Laura Libman
CEO and President of Tia Foundation
As Tia’s President, Laura Libman combines her educational background with her work experiences in global project management, knowledge engineering, and marketing. After working for years as a contractor, Laura decided to complete her undergraduate studies at Arizona State University West, where she received a full tuition scholarship and graduated summa cum laude in English.
Ms. Libman continued her education at The Thunderbird School of Global Management, where she received multiple, generous scholarships. In addition to traditional M.B.A. courses in accounting, finance, and marketing, she focused her studies on International Development with particular emphasis on Latin America. While at Thunderbird, Laura received her certification as a Global Mediator. Ms. Libman is a member of The Border Trade Alliance, The Arizona-Mexico Commission, The National Hispanic Honor Society and The National Society of Hispanic M.B.A.s. She recently received the Thunderbird Distinguished Alumni Award for Global Citizenship.
Her concentration in International Development provided her with the latest research materials on new models and program designs in that discipline. After taking a Thunderbird course in Washington, D.C., where she met heads of organizations such as the World Bank, The Millennium Challenge Corporation, the International Monetary Fund, the Inter American Development Bank, and USAID, she had to opportunity to see current development programs in practice.
Laura is also on the Board of Directors of and a Group Leader for The Washington Street Foundation, a Phoenix-based mentoring program for economically disadvantaged children.
Joan Lowell
Member
Board of Directors – Tia Foundation
Joan Lowell has worked in the non-profit arena for most of her career. She served as Executive Director of Hospice of the Valley for ten years, followed by two years in the Peace Corps, Kazakhstan, where she was a counselor in business and NGO development. She continued this work in Russia, Ukraine and Thailand. Joan recently retired from her ten years as Senior Advancement Officer for Donor Services.
Kelly O’Connell
Member
Board of Directors – Tia Foundation
Kelly O’Connell has 3 years of experience in international education and grassroots non-profit work. Her passion for the empowerment of underserved populations drove her to teach on the Quileute Native American Reservation in Washington State and also to intern at numerous non-profit organizations in Seattle while studying the Philosophy of Human Rights at the University of Washington. While interning, Kelly saw the need for greater resources in the non-profit community which led her to design and implement an innovative seminar that allowed University of Washington students the opportunity to design a sustainable project for local non-profit organizations. Upon graduation from the University of Washington, Kelly moved to Ecuador and became a computer teacher in an underserved elementary school.
Upon her return to the United States in 2006, Kelly was inspired to gain skills in the economic and social empowerment of women, which would give opportunity not only to the women with whom she worked, but their children as well. Throughout her time at Thunderbird, Kelly has gained skills in the development of micro-enterprise through advising an Indonesian Entrepreneur on her business plan; Worked with Tostan, a women’s rights organization in West Africa, providing internal consulting and program management; Evaluated an entrepreneurial training program in Panama; and is currently developing a holistic economic development program and implementation strategy designed to reduce gender based violence in West Africa. She was also Co-President of the International Development Association.
Barry Libman
Vice President, Treasurer, Member
Board of Directors-The Tia Foundation
Barry Libman is the former CEO of Able Distributing Company.
Nathaniel Harris
Secretary-The Tia Foundation
Paul Brodt
Member
Board of Directors-The Tia Foundation
Paul Brodt is the President and CEO of Copper Star Bank
Conrad Goodkind
Member
Board of Directors-The Tia Foundation
Conrad Goodkind is a partner in the law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP.
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