Team Members
Molepolole Team
- Dave Bezaire, 57, has been the leader for nine Habitat house builds in Columbus, three of which were blitzes during the Ohio State Fair, and he has participated in Global Village missions to Ghana, Mexico, Guatemala, Thailand, Dominican Republic, Boliva, and Ecuador. He worked with http://www.habitatbaywaveland.org/HfH-Bay Waveland during the winter of 2009 and plans to work with HfH-Tucson during the winter of 2010. He has also been active with HfH-Greater Columbus as a member of the Board, finance and construction committees. Since retiring 6 years ago, Dave finds Habitat a great way to live his faith while playing with great toys... err…umm… tools.
- Rebecca Bezaire, 24, a recent college graduate figuring out how to make a career for herself in the arts, is tour manager for The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's Shakespeare LIVE!, a National Endowment of the Arts production that brings high quality Shakespeare into schools. In between gigs, Rebecca loves cooking, reading, and being around family. After seeing the positive impact her parents have had with their past GV efforts, Rebecca is extremely excited to be (finally) taking part in one. She is excited about two weeks of hard, hard labor (with many rewards), and then a week of play. Here's hoping she can catch a lion!
- Sarah Boone, 35, is a pre-k exceptional children’s teacher in North Carolina, a job which allows her time to perfect her tricycle riding and monkey bar hanging skills. In her spare time, she enjoys relaxing with her dog and cat and spending time on the NC coast kayaking, biking, floating in the river, as well as sitting back listening to the waves while reading a good book on the pier. She volunteers regularly with HFH Orange County (NC) and has been on previous Habitat Global Village trips to Guatemala, El Salvador, and Ecuador, and loved all of them. She is excited about the prospect of seeing a new country and continent and hoping to meet a few elephants!
- Debbie Butterfield, 55, has great concern for the well being of people and their cultural diversity. She is not afraid of hard work, believes in team building for a common goal, and has always been sparked with the interest of one day joining the HFH Program. Driven by her social sciences background, Debbie has been involved with numerous charities, fundraisers and foundations for the benefit of Bermuda’s people.
Canadian-born, she has lived on the island of Bermuda for 31 years. She and her Bermudian husband Malcolm are proud of their children Rayman (27), Lindsay (20), and Jenna (17). Debbie owns and manages a facility management company that provides property management, post construction clean up, residential concierge services, domestic cleaning, and home staging for realty.
In her “spare” time, Debbie enjoys reading, gardening, the performing arts and takes cello and tango lessons. Her passion for dance and recent instruction from world-class masters in Argentina led her to perform in Bermuda and Canada last year. Debbie is a sports enthusiast and regularly exercises along the beautiful trails and sandy beaches of Bermuda.
Debbie is ready for the new challenge of putting on her construction boots and hard hat to volunteer with the GV program. Being spiritually lead, she feels empowered by the fact that with God’s help she can share her talents and skills to in some small way assist globally and through interaction help change the lives of some people in Botswana. Debbie says, “I hope to learn from this unique experience not only for personal growth but to further benefit my family, friends and the community.” - Regina Goetz, 47, is a loyal Columbus Global Village Team member, with previous trips to Ghana, Guatemala, Thailand, and Boliva already in her portfolio. She is a 21 year veteran at the Ohio State University, where she currently works at the OSU Hospital. She enjoys traveling, hiking, camping and taking care of her animals. Regina tells us that she wants to go on Habitat for Humanity vacations because she enjoys helping people and because she is always looking for safe, adventurous trips.
- Susi Havens-Bezaire, 58, began volunteering for HfH-Greater Columbus in 1989 to help plan the 15th Anniversary celebration of HFHI, held in Columbus. Following that wonderful event where she met President Jimmy Carter and Milliard Fuller, she directed her volunteer efforts to fund raising for the local affiliate. She has served two terms as a Board member (7 years), filled in as Interim Executive Director for 8 months, and continued to focus on resource development. In 2004, at the request of the Executive Director of HFH-GC, she organized the first Global Village trip from Columbus, Ohio. Having seen the deplorable living conditions in developing countries and experienced the wonderful impact that Habitat has on people's lives, she continues and so far has led trips to Ghana, Mexico, Guatemala, Thailand, Dominican Republic, Boliva, and Ecuador. Susi worked with http://www.habitatbaywaveland.org/HfH-Bay Waveland during the winter of 2009 and plans to work with HfH-Tucson during the winter of 2010.
- Casey McCormick, 20, a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill double majoring in psychology and exercise and sports science, was actually born in Columbus, Ohio. She is a huge fan of both sports and Harry Potter, plays club soccer and is in the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority.
Casey has worked with Habitat in both her home town of Charlotte, NC, and around Chapel Hill. She tells us she "is counting down the days until we leave for Botswana." - Joanna Nykis-Enterline, 32, manages construction projects in Chicago including planning, estimating, analyzing blueprints, and – her favorite part – influencing a large team of people to achieve a common goal in a cooperative atmosphere. Her passion for people pushed Joanna to earn a master’s degree in Psychology in 2006 to complement her earlier master’s degree in Strategic Management.
Joanna was born in Poland, has lived in Chicago since 2002, and strongly believes that visiting countries and learning cultures is like “attending the best university of life, giving a perspective that would be impossible to learn from books.” She also enjoys reading and writing.
Joanna feels that helping Africa requires living there long enough to begin understanding the needs, sorrows and joys of the people so that she can be an advocate long after her return from Botswana. She summarizes by saying, “As I journey through my life, eagerly anticipating the future, I can’t stop believing in people, in their power to make a difference, and in their power to change the world.” - Lisa Powell, 35, is a pharmacist at Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro, NC. She has known fellow team member, Sarah Boone since age 5. In her spare time, she enjoys skydiving, skiing, travelling, cooking, reading, and volunteering. This is her first trip with Habitat for Humanity, but she has been on several medical mission trips to Honduras. She is excited about visiting a new continent.
- Lauren Sabo, 21 is a junior Sociology/Anthropology, International Studies double major at Denison University in Granville, OH. Currently, she is the President of Denison’s Habitat chapter on campus, but has been working with Habitat for over 8 years. She has traveled all over the country in missions to support community health and basic needs programs in South Africa, Haiti, Atlanta, Vermont, Louisiana, South Dakota, and other underdeveloped regions to improve the quality of life for underserved populations. Lauren’s passion for humanity has also allowed her to volunteer with the Big Brother’s Big Sister’s program in Licking County, and to participate as an ABA therapist for autistic children. In her spare time, she enjoys outdoor activities, including whitewater rafting, hiking, skiing, and fishing. Also, she loves hanging out with her family, friends, and 3 dogs in her hometown, Chagrin Falls, OH. Lauren can’t wait to return to the beautiful continent of Africa and hopes to bring enthusiasm, experience, and a smiling face to the Columbus GV team!
- Jonathan Stuart, 18, is a college freshman from New York double majoring in history and philosophy who enjoys reading, writing, painting, biking, running, helping those in need. He tells us "I basically enjoy the freedom to do!" He's been thinking about joining a GV mission for over a year, so he's excited about Botswana and "also looking forward to a life changing experience that may shape me into a person different than the one today". He tells us it's a bit like Albert Einstein said, "The only source of knowledge is experience."
- Mark Warner, 56, has worked in the electronics industry for the past 25 years. In his spare time he enjoys the outdoors, reading and volunteers with the local food bank. This will be his first trip with HfHI and Mark is looking forward to a rewarding vacation and experiencing the culture of Botswana.
Mahalapye Team
- Dave Bezaire Please see listing at left.
- Kate Brassel, 39, ...
- Kerry Cheesman, 54, a Professor of Biological Sciences at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, previously participated on a Global Village mission to Boliva. He is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys backpacking, kayaking, biking – and of course learning about the ecosystems in each new place. He has traveled extensively, often with students, throughout Central and South America, as well as Thailand and the United Kingdom. He was a founding member of the board of Habitat in Ft Wayne, IN and was involved in many builds there before moving to Columbus. Kerry is involved in many projects related to social justice, and looks forward to helping build better lives for people in Bolivia. He also looks forward to spending time with dedicated people of like mind.
- Kathy Ehrman, 49, is a very experienced Habitat volunteer, having begun with her church in 1987 and not showing any signs of slowing down to this day! She has participated in a couple dozen builds, including all the State Fair projects. In 1994, Kathy stepped up to be the House Leader on the first Women's Build and has led 5 more since then.
Kathy is a Medical Technologist certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathology as a Specialist in Blood Banking. She has years of experience at Children's Hospital in Columbus and Licking Memorial Hospital in Newark and is currently seeking other employment.
Kathy is a very dedicated missionary. Yearly trips with groups of junior and senior high students and adults have benefited New York City; Los Angeles; the Jicarilla Indian reservation in Ducle, NM; Reynosa, Mexico / McAllen, Texas; Boston; Toledo and Marietta, Ohio; and several Appalachian area projects in Pennsylvania and Kentucky. In 2004 she ventured to Bolivia where she worked in Santa Cruz and San Jose de Chiquitos.
Kathy has spent much of the Fall of 2006 doing hurricane relief work on the Gulf Coast. She is currently in Ocean Springs, Mississippi helping spearhead a local church's cleanup and rebuilding work. - Susi Havens-Bezaire Please see listing at left.
- Erika Heider, since her retirement as an academic college dean, has been lucky enough to combine her love of travel with working for Habitat for Humanity. Locally (Portland, OR), she serves on both the Board and the Family Services committee. Her international builds include Guatemala, Mexico, Costa Rica, Mongolia and, most recently, Chile. She tells us that each of these diverse experience has enriched her life in a unique way.
Erika has a son and three lovely
granddaughters. She was born in Europe, immigrated through Ellis Island as a
displaced person when she was 8 years old, grew up in New York, and then moved to the West. She has lived in Portland since 1980.
Erika says, "I look forward to this African experience, and to meeting new friends on the team as well as in our host country." - Angela Higgins, 22, is a nursing student at the University of Pittsburgh. She likes working at Children's hospital, volunteering at the local animal shelter and most recently working with Haitian orphans brought to Pittsburgh to find adoptive families.
In her free time she enjoys being a vegetarian, running, skiing, going to the beach and hanging out with her amazing roommates and her kitty, Neena.
She eagerly tells us, "I cannot wait until August!" - Veronica Laski, 31, is from New Hampshire...
- Jeff Moxley, 28, lives in Butler, NJ where he works as a FedEx courier. He taught Martial Arts for 6 years throughout NJ, and spent several years of his late-teens and early-20s traveling around America fighting in tournaments with his team.
Recently he has given up Martial Arts in favor of spending time on more creative output. He enjoys painting and is lead singer of The Hipshots a locally-touring rock group he formed with his friends.
Jeff is a vegetarian and animal lover, currently living with 4 cats and his dog, Willow. This is his first trip with Habitat, and he says he is really hoping to make them a very regular thing. - Lloyd Vordenberg, 67, is an active, retired school teacher hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio and presently living with his dear wife, Sue, in Bend, Oregon. They are the parents of one son, Peter, who resides in Salt Lake City with his wife Barbara Jones, MD, and coaches the USA Cross Country Ski Team. By the time this bio gets out, the Olympics will have been concluded and they hope that the USA did well. Lloyd enjoys bicycling, cross country skiing, movies, photography and travel. He tells us that he is eager to participate again with Habitat for Humanity and looking forward to travelling in Botswana and working with the team.
- Sue Vordenberg, 67, staying true to her Boulder, Colorado roots, unabashedly calls herself a tree-hugging, bleeding-heart liberal. Although her first elementary teaching job in Long Island was a culture shock, it cemented a love of travel that led to teaching positions in Colorado Springs, Okinawa, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Turkey, and to meeting and marrying Lloyd in Italy and giving birth to Pete in Spain.
While overseas she shifted focus to basic adult education and helping enlisted personnel complete high school before her return to Boulder and service in college administrative roles including organizational development, workforce training, Dean of Student Services, and Associate Vice President for Student and Academic Affairs.
After retirement and a move to Bend, Oregon, Sue learned to play violin and formed a string quartet that plays at weddings and other events throughout the community. She enjoys the wonders of nature and many physical activities especially cross country skiing, biking, hiking, kayaking.
Sue says that her experiences on prior GV trips in Brazil and Papua New Guinea have been lifetime highlights, especially the interactions with Lloyd, her GV teammates, and the local people. She summarizes, “I am thankful for my health, and to have Lloyd, our son and his wife, my brother and sister, and a group of close friends as focal points in my life. If this has been too wordy and rambling, don't worry. I am much more quiet and reserved in person.” - Marjorie Ward retired in 2004 from the faculty of the Ohio State University College of Education where for 26 years she coordinated the graduate program for teachers of students with visual impairments (low vision and blind). She traveled with Columbus Global Village Team missions to Ghana, Thailand, Dominican Republic, and Ecuador, and is an active volunteer with the local Habitat for Humanity—Greater Columbus affiliate.
In 2006, she visited a Presbyterian Church mission hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo with a medical mission team, and she has participated in many Elderhostel Service trips.
Marge has taught both general and special education, completed graduate work at the University of Pittsburgh, and served on the Penn State University faculty. She continues to tackle new challenges in service to humanity including chairing the Missions Team of Bethel Presbyterian Church. In her spare time she likes to bicycle and ski.