Karen Larsen
World Vision Micro Product Director
Karen is the director of worldvisionmicro.org for World Vision US. Karen has been happily married for 22 years and is the mother of two daughters and two dogs. She lives with her husband in the Pacific Northwest.
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Jeremiah 17:7-8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
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Allison Rosser
Marketing Project Administrator
Allison joined the World Vision Micro team in October 2009, shortly after Micro was launched in September. Born and raised in rural Virginia, she attended the Jepson School of Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond where she received her B.A. in Leadership Studies and minors in Economics and Women’s Studies. In 2008, she studied abroad in Cape Coast, Ghana where she researched access and barriers to microfinance loans. During her stay, she witnessed firsthand that something so small could have an impact so large. Allison is grateful for the opportunity to do what she loves. When she’s not working, you can probably catch her tossing a frisbee, baking French tarts, or exploring the Pacific Northwest with a sweet tea in hand!
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Brad Stave
VisionFund Communications and Marketing Manager
Brad serves as the manager for marketing & communications at VisionFund International (VFI), the microfinance subsidiary of World Vision. He came to VFI with extensive experience in both fundraising in development work, and an international business background. A graduate of International Business and German from Oregon State University, Brad spent the early part of the 2000s working in marketing capacities in both the manufacturing and service sectors of Germany and the United Kingdom, respectively. Later, he worked in development for World Vision United States, raising support for the efforts of poverty reduction through engaging donors, organizations, corporations, and churches with the mission of World Vision.
Brad was an early champion for World Vision’s Micro site. He worked to develop the original systems and processes, as well as acted as the catalyst for marketing and content development in Rwanda. Brad resides in Tacoma, Washington, USA, with his wife Beccy and two children. He enjoys serving in his local church, reading, cycling, hiking, and skiing.
Lisa Pacini
Writer
Lisa is a freelance writer who has had the privilege of writing for World Vision for more than five years. It feeds her soul to work for an organization that does such hopeful work around the world. She has a new relationship with Micro that has her excited ─ not only does she write for Micro, but she funds two entrepreneurs. She’s looking forward to watching Micro succeed.
Lisa has two small children and understands the struggles of making ends meet, of the day to day trials of running a household while working, and of the hoping, and praying, that she’s raising her family right! She loves to spend time with family and friends, read, travel, and drink coffee.
The great writer, Maya Angelou, said “All great achievements require time.” And a little persistence. And some faith.
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Bwalya Melu
Economic Development Sector Marketing Specialist
Bwalya earned a degree in Sociology and African Development from the University of Zambia. While he grew up a Christian, he confesses he often looked down on the poor, thinking they could easily escape poverty. He was interested in a career that would give him material things in life. He wanted to live a “comfortable life.”
It was not until the founding director of World Vision Zambia invited Bwalya to places he had never seen that Bwalya started to see the poor with his heart. He began to see they were people like him and that he was privileged. Most people in Zambia did not have the opportunities that he had. Moreover, he thought maybe he should give something back. Bwalya set out to follow God’s calling and serve the poor, eventually becoming the national director for World Vision Zambia, then International Programs director for World Vision United Kingdom. His background affords him the unique perspective which enables him to understand and solve challenges, from the field to donor. Today he works with World Vision U.S. as the Sector Marketing Specialist for Economic Development and Malaria Prevention.
Nick Ackerman
Latin America Regional Field Specialist
Whether it means being instrumental in a team of college students competing in a nationwide business plan, or simply organizing an informal jamboree where his friends can assess his latest Emeril-like recipes, entrepreneurship is tantamount to Nick’s enthusiasm. While in college, Nick began traveling, visiting Kenya, Uganda, and Peru. He quickly discovered a passion for microfinance, and, perhaps too quickly, and probably to his parent’s regret, discovered his love for an expatriated, Hemingway-esque lifestyle. After graduating from Westmont College with a B.A. in Economics and Finance, he spent several months in Guatemala learning Spanish. The deep connection he shared with his host family, and the thrills that come with a new terrain, left a soft spot for Latin America and a feeling of attachment. The joy of Nick’s enthusiasm for entrepreneurship and microfinance rests in the opportunity provided to those less fortunate than he. It rests in the privilege of enabling those people, in which he cares deeply for, to improve and develop their lives. Apart from the delight he finds in his work, Nick enjoys experimenting with exotic, local foods (most recently: fried grasshoppers) and trying to create his own renditions. And he has never been a dollar above exploring and sight-seeing.
God Bless your commitment and work! We have over $400 ready to donate to entrepreneurs! Let us know when new businesses are ready to review for our church to select from!
Romans 8:28
New Hope Church – Adel, Iowa
Hi Adel! Thank you for your post and for reading our blog. We apologize for any inconvenience that this has caused and hope to have more entrepreneurs on the website by tomorrow afternoon. Please know that we appreciate your continued patience and support!
Blessings,
-Allison, Micro Staff
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Nick, Espero que haigas estado bastante tiempo en Cuzco, Peru y logrado evaluar las necesidades economicas y aportado tu opinion para algun micro prestamo. Por supuesto que tambien tengas en tu libro de recetas internacionales algunos de los deliciosos platos peruanos.
Te agradezco anticipadamente por la labor social, que tu y toda la gente de World Vision realiza no solo en mi Pais sino en todo el mundo pobre.
Maria
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