CAROLYN TONNESON
OUR LATE FOUNDER
RETIRED NONPROFIT EXECUTIVE | ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA
Carolyn was the Founder and President of Peter’s Hope. In that capacity, she was responsible for the overall leadership and management of this nonprofit organization. In her career, Carolyn held a number of positions including: primary school teacher, marriage and family counselor, management consultant, and numerous executive roles in several nonprofits in Minnesota.
Carolyn was always passionate about and committed to social justice and equality for all peoples, and was a strong believer in the value of education, placing a high value on women’s rights.
Over the years Carolyn spent time on numerous boards: Preschool, Rotary (Treasurer and President), Church (President), Homeowners Association (Treasurer), Arts organization (President). She also volunteered with: Meals on Wheels, Public Radio, Hospice, Church and Schools.
In 2019, Carolyn volunteered for 4 weeks in Bamburi, Kenya. There she became deeply involved with the Women’s Empowerment Center, and the Primary School where Peter Ochieng is the founder and director. Upon her return she was committed to starting a nonprofit organization to partner with Peter in making his programs sustainable.
Carolyn lived in St. Paul, MN with her husband, Jim. They have three grown children, and two grandchildren: Mark, married to Tami; Scott, married to Jen, parents to Owen and Noah; and Kimi. Their children/spouses have all been very gracious in volunteering their talents and time to help Peter’s Hope become a reality! Unfortunately, Carolyn unexpectedly died in December, 2022. Her vision for Peter’s Hope lives on.
MYRNA WELLS-ULLAND
BOARD CHAIR
CLINIC OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, RETIRED | PHOENIX, AZ
Myrna Wells-Ulland is a native of NE Minnesota, growing up on a small dairy farm 50 miles west of Duluth. She and her husband, Bob Ulland, moved to Scottsdale and now Phoenix about 10 years ago. They have a blended family of 10 kids and 19 grands.
Myrna’s undergrad degree is in Health Information Management from The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth. She has a MS in Health Services Admin and is retired from St. Luke’s in Duluth, where her last position was Director of Clinic Operations.
Following her retirement, she served as Executive Director of her professional association, the MN Health Information Management Association, for 5 years. This experience gave her a solid understanding in nonprofit management and board governance. Myrna served on the board of the Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank in NE MN/NW WI for eight years, including as president.
Myrna and Bob are members of Living Water Lutheran in Scottsdale, where she has led the church’s Service & Caring Ministry Team, and continues to lead the Tuesday Women’s Bible Study. Myrna was recently elected as President of the Churchwide Executive Board of Women of the ELCA. She served a five-year term as president of the Grand Canyon Women of the ELCA, the women’s ministry arm of the ELCA. She chaired the Grand Canyon Synod’s Growing Generosity Appeal, a three-year initiative to raise $750K in funds to benefit new and emerging ministries, advocacy and financial viability for pastors and congregations. She serves on the churchwide Women of the ELCA’s leadership team to raise $1 million for the Katie’s Fund Endowment. In 2022, she completed the Best Skills, Best Churches graduate/executive level certificate program, a partnership with ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation and Eli Lilly Foundation, designed to advance knowledge and skills for effective management of congregations and ministries.
She hopes to bring the needs of Peter’s Hope to a broader audience to benefit the children and the women’s empowerment program.
REBECCA KOECH
VICE PRESIDENT
TEACHER MOUNDSVIEW PUBLIC SCHOOLS | ST. LOUIS PARK, MN
Rebecca is a teacher at Moundsview Public Schools working primarily with students who are learning English as an additional language. Rebecca is also an adjunct faculty at Hamline University in Saint Paul. Rebecca was an elementary school teacher in Kenya before coming to the United States in 1996.
Rebecca is passionate about helping others. Having grown up in Kenya, schooled in Kenya and taught in Kenya, Rebecca brings cultural experiences and expertise to the board.
Rebecca is currently on her 3rd and final term as a secretary for Tilyet Benevolence Fund among other committee memberships in her school and district.
Rebecca joined the board of Peter’s Hope because she wants to give back to her community and support the noble course that Peter’s Hope endures to fulfil for the people of Kenya.
Rebecca lives in the Twin Cities but spends a lot of her time in Springfield Missouri where Albert works.
CHRISTOPHER McSWEENEY
SECRETARY TREASURER
INVESTMENT REPORTING ANALYST | CRYSTAL, MN
Chris is an Investment Reporting Analyst for Finance of America. In this role, he is responsible for assigned monthly reporting, remitting and reconciliation for investors including GNMA, GSE, Private Securitization, and special servicing for Traditional, Reverse or Commercial Loans. His Past experiences including consolidations reporting work for Radisson Hotels Group Americas, and Trust Trade Management at Wells Fargo.
Chris is passionate about empowering individuals through education, and loves seeing the spark it ignites in individuals.
He has volunteered as a Certified G.E.D. Tutor for the American Indian OIC, and assisted with ad hoc work for Keystone Community Services in St Paul.
Chris joined the board of Peter’s Hope because he is committed to serving and supporting the empowerment of others through education and making a greater impact from the ground up.
Chris currently resides in Dayton, Minnesota with his four year old son.
ANGELA BERGE
MEMBER AT LARGE
RETIRED EDUCATOR | WEST FARGO, ND
Angela served life-long positions in the field of education having started her professional career as a High School Home Economics teacher in Emmetsburg, Iowa. Following her 3 years of classroom teaching, Angela joined the University of Minnesota Extension Service where she coordinated and taught adult education courses and worked with youth education through the 4-H program.
After serving this 30 year career in Minnesota, she continued in Extension at North Dakota State University as the Parent Education Coordinator for a 5 county region in North Dakota, including Cass County and Fargo. In this role, Angela was responsible for needs assessment, program planning, delivery and evaluation for parent education throughout the region. It was here, she partnered with multiple human service and educational agencies who had as their mission education, advocacy and support to often underserved families with children. It was through this position that she solidified her core passion of always wanting to help the ‘little guy’.
Angela joined the board of Peter’s Hope because of her deep belief in education as a pathway out of poverty and to success. She believes the investment in early education for children will equip and support them to making positive choices enabling them to overcome poverty. And, the investment in women helps create positive change for both, offering up a ripple effect of healthy families and communities.
Angela is the mother of 3 adult children and lives in West Fargo ND. She has 4 grandchildren, one who lives in Germany, and the others are in Fargo, so she sees them often. In her spare time, Angela enjoys quilting, especially the creative aspect of color use and design.
LEAH HAUFF
MEMBER AT LARGE
PROMOTIONS MANAGER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Leah works as a Promotions Manager at Sleep Number Corporation where she is responsible for the creative development, full execution, analysis,and continued innovation of targeted promotional initiatives that drive top line sales and bottom-line profit. Prior to this, Leah held roles as Program Director and Marketing Director for MN Association for Children’s Mental Health and has worked as a marketing strategy consultant, helping grow small and midsize businesses. Leah holds undergraduate degrees in Finance and Management from University of Minnesota – Duluth and an MBA in Marketing Strategy from Hamline University.
As a child, Leah began volunteering alongside her mother for a local hospice foundation who matched families with hospice patients. Seeing the profound difference that a smile, a hug or a helping hand could make in the lives of others ignited her desire to become involved in a wide array of volunteer endeavors. Leah has volunteered for Second Harvest, People Serving People, House of Charity, MARS, Angel Foundation and many other local nonprofits.
For years, Leah has been interested in participating in a service trip to Africa, however the opportunity never presented itself – until Peter’s Hope came along, that is! In the meantime, by leveraging her experience growing nonprofits through grassroots marketing, Leah is excited to share the important work that Peter’s Hope is doing to support the children and women of Bamburi, Kenya – and hopes to get to meet these special individuals as soon as travel is allowed!
Leah lives in south Minneapolis and enjoys exploring the world, yoga, biking, hiking, paddle boarding, reading, game nights, cribbage, and impromptu adventures.
SALLY HEUER
MEMBER AT LARGE
SENIOR TECHNICAL EDITOR | ROSEVILLE, MN
Sally Heuer is in her seventh year as a senior technical editor for Medtronic, a global leader in medical devices. In her role, she is responsible for leading a team that ensures quality and consistency in labeling and related technical documents, while also ensuring the labels align with industry regulations and standards.
Prior to her career at Medtronic, Sally held many different positions, including airline ticket agent, private tutor, freelance editor, and elementary school teacher in Minneapolis Public Schools. Her work as a teacher convinced her that there is no more important job in the world. Every minute of every day, she had a chance to positively influence a child’s life.
It is in part because of her teaching experience that Sally decided to join the board of Peter’s Hope. She recognizes the powerful impact that Peter is making with his students, and wishes to see his school continue and flourish. Equally important to Sally is Peter’s program to help women become self-reliant and independent by teaching them skills to earn a living.
In her free time, Sally likes to play the piano, marvel at birds through binoculars or a camera lens, and lead local birdwatching field trips during the magical month of May.
Sally lives in Roseville, Minnesota, with her wife, dog, and cat. This is her first board appointment.
DAVID MAYO
MEMBER AT LARGE
RETIRED PROFESSOR | MIDDLETOWN, CT
David, Professor Emeritus, spent his career in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Minnesota at Duluth. His specialty was Medical Ethics, and he served as a Faculty Associate of the U. Of M. Center for Bioethics from its inception in 1991. A primary focus has been on end-of life decision making, on which he has published and spoken widely.
He has been an activist on right-to-die issues since the '80s, serving on the boards of directors of the Hemlock Society (both the local chapter and then the national organization) as well as The Death with Dignity National Center.
He has been awarded fellowships by the Council for Philosophical Studies and the Exxon Foundation..
He was drawn to Peter's Hope by his interest in education and women's empowerment, and his conviction that Peter's work in Kenya is such an effective force for these causes.
PAUL TILLQUIST
BOARD CONSULTANT
RETIRED | ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA
Paul F. Tillquist retired in 2014 from his position as Executive Consultant to the President and Vice President at Gustavus Adolphus College. In this role he provided advice and counsel on matters relating to fundraising, alumni affairs, and marketing and communications. Prior to this position he was the Vice President for Development and Communications for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, a position he held for eight years.
An active Lutheran layperson, Paul is a member of Incarnation Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation in North Oaks, MN. He has shared his experiences and skills as a member of many non-profit boards: Bethesda Lutheran Medical Center, Lutheran Social Service Foundation, National Lutheran Choir, Holden Village, American Swedish Institute and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. He served on the Executive Council of the LCA and throughout his adult church life served on many church councils and committees as well as synodical committees (LCA). Paul is married and has two adult children.
CHRISTINE AYUYA
STAFF
ADMIN/MARKETING ASSISTANT | ROSEVILLE, MINNESOTA
Christine was born in Mombasa, Kenya and also lived in Nairobi, Nakuru, and Kakamega. In 2002, she moved to Maryland to begin her education. Christine has worked as a Home Health Aide assisting her clients with activities of daily living and she also has experience in retail and food service management. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Managemnt at Metro State University in Saint Paul.
Christine’s desire to assist those who are less fortunate was nurtured by watching her mother’s involvement in programs that raised awareness about childhood hunger and participating in women’s self-help groups. She was drawn to Peter’s Hope because of its mission of sustaining funding that goes towards the education of the children, as well as the empowerment of women by working as a partner to help lift themselves out of poverty.
Christine has volunteered with Soldiers’ Angels since 2020, an organization that provides aid, comfort, and resources to deployed service members, veterans, and their families. For her volunteer service with Soldiers’ Angels, she earned the President’s Volunteer Service Bronze Award in 2022 and 2023.
Christine lives in Roseville and enjoys cooking, art history, staying fit and is always on the lookout for some good BBQ.