These Principal Volunteers share a deep commitment to restoring mobility and independence to people in the developing world. They dedicate considerable time and energy to helping the Prosthetics Outreach Foundation achieve its mission.
Board of Directors
Directors govern the Prosthetics Outreach Foundation, and additionally fulfill all of the responsibilities of Ambassadors.
Mary Luft Gladhart, President, is a retired financial consultant with over 30 years of experience in the investment industry. Ms. Gladhart holds a degree in Anthropology with an emphasis in worldwide medical and cultural studies. She has traveled extensively in the areas of Asia and Africa served by the Prosthetics Outreach Foundation.
Ruth Verhoff, Vice President, is a principle in a small Seattle based real estate management business. She has spent the last three years as a board and mentor volunteer for Washington Community for Self Reliance (“CASH”). She retired as President of Columbia Pacific Management, Inc. in June 2007, where she spent 15 years developing a career in real estate and related healthcare. She received a bachelor degree in accounting and finance from Central Washington University and her Executive Masters of Business Administration from Seattle University. She also is a Washington State certified public accountant.
Ernest A. Burgess, Treasurer, was a Senior Vice-President of Investments at the Seattle office of Salomon Smith Barney. Mr. Burgess is also overseer emeritus of Whitman College.
Robert Veith, MD, Medical Director, is an orthopedic surgeon with Valley Orthopedic Associates in Renton, Washington. Dr. Veith has both led and participated in the joint POF-AOFAS surgical missions to Vietnam. He has also participated in surgical missions to Bangladesh.
Jared Hager, Secretary, is an associate with the law firm Perkins Coie of Seattle.
Linda Breneman, is a nationally and locally published writer who has worked for years as a technical editor, writer and manager. In 1996, she co-founded Seattle’s writing center, Richard Hugo House, and served as board president for several years. Other boards she has served on include: Grantmakers in the Arts, The Henry Art Gallery, The University of Washington Foundation, Cornish College of the Arts, and The University of Washington Medical School Foundation Board. In 2000, she established a family foundation, the Breneman Jaech Foundation. She is a member of Social Venture Partners and Washington Women’s Foundation.
Mark Dales, MD, is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Seattle Children’s Hospital in Seattle, WA. He has repeatedly volunteered overseas for POF.
Gladys Kenfack, is a Marketing Manager at Microsoft in a group whose mission it is to bring technology to the developing world. She has a passion for technology and a strong desire to have an impact on the world. Ms Kenfack holds a B.S. in Computer Science from BYU, an MBA from Seattle University, and is active in non-profit organizations and in her community. She was V.P. of Outreach and Community for Africans at Microsoft and is an accomplished public speaker. Ms. Kenfack is an advocate for education among youth, wellness among orphans, and sustainability and capacity building programs in Africa and worldwide.
Ambassadors
Ambassadors reach out to the community as spokespersons for the Prosthetics Outreach Foundation, raise funds to support POF’s work around the word, and mobilize other volunteers.
Donna Burgess, has her own educational consulting business in northern California.
Colleen Haggerty, is a writer of personal non-fiction and a program director for a local non-profit. She lives in Bellingham, Washington.
Maria Hatcher, is a Registered Nurse in Perianesthesia Care and is currently working as an RN Clinical Liaison in Spokane Washington. She has experience in surgical care, marketing, clinical team program development and research.
Elaina Herber, (Seattle) has over 10 years of experience in Hi-Tech business development, sales, and marketing. Mrs. Herber holds a Masters degree in Technology Management and has established global technology partnerships and launched innovative solutions with many of the world’s most visible Hi-Tech companies. Mrs. Herber is a Senior Manager of Business Development for Customer Service Solutions, for ecenta, Inc, a Hi-Tech consulting firm.
Arden Tellini Hofler, (Seattle) has over 15 years of experience in fundraising and event planning. She is currently the Development Director for a local non-profit.
Online Ambassadors: Cecilie Helm Darling (Seattle), Barry Mann (Korea)
Advisors
Advisors provide their expertise to assist the Prosthetics Outreach Foundation with mission-related projects.
Dr. Romel Mackelprang, is the Director of the Center for Disability Studies and Universal Access at Eastern Washington University. His work in disability began in 1980 at the University of Utah where he worked in the Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and was also an adjunct faculty with the College of Medicine and the School of Social Work. He has been a professor at Eastern Washington University since 1987 and in 2006 he developed the Disability Studies certificate program. He has authored two textbooks and more than 50 journal articles on disability related issues. He has been involved in the Disability Rights movement for 30 years as an educator, researcher, and activist working with multiple local, national and international groups. In recent years, he has been invited to present his work and to consult with disability organizations in Canada, Europe, Australia, and Africa. He is currently the principle investigator of a research project evaluating the long term impacts of donated wheelchairs on the lives of recipients in developing several African nations. He is a founder and president of Access Without Borders a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting disability rights and societal access in developing countries.
Valerie Nkamgang Bemo, MD, MPH Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Senior Program Officer in the Global Development Special Initiatives division, Dr. Bemo is responsible for the Emergency Response portfolio. Dr. Bemo has 10 years experience in Clinical and Public health worldwide. Before joining the foundation, she held various roles at the International Rescue Committee, most recently serving as Senior Technical Advisor for health in the Democratic Republic of Congo and West Africa. Dr. Bemo also worked with various NGOs and had extensive involvement in Aceh, Indonesia, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Mauritania, Kenya and Chad. She is a board member of the Global Health Council. Dr. Bemo received her MD from the University of Cote d’Ivoire, her Epidemiology diploma at the University of Paris, and her MPH from Madrid Autonome University.
Mary Novotny, RN, is the director of the non-profit organization Digital Resource Foundation for the O&P Community (DRFOP) and is the founder of the Amputee Coalition of America (ACA).
Jan Thompson, LCPO, received her degree in Prosthetics and Orthotics from the University of Washington School of Rehab Medicine in 1982. She is a past president of both the Northwest Chapter of the Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists and the Washington Orthotic and Prosthetic Association. Jan established and ran her own practice in Eastern Washington for 15 years and currently consults and works as a clinical orthotist/prosthetist throughout the Northwest.
