CALL US TODAY

970-692-3048

Board of Directors

GET TO KNOW OUR

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dr. Amy Franklin: CEO and President

Dr. Amy Franklin, MS, DVM, is Farms for Orphans’ founder and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Franklin founded FFO in 2015 after she and her husband brought two of their children home from the DRC. She saw firsthand the conditions that orphaned and street children exist under and how poor their nutritional status is in the DRC. This experience motivated her to dedicate her career to improving nutrition and education for orphaned and disadvantaged children in the DRC and beyond.

Dr. Alan Franklin: Treasurer and Board Member

On the FFO BOD. Dr. Franklin holds a PhD in Wildlife Biology with a minor in statistics, MS in Natural Resources, BS in Wildlife Science. Currently Dr. Franklin is project leader for the USDA National Wildlife Research Center. His research focuses on studying the effects of wildlife-borne pathogens affecting agricultural and human health, concentrating on pathogenic and antimicrobial resistant bacteria affecting food safety at the wildlife-agricultural interface.

Jeanne Cunkelman: Secretary

Jeanne has served on the FFO board of directors since FFO’s inception. She is a mother of three grown children and a grandmother of three, including two from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Jeanne, now retired, served as the office manager for the Ligonier Valley Learning Center for 17 years. Jeanne enjoys spending time with family and friends, quilting and gardening.

James Cunkelman: Board Member

James has served on the FFO board of directors since FFO’s inception. He is a retired pilot and father of three grown children and a grandfather of three, including two from the Democratic Republic of Congo. James has served as a Freemason since 1980 and previously served on the Ligonier Valley School Board (2008-2012).

Sara Gallegos: Board Member

Sara Gallegos holds a B.A. in Computer Science from Ripon College and an M.Ed. from Regis University. Before deciding to stay home with her young children, Sara taught 3rd grade. Currently, Sara sits on the board of Farms for Orphans, Inc. and Congo Relief Mission, Inc. She is also heavily involved in refugee resettlement in the Denver area. Sara and her husband Dustin have two daughters.

Fr. Gaston Muyombo: Board Member

Fr. Gaston Muyombo has served on the Farms for Orphans, Inc. board of directors since FFO’s inception. Father Gaston lived in Denver for eight years while working at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Littleton, Colorado and St. Louis Catholic Church in Englewood, Colorado. He returned to the Congo in 1997 and founded two organizations, the Denver based NGO Congo Relief Mission (CRM) and the Congolese NGO Action Genèse Buloba (AGB).

Sarah Switala: Board Member

Improving the quality of life for young people is Sarah’s focus as a Professional School Counselor. Over the course of her career, Sarah worked with children from preschool through college age. While attending to the academic, social/emotional, and career exploration needs of all students she serves, Sarah has a passion for working with disadvantaged populations including students experiencing homelessness and students with special needs.

Nicole Ureda: FFO Global Health Leadership

Nicole Ureda, MA brings experience and expertise in global health leadership to FFO’s Board of Directors. A public health professional by day, Nicole has helped shape FFO’s research program, cultivated and refined the organization’s publications and media outputs, and developed fundraising operations and materials to advance FFO in the fulfillment of its mission.

ADVISORY BOARD & STAFF

Iqbal Paroo: US African Development Foundation

Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Mr. Paroo is multi-lingual and maintains a diverse, global network of social and professional relationships. He dedicates his energy, passion and intellect to empowering people and organizations to make a difference.
Mr Paroo has served as Former University President and Academic Medicine Executive, Vice Chair of Aga Khan Foundation; and Founding President of Omidyar Network. Currently, Mr Paroo is serving as a Board member of US African Development Foundation.

Dr. Arnold van Huis: UN Food and Agriculture Organization

Arnold van Huis is emeritus professor of Wageningen University in the Netherlands. He worked from 1974 to 1979 in Nicaragua for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on integrated pest management (IPM) in food grains. From 1982 to 1985 he coordinated a regional crop protection training project in Niger for eight Sahelian countries.

Dr. Donna Curtis: University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine

Dr. Donna Curtis obtained her medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Curtis is currently an assistant professor at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine where she specializes in pediatric infectious diseases.
Dr. Curtis provides FFO with expertise in methods in evaluating child nutritional status.

Kristy Pabilonia, Assistant Professor, Microbiology, Imunology and Pathology, College of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, February 3, 2011

Dr. Kristy Pabilonia: Colorado State University

Dr. Kristy Pabilonia received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree from Colorado State University. She is head of three sections in the Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory - Avian Diagnostics, BSL3 Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Diseases and Sample Receiving, and is coordinator of the Colorado Avian Surveillance Program and the Colorado Poultry Health Board.

Wendy Lu McGill: Rocky Mountain Micro Ranch

Wendy Lu McGill is CEO/Founder of Rocky Mountain Micro Ranch, Colorado's first and only edible insect farm. With a background in sociological research in international development and intercultural communication, Wendy Lu brings a global perspective and deep understanding of the why and how of farming insects for food.

Rochelle Patton

Rochelle is an avid traveler with a very special place in her heart for Africa especially the DRC. Since her first travels in Asia in the late 90’s she has been passionate about Entomophagy after eating her first grasshopper in Bangkok. She has been hooked ever since.

Noel: DRC Program Director

Noel oversees all of FFO’s programs in the DR Congo. He works with Fabrice to ensure our partners have the tools and support they need to farm successfully.

Fabrice: Insect Farming Program Manager

Fabrice has been farming insects since 2013 when he was trained by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in Kinshasa. He provides training and on-going support to our orphanage and youth insect farmers.

Pierre Mukuna: Congolese Attorney

Pierre provides legal services to FFO in the DRC. Pierre has been practicing law since 2013 and is currently registered with the Bar of Kinshasa / Matete and the Bar of Mbuji-Mayi,
Pierre is the senior Partner of the Law firm NGOTO & Associés created in 2003. His areas of practice include criminal law, contract law...

Palm Weevil Larvae Farming

Farms for Orphans in partnership with Congo Relief Mission, UN FAO in Kinshasa and the University of Kinshasa is implementing small-scale palm weevil larvae farms to bring sustainable nutrition and economic empowerment to our orphanage partners.

Homeless Youth Insect Farming

There are anywhere between 25,000 – 50,000 youth living on the streets of Kinshasa. According to UNICEF, girls comprised 44 percent of the population of street children. As young as 3 years old, these children end up on the street for various reasons including abandonment, the loss of one or both parents, accusations of sorcery or witchcraft by family members and children who are offspring of young street adults.