About Us
Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Dr. Phillip Hadley - San Diego, CA
Chairman
Secretary
Joan was introduced to Via International in 1991 through involvement with the global hunger relief organization, Share Our Strength. She began her life’s adventure with Via International as annual “Walk” volunteer- a 160 mile fundraiser from Los Angeles to Tijuana. She has served as a Director for twenty-one years and is presently the Vice-Chair. Her business career has been in media, including television production at ABC and Cox Cable-Cleveland, as owner of “Cleveland by the Book, Inc.,” and she is currently a radio producer and on-air personality on Iglu Radio. She has used these platforms to introduce others to Via International and has accompanied over one hundred visitors to its sites. “My life would not be as rich without the experiences I’ve had with the participants of Via International.” Joan and her husband Jeff, have four terrific children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Joan was introduced to Via International in 1991 through involvement with the global hunger relief organization, Share Our Strength. She began her life’s adventure with Via International as annual “Walk” volunteer- a 160 mile fundraiser from Los Angeles to Tijuana. She has served as a Director for twenty-one years and is presently the Vice-Chair. Her business career has been in media, including television production at ABC and Cox Cable-Cleveland, as owner of “Cleveland by the Book, Inc.,” and she is currently a radio producer and on-air personality on Iglu Radio. She has used these platforms to introduce others to Via International and has accompanied over one hundred visitors to its sites. “My life would not be as rich without the experiences I’ve had with the participants of Via International.” Joan and her husband Jeff, have four terrific children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Marisela De la Concha was born and raised in Mexico City. She got a BS in Business with a concentration in Finance and Economics from the Jesuit Universidad Iberoamericana. She has extensive finance experience including full time treasury analyst roles at the university, and reached the role of subdirector of the international lending department in Banco BCH. Marisela later branched out in business, and led a startup company and took charge of distribution of ophthalmic products and daily operations of 4 optic shops in different cities within Mexico. Her multicultural experience as well as financial and business perspective provides flexible and thoughtful leadership.
Nancy has been working in the area of tourism development since the 1990's. She received an MS in Tourism Management from North Carolina State University in 1991, worked for the Appalachian Tourism Research and Development Center from 1991-1994, then received both an MS and PhD in Sociology from Virginia Tech in 1999. Her research in volunteer tourism has focused on the complex relationship between the host community, volunteer organizations, and the volunteer tourist. Her other long-term project involves raising her two children, both 12 year olds, named Grace and Spencer, along with her husband Jim.
Andrew Morikawa - Blacksburg, VA
Dr. Elizabeth Reed is Associate Professor of global health at San Diego State University and Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego. Trained in social epidemiology, she conducts research related to the intersection of gender inequality, poverty, and health. Specifically, she focuses her research on the social and economic factors influencing gender-based violence and sexual/reproductive health outcomes, including HIV/STI as well as adolescent and unintended pregnancy. She uses the findings of her research to support the development of public health programming to promote economic opportunity, health, and safety. Her research is based in the US, Latin America, South Asia, and Africa.
Gerardo de la Concha established the first Medtronic
manufacturing plant in Mexico serving as the Vice President of Mexico Operations
from 2007- 2017. Gerardo helped shape strategy for manufacturing operations in
Mexico building a World Class Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Tijuana
Mexico while at the same time working with Via International through a robust
partnership. Today our Medtronic program continues to drive growth and
innovation through leadership training and community development initiatives. Gerardo
retired from Medtronic and will follow his passion serving in NGO’s,
consulting, teaching, sports and enjoying life.
My father was on the Board of Directors of Via for 33 yrs. After his passing in 2011, I was asked to join the Board. I went to a meeting, actually finding out exactly what Via did, I joined right away. Via has changed my life. The work that we do is so rewarding not only for me, but for all those people that we work with. I have seen first hand how sucsessful Via helps people. It’s exciting to see families helping themselves, eating healthy, growing their own food, making dinner with good food, educating their children for generations to come.
Chair Emeritus
Additional Board Members
Walter Ludlow - San Diego, CA
Susan Pinza - San Diego, CA
Ambassadors
Ralph and Cheryl Broetje
Fred Clark
Cain Family
Ralph and Cheryl Broetje
Fred Clark
Cain Family
Gotkowitz Family
Don and Virginia Kreuzberger
Jeanette Leehr
