Administrators

Rich Downing, Founder, ChairmanRich founded NDP in 2006 after completing his college thesis on the economics of poverty in South Africa. He then learned about small arms conflict while at Cambridge-based consulting firm CSP Associates. While earning his MBA, Rich supplemented his curriculum with classes focused on entrepreneurship and sustainability. In 2010 Rich traveled to South Africa to research a social business concept related to water and sanitation on the Vaal River.

Jared Peterson, Managing Director, TreasurerJared graduated from Boston College with a BS in Management and concentration in Finance and from Babson College with an MS in Management and concentration in Finance. He has spent 7+ years working for Alcatel-Lucent, formerly Lucent Technologies on the private equity team for the company’s pension fund in Boston, MA.

Brian McNeil, Director of FundraisingBrian is currently pursuing his Masters in Modern Philosophy at Boston College, where he plans to go on to pursue his PhD. Before seeing the light and applying to Boston College, Brian was a Senior Associate within the International Tax practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in Boston, MA. He graduated from Syracuse University in 2005, where he was a captain of the Mens’ Varsity Cross Country team.

Advisory Board

Fr. Jacob, ground zero point of contactJacob is currently in Ethiopia helping displaced Sudanese refugees. Jacob requested his last name be omitted for his personal safety

Jackie Downing, NGO operationsJackie is a graduate of Simmons College with a BA in management/marketing. She is a 2008 Leadership and Organizational Change MS candidate at Regis College. Jackie owns and runs Woodsedge Children’s Center of Sudbury MA, a non-profit early education center with more than 100 students. She serves on advisory boards of both The Minuteman School of Applied Arts and Sciences and The Sudbury Early Childhood Advisory Council.

William van der Veen, promotionWill graduated from Colby College, where he earned a degree in Government and specialized in international conflict in the Greater Middle East. In 2004 William worked at the Center for the Study of the Presidency, where he worked towards finding equitable solutions to the growing narcotics industry in Afghanistan. He has also written extensively on the roots and operational dynamics of international terrorism in Afghanistan.

Steven Bogden, geopoliticsSteve graduated from Colby College, where he majored in Government. Upon graduating, Steve joined the United Nations’ operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He currently works for The Reform Institute, based in Washington, DC.

Luke Tarbi, foreign affairsLuke graduated from Boston College in 2005, where he focused in Political Science and Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies. He was president and founder of the BC Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies Student Association, a research-oriented group with whom he conducted research in Israel, the West Bank, and Egypt. He served over four years overseas as a US Naval Officer, including tours in East Asia and Afghanistan. Luke is currently pursuing his Master’s in Law and Diplomacy at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Ryan Crotty, African regional dynamicsRyan graduated from Colby College, where he double-majored in Government and International Studies and was admitted to the Pi Sigma Alpha political science honor society. Ryan wrote his senior thesis on the role of international actors in the Liberian and Sierra Leonean civil wars. Ryan is currently preparing to pursue his Ph.D in International Affairs focusing on sub-Saharan Africa.

Boston Team

Michael BarrellMichael graduated from the University of Vermont in 2005 with a BA in Economics and a Minor in Media Studies. Currently, Michael is an Investment Data Analyst at Scivantage Inc. in Boston, MA. While at Scivantage, he assisted in the development of their Maxit product, which provides cost basis and tax-based investment decision support to brokerages and individual investors, from the ground up.

Taylor BiresTaylor graduated from Stonehill College in 2008 with a BA in Communication and a Minor in Business. While at Stonehill, she worked as an event planning intern for Conventures, Inc, where she focused on non-profit events. Additionally, she served as a marketing intern for the New England Patriots and New England Revolution. Currently, Taylor is a conference planner for WilmerHale in Boston, MA.

Lisa BolducLisa graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 2005 with a BA in Social Thought and Political Economy and a minor in Public Policy and Administration. During college, she interned at both the Massachusetts State House and Research Triangle Institute International in Washington, D.C. After graduation, Lisa helped manage the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation as an office manager. Currently, Lisa works in finance as client account manager for Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. in Boston, MA.

Jeff DorsheimerJeff graduated cum laude from the Whittemore School of Business & Economics at the University of New Hampshire with a BA in Economics and an option in Public Policy Economics. While at UNH, Jeff became a member of the Omicron Delta Epsilon International Economics Honor Society, the Golden Key International Honour Society, and received the C. Donald McKelvie Scholarship for his work in economics. He has spent 4+ years working for Canaccord Adams, a middle market investment bank headquartered in Boston, MA. After joining the firm as an Analyst in 2006, Jeff has transitioned into an Associate in the medical technology investment banking group.

Adam DruckerAdam graduated from Boston College in 2004 with a BS in Finance and Marketing. Currently, Adam is a Financial Analyst working within Bank of America Corporate Finance in their Global Wealth division in Boston, MA.

Bethany MarronBethany graduated from Johnson & Wales University with a BS in International Business and a concentration in Economics. Post graduation, Bethany spent four months in Swaziland, Africa where she taught Math, English, and life skills through an AIDS relief initiative. Currently, Bethany works at US Bank where she is a Bond Analyst in the Structured Finance Department of their Boston, MA office.

Joseph MagnerJoseph graduated from Bentley College with a BS in Economics & Finance. Joseph studied international economics at Regents College in London, England, where he also worked for the Hon. Chris Ruane, MP in the House of Commons. Joseph also has over 4 years of experience in corporate communications, sports marketing, and advertising; having worked in such roles for John Hancock Financial Services in Boston, and Bartle Bogle Hegarty in New York City. Joseph is currently pursuing his JD from Suffolk University Law School.

Chris MatteiniChris graduated from Harvard University in 2002 with an AB in Psychology. He spent two years as a research associate with Cushman & Wakefield in San Jose, CA and two years as an equity trader and analyst at Weiss Investment Management Services in Garden City, NY. Currently, Chris is an Alternatives Investment Analyst with Alcatel-Lucent’s pension fund management in Boston, MA.

Ashley RussoAshley graduated from Boston College in 2008 with a BS in Economics and a focus in pre-medicine. While at BC, she was part of the Appalachia Volunteers of Boston College, an undergraduate volunteer organization committed to working for marginalized and impoverished areas throughout the United States. Currently, Ashley works as a medical assistant for a physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA, and plans to attend medical school in the fall of 2010.