Our board members and leadership bring experience and commitment to every decision we make. Together, they guide NPH USA’s mission to serve children, families, and communities in need.
Dr. Jeff Kempf has practiced pediatric medicine for over forty years , working for the last thirty in pediatric emergency medicine at Akron Children’s Hospital in Akron, Ohio. While working in Akron he established the office of Pediatric Global Health dedicated to providing services to children outside the walls of the hospital, both domestically and internationally. This work included service in Guatemala, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Belize, and Haiti.
In January 2010, two weeks after the earthquake, he traveled to St. Damien Hospital Haiti to provide relief work. There he fell in love with the Haitian people and the incredible work being done by NPH. After returning home, he founded the St. Damien Pediatric Collaborative, a group of children’s hospitals in the US and Canada, whose mission is to provide clinical, educational, financial aide and equipment to St. Damien Hospital.
During his medical career in Akron, he has served in other leadership roles, including Director of the Pediatric Emergency Department, Director of the Pediatric Residency Program, Medical Staff President, Medical School Clerkship Director, Akron Children’s Hospital Board, and the Board of Gift of Life of NE Ohio. He met his wife, Dr. Ellen Kempf,a practicing pediatrician, in Fort Myers, Fla while working in the Public Health Service Corp providing health care to children of migrant farmers and the indigent poor of SW Florida.
Together they share a passion for work internationally for nearly forty years, and though recently retired in Akron, they continue to volunteer in the Costanza Region of Dominican Republic. They are blessed with three grown children and two grandchildren, all residing in the Akron area.
John Kuehne brings over 40 years of financial and consulting experience to NPH USA. He recently retired from Accenture LLP as Managing Director and North American Aviation Lead, where he led the sales and execution of consulting projects focused on airlines in the US and Canada.
Prior to joining Accenture John was Senior Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer for Seabury Group, an aviation focused consulting / investment banking firm of 300+ people. He led and negotiated the sale of Seabury’s consulting practice to Accenture in 2017.
John was also President of Cargill Communications, a Minneapolis based broadcasting company, Executive Vice President of the Radio Division of Space Center Inc and Manager of Corporate Finance at Midwest Communications. He started his career at KPMG Peat Marwick and is a Certified Public Accountant (Inactive).
John and his wife Teresa, who is a Registered Nurse, live in Sea Girt New Jersey and have three grown children and four grandchildren. They have a passion for faith-based organizations that provide food, health care and education to poor and disadvantaged people worldwide. They have been involved with NPH as God Parents since 1985 and have visited the NPH home in Honduras twice as volunteers at the surgery center located at the home.
Mr. Kruzel is a senior vice president based in the New York office and a member of the capital markets team at PIMCO. He focuses on originating investment opportunities and building relationships with PIMCO’s bank counterparties. Prior to joining PIMCO in 2022, Mr. Kruzel led the Americas bank solutions business at Citi, where he was responsible for the origination and structuring of bank capital transactions in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. He also held roles in loan portfolio management in New York and franchise governance at Banamex in Mexico City. He has 12 years of investment experience and holds a master’s degree in international relations from American University, where he also earned two undergraduate degrees. He is a CFA Charterholder and speaks Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.
Katherine Harig has led two remarkable careers—first spending over two decades with Goldman Sachs on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, immersed in the fast-paced world of global finance. Following the events of 9/11, she shifted her focus toward family and service, inspired by her sister’s volunteer work in Mexico with Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH).
Her family’s connection to NPH began in 1996 and has since grown into a lifelong commitment. From hosting children during cultural exchanges to volunteering in NPH homes across Latin America and the Caribbean, Katherine and her family have embraced the mission of Fr. Wasson, supporting vulnerable children through hands-on service and advocacy. Her work has spanned construction projects, special needs care, and godparent relationships, deepening her belief in the power of global community.
Jill brings extensive expertise in developing and executing high-growth strategies across diverse industries, including Food & Beverage, health and wellness, lifestyle, hospitality, and not-for-profit organizations. Her career spans from advising Fortune 500 companies to startups, where she has successfully implemented turnaround strategies. Notably, she was recruited by a private equity firm to revitalize niche brands and, as Global Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, she scaled a startup into a global entity generating $225 million in revenue within two years, and expanding into markets in Japan, China, South Korea, and Mexico.
As founding Executive Director of Play60, Jill led a $250 million NFL youth wellness program, enrolling 40,000 schools and attracting major sponsors. While Executive Vice President and General Manager at Edelman Worldwide in Chicago, she managed a team of 70 and increased billings from $5 million to $20 million in seven years. Under her leadership, her practice was named the #1 US food and nutrition agency in the industry. As principal of her own firm, Prevail, Jill serves as consultant and fractional Chief Marketing Officer, helping propel brand awareness and sales, fundraising efforts, and corporate reputations for diverse organizations.
Jill’s commitment to the NPH mission began about two decades ago during her service as both a member and then Chairman of the NPH USA Midwest Board of Directors. Since then, her life has been profoundly shaped by the humility, resilience, and love she has witnessed among the pequeños, the St. Damien community, and the global NPH family. Her philanthropic leadership includes launching several successful fundraising initiatives—most notably the inaugural and subsequent World Health Day campaigns for St. Damien Pediatric Hospital in Haiti, each surpassing revenue goals even in challenging times. As a national director of the Board, Jill will remain steadfast in her promise to prioritize the well-being of NPH children and families, bringing a spirit of service, collaboration, and dedication.
Avriel Burlot began her journey with NPH in 2011 as an international volunteer in the Dominican Republic, where she served for two years before spending an additional year with NPH programs in Haiti. She later joined the NPH International team, where she supported volunteers, family services, and coordinated international events. Over the years, she has had the privilege of visiting or living in all nine NPH homes across Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, working alongside dedicated staff and meeting many of the children, youth, and families served by NPH.
These experiences allowed her to witness the mission of NPH in real and transformative ways. Upon returning to the U.S., Avriel served on the Northwest Regional Board, most recently as chair. She values the opportunity to remain involved with NPH and to share stories of the impactful work being done in all nine countries. Her desire to serve on the National Board stems from a commitment to strengthening NPH’s impact across the country, connecting more people to its mission, and ensuring that the children, youth, and families of NPH continue to receive the opportunities and support they deserve. She would be honored to contribute her firsthand experience and deep belief in the mission at the national level.
Rebecca Duffey has been volunteering at various organizations for many years, including leadership and chairperson responsibilities. She has been active in school systems, churches, athletics, and her communities. Volunteering at animal sanctuaries and in equine therapy have also been a true passion. She has recently founded a horse ranch dedicated to equine therapy for disabled children that will also service other groups of adults and children with varying needs.
Rebecca and her family have been involved with NPH and sponsoring children for over 20 years. She has visited homes in Miacatlan, Cuernavaca, Honduras, as well as annual trips to Matamoros often with family and friends. She and her husband John have sponsored fundraisers at their home and The Duffey Family Foundation has proudly sponsored the NPH Football Legends Classic (FLC) Golf Outing for over 10 years. Rebecca also continues to serve on the FLC Golf Outing Committee. Her family and their foundation continue to support many other philanthropies as well.
Rebecca and John live in Fort Myers Beach in the winter and Northern Michigan in the summer months. She is the mother of three sons who are all married and have so far blessed her with four beautiful grandchildren. She enjoys spending free time walking, hiking, boating, golfing, travelling, and time with family and friends.
Gary was the founder of a Fin-Tech company that pioneered the integration of credit card payment within the point-of-sale systems in 1988. He sold Southern DataComm, Inc. to the merchant processing division of US Bank, then Nova Information Services, which rebranded to Elavon in 2009.
Since then, he has invested in real estate ventures including the Scrub Island Resort, Marina and Spa in the British Virgin Islands, and Colony Key Condominiums on Tierra Verde, Florida, and has investments in other commercial real estate holdings.
It was through his association with a former US Bank executive that he was introduced to Jennifer Rayno and Fr. Rick Frechette in Haiti while participating in and facilitating some aid missions shortly after the earthquake in 2010.
Gary has remained in frequent contact with NPH USA CEO Jennifer Rayno since his eye-opening experiences in Haiti, and with encouragement from Board Chair Jeff Kempf, is excited to serve as a member of the NPH USA Board of Directors.
Martha Fogler has been involved with NPH for more than 20 years, including ten years serving on the Southwest Regional Board and 6 years on the National Board (2017 – 2022). She has visited many of the NPH homes, including the homes in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Peru. The Fogler family has sponsored many godchildren over the years, whom many they know personally and have visited in their respective homes. She is passionate about the work Father Wasson began and is dedicated to helping transform the lives of children by spreading the word about the mission of NPH.
Martha has volunteered for over twenty-five years and held multiple leadership positions in various organizations. Currently she volunteers at Loyola Academy, a free, Jesuit run, college prep middle school for boys with academic promise, yet without the family resources to afford this educational opportunity. She enjoys working a part time “fun” job at Anthropologie in Phoenix.
Martha lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with her husband and is a mother of three grown children and two grandchildren. She and her husband enjoy spending time in Park City, Utah. She is originally from Michigan and still enjoys spending time there with her childhood friends. In her free time, she enjoys travel, hiking, golf, and yoga and spending time with her family.
Chris Heim is currently the Executive Chairman of HelpSystems, an IT infrastructure software company located in Eden Prairie with over 900 employees. Previous to this position, Chris served as CEO from 2015 to mid 2019. Chris has a strong track record of success serving previous stints as CEO of Axium Software, Amcom Software, and HighJump Software.
During his tenure at HelpSystems, the company grew from $100 million in revenue to $260 million in revenue. The company completed 14 acquisitions during this time period and greatly accelerated organic growth. Prior to HelpSystems, Chris was CEO of Axium Software, a Portland, Oregon based software company that was sold to Deltek to June of 2014. While Chris was CEO only 18 months, the value of the company increased six fold during this period. From 2007 to 2012, Chris was CEO of Amcom Software which grew from $12 million to $52 million in revenue before being sold to Spok Corporation.
Chris began his career at HighJump Software where he held a variety of roles before becoming CEO in 1997. Under his leadership, HighJump Software grew from $8 million in sales in 1997 to a run rate of $80 million in sales in 2006 and became the fastest growing company in their space. In 2003, Heim was selected as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. HighJump was sold to 3M in 2004.
Chris Heim received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science and a Masters of Business Administration degree in Marketing from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN. He proudly serves on the board of Ascentis, Aventri, Calabrio, Digi International, Field Nation and HelpSystems. Chris is married with two adult children.
Gail M. Taylor has played a pivotal role in advancing the mission of NPH USA through her strategic leadership and deep personal commitment. She has provided impactful fundraising and messaging strategies, recruited new board members and donors, and cultivated lasting relationships with existing supporters. As a former board chair and member of the regional leadership committee, Gail has helped guide the organization’s growth and outreach. Her dedication extends beyond boardroom contributions—she has visited NPH homes in Honduras and Mexico, and personally sponsored a godchild in Peru through college graduation. In recognition of her service, Gail was honored by NPH in Spring 2023.
Gail is a seasoned legal professional and dedicated nonprofit leader with a strong background in litigation and community service. She earned her J.D. with honors from the University of San Francisco in 1988 and holds a B.A. in English from the University of Washington (1982). Her commitment to nonprofit excellence is further supported by certifications in Nonprofit Fundraising Management (University of Washington, 2016) and Nonprofit Management Workshops (United Way, 2014–2015).
Gail is a member of the Washington State Bar Association (inactive status). She enjoys gardening, travel, cultural events, Pilates, strength training, and swimming. Married for 40 years, she is a proud mother of two adult sons and grandmother to three. She also serves as a pianist for weekly Masses at St. John Vianney on Vashon Island.
Miguel Venegas joined the NPH family when he was 15 years old along with his two siblings. He graduated from secondary school and then completed his year of service to the NPH family at the home in Miacatlán. He attended the English program in Yarnell, Arizona, mastered the English language, passed his GED, and pursued his college education in the U.S. at the University of Texas at Tyler. Miguel earned his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science with a minor in mathematics.
In 1997, he served as the administrator and accountant for the newly opened NPH home in Guatemala. After two years in Guatemala, Miguel returned to Mexico to develop the Finance Department of NPH International (NPHI) where he served as Finance Director for six years.
Miguel is now the Executive Director of NPH International (NPHI) and is based in Cuernavaca, Mexico. He is a member of the NPHI Project Committee, NPHI Consejo Familiar, and chairs the NPHI Finance Committee.
For over two decades, Jennifer has been devoted to the NPH family, driven by a heartfelt commitment to vulnerable children. As Vice President of Donor Relations for the St. Damien Pediatric Hospital Fund at NPH USA, she led nationwide fundraising efforts to support healthcare in Haiti, where the needs are extraordinarily urgent and complex.
Jennifer’s journey with NPH began in 2003. Early on, she worked closely with leadership across the U.S., the National Board of Directors, and Our Little Brothers and Sisters, helping unify five grassroots organizations into a single, coordinated force. Her strategic contributions to infrastructure, communications, marketing, and direct mail strengthened the mission and expanded its reach.
In 2009, Jennifer partnered with Fr. Rick Frechette, physician, priest, and President of NPH Haiti, to launch the St. Damien Pediatric Hospital Fund. This initiative became an independent fundraising arm, easing financial pressure on NPH homes so they could continue providing excellent, comprehensive care for orphaned, abandoned, and vulnerable children throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
Jennifer executed a feasibility study in collaboration with Harvard Business School graduate students, which resulted in the expansion of NPH USA into Boston in 2011. Her leadership helped plant deeper roots in the Northeast, rallying new donors and advocates to the cause.
Before entering the nonprofit world, Jennifer spent seven years in banking supporting U.S. military operations in the U.S. and in Germany, followed by seven years as Vice President of Operations for a global software consulting firm headquartered in the Netherlands.
Today, she lives in North Carolina and is the proud mother of three grown children and madrina to a child in the NPH family. When she is not working for NPH or spending time with loved ones, you will likely find her recharging at the beach.
Jennifer joined NPH in 2007 as an international volunteer for NPH Honduras and, more than 10 years later, she reunited with NPH USA, becoming the International Volunteer Coordinator in 2018. Over the years, Jennifer has grown into the role of Director of International Engagement, connecting the development efforts of NPH USA to the programs and operations of NPH.
In her day-to-day responsibilities, Jennifer directs NPH USA’s International Volunteer Program, Travel Program, Projects Program, Institutional Giving Program, NPH Family Visits Program, and “NPH University”—a new professional development program that endeavors to deepen staff and donors’ understanding of NPH’s mission and programs.
During her time at NPH Honduras, Jennifer served as one of the first coordinators for the girls’ empowerment program, Chicas Poderosas. In her second year, she lived in the capital city and attended classes on Central American literature at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras.
Moving back to the States in 2009, she earned her Master’s and PhD at the University of Kansas, coordinating and teaching classes there for over 12 years.
However, the worsening US/Mexico border crisis in 2018 helped evolve her “life course” as she became newly called to rejoin her NPH family in its mission to create meaningful social change and improve the lives of vulnerable children and families in Latin America. Jennifer is forever grateful to NPH for opening her eyes and heart to the goodness that exists in this world— a goodness that is embodied by the hard-working NPH employees, volunteers, and donors who offer a compassionate space and hopeful future to kids who come from difficult places.
Jennifer is incredibly proud to work for NPH. She loves visiting our international volunteers serving at the homes, talking with her “boys” from her previous volunteer days, working as a pen-and-ink artist, traveling and laughing with her partner, Andrew, and loving on her dog, Walter
Chuck joined NPH USA in March 2009, as the Director of the Midwest Region. Prior to his arrival at NPH USA, Chuck had a 29-year career in the non-profit and education sectors. Most of his career was spent as a professional fundraiser with organizations such as Lions Clubs International Foundation, Loyola Academy, DePaul University, Boys Hope Girls Hope, and Marist High School.
Chuck received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from St. Norbert College where he majored in International Business and Spanish. Although he has worked in international organizations in the past, his position with NPH USA is the first time in Chuck’s professional career where he is able to regularly communicate in Spanish. He enjoys introducing NPH USA donors and friends to NPH homes for the first time, and he considers himself fortunate to have been able to experience NPH homes in seven of the nine countries where NPH conducts program operations.
Chuck and his wife, Verna, live in the Chicago suburb of Glenview. His family sponsors a godson at NPH Guatemala, and they also maintain a Mi Casa sponsorship at NPH El Salvador.
Heather joined the NPH family in 2017 as a Donor Relations Manager. Over the years, she has grown into the role of Director of Donor Relations for the Midwest Area helping to raise awareness and funds in the Midwest Area states. Heather describes NPH as an organization that grabs your heart and never lets it go! She has a passion for connecting supporters to the mission of NPH in a lasting and meaningful way.
Heather lived and worked in Pontevedra, Spain and Mexico City, Mexico for a total of 13 years. It was in those two countries that she learned the Spanish language, culture, and fell in love working with children as an elementary teacher in private bilingual schools. Heather attended Endicott College at their Mexico City Campus where she earned her Degree of Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
Heather returned to the United States in the fall of 2014 and began working in the nonprofit sector. It was then that she realized she found her dream career – Working to help others. She started working with a local nonprofit organization named War Dogs Making it Home. A few years later, she was connected to NPH USA and knew she had found her forever nonprofit family. NPH USA reconnected Heather to her love of the Latin culture and being able to help children again.
Heather resides in Chicago, IL. She enjoys spending time with her two pups, traveling, live music, theatre, swimming, reading, and time with family and friends. Heather is the proud godmother of an NPH child in Honduras and has visited our NPH homes in Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico.
Christian joined the NPH family in November of 2011. For over five years, he oversaw all administrative functions at NPH USA as the Director of Finance & Operations. During this time, Christian was able to make significant and lasting contributions to the organization by heavily investing in the organization’s human capital and technological infrastructure.
Prior to joining NPH, Christian worked as a senior financial analyst for PepsiCo’s Business & Information Solutions division. In this role, he worked within the Project Management Office that managed a global SAP implementation project. Christian has always been driven by an entrepreneurial spirit having owned and operated several small businesses in mortgage banking and real estate investment.
In January of 2017, he accepted a promotion to serve as the Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer of NPH USA. In this new chapter, Christian is excited to work closer with NPH International to conceptualize and drive high-impact, international initiatives that strategically strengthen the organization’s core operations.
Christian is the proud sponsor of two university students at NPH.
Javi joined the NPH family in 2025. In his role, he works to ensure every story of hope and resilience is told with care. With a background that bridges the non-profit, entertainment and sports worlds, Javi brings both heart and strategy to the work of advancing fundraising opportunities for vulnerable children across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Javi’s passion lies in storytelling that creates impact. Before joining NPH, he led creative and branding initiatives at U.S. Soccer, Washington Spirit, and D.C. United, and has collaborated with professional athletes to amplify their platforms. His native bilingual proficiency in Spanish and multicultural perspective allows him to authentically connect with diverse communities, making him a strong advocate for the children and families NPH serves.
Throughout his career, Javi has been recognized for leading award-winning creative campaigns, negotiating national partnerships, and overseeing multi-million-dollar budgets. He has built and guided creative teams that consistently deliver industry-leading work. These experiences have shaped his reputation as a trusted leader who combines vision, collaboration, and artistry to drive lasting impact.
Stephanie joined NPH USA in July 2016 as the Director of the Upper Midwest Region. Before joining NPH USA, Stephanie has worked in nonprofit fundraising for over 25 years at Girl Scouts, Humane Society of the United States and the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Stephanie attended the College of Saint Benedict and pursued her BA in Psychology. She then attended Augsburg College where she completed her MA in Leadership and has worked on her doctorate in education with an emphasis on philanthropy at Saint Mary’s University. Stephanie resides in Minnesota, with her husband and two grown children.
She thrives in her work to be a mentor to children and being a catalyst for social change. It is her philosophy every day to be able to teach the importance of philanthropy to others and to celebrate philanthropic efforts and all that it accomplishes. It is her passion to ensure that the donor bill of rights and fundraising ethics are utilized at all times. She is driven to work collaboratively and to convey sensitivity to the needs of benefactors.
At NPH USA, we empower children and families to thrive through safe homes, inclusive care, quality education, leadership training, and vital healthcare. Together, we create healthier communities and brighter futures across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Your support, no matter the size, helps provide children with food, shelter, education, and healthcare—giving them the chance to do more than survive, but truly thrive. Every gift creates opportunities and builds brighter futures across Latin America and the Caribbean.