Echoes Foundation

Board of Directors

Chair of the Board and President, Nereida Gordon, is the driving force behind the genesis of ECHOES Around the World.  An educator and frequent visitor to Uganda, Nereida has a close personal and working relationship with the Reverend David Serunjogi and his wife Sarah.  She is in contact with the Serunjogis on a weekly basis and oversees the accountability aspects of money expenditures.  Nereida first visited Uganda in 1995 and has both led groups and returned on her own.  An inveterate fundraiser, her network provides invaluable resources to the Ugandan schools and critical information to the ECHOES foundation and Board of Directors.  A world traveler, Ms. Gordon hails from Sydney, Australia, and now resides in Devon, Pennsylvania.

Past President, Martha L. (Mel) since the inception of the organization in 2005. As a co-founding director, she has been instrumental in creating the framework for ECHOES. In the fall of 2006, Mel completed the fundraising certification program at the University of Pennsylvania and has used that knowledge to advance not only the operation of the board, but also programs and fundraisers which have attracted both returning and new donors. Mel has sustained and maintained her relationship with the Reverend David Serunjogi and his wife Sarah since her first visit to Uganda in 2000. Her work for ECHOES continues in areas of development focusing on grant writing and fundraising.

Secretary, M.J. Ormsbee is a retired educator who has taught English, history and special curriculum for the gifted to middle school children until her retirement in 2006. She volunteered at her sons’ schools when they were growing up, serving in many capacities from president of the parent-teacher organization to member of a curriculum advisory board for a secondary school. M.J. graduated Phi Beta Kappa majoring in American Institutions from the University of Wisconsin. She is keenly interested in the work that has taken place in Uganda over the past 12 years and has answered the call to further our work by joining the board. M.J. lives in Wayne, PA.

Treasurer, Betsy Fadem, joined the Board in August 2007. Betsy is the President of the Board of School Directors for Tredyffrin-Easttown. Mrs. Fadem has over 11 years experience in the financial services industry as a project manager. She has been a Tredyffrin/Easttown School Board member since December of 2001 and has served as the chairperson of the Board Finance, Policy and Public Information Committees.  Betsy graduated from Lafayette College with a degree in Economics and continues her connections with the College by serving as her class correspondent. She dedicates her time to many other local organizations including; TE youth soccer, and St. Monica’s CYO and parish council. Betsy lives in Devon, PA.

Treasurer, Sue Cheston

H. William Knapp brings to our Board of Directors extensive experience in the field of Information Technology. A former teacher of computer programming and information systems and student at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Bill completed all classroom work and exams for a Ph. D. in Business and Applied Economics as well as an MBA. He is a successful entrepreneur and recently resigned as President and CEO of ITI, Inc. a software development firm which he co-founded in 1980. One of ITI’s products was spun out from ITI and eventually sold to Lotus Development Corporation in 1994. He sits on a number of Advisory Boards and Boards of Directors for technology companies. Bill has taught at Eastern College and Villanova University, while endeavoring to create yet a new firm delivering end-user database software and services to organizations over the web. Bill’s experience as a business leader, educator and IT specialist is invaluable to ECHOES now and in the future. Bill lives in Wayne.

The Rev. W. Frank Allen is Rector of St. David’s Episcopal Church, a 3,000 member church in Wayne, Pennsylvania.  Frank has served in this position since 1997 and serves on several boards of the Episcopal Church and local community organizations.  He graduated magna cum laude from Duke University in 1981 and received his MDiv. from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1995.  Prior to entering seminary, Frank was an executive in a large construction company in Philadelphia for eleven years.  Frank has visited and traveled extensively in Uganda and Guatemala and has been involved in raising funds for schools and churches.  Frank brings experience and interest in developing micro-businesses in developing countries.

Arthur Klein Esq. is an attorney and has been practicing law within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for over 35 years.  As a general practitioner, Mr. Klein has extensive experience with a wide range of issues involving the family, non-profit corporations, real estate, business and personal injury.  Mr. Klein has recently been appointed as Support Conciliator Officer for Montgomery County.  He is an active member of the Montgomery County Bar Association working through his professional association to study and promote best practice in the Law in order to better serve his clients’ needs. Mr. Klein is licensed to practice Law before the Supreme Court of the United States, the local Federal Courts as well as the Supreme Courts of Pennsylvania and Florida. Mr Klein also does pro bono work as an attorney and volunteers as a child advocate representing children who are abused. He lives in Wayne PA.

Peter Motel, M.D., is a physician board certified in Internal Medicine and Dermatology, in a practice he started and has operated since 1993. He graduated with honors from Muhlenberg College and earned his medical degree from Hahnemann University. He served as a physician in the US Air Force for four years. He is a member of the local school board since 1999 and has served the school board as its President, Chair of the Facilities Committee and member of the Finance, Policy and Education Committees. As chair of the Facilities Committee he has overseen major renovations of five schools, the school district’s administration offices and information technology center.  He also has extensive experience as a youth leader with over 20 years a Boy Scout leader. He and his wife live in Berwyn, Pennsylvania with their three children.

Advisory Board Members

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