HEART: Health Education Africa Resource Team
Meet Our Team - Leadership & Staff

Dr. James Karani Gitao
Kenyan Board of Trustees

Mr. Gitao is married to Edith Gitao and has 4 children; 2 sons and 2 daughters.  Mr. Gitao is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Akiba Group of Companies. He holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Pacific and a Master Degree in Economics from the University of California.  He has worked in different ministries and organizations since 1966 such as Akiba Group of Companies (1986 to date), Central Impex Enterprises Ltd (1978 to date), Kenya National Trading Corporation Ltd (1969-78), The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (1967-69), The Ministry of Economic Planning and Development (MEPD) (19966-67).  He is currently The Chairman of Bible Translation and Literacy; he is also Chairman of Kenya Coffee Growers & Employers Association and Chairman of Kenya Investments Trust (Project of Partners Worldwide).  He also serves on the Board of Federation of Kenya Employers.  He is an Elder in St. Marks Anglican Church and has served in the Nairobi Diocesan Synod and as Chairman of the Board of Finance Nairobi Diocese and sits as a Representative in the house of Bishops.

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.

U.S. ADVISORY BOARD

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

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!

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.

Evans N. Masese BA (Hons)
Programs Manager

Evans Ndemo Masese joined HEART in June 2007 as a Field Officer and was promoted to Programs Manager in February 2009. Evans oversees HEART projects to ensure quality programming, chairs project staff meetings, coordinates project reporting and advises the Executive Director on strategic programmatic issues. Evans is part of the Kenya Management Team. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Sociology and Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Studies and is currently pursuing Master of Business Administration specializing in Strategic Management. He is married to Diana and together have three children; Bridget, Victor and Pharez.

He says, “It is absolutely necessary that HEART Programme design and implementation is responsive to the needs of vulnerable women and children, infected/affected by HIV and AIDS, reduces stigma, and empowers them to live more sustainable and fulfilling lives.” Quoting Confucius Evans says, "I have chosen the job I love so I won’t have to work a day in my life." For Evans it is Colossians 3:23 come true “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”