Jane Bailey
Advisory Board, Accountant/Auditor

Jane brings her accounting background to the HEART organization. A former Controller for Bailey's Inc., Jane is currently the Administration Services Manager/ Accountant for Placer County Air Pollution Control District. Jane has known Vickie Winkler since toddler stages and believes that Vickie is one of the visionaries that God placed in Kenya to empower the people of Kenya to survive the AIDS epidemic.  She been on the HEART advisory board since its inception and backs all of the programs 100%.  Jane’s dream is to one day serve in Africa under Vickie's leadership stating, “I can think of no other goal that would bring me as much joy but to join God's servants, doing His work, with my African brothers and sisters.”

Bev Brown
Advisory Board, Administrative Assistant

Bev has been involved with HEART since its inception.  She has made approximately ten trips to Kenya with HEART. Some of her favorite memories have been working with the widows and orphans in the WEEP Centers but she says perhaps her favorite memory is helping to build a mud hut for a grandma and her grandson. The Team was able to purchase a bed and mattress for the grandma after completing the hut. This bed was the first bed the 80+ year old grandma had ever slept in. Bev says this journey has been an amazing experience.

Bev worked in the Colorado office of HEART from January 2004 to July 2010 helping with any and every task that was requested of her.  Prior to working with HEART, she worked at Northrop Grumman as an Executive Assistant.  Bev was raised in California and now lives in Colorado with her husband, Mickey. She enjoys hiking in the beautiful mountains of Colorado and spending time with their six grandchildren.

Harry Brown
Advisory Board Member, Security/Resources Consultant

Harry has been a member of the HEART Board from its inception. Having first traveled to Kenya with a HEART team in March 2001 in the early "shoestring" days, they have returned on numerous occasions since that time. Harry lives in Highlands Ranch, CO and is a self-employed Security Consultant, having retired from 28 years with the FBI. Harry is also a retired Lieutenant Colonel with the USAF and shares that they, "have been blessed to have been witnesses to God's hand in the phenomenal growth and outreach of HEART in the past years. It has been an amazing experience."

Tammy Francabandera
Advisory Board Member, Director of Children’s Ministry

Tammy says, “My life changed forever during my first trip to Kenya in 1999.” Now, 8 years later, Tammy and her husband Bob live at HEART in Kenya most of the year. Tammy has worked with children for the last 25 years and has a great love for them. As Director of Children’s Ministry she is bring hope for the next generation. Children are taught basic health such as tooth brushing and hand washing using soap as well as Biblical teaching. Tammy believes children are the future of Kenya and she teaches them that they are valuable and a precious treasure with the objective of preparing Kenya’s tomorrow.

Jen Friel
Advisory Board, Financial Administrator
Send email

Jen was thrilled the day she began formally working for HEART as she had known about HEART for many years.  Jen loved what Vickie was doing in Africa and wanted to offer support, but with a young family she didn’t know how she could support HEART to the degree she wanted to.  When the need arose to help Bev Brown with the administrative duties in the Colorado office, Jen jumped at the chance.  She could finally help and offer her support to HEART.  Jen’s seven years of experience working at a local Colorado bank helped to prepare her for her current work with HEART’s finances as bookkeeper.   In addition to Jen’s work as the bookkeeper she also works with our teams.  She takes care of all the paperwork, travel arrangements, finances, and general information that they need to be as prepared as possible and to have an amazing mission experience. 

Jen and her husband Bob, live in Highlands Ranch, Colorado with their three children Jordan (age 11), Taiyler (age 9) and Kenna Grace (age 2).  Helping the orphans is very near and dear to Jen and Bob’s hearts as their family adopted Kenna from China in 2009.  Jen has often said that now is her season to be a mom and send others to Africa.  However, she anxiously looks forward to the day when it is her season to travel to Africa and see God’s work up close and personal!

Stephanie Gunton
Advisory Board, Administrative Assistant

Carla B. Heinecke, M.Ed
Advisory Board Member, Education Resource Specialist

As an accomplished bilingual and special education teacher, Carla brings a wealth of knowledge to HEART. Having spent the first eight years of her career as a volunteer educator in Latin America, Carla has first-hand experience with the needs of developing nations. For the past seven years, Carla’s responsibilities to HEART have included regular review of the organization’s financial and ethical integrity, donor and volunteer recruitment, and frequent travel to the region for on-site training and strategic development, in addition to her full-time job as an education consultant.

Alice Litton, MS, MS
Advisory Board, Children’s Medical Consultant

Mary Lou Naylor, Ph.D.
Advisory Board, Education Programs Specialist 

Dr. Naylor has an extensive background in Career Technical Education and After School Programs. She has also been a college professor in California and Colorado in teacher education and worked in Career Technical Education with the California Department of Education and currently with the Arizona Department of Education helping high poverty schools conduct after school programs. She visited Kenya in July 1999 and met Vickie and Kenn Winkler during the same month as a result of an article about HEART in the local newspaper. Dr. Naylor has been a member of the HEART Advisory Committee since its inception and continued her work with HEART after moving from California to Arizona in 2005. Recently Dr. Naylor and others formed a HEART Arizona Chapter to assist with funding and marketing.

Vanessa Reed
Advisory Board, MA Candidate (in Sustainable Development)

Vanessa Reed holds a degree in Community Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz.  She has worked in an indigenous social health clinic in Australia and then separately through Youth with a Mission. She has worked in several contexts with children from a pre-school teacher all the way to a puppeteer.  Vanessa also has experience working in sustainable residential development and social health with children and youth of all ages. Vanessa is currently living in Vermont while she is working on a Master's degree in Sustainable Development from the School for International Training. Vanessa has been involved in HEART since its inception in 1999.  She has conducted participatory research regarding female genital mutilation (FGM) where she interviewed many Kenyan women regarding their view and/or experience with FGM.  These women were selected from various tribes and different social and economical environments.  Vanessa plans to include her findings in final Master’s project.

Steve Sacher
Advisory Board, Team Coordinator

Steve, originally from Northern California, has been connected with HEART since 2006. He studied exercise science in Santa Barbara and recently graduated from the Protégé Leadership Program in Los Angeles. He is currently studying to be a certified EMT at University of California, Los Angeles. Steve’s began as an intern and has since returned each year, motivated by the resilient spirits of the Kenyan people and the relationships he established with them. In 2007 he served at HEART as Intern Coordinator and has served as Team Coordinator since 2008.

Laura Van Auker, MSN, FNP
Advisory Board Member, Medical Consultant

Neil Flynn, MD, MPH
US Medical Consultant, Infectious Disease/AIDS Specialist

Dr. Flynn has spent more than 24 years assisting, directing, teaching and promoting AIDS education with a long list of accomplishments, including Medical Director of the Center for AIDS Research, Education and Services (1989-1994). As a professor of clinical medicine, internal medicine and infectious disease at the University of California at Davis, Dr. Davis says he was “hooked” on HEART after his first trip to Kenya with Vickie Winkler. “The experience has changed my career course, and I look forward to complementing and assisting in HEART’s growth scope of work for many years to come.”

Marion Mutugi, MD
Biomedical Scientist and Trainer

After completing her doctoral training in the UK, Dr Mutugi a geneticist, came home to Kenya recognizing that what was needed most in Kenya was the application of science and technology for those Kenyans who had no access to this information that could save their lives.  She became interested in HIV after loosing a close relative from the pandemic in 1999.  From then, other than lecturing in a public university in Kenya, Marion has devoted the last ten years to dissemination and advances of science to the less privileged in society, particularly women and children, who make up the majority of the rural and urban poor. Partnering with HEART has been one of the avenues of achieving this goal.

Winifred  W. Mwige
Kenya HEART Advocate

Richard Welch, MD, MPH
Medical Consultant

Jen Friel - see Advisory Board, above
Send email

Vicki Jensen
Office Manager
Send email

Contact HEART Public Relations Committee

Pastor Bob Francabandera
Board of Directors, Director of Logistics

Pastor Bob has been with HEART since it began in Feb 2000. He traveled to Kenya 6 to 12 weeks per year until May 2005. That is when he sold the family business and decided tovolunteer with HEART full time. He now lives in Kenya 8 to 9 months a year with his wife Tammy. Not seeing his children and grandchildren on a regular basis is not easy, but he knows that God has called him to Kenya in a time such as this.

Pastor Bob serves HEART on the Board of Directors and as the Director of Logistics. If you ask him what he likes best about HEART, he will tell you “Working along side of Kenyan’s to help bring HOPE to the hopeless. Bringing Christ to everyone is so rewarding I could do this for the rest of my life.”

Thomas Propp, CPA
Board of Directors, Treasurer

Tom Propp is a CPA in Northern California and has practiced public accounting for over 30 years.  Tom received his bachelor of science and MBA degrees with an emphasis in finance from the University of California, Berkeley. He serves his local community as a member of the board of directors of Placer Community Foundation.

Tom and his wife, Stephanie, are strong supporters of mission programs and for over 20 years have been active members of their local church, Sierra Grace Fellowship.  Tom and Stephanie are devoted parents to their one grown daughter. Tom's passion for HEART is evident in his service as a financial advisor to the organization.

Russell Tweet, MD
Board of Directors, Medical Consultant

Russell Tweet M.D. has been a Family Practice doctor in Auburn, California since 1979. He has traveled to Swaziland, Kenya, Zambia, India, Thailand, China, and Mexico on medical mission trips. He is an elder in his local church, Sierra Grace Fellowship.  He is married and has 3 grown children.

Russ has known Vickie and HEART for several years and was a natural fit for the HEART Board because of his medical background and experience in mission work.

Benjamin Williams, II, MD
Board of Directors, Medical Consultant

Benjamin Williams, has been a valued and committed member of the HEART Board since HEART was founded in 2000. Having personally served in Kenya and traveled to the various projects he has gained insight into the administration and needs of HEART. He is also a counselor and adviser to Vickie as she relies on him for counsel on HEART and personal issues.

Ben has a busy orthopedic surgery practice in Auburn. He is very committed to his family. He and his wife of 31 years, Kathleen, have a passion for children. They have nine children, inclusive of seven adopted children.

Nimrod Taabu
Kenyan Board of Trustees

Mr. Nimrod Taabu received his degree in Mass Communication in 2000 from the Job Institute of Management.  During that same year he began his career in the news media business as an assistant reporter.  Today, he is an accomplished senior news anchor and reporter for NTV.  In this capacity he serves as a liaison between a dozen news anchors and management, assists with hiring, writes and edits news material for both the English and Swahili newscast and assists with planning special events and presentations at schools and universities.  As an accomplished newsman Nimrod has covered many national and international news events.  In 2009, Nimrod pioneered a new program, Heroes, which highlights the lives of individuals who devote their lives in serving others.  Vickie Winkler was one of the “Heroes” who was featured on this show. 

Margaret W. Munene
Kenyan Board of Trustees

Margaret is married and a mother of three grown daughters.  She is an established business woman and is a director of Palmhouse Dairies Ltd, CBS Githunguri Campus and Mukore Academy. Margaret is a founder trustee of the Palmhouse Foundation, an education trust that finances the secondary education of deserving students and mentors them through life to also impact positively on society with a vision to enable deserving students to realize their dreams, transform their lives, their families and society.  Margaret has a passion for the girl child, she mentors and encourages them to remain focused on their dreams and put in effort required to realize them.  She is a keen Rotarian and a member of the Rotary Club of Karura.

Bishop Abel Oyaro
Kenyan Board of Trustees

With more than 15 years of teaching experience, Bishop Abel Oyaro joined HEART in 2000. Bishop Abel has a BA in Theology and will soon finish his Masters Degree. He serves the National Coordinator, an advisory board member, seminar interpreter, teacher and organizer. His endless list of talents also allows him to act as cultural advisor, guiding teams locally that visit from the U.S. In 2007, the Bishop founded the Kingdom Worship Church where he is the senior pastor. Bishop Abel says, “I really love HEART for HEART reaches the common Kenyan in the village and transforms their lives. Many lives have been touched and drastically changed with the disease prevention message, the medical camps and the income generating programs.”

Pastor Elijah Wanje
Kenyan Board of Trustees

Pastor Wanje has been educated both in Kenya and the U.S.  He holds a Bachelors degree in biology and education from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia ARK.  He received his Masters in religious education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1987.  Pastor Wanje has worked as a high school teacher in Kericho and Mombasa, taught at the Baptist college in Limuru and served as the registrar and principal of the college.  He started RBC in 1988 and in 1996 moved to full-time ministry. Pastor Wanje was born again at 12 and sensed God’s calling on his life while in high school.  He has travelled widely in Africa, UK, US and Australia, most of these for the sake of the gospel .  Pastor Wanje has been involved in leadership as President of the Baptist convention of Kenya, and now serves as the chancellor of the Mount Meru University in Arusha, Tanzania, the Baptist university of our region.  He is married to Joy and together they have three children, Edwin, Leshan and Grace.

Charles Obes
Lodge Manager
Send email

Charles Obes has been working for HEART since April 2004 after being introduced to HEART by his best friend David Livingstone Akatsa. Aside from his experience with hotel and catering management, Obes enjoys playing and watching soccer, traveling, and learning new skills. He is married to BilliahDrechi and has four children aged 17, 15, 12, and 5 years. Obes says he loves HEART because “it is a learning institution to me.” He also enjoys the “executive director’s mentorship, having time to reflect on God in daily devotions with HEART staff, and the blessed working environment.”Obes likes to say he considers “each staff as a HEART family member.”

Charles Wakaba, CPA
Financial Manager
Send email

Charles Wakaba learned about HEART from a friend and has been working with HEART since February 2007. Wakaba is not only a Certified Public Accountant, but has ten years of experience in projects accounting. He is originally from an area in central Kenya called Nyandanua, is happily married, and has two sons, who are 6 and 2 years old. Aside from punching numbers, Wakaba enjoys swimming, dancing, and travelling to places like game parks and lake sides. Wakaba says he loves working for HEART because it is “a Christian organization which upholds Christian values. I love its vision and work, the leadership, and the people.”

Isaac Mzee
Kids For School Field Officer

Isaac started working for HEART part-time in July 2006 and continued full-time January 2007. Isaac met HEART Founder and Executive Director Vickie Winkler when he was a Swahili teacher at Brackenhurst Baptist Language School. After becoming friends and learning about HEART, Isaac loved what she was doing and wanted to help. Isaac is from Vihiga in Western Kenya but grew up in Limuru in Central Kenya. He and his wife Winnie have three children: Dennis (13 yrs), Shirley (11 yrs), and Esther (8 yrs). Isaac loves travelling and making new friends and has a gift for encouraging the disheartened. “I love working for HEART because it is all about bringing hope to the hopeless and seeing their lives changing for the better.”

Lydiah Wanjiru Njoroge
Freedom for Girls Field Officer

Lydiah graduated with honors from Daystar University with a B.A. in Social Work. One of Lydiah’s lecturers at Daystar, who is a friend of Vickie’s, recommended Lydiah for an internship with HEART. She began interning with HEART in January 2009 and loved it so much that she continued as staff beginning June 2009. “I love what HEART in partnership with Lions and Rotary Clubs is doing to keep girls in school. I want to partake in the success of the girls who are benefitting from the sanitary towels.” As a young woman who “dreams of all the wonderful things life has to offer,” Lydiah wants “to see all of [these girls’] dreams come true.”

Mary Maithyia
WEEP Field Officer

Mary began working for HEART in 2008 after working as a volunteer social worker in Mathare slum. Mary is from Mwingi, which is in eastern Kenya, and is married to Peter Maithaya. She has two children: Emanuel Katuta, who is 12 years old, and AbigaelNdanu, who is 9 years old. Playing Uno with her family is one of her favorite activities. Helping women, whether it is through teaching them cooking skills or helping make their homes neat, is Mary’s passion, so working with the WEEP project is a perfect fit.

Jared Abuga
Greenhouse Field Officer

Jared has been working for HEART beginning in May 2011. As an agronomist, he not only enjoys helping out with HEART’s greenhouse projects but loves landscaping on his own time. Jared grew up in Nyamira County and heard about HEART through Village Care when they were helping vulnerable children. “I like working for HEART because they are saving vulnerable children through education, food, and income generating projects.”

Huma Kaseu
Public Relations Officer
Send email

Huma graduated from Inoorero University with a law diploma, certified pubic secretaries, part 1 qualifications. Huma grew up in western Kenya, but he loves being in Nairobi and likes to call himself a “city boy.” He also enjoys basketball, chess, and athletics. After meeting Vickie at a Rotary meeting, Huma asked if he could volunteer at HEART. After volunteering, HEART decided to take Huma on as a staff member in June 2011. “I believe in the value of every individual and realize that each person has a role to play if humanity is to achieve its purpose. HEART has provided the perfect platform for me to enable others.”

Sabina Kamau
Executive Assistant

Sabina started working for HEART in July 2008 as Administrative Secretary. She studied Business Management at Kenya Institute of Management and is currently studying for a Bachelor of Commerce degree at KCA University. After working for two other organizations before HEART, she was informed by a friend about a vacancy at HEART. “HEART is the best organization that I have worked for. I love the fact that we are impacting people’s lives positively, and being a Christian, I am glad to be working in a faith-based organization.”

Maryanne Hiri
Accountant

MaryAnne is a Certified Public Accountant and has a Bachelor of Commerce with an emphasis on Finance from KCA University. MaryAnne’s hometown is in Thika in central Kenya, and she enjoys reading, traveling, and hiking. After hearing about HEART from a friend, she applied and began working for HEART in April 2010. She enjoys working for HEART because “it is a Christian organization, a good environment, and transforming and touching people’s lives.”

Leah Gatiba
HEART Volunteer Staff

Rachel Mutisya
Administrative Secretary

Rachel began working for HEART in May 2011. Working for Rotary Club of Nairobi, she met Vickie, who is an active member, and was informed of an opening. Originally from Machakos in eastern Kenya, she is married to Charles Dangi and has three children: Jason, Natasha, and Nikita. In her spare time, Rachel enjoys reading and sports. She always brings a genuinely sweet spirit, and is known for her heart and care for others. “Working for HEART has been and is still a calling from God.”

Jackson Kuboka
Driver

Jackson has been working at HEART since October 2006 after learning about an open position through Gladys, William Shikule’s wife. Growing up, Jackson lived in Kakamega and was a very talented soccer player. To this day, he enjoys watching a variety of sports. Married to JesicahMmbone, he has three grown children of his own and also cares for four foster children. Jackson, who does not only act as a driver for HEART, is known not only for his light-hearted sense of humor but his deep compassion for people and willing heart to lend a helping hand when needed. Jackson says he loves HEART because “HEART management has an open door policy and informs staff of any new developments or happenings.” He also enjoys that through HEART one has the opportunity to “meet new friends.”

William Shikhule
Driver

William has been working for HEART since July 2005 when his nephew Livingstone introduced him to Vickie Winkler. Originally from Butere/Mumias District in Kenya, William is happily married to Gladys, who serves as the Kibera WEEP Center Coordinator. Together they have three children: Deusky (27 yrs), Kevin (25 yrs), Schinaida (23 yrs), and Brian (21 yrs). William and Gladys are known for working hard and making sacrifices in order to put their children through school, and they both have great care and compassion for their fellow Kenyans William is well-known around HEART for his hearty laugh and contagious smile, as he loves telling jokes and can brighten anyone’s day with his laughter. William says he loves working for HEART because of “the people of HEART and what they are doing.”

Joseph Mbugua
Messenger

Joseph began working for HEART in September 2009 after hearing about what HEART is doing to empower the people of Kenya to survive the HIV/AIDS pandemic from his relative. Nairobi has been Joseph’s hometown since he was born, and he still lives in Nairobi with his wife Susan Wanjiru and two sons: Peter Mwikia (15 yrs) and Phillip Wachira (5 yrs). In his spare time Joseph likes keeping active by cycling and doing building and construction. Joseph likes working for HEART because “HEART has a strong mission, vision, and values, which caters for the country at large.”

Annah Ngina
Kitchen and Lodge Staff

Annah is known not only for the delicious pastries she cooks for dinners at HEART, but her sweet and gentle spirit. After being referred to HEART by Lake Nakuru Lodge, she began working for HEART in 2009. Annah enjoys cooking, swimming, and singing, and often when one passes by the kitchen they are likely to hear Annah singing while cooking. Annah genuinely loves the Lord with her whole heart and appreciates working for HEART “because it is a Christian-based organization.”

Bonface Ingosi
Kitchen and Lodge Staff

Bonface began working for HEART in April 2010 after hearing that it is a caring Christian organization. Originally from Ichina area in Kakamega town, he is married to Ann Auma and has two children: Mitchel Asila (4 yrs) and Praise Ingosi (16 months). Aside from cooking, Bonface enjoys playing football and watching television. “I like working for HEART because it has really changed my life…All of the HEART family (staff) plus guests are very kind and caring.”

Charles Kahari
Kitchen and Lodge Staff

Charles Kahari, who began working for HEART as a Guard/Gardener in January 2004, now works as Head Cook. “Cooking and gardening make my heart very cheerful and full of joy.” Kahari lives in Limuru in Kiambu West with his wife Margaret Kanyi and four children: John (16), Patrick (13), Antony (10), and Simon (7). In his spare time, Kahari enjoys walking in new places, meeting new friends, and farming. Kahari says working for HEART has been an answer to prayer. “The positive Christian environment and culture has kept me at HEART for 7 years and hopefully many more.”

Joash Aliongo
Kitchen and Lodge Staff

Joash has been working at HEART since March 2009 after he was introduced to HEART through a friend.  From Kakamega in western Kenya, Joash grew up in the Butere/Mumias District. Married to Elizabeth Aliongo, he has a daughter and a son: Tatyana (11 yrs) and Leeroy (6 yrs).  In addition to cooking, Joash loves playing rugby, traveling, swimming, and watching soccer. Joash always brings a warm welcome to guests and HEART staff alike. “I like working for HEART because it gives me the opportunity of meeting different people from every part of the world, and the staff [members] are just wonderful.”

Simon M. Hhole
Kitchen and Lodge Staff

Simon began working for HEART in June 2010. Originally from Kakamega in western Kenya, Simon is married to SeliphiaMandu and has three children: Jason, Merce, and Diana. Simon works hard in the kitchen to ensure HEART’s guests have delicious meals and often, along with the other kitchen staff, wakes up early and goes to bed late. Although shy at first, Simon has a light-hearted attitude and enjoys a good laugh. “HEART is a good place to be and learn more about God.”

Richard Misoka
Gardener and Guard

Richard began working for HEART in June 2007 after hearing about it through a HIV/AIDS prevention seminar which was held in Migori District in rural Kenya. Born in Kisii and raised in Nakuru, Richard is now married to Phoebe Kerubo and has two adorable children: Jeniffer Tamara (8 years) and Steve Misoka (8 months). Richard enjoys watching movies and dancing, but his passion is helping the needy. He loves working for HEART because “it is an organization which has changed the lives of many people, more so the WEEP women, who are HIV positive.”

Charles Ochieng
Gardener and Guard

Charles Ochieng has been working for HEART since the year 2007 after being introduced to HEART by a friend. Ochieng is married to his beautiful wife Esther WariaraOchieng and has one son Judah Charles Ochieng. It is not uncommon to find Ochieng working joyfully, singing praise hymns as he works hard to keep the HEART Lodge safe and beautiful. Preaching is another special giftthatOchieng has, and all of the staff members look forward to the mornings that he leads devotions because of his passion for the Lord.

Caleb Oseko
Night Guard

Caleb has been working with HEART since April 2004 when his uncle Bishop Abel introduced him. Caleb is originally from Kisii in western Kenya and is married to EverlynKemunto and has one son Davis OmombiaOseko. Singing, dancing, and playing soccer are his hobbies. He likes working for HEART “because it is a Christian-based organization.”