Leadership Team

Give Back Beyond, like all Give Back projects is organized and managed by all volunteers, meet some of our 2012 leaders:

Romania Trip Lead (and Communications Guru) – Anthony Garay (a.k.a. AG) – AG joined a friend to travel to New Orleans in 2008, and has since gone back to NOLA and travelled to Guatemala and Romania to build simple affordable housing for those in need. AG keeps the teams moving with his great humor while simultaneously cranking out the work (ask to see his Guatemalan Bag of Rock dance if you get a chance). AG is not only skilled in moving large heavy objects but fortunately is a whiz on design and communications as well so he will be beefing up our ability to share our story through outbound communications.

New Orleans Trip Lead – Erika Schmitt – Erika joined the trip to New Orleans in 2008, little did she know that a week of “sand monster” (shovelling and distributing sand around musician’s village, the last piece of finishing a home) would lead to her joining Give Back Cincinnati’s board in ’09, going back to NOLA, and then leading the trip in 2010, 2011, and now 2012. Erika sets a fast pace whether working, volunteering, or playing sports and builds strong teams which help develop the projects she leads. We look forward to her leading our 5th year to the Big Easy.

Ghana Trip Lead – Mike Rutherford/Vince Byrd

New Orleans Support & Special Projects - Katie Hoekzema – Katie has earned her stripes by leading over 250 people to rebuild New Orleans over the past two years with Give Back Beyond. She teaches all day, then chose to spend her vacation watching over the GBC Kids in the Big Easy. Katie is a great combination of a leader and manager who ensured that all aspects of the trip flowed smoothly while pushing the trip to expand on its vision. We are lucky to have her stay on to assist with the program and look for other ways for us to connect with the communities we serve

Program Fundraising Czaress – Winter Myers

Program Treasurer & Trip Support – Vince Byrd

Program Communications – Allison Farrell

Program Special Projects- Mike Rutherford – Mike has travelled, sweat, and volunteered with Give Back here in Cincinnati and on previous trips to New Orleans, Dominican Republic, Romania, and Guatemala. Consultant by day, construction aficionado by night, he brings great international experience, a heart for volunteering, and quest to improve the lives of those around the world.

Program Lead – Johnmark Oudersluys – Several years ago, some friends and I just wanted to take a trip to build some houses so we headed to Ecuador. As we spent a week getting to know one another, playing cards, dodging scorpions, building a home on a hillside for an incredible family, and experiencing a culture up close and personal we thought it was something worth repeating. In the following year Joe Hansbauer and others launched the New Orleans trip in reaction to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

In true Give Back fashion, through the input of lots of volunteers along the way the program has grown to now taking nearly 200 people a year to build homes for those in need while having an amazing team experience. I will work hard to ensure that the program is a high quality and sustainable experience, that we extend our reach through partnership beyond housing to other development issues (education, health, economic development), and that we work to make this adventure accessible for those who want to join us in changing our world.