Founder: Father Francis is a Catholic Priest with a great passion for Education and Community Empowerment of young people and women, especially in poor urban and rural areas, like where he grew up in Kenya. He has a background in Philosophy and Religious Studies training, and holds an M.A. in Divinity from St. Thomas University and an M.A. in Philanthropy and Development from St. Mary University, both in Minnesota. He has certification as a Spiritual Director and serves as a pastor in Duluth, MN.
Board of Directors
Chairman: Ron (Skip) Duchesneau, Walker, MN. Ron has been married to Lori for 27 years and have two beautiful children, Amy and Andrew. He is president of D.W. Jones, Inc., a real estate development company whose primary purpose is to develop affordable multi-family housing. He has also been a Rotarian for 23 years and has been involved with humanitarian projects in Peru and Honduras. Projects completed were the construction of schools, latrines, water, and electricity.
Treasurer: Keith Sechler from Ohio is the Co-founder of the Moto Hope Microlending program. He strongly believes in the power of entrepreneurship through microloans. He is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Financial Planner managing his own Keystone Financial Planning, Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio.
Secretary: Audrey Masimore, Hackensack, MN. Audrey and her husband, Steve, owned a resort in Nisswa until they passed it on to a daughter in 2014. Now retired from both resorting and teaching in the early childhood program, Audrey spends her time with her kids and grandkids, traveling and hiking, or serving on various committees at Sacred Heart. Africa has always held a special place in her heart. Having been to both South Africa and to Molo, Kenya, she is excited to be a part of this wonderful mission.
Member: Emery Koenig, Wiconia, MN., is a retired vice chairman and chief risk officer of Cargill Corporation. He was elected to Cargill’s Board of Directors in 2010 and was a member of the Cargill Corporate Leadership Team, the core executive group in charge of Cargill’s overall strategy, growth, and funding.
Koenig has previously served as a platform leader for Cargill’s Agricultural Supply Chain platform as well as the Energy, Transportation & Metals platform. He also had responsibilities for Cargill’s corporate transportation, logistics, and warehousing function; plus headed Cargill’s Philanthropy Committee, the Commodity Risk Committee, and the Enterprise, Process, Data, and Technology Committee.
Koenig joined Cargill in 1978 and held various leadership positions in the international commodity trading and risk management areas. During his 15-year tenure in Geneva, Switzerland, his responsibilities included worldwide commodity trading and risk management; the Middle East/Africa region, including offices in Casablanca, Cairo, and Johannesburg; and palm oil refining and trading businesses in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore.
Koenig is a board member of The Mosaic Company; a trustee for Minnesota Public Radio; a member of the Board of Directors of the Catholic Community Foundation, and is on the St. Thomas University Catholic Studies Program Advisory Board.
Koenig holds a degree in business management from the University of North Dakota, where he also played 4 years of basketball. He’s married with 4 children.
Member: Mr. John Schmitt, Nisswa, MN. Retired Executive of Taylor Corporation of Mankato, Minnesota. He then retired to Nisswa in 2003 and is an active member of several Church Councils and Diocesan Financial Committees. John has been married to Mary Jo for 43 years. They have three beautiful children and seven grandchildren.
Member: Mr. Thomas Miller has a B.A and M.A. from Bemidji State University with an Executive Management Program from the University of Minnesota Carlson Business. His work Experience ranges from 1969 to 1976; High School Social Worker and Counselor. 1977-1995; Sales Manager for Dahlgren and Company. 1995-2011; Owner-CEO-International Sales Manager for Dahlgren and Co. Inc. with offices in Bremen and Hamburg, Germany, China. His community involvement includes: 1973 to 1976, Director of Big Brothers and Little Sisters in Crookston, and 1983 to 1986, Cathedral Parish Council. 1986 to 1992 Crookston Police Commission. 1992 to 2000 Riverview Hospital Board, 1999 to 2000 Chairman of Riverview Board,1998 to 2002 Altru Hospital Advisory Board, Grand Forks, ND, Director for Miller Family Farm LLC and TJM Properties LLC. His International Projects engagements include: Construction and management of a sunflower, pine nut, and pumpkin seed operation in China, 2000 to 2005 and 2006 to 2012, Philippine Commercial water project partnership. He and his wife, Kathy, and family have been to Moto Hope Center in Kenya and are wonderful supporters of our mission.
Member: Steve Cashman: A retired Executive in the manufacturing business based in Iowa.
Member: Dave Baldwin: A retired business executive formerly in the parcel delivery industry.
Other Members: Dr. Daniel J. Margo (MD).
