Charles Okorie, M.Sc. Arch.(Founder/Chairman)
Charles Okorie graduated with a Masters degree in Architecture from Abia State University in Nigeria. Upon graduation, he worked for a firm in Lagos, Nigeria before setting up his own Design/Build firm- CBD Nigeria limited in 1998. Shortly after, he moved to the United States with his wife and daughter in 1999. Currently, he is the President/Chief Consultant of CBD Designs – a design firm based in Nashua, New Hampshire.
In college, he was an active member of the Christian Union. He is also a member of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship international.
In his local church – First Church of Nashua, NH. UCC, he is on the board of the property management committee, an Usher, a Deacon, and a Reader.
Charles is married to Dr. Mrs. Ijeoma Okorie (nee Igbogbahaka). They are blessed with 4 children – 2 boys and 2 girls.
Rev. James S. Chaloner (Board Member)
Jim Chaloner graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a BA degree in history in 1970. Jim worked in the Human Resource Department at the J.F. McElwain Company for five years following his graduation from college. In 1976 Jim enrolled at Bangor Theological Seminary. In 1979 Jim earned a M. Div. degree and was ordained in that same year. He was called to the First Church of Nashua, NH UCC as an Associate Minister in 1979. In 1984 Jim was called to be First Church’s twenty second Senior Minister, where he served for 35 years prior to his recent retirement.
Jim was a member of the board of directors of the Adult Learning Center for six years and the Board of Directors of United Way of Greater Nashua for 16 years. He was instrumental in the formation of the Anne-Marie House, a homeless shelter in Hudson, NH, and he was one of the founders of the Front Door Agency in Nashua, NH.
Jim is married to Lisa and has three grown children.
Kenneth Drew, Ph.D. (Board Member)
Ken graduated from the University of the Pacific in his home state of California where he earned his bachelor’s degree and his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry. After working in the R&D lab of companies like Biogen on various potential drugs for conditions ranging from cancer to congestive heart failure, he moved to the business development side of the pharmaceutical industry. He is currently the Sr. Director of North America Sales and Business Development for Flamma, a CMO based in Italy, since 2010.
Together with a small group of concerned owners, he led an effort to secure a 2008 settlement valued at over $24M to restore and refurbish Bluebeard’s Castle Resort in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. and bring the Board of Director’s under owners control from the developer.
Ken is a member of First Church Nashua, UCC where he has served on the Board of Deacons and the Board of Christian Education. Ken is married to Natasha and has three active and lovely children.
Nonyem Egbuonu (Board Member)
Nonyem E. Egbuonu – Retired Public Servant with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (MPA) and Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology (B.Sc with Honors). Additional qualifications include a Diploma in Science Education, a Certificate in Educational Technology, and a wealth of experience in organizing and project/production management, including the following:
- Board Member, Thank You Project, Nashua, New Hampshire
- Member & Choir Member, Main Street United Methodist Church of Nashua, New Hampshire (MSUMC).
- Member, Granite State Organizing Project (GSOP), Nashua, New Hampshire.
- Former Member, African Community Health Initiatives, Boston, Massachusetts
- Member, Clinton Global Initiative.
- Retired Public Servant, Federal Ministry of Education – National Open University of Nigeria.
- Former Educational Media Producer, Children’s Television & Educational Materials – National Educational Technology Center of Nigeria.
- Former Project Collaborator, Personnel Training for Educational Materials – United Nations Children’s Educational Fund (UNICEF).
- Former Member, Board of Trustees – Human Development Foundation of Nigeria (HDFN).
- Life Member, Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN).
- Former Member, Africa Network for Prevention & protection Against Child Abuse & Neglect (ANPPCAN).
- Former Chairperson, Nigeria Association of Media Women Kaduna State Chapter (NAMW).
- Former President, Inner Wheel Club of Kaduna Nigeria (Rotary Club Wives Association).
- Former Chairperson, Nigerian Association for Educational Media & Technology (NAEMT).
- Former Chairperson, Mothers Union & Women’s Guild of St. Christopher’s Church Kaduna Nigeria.
- Former Synod Parish Delegate, St. Matthias Anglican Church, Abuja, Nigeria.
Hobbies include volunteering, mentoring, advocacy, choral music, Christian religious studies, documentaries and educational films, cooking, and arts/crafts.
Laurie Fernald (Board Member)
Laurie Fernald resides in Nashua and is a mother of two sons. She volunteered at their schools and for a time was the Treasurer for Boy Scout Troop 20. Both of her sons achieved Eagle Scout.
Laurie is a member of the Main Street United Methodist church and is currently serving as the IT & Communications Committee Chairperson. She has been a member of the Membership & Evangelism and Nominations & Leadership Development committees. She has had the privilege to teach Bible Study classes.
Laurie graduated with a Masters degree in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. In her career, she has worked her way up from Software Engineer to Senior Development Manager. In 2005, she shifted her career focus and acquired her Project Management Professional Certification. She has since been a project or program manager in the high tech industry. She currently works at Navico in Merrimack, NH.
Dana Jeanblanc (Board Member)
Dana Jeanblanc has over 35 years experience working in the non-profit field both as a leader and Board member. Her experience includes holding the position of Executive Director of a non-profit working in Africa to build schools and provide microfinance loans to women. In addition, she was the Executive Director of a non-profit in New Hampshire working with refugees from Africa and Bhutan. Over the years, she has been honored to sit on a variety of non-profit Boards at local, national, and international levels.
In addition, Ms. Jeanblanc has held the position of Director of Public Affairs for a healthcare facility where she developed extensive experience in strategic planning, program development, fundraising, special events, marketing, and public relations.
Currently, Dana owns an interior design firm working with residential and Fortune 500 business clients. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Springfield College and is trained as a professional Mediator.
Cheryl Kimmens (Board Member)
Cheryl Kimmens Franke is an experienced technology CFO who has worked with a number of highly successful technology startups and technology companies and is currently employed by Oracle.
Prior to joining Oracle, Cheryl served as VP of Finance for Maxymiser, Senior Director of Operations for Barco Medical Inc. CFO of Spider Systems, Inc. and CFO of Voxar Inc. along with other technology and medical companies. She has managed a successful consulting practice working with a number of UK and US startups over the past 20 years and sits on the Board of Directors of various non-profits and companies.
Cheryl received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Bentley University and completed work towards a Masters degree in Organizational and Intercultural Communications at Clark University.
Kate Lord (Board Member)
Kate Lord was born and raised in Nashua, NH where she graduated Nashua High School South in 2017. Her involvement with the Thank You Project started in 2019 when she met founder Charles Okorie at her job at the YMCA and became interested in helping to grow support for the organization. She is active in her church community, where she has volunteered in the children’s church and the tech booth for several years, and enjoys music, movies, writing and creating in any way possible.
She is currently enrolled at Southern New Hampshire University, pursuing a BA in Graphic Design and Media Arts.
Adaeze Okorie (Board Member)
Adaeze Okorie was born in Nigeria and immigrated with her parents to the US when she was 18 months old. She grew up in Nashua, NH and graduated from Nashua High School North in 2016. In May 2020, she graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Biology and Society and a minor in Health Equity. She is pursuing a career as a public health professional, to address the intersections of education, health disparities, and social justice. During the 2020-2021 academic year, she will serve as a Public Health Fellow for the Skorton Center for Health Initiatives at Cornell University. She has been involved with Thank You Project since it was founded in 2014 and is inspired by everything the organization has accomplished, from offering college scholarships to providing clean water to rural communities in Nigeria.
Mollie Pinsonneault (Board Member)
Mollie Pinsonneault graduated from Merrimack College with a B.A. in Mathematics. After a few years working at Fidelity Investments, she followed her desire to give back to her community and made a career change by becoming the Youth Minister of Saint John Neumann Catholic Community in Merrimack, NH. She then went on to receive a M.Ed. in Religious Education from The School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College. In 2015, she was welcomed into the Bishop Guertin High School community and works there as the Campus Minister. At Bishop Guertin, Mollie coordinates all of the masses and prayer services, retreats, and service opportunities in the greater Nashua area. In addition, she spearheads the annual Mission Drive, which raises money for the Brothers of the Sacred Heart High School in Rutenga, Zimbabwe. One of her greatest joys is working alongside students and helping to instill in them a love of God, and love of neighbor, through mission trips to Camden, NJ, Louisiana, and Navajo Nation in AZ.
When not doing volunteer work, Mollie can be found with her husband, Rob, hiking and sneaking over to Vermont for maple creemees!