ServeHAITI Board of Directors

During her time in Grand-Bois, Luanne has worked to create a program where men from Grand-Bois were hired and taught how to build school desks and chalkboards for use at the area schools. Also important to her were the creation of feminine hygiene Girls’ Kits, which allowed girls to continue to attend school while they had their periods. Women from Grand-Bois were hired to sew reusable menstrual pads, which were then combined with underwear and some other small personal hygiene items in a fabric bag that could be taken to and from school.

She resides in DeWitt, Iowa and is an active member of First Congregational United Church of Christ. She has three grown daughters who are all married and live nearby, so she is blessed to be able to spend time with her five grandchildren. Luanne is a member of the DeWitt City Council, where she enjoys being able to give back to her community.

Visiting nearly every year since her first trip, Karen started a non-profit to give scholarships to children who win an annual art contest where they are tasked to draw and write their vision for the future of Haiti. She also provides academic scholarships to enable young individuals to attain a US based college degree.

In 2017, she met Kazushi through a common friend and attended his NYC fundraiser which inspired her to go with Cindy Broders to Grand-Bois in the Fall 2017. Her second trip with ServeHAITI was in 2019 where she made cycle beads and taught locals how to be more aware of their menstrual cycle. Since her 2019 trip, she has organized an annual SuperBowl pool fundraising event for ServeHAITI and is looking forward to traveling to Haiti again soon.

Karen believes in the strength and resilience of Haitians and is passionate about their empowerment to be a part of the Haiti they deserve which is echoed in the wonderful meaningful work of ServeHAITI.

He is a general and bariatric surgeon who specializes in the treatment of morbid obesity and metabolic disorders.  Dr. Jean-Pierre completed his surgical residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago Mount Sinai Hospital and his fellowship in minimally invasive surgery at the Morehouse School of Medicine/Atlanta Medical Center. He served as the Chief of the Department of Surgery at Kennestone from 2019-2021 and remains active in several leadership roles. He is an active member of his church community and spends most of his leisure time with his beautiful wife, Tanicia and their 3 children; Yasmin, Anjali and Dominic. 

She believes that each child is a unique individual who needs a secure, nurturing, and stimulating atmosphere to grow and mature holistically- intellectually, physically, and socially. Bernetta’s goal as an educator is to help each student meet his or her fullest potential in these areas by providing a safe, encouraging, inviting, and stimulating environment. She envisions utilizing her expertise in the education realm to support Haitian children in evolving to become their ultimate selves.

Dave still maintains his Iowa electrical masters license and teaches continuing electrical education classes along with consulting work for several local contractors. Dave made his first trip to Haiti in 2006, where he installed the first electrical service in the ServeHAITI Health Center in Grand-Bois. Since then, Dave has made many trips to the area to upgrade the electrical system in the Health Center to accommodate the growing needs of the facility, along with being available while not in Haiti to help restore and repair any electrical issues they have. Dave has also rewired the church in San Pierre along with several schools in the area.

Dave served in the United States Air Force from 1966 to 1969, where he got his start in the electrical trade. After the Air Force, Dave completed an apprenticeship in Colorado Springs where he met his wife, Jan. From 1993 to 2014 Dave served on one of twenty technical committees writing the National Electric Code. Dave is a member of the parish council at St Joseph’s church in DeWitt, IA and is a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

She has extensive experience in organizational strategic planning, cultural competence, and workforce development. Jessie received her doctoral degree in Leadership in 2008 from Nova Southeastern University, Summa Cum Laude, and her Master’s in Public Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1994, in Maternal and Child Health, and Community Health. Previously, Jessie worked in academia teaching and conducting public health research and founded a Cross-Cultural Consulting firm. Her professional interests include management of public health programs, and workforce development. She has conducted training for public health practitioners, including epidemiologists, nationally and internationally. She received a number of awards for her work including a Director’s Award for Excellence in Public Health Impact (2022) and the CDC National Center for Public Health Informatics, Office of the Director, “Director’s Top Collaborator’s Award”, awarded for outstanding communication and collaboration with partner organizations, CDC, (2008). 

Her professional experience includes roles as a bookkeeper and accountant in reputable companies such as GTE, Imnet Systems, Cingular Wireless, and Eagle Ranch Inc. Now self-employed, Chris offers accounting services to several businesses, demonstrating her entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to her craft.

Originally from Piscataway, NJ, Chris graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance.

A longtime supporter of ServeHAITI, Chris is eager to deepen her involvement in the Vice Treasurer role. She looks forward to contributing to the organization’s mission and hopes to one day visit Grand-Bois.