MEDA Executive Staff
MEDA’s strength is found in its staff—a group of individuals who are
expert in their fields of responsibility and dedicated to MEDA’s
mission. You can reach all of MEDA’s staff by calling 1-800-665-7026 or by email:
ALLAN SAUDER, President
Allan joined MEDA in 1987, and has worked in various
capacities within MEDA’s international programs since that time. He has
also worked with the International Development Research Centre,
Mennonite Central Committee, and Home Hardware Stores Ltd. He has lived
and worked in Tanzania and Bangladesh, and his travels have taken him
to more than 60 countries. Allan holds an M.B.A. from the University of
Western Ontario and a B.Sc. from the University of Waterloo.
Listen to Allan on MEDA's World (July 2007)
CYNTHIA ATKINSON, Manager of Corporate Administration
Cynthia joined MEDA in 1995. Prior to joining MEDA, she was Contracts
Administrator for Chicopee Manufacturing Ltd. in Kitchener, Ontario for 14
years. Currently, she holds the position of treasurer and founding director of
the board of Solid Ground Bible Study Ministries (1991-2003). She attended
Western University in London, Ontario.
GERHARD PRIES, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Investment Fund Development
Gerhard Pries joined MEDA in 1995 as CFO and head of International Development Finance. His life’s work is to establish private investment as an effective solution to global poverty. He currently serves as CFO of MEDA, Vice-Chair of MicroVest Capital Management, and President of MEDA Investments Inc and Sarona Fund Group. Mr. Pries also currently serves, or has previously served as Director of the International Association of Micro Finance Investors, Chair of Latin America Challenge Investment Fund, and Director of a number of companies in the financial services and agribusiness industries. He cut his teeth equally at PricewaterhouseCoopers and at the feet of Mother Teresa.
GERALD MORRISON, Controller
Gerald joined MEDA in 1997. He is a Chartered Accountant and holds a B.A. in
Accountancy from the University of Waterloo. Prior to joining MEDA, Gerald
worked in public accounting for four years. He has completed internal audits and
consultancies in 10 countries.
KIM PITYN, Vice-President, International Operations and Director of
Human Resources
Kim joined MEDA in 1990 and has worked in various capacities in the
organization, including working as Project Director of the Rural Small Business
Development Program in Haiti. Prior to joining MEDA she worked as a Regional
Manager with the Contact Human Resource Group. She has an Honours Business
Degree from the School of Business at the University of Western Ontario; a Human
Resource Professional Association of Ontario designation; and a Certificate in
Adult Education from St. Francis Xavier University.
BOB KROEKER, Director, Member Relations
Bob joined MEDA in 1993. He is based in MEDA's Canadian office in Winnipeg
and relates to members in Canada and U.S. Prior to joining MEDA, he worked at
Great West Life Assurance Company for 27 years in project and
management positions.
JOHN PAULS, Regional Director, Member Relations
John joined MEDA in 2001. Based in MEDA’s Waterloo, ON office, he relates to
members in Canada and the U.S. Prior to joining MEDA he was Director of
Development for Tabor Community Services in Lancaster, PA for five years under
the auspices of Mennonite Central Committee. Most of John’s career years were
spent with the Bank of Montreal in Canada, where he worked in project and senior
management positions in Vancouver and Toronto.
JULIE REDFERN, Director of the Microfinance (MF) Department
Julie joined MEDA in 1996. Before being appointed Director of the
Microfinance department, she worked with the Microfinance consulting division
of the MEDA Consulting Group—three of those years as manager. Previously Julie
was MEDA’s technical advisor/consultant. Prior to joining MEDA, Julie was a
project manager for the SEEP (Small Enterprise Education and Promotion) Network;
a project manager for CARE in Lesotho; and served in the Peace Corps (Lesotho)
as a small business advisor. In total, she spent four years living and working
in Lesotho. She also served as branch manager of Tucson Federal Credit Union for
four years prior to her international work. Julie has a Masters of Business
Administration (University of Phoenix), a Bachelors Degree in Economics
(University of Arizona) and an Advanced Certificate in Credit Union Management
(Pima College, Arizona).
JEROME QUIGLEY, Director of the Production and Marketing Linkages (PML)
Department
Jerome (Jerry) Quigley joined MEDA in 1990. Before directing MEDA’s PML
department, he was a General Director and Founder of MEDA Trade Co. Prior to
joining MEDA, he worked as the General Director of CODE International Inc, a
for-profit subsidiary of Canadian Organization for Development through Education
(CODE). Jerry is a graduate in economics and development studies from the
University of Guelph (Ontario, Canada). Additional studies since then include purchasing
management courses, ISO quality program certification and results based
management. He has also lived and worked in Haiti.
Listen to Jerome on MEDA's World (September 2008)
HOWARD GOOD, Vice President for North American Operations and Director
of Member Engagement
Howard joined MEDA in 1993, focusing on the development of a North American
microenterprise development model called ASSETS (A Service for Self-Employment
Training and Support). In his current role he provides senior leadership to
MEDA’s community economic development (CED) work and MEDA’s services to
association members. Previously Howard worked for Mennonite Central Committee
and Rosenberger’s Cold Storage Co. He has lived in Uganda, Congo and Honduras. He
holds a BA in economics from Goshen College and is completing a Masters in
Public Administration degree at Pennsylvania State University.
WALLY KROEKER, Director of Publications
Wally joined MEDA in 1985 as director of publications and editor of its
magazine, The Marketplace. He has spent more than 35 years as a reporter
and editor, specializing in business and religion. He previously worked for
newspapers such as the Regina Leader-Post and the Winnipeg
Tribune, and magazines such as the Manitoba Business Journal and the
Christian Leader. He has a BA from Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kansas,
and an MA in theology from the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, Fresno,
California.
