Mitrata.org > About Us > Meet the Team

Officers:

Christine Schutz, President
Dr. Schutz is a psychologist in private practice and at Logan University in St. Louis, Missouri. She travels to Nepal annually to manage program development for the Mitrata-Nepal children’s home in Kathmandu and to take groups of sponsors/donors on cultural tours. She volunteers her time to locate sponsors and link them with children on a personal one-to-one basis and serves as the executive director for Mitrata-Nepal Foundation for Children, Inc. in the USA

Nancy Williger, Vice-President
Dr. Williger has been involved with Mitrata since its inception and is now the Vice President of the Board. She is a is a psychologist in private practice. Dr. Williger serves on the fund raising committee and recently travelled to Nepal to assist in capacity building and to meet the girl she sponsors in the Mitrata home.

Sandra S. Hoffman, Secretary
Dr. Sandra Hoffmann is a rheumatologist (physician specializing in arthritis and autoimmune disease) practicing in the South County area and lives in Kirkwood, MO. She is secretary for the Board of Directors and director of the communications committee at Mitrata-Nepal. She sponsors 3 children (2 home, 1 school). In addition to 1 biologic child, she has 3 adopted children (from Korea, Russia and Ukraine). Her role is to document meetings for Mitrata-Nepal and facilitate communications with sponsors and the general public.

Beth Boyd, Treasurer
Beth Boyd CPA owns a tax, accounting and QuickBooks consulting practice in South St. Louis county. She serves as Treasurer for Mitrata and is a member of the Executive Board and the Finance Committee. She has been volunteering her services to Mitrata since 2006.

Board Members:

Dr. Inta Berzins
Inta Berzins is a practicing diagnostic radiologist at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, MO. Introduced to Mitrata by two friends, she was amazed at how one can impact a child's life for a fraction of what it costs to raise children here in the U.S. She has sponsored two children for several years. Hoping to get more directly involved she now serves on the Fund Raising Committee for Mitrata Nepal, and ultimately hopes to travel to Katmandu to see the home and children.

Ambrose Bittner
Ambrose is the founder and CEO of Red Lantern Journeys (www.redlanternjourneys.com), a Seattle-based travel company that arranges cultural tours and adventure travel packages to Asian countries. He has trekked and climbed in Nepal, including an attempt on Mt. Everest in 2005. In many Asian countries, it is disadvantaged women and children that suffer the most from society’s inequities and they are the ones that can benefit society the most when given support and education. Towards that end, Ambrose started the Climb for Himalaya Children, a benefit climb of Mt. Rainier to raise money to fund the work of the Mitrata Nepal Foundation for Children.

Jim Brasunas
He was one of the initial sponsors of Mitrata-Nepal and has supported the organization since its inception. He currently sponsors two children in the Mitrata home, and assists the President in strategic planning and organizational issues. Jim's professional career has been in telecommunications and he has expertise in sales, marketing, company formation and corporate funding. He hopes to see Mitrata grow into a sustainable institution for the welfare of the Nepali society and specifically for our children who need all the help we can give them.

James Craig
Jim Craig, his wife Lynn, and twin daughters Danielle and Samantha live in Wildwood with two cats and a dog named Bow. Jim is a practice manager for Phase 5 Consulting and his wife is a technology architect for the Sisters of Mercy. He enjoys running marathons, movies, and singing in the choir.

Arati Maleku
Born and raised in Nepal, Arati comes to Mitrata with a strong background in social work and her passion to help the children in need in Nepal. Arati received her Master of Social Work degree (MSW) from Washington University in St. Louis. She is also pursuing her Master of Healthcare Administration degree (MHA) from Webster University. She currently works as a Program Associate with the Missouri Foundation for Health, the largest healthcare foundation in the state of Missouri. Arati initiated the formation of NWGN St. Louis in January 2009 and currently serves as the Founding President of the Chapter.

Lauralyn Parmalee
Lauralyn thanks her friend, fellow board member Inta Berzins for first introducing her to Mitrata. A 2009 trip to the orphanage sealed the deal, and Lauralyn committed to supporting a child and assist with fundraising for the organization. Lauralyn is self employed with Muskan, LLC (www.muskanllc.com), importing silk scarves and other handmade textiles from India.

Stephanie Recht
Stephanie is the Visitor and Member Services Supervisor at the Saint Louis Art Museum. She has sponsored Mamta Luitel since 2003, and finally got to meet her in Nepal in 2009. Stephanie serves on the Mitrata board of directors as well as serving as co-chair of the Mitrata Fundraising Committee.

Michael Reed
Mike Reed is a retired senior executive from the food production and agricultural chemical industries, having spent 13 years on the leadership team of Solae (a DuPont/Bunge joint venture) and 18 years at American Cyanamid prior to that. He established a track record of leading successful company mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures, both domestically and internationally, in Europe, South America, and Asia, with special emphasis in China. Mike is also a Board Member of Meds and Foods for Kids, a non-profit organization providing sustainable nutrition to children in Haiti.

Jackie Wallach
In the Spring of 2010, Jackie had the pleasure of traveling with Dr. Schutz to Nepal to offer her services as a photographer to the Mitrata-Nepal children’s home. She was honored to experience the kindness and compassion of the Nepalese people and their abundant cultural heritage. Jackie is please to have the opportunity to support the vision of this grassroots organization, as well as the children she met personally at the home, by serving on the board in various ways including facilitating communication both within and outside of the organization through technology.

Gil Williams
He is the owner of MacroSun International, a fair trade business that works directly with artisans throughout Nepal and all South Asia. Nanda Kulu has provided traditional Nepalese drums and other musical instruments to MacroSun's customers in the USA beginning in 1993. Gil and Nanda became very close friends, and when Nanda visited the States in 1999, Gil introduced Nanda to Christine Schutz and this wonderful partnership of the spirit ultimately led to the formation of Mitrata. Gil states, "It has been a great honor to be involved with such a heartfelt and effective grassroots organization as Mitrata. I have seen with my own eyes the opportunities and healing that Mitrata offers to the heart, mind, and spirit of a child. I can think of no other task or organization more worthy."

Alexis Mead - Development Officer
Alexis Mead joined Mitrata-Nepal Foundation for Children after holding leadership positions in resource and board development, project management, and event planning. She is a Certified Fundraising Executive and has extensive experience working with non-profit organizations and small businesses in fundraising and volunteer management. Alexis now serves as Development Officer and Committee Liaison to the Mitrata-Nepal Executive Committee. She dedicates her time to growing Mitrata's funding and volunteer resources, assisting in the new building campaign, board consultation, marketing and promotion, all of which provides hope and a safe haven for needy children in Nepal.