Board Members

Ike Elliott - Chairman and Chief Executive Officer -Ike has worked with Global Hope since 2000. Ike Elliott is a communications executive with a calling to help abandoned children in Eastern Europe . A native of Ohio and Virginia, Elliott earned his B.S. in computer science from James Madison University , and his M.S. in computer science from Johns Hopkins University . Elliott's management credentials include leadership roles at MCI from 1989 through 1997, and at Level 3 Communications from 1997 through 2003. At Level 3 Communications, Elliott held several executive and general management positions. 

Ike joined Global Hope's board in 2000, and in June of 2003 was elected as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He now leads a growing organization of six full-time missionaries and dozens of part-time volunteers, all of whom have a passion for rescuing and ministering to abandoned children.  Ike can be reached at ike@globalhope.org. 

Matthew Gibble - Director of Romanian Operations – Mr. Gibble's first trip to Romania was in June of 2001 as part of a team led by John McKibbin. He was a student at the Boulder College of Massage Therapy at the time and designed an internship to work on abandoned children in an orphanage and recuperation facility in Arad , Romania . He found out that he was blessed by God far more than he could have imagined. Upon his return he wasn't sure what the next step for him would be in continuing to help the children of Romania . His prayer is that God would continue to bless the children of Romania through Global Hope. He believes God will bless a country that has been through much turmoil and suffering, one child at a time. God's love shines through the smiles of the children of Global Hope. He began serving on the Board of Directors in the summer of 2002 and holds an Associates Degree in Massage Therapy as well as being Nationally Certified as a Massage Therapist. 

Tami Door – Independent Director – Ms. Door joined the Global Hope Board of Directors in January, 2005.   She is the Chief Executive Officer of the Downtown Denver Partnership, having left the Detroit Chamber of Commerce in January, 2005, as an Executive Vice President, having served there for eight years.  Tami has worked with several non-profits to increase their sponsorship revenue, including the YMCA and chambers of commerce across the country.  

John McKibbin - Independent Director - Mr. McKibbin jointed the Global Hope Board of Directors in early 2006.  He is a Chemical Engineer and a long-time supporter of Global Hope, having taken several mision trips to Romania with members of his family. 

Wendy Hunt - Independent Director - Ms. Hunt joined the Global Hope Board of Directors in the Summer of 2006.  She is Vice President of Human Resources for MWH Global, Inc., a Broomfield-based engineering firm.

Will Johnston - Independent Director - Will and his wife Kathy have served as volunteers with Global Hope for several years, helping to administer the Global Hope mission teams. Will is a senior engineer with Level 3 Communications.

Jacci Knight - Independent Director - Jacci served as Global Hope's first long-term missionary, serving for over four years in Romania, and now volunteers with Global Hope in the area of grant applications.

Randy Jessen  - Independent Director - Randy and his wife Sue founded Global Hope in 1996 after adopting their daughter, Ana, from Romania.  Randy is a Methodist Minister who now serves as a Dean at the Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky.  Randy wrote a wonderful book about his experiences adopting Ana named "Ana's Voice," which you can find at www.authorhouse.com. 

Pam Gibble - Independent Director - Pam served as a long-term missionary with Global Hope, along with the rest of her family, from 2003 through 2005.  Pam is a teacher in the Adams 12 School District in Colorado.

Julia Stelloh – Julia, a product manager at PacWest Telecomm, became involved with Globah Hope in early 2004 administering donation processing. In October, 2004, she became Global Hope's Director of Finance. Julia can be reached at jstelloh@hotmail.com.

Missionaries 

Walter Williams – Walter moved to Arad , Romania from Denver , Colorado  in April, 2004. Walter is a professional tile contractor, and is leading construction efforts while he is in Romania .  After participating in two short-term mission teams, Walter felt called back to Romania to help wherever he is needed.  His home church is Phillips United Methodist Church . 

Cassandra Smith – Cassandra moved to Arad , Romania from Granbury , Texas , in July, 2004.  Cassandra is a teacher by training and has a heart for disabled children.  After participating in a short-term mission team in 2003, Cassandra felt called to return to Romania to help with the children in need there.  Cassandra's web site is http://ro-cassandra.tripod.com/ . 

Advisors to the Board

Randy and Sue Jessen - Founders - Randy and Sue Jessen are the co-founders of the Global Hope organization. They have been working with Romanian mission ministry since 1991. 

Sue's background in the area of mental health. She worked for over ten years at Fort Logan Mental Health Center in Denver , Colorado . She provided care for emotionally disturbed children, worked with school systems, and was a individual therapist. She now is the primary care giver for their daughter Ana. Ana has extensive developmental delays from her first five years in the Romanian system. She also received a small amount of contaminated blood as an infant which infected her with the virus that causes AIDS.

In the mid-1970's, Randy and Sue purchased a small grocery business in Genoa , Colorado . While there, the church became a very important part of their lives. They both make commitments to Christ and began the search for opportunities to serve. Deciding full time ministry was his calling, Randy enrolled Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore , Kentucky . He graduated with a Master's of Divinity degree in 1984. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Asbury in 1997.

Randy and Sue have served the Fort Morgan United Methodist Church in Fort Morgan, Colorado, Longs Peak United Methodist Church in Longmont,  Colorado, and Broomfield United Methodist Church in Broomfield, Colorado. Currently, Randy has been appointed to serve as the lead pastor of the ministry team at the First United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs , Colorado .

Lisa Walther - Lisa was a founding member and long-time chairperson of the Global Hope Board of Directors and has a strong desire to provide help, and hope, to the needy children of Romania .  Both she and her husband, Jim, have served on Global Hope mission teams in the past, and continue to support the organization from here in the States. Lisa consults in the technology industry and has three small children of her own.  She believes that through Global Hope we can bring a heightened awareness to our society of the many children who've been abandoned, who live in destitute or overcrowded institutions, and who regularly go hungry, feel pain and are otherwise without hope for a better life.  We desire to change these patterns, and change these children's lives, forever.

D.J. Atkinson - D.J's involvement with Global Hope began with participation in the first Romania team led by Randy Jessen in 1995 and was a founding member of the Global Hope board in 1996.  Since that time, D.J. has returned to Romania at least once per year as either a team member or a team leader.  D.J. especially appreciates being able to see and participate in the year-to-year changes as the children in Global Hope's two houses grow.  When not doing Global Hope stuff, D.J. is an active member of the Cornerstone United Methodist Church and works as an Electronics Engineer for the U.S. Department of Commerce in Boulder , Colorado.