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The Team Rafiki team currently consists of:

Cindy Balio - Cindy has made numerous mission trips to Honduras, Guatemala, and Africa. She has worked as a paramedic, and brings her medical skills, as well as her calm and gentle ways to Team Rafiki. Cindy lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Cindy

Connie Beeman - Connie has organized some major fundraising activities and has participated in the planning and execution of others. Her stamping skills are used in the educational development projects for the African children.

 Connie

Mark Belokopitsky - Mark Belokopitsky is an Assistant Nurse Manager for the OR at Albany Medical Center Hospital. He has been a nurse for 12 years after being a volunteer EMT for over 20 years in the Maplewood Fire Department.  Mark has been on several humanitarian trips to Zimbabwe and Aug 2009 is his first trip to Tanzania.

Mark

Katelynn Carroll - Katelynn is an undergrad at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY studying to become a Speech-Language Pathologist.  Her passion is for working with children and currently works as a Mommy-and-Me class instructor and childcare provider.  Katelynn made her first mission trip in May 2008 to Honduras and will be traveling to Africa for the first time in 2009.

Katelynn

Jenn Conaway - Jenn Conaway is a Master of Science student in epidemiology and infectious disease research at the School of Public Health in Albany, NY. Since high school biology, she has always been interested in microorganisms and their impact on human life.  She has done research with the Clinical Parasitology Laboratory at the Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health. The 2009 trip will be her first time out of the country and she cannot wait for the trip to Africa so she can begin to help people suffering with malaria in the village of Kisele.
Jenn

Joe Fenton - Master Craftsman; Joe lives in Batavia, NY and is a retired teacher and gentleman farmer. Having raised African Blacks (ostriches) in his younger days he now has turned to sharing his craftsmanship with small villages in Africa. Joe has been to both Zimbabwe and Tanzania. Joe can make beautiful things with his hands and is a calm voice of reason for the team. Joe is part of the Core team.

Joe is on the left

Fred Garavelli - Team Comedian; Fred lives in Albany, NY and works as a fireman spending his time saving homes and lives. Fred has made several trips to Africa.  Fred is always there to lighten the load and help you smile. He is welcome company in difficult situations. Mike and Fred's magic trips for children is quite an act to behold - especially when the children catch on to their tricks!

Fred spreads smiles wherever he goes.

Christine Guerin - Chris lives in Latham, NY, and works as a Retail Merchandise Manager for Orvis. She is always smiling or laughing, and her warmth is such a welcome addition to our team. Chris has made several trips to Africa.

Christine

Susan Lange - Sue is retired from NYS and is excited and thrilled to be a part of this effort. She traveled to Africa in 2008, and has been involved in other volunteer activities such as Hurricane Katrina relief.

Susan

Brittany Leonka - Brittany is a sophmore biology/pre-med undergraduate student at Hartwick College in Oneonta NY . Her hometown is Queensbury NY . She has been an Emergency Medical Technician for over two years, and enjoys the study of medicine and also working with children. She plans on attending Stony Brook University to become a Pediatric Physicians Assistant. Brittany plays softball for Hartwick, and loves the outdoors. She is a Glens Falls New Visions Alumni of the class of 2007, (a former student of Nancy Wiley!)

  Brittany

Suzanna Jamieson - Suzanna Jamieson, ND, CCH, practices Classical Homoeopathy and Aquatic Bodywork in the USA, Canada and Germany. She is treasurer and founding member of the environmental organization Seacology Germany, after having been on the board of Seacology USA from 2002-06. This is Suzanna's first time with Team Rafiki and she will be helping out where needed.

Suzanna

Shannon Kelley - Shannon is a market innovation manager who has long wanted to travel to Tanzania. She brings great enthusiasm to our team. Shannon is always ready to assist wherever needed, and is a great asset in the first aid clinic. Shannon is by far the best hoola-hooper we have ever seen!

Shannon

Laura Kukowski - Laura, originally from Milwaukee, WI, lived in NYC for 10 years before
moving to Albany for graduate school.  While in NYC, she worked as a critical care RN at New York Presbyterian Hospital.  Currently, Laura work as a Nurse Anesthetist at Albany Medical Center.  This will be her first mission with Team Rafiki.

Laura

Kelly Quinn - Kelly is a special education teacher in Hawaii. She travelled to Africa in 2008. Kelly worked with school children and teachers, and became special friends with Moody.

Kelly

Heidi Ricks - Heidi is a midwife and lives in Ballston Lake, NY. On her 1^st trip to Africa, Heidi introduced the wildly successful feminine hygiene project, which was taken to Tanzania. Heidi's interaction with the villagers reflects her true affection for the African people.

Heidi

Mike Rolleston - Mike is a sophmore psychology/pre-med undergrad at Clarkson University in
Potsdam, NY. His hometown is Queensbury, NY and he is also a Glens Falls New Visions Alumni from '07. Mike has spent much of his free time while at school volunteering at the Canton-Potsdam Hospital and is interested in pursing a career in the field of anesthesia. This is his first trip to Africa and he is very excited to interact with and help the people there.

Mike

Denise Stasik - Denise lives in Ballston Lake, NY with team's webmaster Greg, and works in the medical field. She is part of teh Core team. She has been supporting African projects for last 3 years. She loves teaching and playing with the children there and working on medical projects.

Denise and her children.

John Tamoshunas - John is a member of the Core team. He works in the OR at Albany Medical Center and he lives in Albany, NY. He is well known for his true love and deep passion for the people of Africa. John has made numerous trips to Africa.

John  

Gail Thorpe - Not related to Mike Thorpe! Gail lives in Charlton, NY, and works for NYS. Gail is part of the Core team. Gail has been to Africa several times. She is a great organizer and is willing to take on any task. Gail takes care of the team's travel arrangements.

Gail

Mike Thorpe - Mike is a retired Albany Firefighter and community volunteer for numerous causes. Mike has made several trips to Africa. He is always researching creative ways to resource goods and services to assist the team and the organization. Mike is always available to help. He has a great sense of humor; is hard working, and a pleasure to travel and work with.

Mike

Nancy Wiley - Nancy has made several trips to Africa. Her love for the villagers is so apparent in her work there. Nancy is a Medical Technologist and a teacher. Shel coordinates the projects with the school aged children in rural villages.

Nancy

Kathleen Woodin - Kathleen is a School Psychologist at Clark County School District in Nevada. She also works at Nevada's Children Center as a Case Manager. Kathleen traveled to Africa and worked with the school aged children and teachers. She taught the women of teh village how to make Dreamcatchers, which they loved!

Kathleen