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Founders, Board & Team

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Meet our team

We are Water.org. For more than 25 years, we've made it our mission to bring water and sanitation to the world. We have offices and staff members in the U.S., Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Peru and the Philippines, led by our CEO and Co-founder, Gary White and President, Jennifer Schorsch.

Meet the team of experts making a change for millions around the world.

Founders & President

Gary White and Matt Damon met and founded Water.org in 2009. As the organization grew, Jennifer joined them to help oversee the day-to-day operations for our growing global staff and network of partners.

Water.org Board

Our Board

We are fortunate to have such a dedicated and accomplished board with a wide range of expertise. Together, they're helping Water.org change lives with safe water.

Adam Schechter

Executive Vice President, Merck

Andy Sareyan

President & CEO, Andrews McMeel Universal

Anil Arora

President & CEO, Envestnet | Yodlee

Beth Friedman

Founder, InHer Circle, LLC

Cortney Erin

Head of Global Technical Recruiting, Facebook

Cynthia Fisher

Founder and Managing Director, WaterRev, LLC

Gillian Nash

Strategic Communications Consultant

Hilary Schneider

Executive

Jodi Kahn

Executive

Keith Quinn

Principal, Black Lamp Inc.

Larry Tanz

Vice President of Content Acquisition, Netflix

Lynn Taliento

Senior Strategist, Obama Foundation

Dr. Paul O’Connell

President and Managing Partner, FDO Partners, LLC

Sandra Naftzger

Owner / Manager

Terry Trayvick

Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Level Five, LLC

Tony Stayner

Partner, Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund

Our Team

There would be no Water.org without our talented, passionate staff around the world. These professionals are the true agents of empowerment who make our work possible. We currently have more than 100 team members and along with our impact, we're growing every year. We encourage you to visit our Careers page for current job opportunities - and to learn more about our culture - if you'd like to join our team.

  • Working in Chennai

    Team members meet with partners and local staff in Chennai, India.

    Water.org team members meet with partners and local staff in Chennai, India

  • Learning from the people we empower

    A woman in the Philippines shares her story with team members from Water.org and our microfinance institution partner in the area.

    Water.org team members meet with partners in the Philippines

  • Celebrating access to safe water

    San Francisco office team members celebrate World Water Day.

    San Francisco office team members celebrate World Water Day

  • Taking time to meet with people

    Our team members meet with a borrower in Indonesia.

    Water.org team members meet with a borrower in Indonesia

  • Sharing our knowledge to ensure impact

    A few team members at the WaterCredit Forum we hosted in Lima, Peru.

    Water.org team members at the WaterCredit Forum in Lima, Peru

  • Taking notes to improve our work

    Meeting with people we empower in Kenya.

    Water.org team members meet with partners in Kenya

  • A global organization

    Members of our International Programs team from around the world gather in the Kansas City office.

    Water.org country directors and staff

  • A collaborative work environment

    Open offices at our headquarters promote collaboration among Water.org team members.

    Water.org headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri

  • Meet Khun

    A Portfolio Manager at Water.org, Khun is focused on financing programs in Indonesia and the Philippines. His passion stems from his expert experience as a water engineer and that he is originally from this region. This is why Khun is proud to be a part of a team working diligently to achieve access to safe water and sanitation for all. He's seen firsthand how access to safe water can change communities and empower people in Southeast Asia, inspiring him to help reach even more.

    Meet Khunapong

  • Meet Carlos

    Carlos (pictured left) is Water.org’s Country Director of the Philippines. An expert in development, Carlos leads a passionate team of world changers in a country where Water.org has empowered more than 1.6 million people with access to safe water and sanitation. Coming from an extensive career in international development and microfinance, Carlos understands how small, affordable loans can change lives. He looks forward to the momentum our work is gaining in the Philippines and empowering more families with safe water at home.

    Meet Carlos
U.S. Staff

  • Allison Pinkowski

    Lead Marketing Associate

  • Andrea Stephens

    Senior Business Analyst

  • Anne Corless

    Marketing Associate

  • Annie Tolbert

    Project Specialist

  • April Davies

    Senior Regional Manager, Latin America

  • Ben Mandell

    Senior Portfolio Manager, South Asia

  • Berni Hollis

    Senior Web Developer, MEL

  • Brandan Deason

    Graphic Designer

  • Breely Bennett

    Manager, Corporate Accounting

  • Brooke Parker

    Learning and Development Manager

  • Cara Lawrence

    Director of Human Resources

  • Casey Pessetto

    Senior International Accountant

  • Claire Lyons

    Senior Strategist, Enabler Partnerships

  • David Friedman

    Chief Financial Officer

  • Derek Poulton

    Portfolio Manager, Southeast Asia

  • Elizabeth Dwyer

    Portfolio Manager, South Asia

  • Emily Hane

    Grants Specialist

  • Erin Prock

    Marketing Associate

  • Eva Taravilla

    Senior Regional Manager, Southeast Asia

  • Gabrielle Puz

    Senior Portfolio Manager, South Asia

  • Gina Zanolli

    Manager, Office of the CEO

  • Heather Arney

    Senior Manager, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning

  • Janet Tinsley

    Senior Regional Manager, Africa

  • Jennifer Paprotna

    Strategic Development Officer

  • Jeremiah Pierce

    Manager, International Accounting

  • Jessica Jacobson

    Senior Strategist, WaterCredit Adoption

  • John Schwarzlose

    Data and Reporting Analyst, MEL

  • Josh Gunkel

    Director of Technology

  • Julie LaGuardia

    Senior Strategist, Brand Partnerships

  • Kat Faulkner

    Senior Marketing Associate

  • Katrina Green

    Project Coordinator

  • Kelly Braunegg

    Donor Database Specialist

  • Kevin Bridges

    IT Generalist

  • Khunapong Khunaraksa

    Portfolio Manager, Southeast Asia

  • Laura Giannini

    Senior Portfolio Manager, Southeast Asia

  • Laura Ralston

    Senior Portfolio Manager, Africa

  • Lesley Pories

    Senior Sector Analyst, Enabler Partnerships

  • Leslie Walsh

    Senior HR Generalist

  • Madeleine Dy

    Senior Portfolio Manager, Africa

  • Maggie Goble

    Senior Grants Specialist

  • Margarita Salasyuk

    Senior Portfolio Manager, Southeast Asia

  • Melanie Mendrys

    Director of Brand Marketing & Communications

  • Michael Mayernik

    Strategic Development Officer

  • Michaela Jacobson

    Senior Recruiter

  • Morée Scofield

    Senior Content Creator

  • Nancy Eslinger

    Controller

  • Nathalie Marshall

    Senior HR Generalist

  • Nicole Wickenhauser

    Director of Strategic Alliances

  • Nozomi Witherspoon

    Senior Portfolio Manager, Southeast Asia

  • Patty Robertson

    Grants Manager

  • Paul Roman

    Senior International Accountant

  • Rachel Brumbaugh

    Global Operations Director

  • Rachel Comment

    Senior Business Continuity Specialist

  • Rajash Sarin

    Senior Regional Manager, South Asia

  • Rich Thorsten

    Chief Programs Officer

  • Robert Simcoe

    International Accountant

  • Rosemary Gudelj

    Senior Advisor, Public Affairs

  • Rupa Bidap

    Portfolio Manager, Africa

  • Sambhu Rathi

    Senior Researcher, MEL

  • Shari Bell

    Sr. Public Affairs Specialist

  • Sonal Gaurishanker

    Portfolio Manager, South Asia

  • Tara Rowe

    Accounting Clerk

  • Tascha Alvarez von Gustedt

    Portfolio Manager, Strategic Development

  • Thai Williams

    Financial Analyst

  • Tracy Jackson

    Website Analyst

  • Vince Carney

    Software Architect

  • Zehra Shabbir

    Senior Learning Specialist, MEL

Africa Staff

  • Alice Maina

    Financial Auditor/Accountant, Kenya

  • Anthony Githinji

    Senior Programs Manager, Kenya

  • Askale Tessema

    Finance and Administrative Manager, Ethiopia

  • Caleb Metoh

    Office Assistant, Kenya

  • Edna Onchiri

    External Relations Manager, Kenya

  • Mary Ngunjiri

    Program Manager, Kenya

  • Salfiso Kitabo

    Country Director, Ethiopia

  • Tewodros Wendmneh

    Program Manager, Ethiopia

Asia Staff

  • Abhishek Anand

    Project Manager, India

  • Abu Aslam

    Programs Manager, Bangladesh

  • Aldi Surianingrat

    Senior Program Manager, Indonesia

  • Alethea Ofreneo

    Programs Manager, Philippines

  • Anitta Mankhin

    Research & Development Officer, Bangladesh

  • Ann Carl Bailey

    Programs Manager, Philippines

  • Arumugam Gurusamy

    Senior Manager, Business Operations, India

  • Avudai Nayakam

    Programs Manager, India

  • Carlos Ani

    Country Director, Philippines

  • Chhaya Rajora

    L& D Specialist, India

  • D Buvaneswari

    Senior Programs Manager, India

  • Dick Pajarillo

    Senior Programs Manager, Philippines

  • Diwakar Das

    Monitoring & Evaluation Manager, India

  • Dwinita Wulandini

    Programs Manager, Indonesia

  • Edgar Morbos

    WaterConnect Programs Manager, Philippines

  • Elvira Yoanita

    WaterCredit Program Manager, Indonesia

  • Hariri Kahar

    Program Manager, Indonesia

  • Indra Bhuwono

    Programs Manager, Indonesia

  • Jasmine Barnabas

    Administrative Specialist, India

  • Jocelyn Alcoreza

    Administrative and Program Support Officer, Philippines

  • Josephine Mendoza

    WaterCredit Programs Manager, Philippines

  • Khadiza Ahmed

    Programs Manager, Bangladesh

  • Kiki Tazkiyah

    WaterCredit Analyst, Indonesia

  • Manoj Gulati

    Executive Director, India

  • Myrna Peñas

    Administrative and Logistics Clerk, Philippines

  • Neha Yadav

    Learning & Development Specialist, India

  • PM Jose

    Programs Manager, India

  • Pravin Samuel

    Project Accountant, India

  • Rachmad Hidayad

    Senior Programs Manager, Indonesia

  • Rajeswari Pandiyarajan

    Administrative Assistant, India

  • Ratna Diektikana

    Administrative Assistant, Indonesia

  • Reaj Uddin

    Finance and Admin Manager, Bangladesh

  • Renata Fauzia

    Program Manager, Indonesia

  • Reny Yuniawati

    Office Administrator, Indonesia

  • S. Karthikeyan

    Accounts Specialist, India

  • Sabiha Mahboob

    Monitoring Evaluation Learning Coordinator, India

  • Sajid Amit

    Country Director, Bangladesh

  • Seshana Aviananda

    Programs Manager, Indonesia

  • Sneha Karunanidhi

    Learning and Development Specialist, India

  • Sofie Ariani

    WaterCredit Officer, Indonesia

  • Sudhir Arya

    Program Manager, India

  • Sunita Ramesh

    Sr. Administrative Specialist, India

  • Vedika Bhandarkar

    Managing Director, India

  • Widiyatmoko

    Programs Manager, Indonesia

South America Staff

  • Manuel Cases

    Programs Manager, Peru

  • Marion Chuquiyure-Ramos

    Administrative Assistant, Peru

  • Victor Hugo Urcia

    Country Director, Peru

  • Yanina Rumiche

    Programs Manager, Peru

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