USA Board Members

​Mary Sytsma, President
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Mary Sytsma has been involved with the Gweimen Centre almost since its beginning, more than 15 years.  She is a retired English instructor from Elmhurst University and has visited the centre in Nigeria many times.

Steve Van Zee, Treasurer
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Steve VanZee has been a Board Member and the Treasurer of the Gweimen Centre since 2011.  He is CFO of a large, multi-national business with many years of experience working with not-for-profit organizations as well.

Rick Johnson, Secretary
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Rick Johnson and his family first met Beatrice at Gospelife Church about twenty years ago. Together they started a care package for the widows and orphans back in Beatrice's home town of Kwoi. From this humble beginning grew the Gweimen Centre, an oasis of hope and empowerment for those same widows and orphans.

​Rachel Vanderhill
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Rachel Vanderhill has been on the US board of the Gweimen Centre since 2012.  She is an Associate Professor of International Affairs and Chair of the Department of Government and International Affairs at Wofford College in South Carolina

Greg Bendle​

Greg Bendle has been a faithful supporter of Gweimen Center.

​Katie Westerkamp

Katie Westerkamp has been a board member for the Gweimen Centre since 2021. She had the wonderful opportunity to visit the center in Nigeria all the way back in 2011 where she was able to meet and support the orphans and widows in person.  She is a former Early Childhood Special Education teacher and currently spends her days at home raising her 3 children.

​Joanna Dhanabalan 

Joanna Dhanabalan is a Communications Consultant at the Gweimen Center. After transitioning from the corporate sector to international development, she earned a Master’s in Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership. Joanna brings extensive experience managing development initiatives in challenging geographical contexts. Previously, she served as Director of Communications at Outreach and continues to engage in local church missions. She has been with the Gweimen Center since September 2022.

Kathy Carwell
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Kathy Carwell has been a board member for 10 years.  She has owned a local bookstore for over 20 years and is a Spiritual Director.  She has a heart for widows, orphans and missions.​