The African Road Team

Force for positive change, community builder, author, and artist.

Kelly Bean is a local and international leader and encourager, as well as an activist for positive change. From a panel at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women to mud huts in Rwanda, Kelly has the extraordinary capacity to form friendships and be at home anywhere. A change creator, Kelly uses her skill to partner and empower others, encouraging community building for the sake of a better world.

A visionary and strategic planner, Kelly is also an author and an artist. Kelly has been creating, coaching, and leading strategic, diverse networks for over two decades.

Along with her marvelous, Harley riding-enthusiast husband, Ken, and dog Maggie, Kelly lives in West Linn, Oregon. They enjoy taking time with their grown children and five grandchildren, and treasured extended family.

If lost, Kelly is most likely to be found in a kitchen with friends, sauté pan in one hand and a glass of Cabernet in the other.

Portia brings her wealth of skill, commitment, and passion to the work of African Road, and through it, to the East African Changemakers. Portia possesses a remarkable combination of strategic skill and relational warmth. In her Director of Finance role Portia is highly committed to ensuring that people in the communities we partner with can exercise choice and agency in their own lives, for their own advancement and for those around them. As Director of Flourishing and Relationship Management, Portia values investing in flourishing African Road relationships on this side of the world too.

Portia earned her stripes in accountancy training with Ernst and Young, Zimbabwe and then translated her enthusiasm for efficient systems to working with non-profits across the globe ranging from Zimbabwe (home country for her family), to South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, and the US.  Driven and determined, Portia has never taken her education for granted. She even ran a sponsored 10k to fundraise her MA in Global Development and Justice.

In addition to professional excellence and wise perspective, Portia could also be known as the African Road Chief Executive Celebrator. Portia enlivens the African Road team with her infectious intention to invite others to pause and recognize simple joys along the way. Portia loves travel, a night out on the town dancing, and exploring food and flavor, but considers her most important role to be aunt to a glorious ensemble of eight nieces and nephews.

Madison is a green-fingered, go-getter, and the excellent Grants Manager and Impact Curator for African Road. Efficient, personable, creative, and engaging, Madison has an incredible eye for detail, and a passion for community empowerment.  

With a flair for project tracking, writing, and reporting, she brings valued organizational strength to African Road. After being part of the African Road team for two years as the Office Coordinator, Madison is looking forward to stepping into this new and formative role as Grants Manager and Impact Curator at African Road in order to serve the growing organization and Changemakers well.

When not creating systems that work, or making the world a better place, Madison loves creating crafty things, gardening, and exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Nicole has honed her professional expertise in a variety of non-profit communications and social media roles; creating connections and engaging in thoughtful storytelling for a cause. It’s her commitment to relationship building and her deep value for sustainable communities that make her a perfect fit for African Road.

Nicole is a soft-hearted encourager and a tea enthusiast, who brings a grounded presence, listening ear, and practical insight to every interaction. In her free time, Nicole, a published writer, can be found crafting poetry and prose, or practicing yoga. When not writing or stretching, she enjoys trekking outdoors, building community with game nights, baking up a tasty batch of scones, or getting cozy with a good book and a warm mug in hand.

Sumner is the Office Coordinator, extraordinaire for African Road Team

She brings her wealth of knowledge from past experiences to the position. Sumner has worked for various nonprofits and for-profit companies, with recent experience as an Operations Manager in the recruiting industry. Naturally resourceful and enthusiastic, she has a positive approach to ensuring the smooth operation of African Road. 

New to Oregon from Texas, Sumner is excited to explore the region. She has a deep love of travel and art, and enjoys spending time with others by engaging them in thoughtful ways. Outside the office, Sumner can be found scrolling through local art museums with her husband Joel, testing out new restaurants, and exploring all that the Pacific Northwest offers.

Grace brings her extensive experience in organizational development, practical business management and deep empathy to the board. Whether gathering women for her deep-dive conversational retreats or traveling to listen and learn from people who care, Grace is a beacon of hope and light for women who need space for their own unique expression and for creation of healthy community. Additionally, Grace has made multiple trips to the African continent to learn from others and stand in relational support.

An early friend of African Road, supporter and advisor to Executive Director Kelly Bean, since the inception of African Road, Grace enthusiastically expressed that she is “happy to return to her work as reflective counsel, witness, and cheerleader for all the amazing work that is happening in East Africa and beyond”.

Dr. Teresa Gipson brings a range of rich experience to the African Road board, including four years of service as Medical Officer for the Peace Corp, in Malawi, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic, and a decade in the role of Founder and Director for a nonprofit doing work in Kenya. Paired with over 31 years in the practice of medicine and a particular focus on serving marginalized populations, Teresa has significant international and professional expertise. Her keen perception and a depth of compassion, valuable insight, and practical understanding will help take African Road forward well.

With Portland as home base for more than 30 years, Teresa’s beloved family is situated across the globe. Her heartbeat is hospitality and being present to people. When global health permits, you’ll find her hosting fabulous friendly gatherings in her spacious home and yard. As an avid gardener, Teresa stays rooted and connected, finding contentment in the simplicity of digging in the dirt, and the delight of watching plants grow and thrive.

Jeremy has spent over 17 years as a creative leader in various forms of visual communication. After building a successful career in Hollywood as a television producer, he couldn’t shake the desire to take part in work that he felt had lasting value and meaning. He shifted to working with nonprofits and NGOs, primarily focused on holistic community development with partners in East Africa. In 2017, while helping African Road tell and share the stories of the incredible Changemakers in Rwanda and Burundi, Jeremy says he was deeply moved by the African Road and the obvious friendship we have cultivated with our partners, the Changemakers.

Jeremy lives in New York City and consults with organizations globally, helping them to better communicate their stories and deepen their partnerships with audiences and donors. His vast international experience and the friendships developed through those experiences have shaped his life, his focus and his work.

 

Julie Solomon brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to African Road. Julie’s incredible range of expertise was gained through an MBA focusing in finance, years of living and volunteering in South Africa and Singapore, and a meaningful and diverse work history in finance, international development, and philanthropic development for non-profit organizations. Julie’s international experience paired with a passion for community-led development with a focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment makes her a fantastic fit for an impactful African Road Board of Directors role.

Portland, Oregon is home for Julie, where she loves testing out new recipes. She especially enjoys catching up with her two sons who are launching careers and finishing their education, and with other family members. Julie also enjoys turning up dirt in her garden, supporting her local libraries, and spending as much time as possible hiking in nature. She has a caring heart, sharp mind, and dedicated spirit.

 

Tom Nisbett has been offering pro bono organizational consulting to African Road since 2020 and in the years since, he and his wife have become supporters and donors as well. Tom is the president and owner of The Nisbett Group (TNG), an organizational consulting firm that provides services in philanthropy, board training, and strategic planning. He also has over 30 years of experience leading in higher education and the nonprofit sector.

Tom’s first experience on the African continent was in 2001, while traveling in Kenya with his daughter Savanah. Since then, Tom’s admiration and care for the continent has grown with each subsequent trip he has taken to Kenya, Tanzania, and several countries in West Africa.

Tom and his wife, Lou Ann, split their time between the central highlands of Arkansas and the ‘land of Enchantment’ New Mexico. Together, they have nine grandchildren whom they adore. When not consulting, Tom enjoys spending time outside mountaineering and traveling in order to experience new contexts.

 

It is a delight to welcome Dr. Savanah N. Landerholm as the newest African Road Board member. Savanah works for Wipf and Stock Publishers (Eugene, Oregon) and teaches at Baylor University. She holds a PhD in Higher Education Studies and Leadership, as well as a Master’s Degree in International Journalism. Savanah has worked in academic book publishing for more than ten years, and she is the author of Beyond Equality: Women Leaders in Higher Education. With this extensive background, it may come as no surprise that Savanah has always loved reading and learning – everything from nonfiction biographies to fiction classics.

Though she is a self-proclaimed homebody, Savanah is drawn to experience and care for the wider world. She has traveled to over 20 countries across Europe, Central America, North America, and the Middle East. Taking inspiration from her travels, Savanah enjoys recreating favorite dishes in the kitchen that are gluten free and delicious. She also loves to spend time outdoors, hiking and camping with her husband, Scott, and their three daughters. Together, they live in Waco, Texas.

International peacekeeper, entrepreneur, coach.

Sean brings over 20 years in international development and leadership coaching to African Road. With an entrepreneurial mind, broad experience, perspective as a South African national as well as his professional expertise, he provides an additional driving force and focus.

With a wealth of experience of coaching social entrepreneurs and facilitating leadership development, Sean is often the mentor behind the great leader. With strategy, wisdom and his usual straight talking style, Sean has consulted for business and non profits across Africa, the Middle East, the US and Europe.

A comprehensive range of skills, from strategy to program design and communications, Sean is an invaluable support to the African Road team.

On the odd occasion that he’s stationary, Sean lives in the UK in Whitstable with his extraordinary wife Monica the artist, and with their trio of talented children who are spread across the UK.

Force for positive change, community builder, author, artist.

Kelly Bean is a local and international leader and encourager, as well as an activist for positive change. From a panel at United Nations Commission on the Status of Women to mud huts in Rwanda, Kelly has the extraordinary capacity to form friendships and be at home anywhere. A change creator, Kelly uses her skill to partner and empower others, encouraging community building for the sake of a better world.

A visionary and strategic planner, Kelly is also an author and an artist. Kelly has been creating, coaching and leading strategic, diverse networks for over two decades.

Along with her marvelous, Harley riding-enthusiast husband, Ken and dog Maggie, Kelly lives in West Linn, Oregon. They enjoy taking time with their three grown children and five grandchildren, and treasured extended family.

If lost, Kelly is most likely to be found in a kitchen with friends, sauté pan in one hand and a glass of Cabernet in the other.

Carol spent 35 years as CFO, CEO and COO of various non-profit organizations, governmental agencies and in business within the private sector. This includes roles as executive vice president for Travel Portland and The Urban League of Portland. Carol is a master of strategy with accounting, human resources and internal administration skills under her belt. Having managed considerable staff and billion dollar budgets, Carol has been recognized as an award-winning leader for both her business and charitable contributions.

With a wonderful combination of strategic skill, compassion and humor, Carol brings considerable skills and expertise to the African Road board.

Now retired (though still changing the world),  Carol spends time oil painting, traveling, and looking after her grandson while enjoying the view from her beachfront home in Lincoln City.

Joni travels around the world engaging the topic of the fully human life. She is an author, speaker, photographer and consultant who revels in a new challenge.

Joni began her career as an accountant. She later established a consulting practice in strategic planning. After answering a call to enter seminary in midlife, Joni is an ordained minister who works globally on humanitarian issues around social justice. She combines her background in business consulting with her pastoral gifts as a board member with African Road and in fieldwork with the Changemakers. Joni and Kelly ran into each other in Rwanda over ten years ago. Their friendship laid the groundwork for Joni’s involvement with African Road.

Joni grew up tromping around the far west Texas landscape along the Mexican border. She and her husband, Tim, maintain a home in that area and also in Dallas, where they have almost 40 years of business and personal ties. You can find Joni hanging off a cliff or hiking high mountaintops for fun. Adventure calls!