.

Stephen Wilson - Ross Construction, Palo Alto, California - Stephen was part of the Ross team that traveled to La Burrera, Honduras in March of 2008 to build the first Bridges to Prosperity suspension bridge. Stephen can be seen in the video on this website entitled "Honduras Suspension Bridge". Also, photos of his effort can be found on Project # 034.

Jess Winschel - worked with University Program,Notre Dame teamat Pena Blanca, Honduras in 2008-2009.

Teresa Wippel - Lynnwood, Washington. Teresa authored the wonderful feature article in the Washington State Magazine, and has since provide us with much in the way of editing and writing assistance.

Nick Wolf - USA Peace Corp - Nick assisted the Ross Team with translation during the successful construction of the La Burrera footbridge in Honduras in March of 2008.

Abigail Woodhouse - Grant coordinator for the Ethiopia Nile Bridge Grant, Rotary Club of Gloucester.

Mark Yashinsky, PE - Carmichael, California. Mark works as an engineer for CalTrans, and has volunteered to assist us in the design of a suspension bridge for our program. To that end, Mark traveled to Ecuador in Feb of 2006 to study a bridge program operating there. Afterwards, he provided the design team with a huge amount of data from that trip as well as continuing recommendations.

Patricia Young - Yorktown, Virginia. Patricia has assisted with the wine auction displays, and checkout.

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