Co-Founders
Since 2007 Be The Change Volunteers Co-Founders Jimi and Cristi Cook have maintained an active role in the organizations leadership. With the support of friends, familly and trusted advisors they work closely with the executive team to fulfill the organzation mission.
Jimi Cook
Co-Founder
Columbia, MO
Co-Founder
Columbia, MO
Jimi and Cristi Cook founded Be The Change Volunteers in 2007 during a supposed “one-time” school-building project in Rwanda (BTCV 001). The organization has grown beyond its wildest dreams, and more importantly, has held true to its mission of empowering communities through sustainable education-focused development aid. Jimi’s BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) for BTCV is to complete at least 100 projects during his lifetime. In his “day job”, Jimi serves as the Allen Distinguished Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery and Director of the Thompson Laboratory for Regenerative Orthopaedics and Mizzou BioJoint Center at the University of Missouri.
Cristi Cook
Co-Founder
Columbia, MO
Co-Founder
Columbia, MO
Cristi is the Co-founder of Be the Change Volunteers. She and her husband Jimi have served and led teams on education-focused development aid projects all over the world. Cristi volunteers countless hours each year recording and depositing donations for BTCV among many other tasks that keep the organization's lights on every day. In her “day job,” Cristi serves as an assistant professor for the Thompson Laboratory for Regenerative Orthopaedics and Mizzou BioJoint Center at the University of Missouri and a "freelance" veterinary radiologist.
Executive Team
Grant Venable
Director of Change
Phoenix, AZ
Director of Change
Phoenix, AZ
Grant is the Director of Change at Be The Change Volunteers. He leads teams and provides project support globally to partners in Asia, Africa, South America, North America, and the Pacific Islands. He works with NGOs, mission organizations, and community activists to identify, evaluate, and complete education-focused projects. This includes identifying the underlying problems specifically related to infrastructure, equipping, training, and cultural differences at schools in underdeveloped countries. He manages the relationships between the local community leadership and the BCTV US-based leadership team. Together they determine how to appropriately address these challenges and collaborate for a successful deployment of resources. He is experienced in the business sector, construction, international project management, and emergency medical rescue (SAR/EMT). Grant lives in Arizona with his wife Rachel and their two daughters. The family loves warm weather, serving at church, and the outdoors!
Debbie Waggoner
Executive Coordinator of Change
Columbia, MO
Executive Coordinator of Change
Columbia, MO
Debbie retired from State Farm Insurance in September 2016 after working there for over 40 years. She now serves as Executive Coordinator of Change and Chief Compassion Officer for BTCV. Working daily with the co-founders and director, Debbie ensures that every volunteer is taken care of. She follows her passion for going on builds to help change lives and build relationships with Changers and the people of the communities where BTCV has projects. Debbie has been on builds in India, Malawi, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Puerto Rico.
Thato Mabena
Director of Field Operations, Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
Director of Field Operations, Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
Thato is the Director of Field Operations for BTCV Africa. He lives in Johannesburg, South Africa where he provides direct support to volunteers serving on projects in Africa. Thato works directly with Community and School Partners to plan and implement the successful phases of education infrastructure projects. Thato also manages the BTCV Kids scholarship program communicating daily with schools, students, and sponsors. Thato has served on and evaluated projects in Rwanda, Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania, India, Peru, South Sudan, and Puerto Rico. He is a graduate of Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria with a degree in photography. He is certified as a Wilderness Medical First Responder. In his free time, he enjoys time with his family, photography, reading, jogging, traveling, and serving others.
Advisors
Be The Change Volunteers is grateful for the generous participation of volunteer advisors, team leaders, and stakeholders.
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Ted Kettlewell
Vice President OCCI, Inc Columbia, MO Dusty Hoffman Captain Governor Security Division, Retired Missouri State Highway Patrol Columbia, MO Peter Stiepleman Retired Superintendent, Advisor, Author, and Podcaster Pacific Northwest Tracy Line Itty, MPH Public Health Consulting Consultant/Advisor Scottsdale, Az Herb Bischoff School Psychologist, Retired Retired Palmer, Ak Paul Dorr, DVM, PhD, MACE Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Principal Scientist, Clinical Columbia, MO Scott Daugherty Owner Fairway Meadows Corporation Columbia, MO Antonio Pozzi Professor of Veterinary Surgery University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland Stefano Pozzi Business Advisor Retired Genoa, Italy Diane Lewis Veterinary Dermatologist Capital Veterinary Specialists Tallahassee, FL Stacie Williams OTR/L,CCRP E. Carolina Vet Referral Wilmington, NC Ned Williams Veterinary Surgery E. Carolina Vet Referral Wilmington, NC Gary Ford Attorney - Retired Legal Advisor Chevy Chase, MD Deb Ford Legal Assistant - Retired Parent Teacher Association Advisor Chevy Chase, MD |
Marc Scott
Chief Investment Officer Country Club Trust Company Kansas City, Mo Brian Van Vechten VRCC - Retired Englewood, Co Maddy Licocci, M.Ed BCBA Exceptional Education Teacher Metro Nashville Public Schools Nashville, TN Julie Estes Central Christian School Retired St. Louis, Mo Pam Plouhar Johnson & Johnson-Execcutive Suite South Bend, In Erin Burri Remax Columbia, Mo Brad Martens Manager Outpatient Service Missouri Orthopedic Institute Columbia, MO Shari Hamilton Veterinarian IDEXX Columbia, MO Doug Willett Executive Vice President Commercial Development Company, Inc Chicago, IL John Heidrich Ventena Animal Clinic - Retired Albuquerque, NM Linda Karl Compliance Manager Missouri Employers Mutual Columbia, MO Bailey Womble Special Education Teacher School of the Osage - Heritage Elementary Lake Ozark, MO |
Chapter Presidents & team Leaders
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Kristan DePreist - Chapter President
Columbia Mo Chapter "Uncle Al" Rohlfing - Team Leader Liberty, Mo |
Eric Glenn - Chapter President
Kansas City, Mo Chapter Raul Gonzalez - Team Leader Kansas City, Mo |
