Board of Directors 2009-10
Steven G. Stirling, President
Steve is VP of Marketing at Heifer International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing an end to world hunger. For two years, Stirling served as Sr. Vice President of Marketing & Resource Development for Childhelp, a nonprofit dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse, and for five years, Stirling served as the Vice President of Marketing Operations and Executive Director, Major Donor Fund-raising for World Vision U.S., a Christian relief and development Organization.
Stirling earned his Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Economics at Cornell University and his MBA in Marketing and Finance at Northwestern University (Kellogg Graduate School of Management), during which time he also studied international business in Paris, France.
He worked as vice president of marketing and sales for ConAgra Functional Foods, overseeing marketing, sales, logistics, productions, product development and customer service, and as vice president of marketing and acquisition/customer marketing for Ameritrade, Inc. He also worked for pharmaceutical companies, including Johnson & Johnson, American Home Products, Bristol-Myers-Squibb and Mead Johnson.
He and his wife Sook Hee live in Little Rock, Arkansas, and have two children, Richard and Rachael.
Brent Hample, President/CEO
To view Brent's biography, please click here to visit our staff page.
Suzanne Broetje, Vice President
Suzanne grew up on an apple farm in Washington State. After graduating from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, she completed a doctorate at Michigan State University in Gender and International Development Studies. Throughout her studies, Suzanne traveled to many countries, including India, Zimbabwe and Kenya, to serve as a volunteer, study language, and conduct research. She then returned to Broetje Orchards to help articulate and carry forward a unique "business as ministry" model.
For the last six years, Suzanne has served as Executive Director of Vista Hermosa Foundation. This family foundation uses profits from Broetje Orchards to pursue two goals: to provide educational programs for farmworking families in the local community; and to support community-based partners focused on agricultural and Servant Leadership development in India, Kenya, Mexico, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
Suzanne loves to read, travel, and play in the dirt in her garden. She and her husband, Roger, now live in Walla Walla with their three young daughters, Asha, Maya and Joslin.
Dean Rees, Treasurer
Dean Rees joined the India Partners Board in 2006. He is the Financial Manager at Holt International Children's Services. For the past 13 years, Dean has worked with international programs in 19 countries both from the fiscal/program management side and in collaboration with fundraising for these programs.
Dean is a graduate of the University of Oregon whose hobbies include cheering for the Ducks, tinkering with cars, and autocrossing. Dean is a family man, enjoying life with his wife and three children in Springfield, Oregon. He is active in his church and community, and enjoys camping, snow skiing, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
Susan Paiement, Secretary
Sue was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She is currently the Campaign Director for Catholic Community Services of Lane County. She graduated from the University of Oregon School of Journalism in Eugene, Oregon and made Eugene her home. She has a background in Public Relations and Event Planning and most recently worked at India Partners from 2004-05 as Development Director. Sue is also on the board of Catholic Community Services of Lane County and has served since 1989 on an Oregon Citizens Review Board which reviews cases of children in foster care. She is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Eugene and an active member of her church.
Sue and her husband, Ray, have four children. As a family, they enjoy snow- and water-skiing, boating and rafting, and attending the Oregon Ducks sporting events.
Michael Gerlicher, C.P.A., Director
Mike is the Director of Finance & Business for the Assemblies of God, Oregon Ministry Network. He is a Certified Public Accountant and brings extensive training and experience in Not-For-Profit Industry issues and business consulting.
Mike has loved India since living in the Mumbai region in 1978 while studying at Pune University. He has traveled to the four corners of the country of India and has studied to read, write and speak the Marathi language. Each year Mike travels to Mumbai and Pune as a guest lecturer to MBA students.
Mike and Carol have been married since 1981 and live in Keizer, Oregon with two of their three children in a neighborhood surrounded with O.S.U. Beaver fans. Mike's interests are in music, business and leadership development and in discovering new places.
Jim Shobert, Director
Jim is Chairman of the Board and Co-owner of Polygon Company in Walkerton, Indiana. For the past 30+ years he has been involved in purchasing, sales, and management at Polygon, a recognized leader in the industry.
He has a college degree in business administration and prides himself in being a visionary. Jim has traveled to India, Hong Kong, Mexico, and most of industrialized Europe.
He is a small airplane pilot and is involved with the Business as Mission Group.
Him and his wife of 38 years, Patricia, now reside in Indiana, and have two children.