Bud leads the organization‘s internal and external business affairs. He has served as Deputy Undersecretary for USDA, as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, Assistant Commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and was in private law practice for 12 years. Bud has led dozens of Global Volunteers teams over 35 years, and has traveled to more than 50 countries. He earned a Juris Doctor (Law) degree, a Master’s in Public Affairs concentrating on international development, and a Bachelor’s in Political Science. Bud authored Global Volunteers "Philosophy of Service - A Strategy for Development" and the "Essential Services Prospectus". He also wrote "Conclave Conspiracy." Bud chairs the Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors and the Executive and Finance committees.
Michele manages the organization‘s marketing strategy and external messages, and directs the marketing staff on volunteer relations, media strategies and website development. She earned a Master’s Degree in Liberal Studies/International Communications and a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism. Before joining the staff in 1990, she served in a volunteer capacity building the organization’s image and visibility while she worked as a public relations consultant. She held communications manager positions at various departments in Minnesota State Government, and in non-profit organizations. Michele also has led over 50 Global Volunteers teams worldwide. She chairs the Board Succession Planning Committee and serves on the Board Marketing Committee.
Sam is a shareholder in the law firm of Taft LLP. He retired from Briggs and Morgan, Professional Association, where he was a member of the firm‘s board of directors. Sam served on the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Minnesota Supreme Court. He is a former litigation section head and firm president. Sam practices principally in the areas of arbitration and mediation, complex civil litigation, appellate law and public utility regulation. Sam has led and participated on Global Volunteers Service Programs in China,and the US, and led an exploratory trip to India.
Todd is President of International Business Development Company, an import-export firm. He has led and participated on Global Volunteers Service Programs in Jamaica, Russia, and China, and participated on exploratory trips to Mexico and Guatemala. Todd has taught urban affairs, political science, international relations, political philosophy, political campaign management, leadership, organizational development, public administration and sociology at the university level, and has lectured at universities in Russia, China, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Todd writes for Rossiske Vesti, a Russian political newspaper and offers commentary for Rusya-Al Youm, the Russian Arabic Television channel for the Middle East.
Stefanie earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the College of St. Scholastica. She currently manages the quality assurance department at a medical device and bio-pharmaceutical testing facility specializing in pre-clinical safety testing. For many years, Stefanie has volunteered at a youth crisis shelter in Minneapolis as a youth crisis counselor and has a certificate in Youth Intervention. As a 16-year-old, she joined her grandparents on her first Global Volunteers service program in Italy.
Keith Kresge, JD, retired in 2010 after a 25-year career with the City of Santa Monica Rent Control Board. He received a bachelor’s degree in political science at SUNY College at Buffalo and completed law school in Fullerton, California. Keith began his association with Global Volunteers in 1998 as a volunteer on a team in Puglia, Italy. Since then, he has participated on 31 other Global Volunteer programs all over the world, mostly with his partner, and Global Volunteers Team Leader Tim Cunniff.
Gail has worked 37 years in the legal community. She graduated Summa Cum Laude in classical music from St. Cloud University in Minnesota. She earned her J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1985, and was an associate attorney with Gunderson and Swanson Law Firm until 1986, when she formed Kulick Law Office in Milaca. She was a public defender in Mille Lacs County, and city attorney for the cities of Foreston, Onamia and Milaca.
Mike has over 45 years as a leader in product development,
healthcare claims, and customer service operations, in senior level positions with major insurance carriers. Prior to his retirement in 2017, Mike led government program operations
nationally. He taught conversational English to students with Global Volunteers in Vietnam in 2018 and in Tanzania in 2019.
He earned a communications degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo and is an avid photographer who loves to travel with his camera.
Deborah Pollard co-founded Arena Technologies LLC and serves as President She began her career as a signals intelligence officer, and served as Director of Operations (DO), and as a unit commander during a remote assignment in the Republic of Korea. Deborah received bachelor of science degree from the US Air Force Academy, and her master’s degree from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. She’s served on two Global Volunteers’ programs in Tanzania.
John is an independent consultant with a decades-long focus on Healthcare Information Technology. His work experience includes management and executive positions with Deloitte, KPMG, and IBM Watson Health, and he has worked with clients that include Catholic Health, NHS Scotland, Pfizer and Aetna. He has a BS/Econ from Wharton, and also maintains certification as a Project Management Professional.John has volunteered as part of Global Volunteers teams in Peru, India, and twice in Tanzania.
Dr. Owdenberg Mdegella is the retired Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, (ELCT) who invited Global Volunteers to serve in Tanzania. He earned his PhD in Divinity in the United States, and has degrees in both Theology and Divinity.
The Honorable Anna J. Msolla is a lawyer in practice in Iringa, Tanzania and Chairperson of the Kilolo District Council.
Bud Philbrook is Global Volunteers’ Co-Founder and CEO. He has served as Deputy Undersecretary for USDA, as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, Assistant Commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and was in private law practice for 12 years. He earned a Juris Doctor Degree in Law, a Master‘s Degree in International Development, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science.
Michele Gran is Global Volunteers‘ co-founder and Senior Vice President. She manages the organization’s marketing strategy and external messages, and travels to Tanzania in her official role on the Board of Directors. She earned a Master’s Degree in Liberal Studies/International Communications and a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism.
Andrew is Director of the Reaching Children’s Potential Program (RCP) in Tanzania, and has served as Global Volunteers USA Operations Manager, and Director of International Operations. Andrew earned a Juris Doctor Degree in Law and a Bachelor’s Degree in International Communications, and travels to Tanzania in his official role as RCP Director and Tanzania Board Member.
Mindy is Associate Professor at St. John Fisher College where she focusing on global health & service. In 2023, Mindy directed Global Volunteers’ USA Programs and led research projects related to the Reaching Children’s Potential Program. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from St. John Fisher University and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Pennsylvania State University. Mindy also volunteered on service programs to the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, Tanzania, and Peru, served as a Volunteer Team Leader in Montana, and served on the Global Volunteers Board of Directors.
Bud Philbrook is Global Volunteers’ Co-Founder and CEO.
Lynette Aytch is the Director of the Leadership Development Institute at Zero To Three in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Carol Conzelman teaches cultural anthropology at the University of Colorado at Boulder and serves as the Associate Director of the Global Studies Academic Program.
Ruth Curran is an organizational behaviorist, author and speaker, and former Global Volunteers Board Member and former Director of Strategic Partnerships.
Pamela is a highly experienced Organization Effectiveness Consultant focused on organization strategy and design, effective sourcing and selection, change management, succession planning and developing and implementing broad solutions to more effectively manage human capital. She currently is a Director at SSA & Company. She began her career in IT consulting at Cap Gemini, and then transitioned to Management Consulting in 2003. Pamela enjoys travel and has visited many cities across the U.S., Canada, Europe, Russia, China, Hong Kong, Australia, Tanzania, Mexico and the Caribbean for both business and personal adventures. Pamela’s favorite vacations are those spent with Global Volunteers visiting the village of Ipalamwa Tanzania in 2008, 2009 and 2010; the village of Pommern, Tanzania in 2012; and the St. Lucia program in 2014.
Dr. Goldman practiced pediatric medicine and is the retired Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Amanda Hasley is a certified family nurse practitioner receiving her Master of Science in Nursing at Regis University.
Alyssa Kornowa is a Domestic Violence Survivor Advocate at the Center for Family Safety and Healing, Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Robi Kronberg is the retired Coordinator of Special Education Program, Center for Urban Education, University of Northern Colorado.
Diane Marsch is a neonatal nurse and infant care specialist as well as a neonatal resuscitation program instructor in Oregon.
Dr. Barbara Morris is a practicing geriatrician and geriatric advocate in Denver, CO.
Teresa Omeddo is a Registered Nurse with Baylor Scott and White Hospital in Plano Texas.
Deborah Pollard co-founded Arena Technologies LLC and serves as President.
Melinda Staveley is a retired Registered Nurse who has worked in physical medicine and rehabilitation as well as hospital administration in California.
John Taylor is an independent consultant with a decades-long focus on Healthcare Information Technology.
Dr. Henry Wambuii is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Central Missouri, teaching and researching in the developing world.
Jacqueline Wilson is a Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist and nutrition consultant. She formerly was an extension educator in Chicago through the University of Illinois - Urbana Champagne.
Dr. Phil Zeitler is a pediatric endocrinologist and Professor of Pediatrics and Clinical Sciences at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus