After his parents’ deaths, an orphaned boy was shunned for reasons he was too young to understand. Today, he hopes to bring the joy of community to others.
After his parents’ deaths, an orphaned boy was shunned for reasons he was too young to understand. Today, he hopes to bring the joy of community to others.
Copyright 2020. Horizon: Empower the Orphaned
JERRY WEAVER
TREASURER
Jerry Weaver is Co-Owner, President and CEO of Quality Custom Cabinetry, Inc., a custom cabinet manufacturer that distributes throughout the U.S. Through the QCCI Foundation founded by Jerry and his business partner, he has donated to many charitable causes through the years. Jerry’s passion using his resources to empower others, which makes his involvement with Horizon a perfect match. He lives in Lancaster, PA with his wife and is a father to three girls.
MATT BURKHOLDER
BOARD MEMBER
Matt Burkholder is the President and CEO of the Dutch Valley Family of Companies, which includes Dutch Valley Food Distributors, Inc. and Dutch Valley Food Development, Inc., located in Myerstown and New Holland, PA and Berlin, OH. Dutch Valley’s Vision is to give back and Share What’s Good with those involved in the business, the community and beyond. Matt and his wife, Karen, have four daughters and share a passion for helping to meet the needs of the children in Kenya and seeing lives transformed.
GENE STRITE
SECRETARY
Eugene Strite is a compassionate business leader who desires to see the next generation reach their full potential. His passion is empowering others and consulting with businesses. In over 30 years of being in business, he is President of the D-111 Group LLC., developing a green community in south central PA. The author of several books, he travels nationally and internationally teaching on finances. Eugene and his wife Kathy have four children and ten grandchildren.
STEVE PEROFF
BOARD MEMBER
Steve Peroff brings a strong organizational, marketing, and advertising background to Horizon. As a successful realtor for several decades in Keswick, Ontario, he built the premier real estate team in their region. Steve and his wife Colleen are dedicated parents to Eli and Jordanna. Steve has helped in the development of Baba Nyumbani, Horizon’s flagship Micro Community in Kitale, Kenya since 2009. His work in Baba Nyumbani has given their work in Canada a fresh purpose and focus.
RICK HALLER
BOARD MEMBER
Rick Haller is the Founder and Chairman of Haller Enterprises, a mechanical services company based in Lancaster, PA. Rick is a driven entrepreneur, starting the company out of his garage in 1981. Since then, the company has grown to employ 300 people across five branch locations in Central and Eastern Pennsylvania. Rick serves on various boards and contributes to various cause based organizations. Rick and his wife Joyce spend much of their time with their three children.
LARRY KREIDER
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Larry Kreider has been involved with Horizon’s board since the organization’s inception. As Founder and International Director of DOVE International, he earned a Masters of Ministry from Southwestern Christian University at age 60, proving it is never too late to continue learning. As the author of over 40 books, Larry’s professional life includes international speaking engagements and mentoring various organizational leaders. He and his wife, LaVerne, have four children and six grandchildren.
RON MYER
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Ron Myer serves on the Dove Christian Fellowship International Apostolic Council as the Assistant International Director. He also leads the USA Regional Apostolic Council and the DOVE Europe Apostolic Team. Ron travels nationally and internationally teaching on various topics, with a strong focus on calling people to rise up to their full potential. He has authored and co-authored two books. Ron and his wife, Bonnie, have six children and fifteen grandchildren.
GERALD MECK
INTERIM CEO
Gerald brings over 40 years of executive leadership experience in nonprofit organizations. He is the former President and CEO of United Disabilities Services, having served in that role for 26 years. Gerald holds a B.S. in Sociology and Psychology from Eastern Mennonite University and a M.Ed. from Millersville University. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Management Institute at Columbia University. Gerald is currently the Chairman of the Board for Diamond Street Early Childhood Center and also serves on several other nonprofit Board of Directors. Gerald and his wife, Lynette, reside in Lititz, PA. They are the parents of two adult children and have four granddaughters. When the wind is blowing, Gerald enjoys sailing on the Chesapeake Bay aboard his sailboat, Knot@Work.
JACK EANS
INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT
Jack has worked in international relief and development for over 30 years, partnering with leaders of other nations to rescue, restore, and empower children trapped in poverty. Jack’s own story of abandonment, abuse, and loss of family led him to align his life purpose with helping the orphaned regain their identity and purpose. From Colorado, Jack is an avid mountain climber, having climbed over 200 of Colorado’s peaks and two successful summits of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Jack uses his passion for climbing to inspire others to help orphans climb out of their situations. He strives to live out the phrase, “Success is not counted by how high you have climbed but by how many people you brought with you.”
ONÉSIMO FELIZ
INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Growing up with 10 siblings, Onésimo started his passion for helping children without parental care early in life, by helping mentor over 10 children who had no parents in his hometown of Barahona, Dominican Republic. Although the children are now adults, they still consider Onésimo’s family as their own. This impact in the lives of children fueled Onésimo’s desire to live a purpose-driven life to rescue, restore and empower orphaned children around the world. Before joining Horizon as an International Program and Latin America Director, Onésimo has served in pastoral ministry, leadership and as an advocate for at-risk children in Latin America for over 11 years. He holds an MBA in holistic ministry and has a bachelor degree in accounting. Onésimo is the loving father of Melanie Joyce.
SAMUEL KAUNGA
AFRICA REGIONAL DIRECTOR
AND KENYA COUNTRY DIRECTOR
Samuel “Sammy” Kaunga is a tenacious operations manager and advocate for children in Horizon’s existing Micro Communities and networks in Kenya and Africa. Sammy has a wealth of experience in child development, youth empowerment and partnership development. Before joining Horizon, Sammy worked over 20 years for international child development nonprofits located in Africa. Living in dire straits in Kenya, Sammy dropped out of high school at age 14. Mercifully, a child sponsorship organization came to his rescue; fishing him out of his village back to school. Sammy says, this act set him off as a forever crusader for the underprivileged children across the world. Sammy has graduate degrees in: Education, Sociology & Literature, Linguistics, Applied Psychology and Communications. In addition, he is an author, a journalist and an itinerant farmer. He lives in Nairobi with his wife, Betty, and their three children-Mélodie, Sereria and Runchi.
DARYL HELLER
CO-FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Daryl Heller, Founder/CEO of Heller Capital Group, is an entrepreneur that has founded various companies within the telecom, technology, agriculture, financial and energy sectors. Heller Capital Group is a boutique private equity firm which generally has 12-16 portfolio companies where he provides strategic oversight and accountability to the portfolio companies. Daryl is an innovative and highly respected leader, with a core competency in strategic planning, cultural development, business acceleration/execution and merger & acquisition activities. He is also a philanthro-capitalist, and co-founded Horizon in 2004.
JIM PESCE
CO-FOUNDER AND BOARD MEMBER
Jim Pesce is the Co-Founder and Co-President with his wife Debbie of Hallehluya Food Company in Ontario, Canada. Jim has a strong passion for connecting the West with the developing world, as he believes all humanity finds their potential as we journey together, not rescuing anyone, but by sharing our unique “riches” as we serve one another. He has worked with at-risk youth in his community since 1987, and is now involved with multiple programs serving Toronto-based at risk and new immigrant children. He has served in Kenya since 1999 before co-founding Horizon in 2004.
Bill Poole
BOARD MEMBER
Bill Poole is an inspiring businessman whose career has been driven by servant leadership and a passion for helping small business owners and entrepreneurs. Bill has spent almost 40 years in banking, most notably he was the Founding CEO & President of HomeTowne Heritage Bank. Bill also serves a variety of family owned businesses and organizations on the board level, fulfilling his passion to help them reach their goals. Bill and his wife Diane have three daughters and four grandsons. Together their desire is to intentionally look for opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others!