Our Founder
Carolyn Manning, Founder of WTAP
Current Roles: Currently, Mrs. Manning serves as the Economic and Community Development Manager for the Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program. She also participates in the Refugee Women’s Health Clinic, Maricopa Integrated Health Systems.
Education: She has a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Notre Dame and a Masters in Public Administration from Seattle University.
Charity Experience: She has worked in the social service field with elderly, seriously mentally ill, abused children, and for refugees as a volunteer, crisis worker, case manager, and director since 1987. She founded WTAP in 2001.
Community Recognition: She has won numerous awards for WTAP and most recently was selected as a CNN Hero of 2009.
Board of Directors
Sean Garrison, Board Member, President
Current Roles: Sean Garrison is a partner in the Intellectual Property and Technology Practice Group of Lewis and Roca, LLP.
Education: Mr. Garrison obtained his law degree from Columbia University in 1992 and his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1989.
Charity Experience: Mr. Garrison is an active member of the legal and business community. He has provided pro bono legal services to charitable organizations such as Fresh Start Women’s Foundation. He has previously volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, StandUp for Kids, and the St. Vincent de Paul and Paz de Cristo meal service kitchens. He has also served a variety of community and professional committees, including on the International Trademark Association’s Monetary Remedies Subcommittee, the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce’s Airpark Committee and has served as Past Chair of the E-Commerce, Internet and Technology Law Section of the State Bar of Arizona.
Community Recognition: He has an “AV/Preeminent Attorney” rating with Martindale Hubbell. He is listed in the 2007-2011 editions of The Best Lawyers in America by Woodward/White, Aiken, S.C. in the category of Intellectual Property Law, the 2007-2011 editions of Southwest Super Lawyers in the category of Intellectual Property.
Samuel Chang, Board Member
Current Roles: Mr. Chang is an Associate with Lewis and Roca, LLP and has successfully represented juvenile refugees in obtaining special immigrant juvenile status. His current professional affiliations and community involvement include the Maricopa County Bar Association, Arizona Asian American Bar Association, Arizona Students’ Association – Advisory Council, and Florence Immigration and Refugee Rights Project volunteer.
Education: Mr. Chang received his law degree from The University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law, Tucson, Arizona in May 2006.
Charity Experience: In college, Mr. Chang served as the Primavera Men’s Shelter Legal Aid Co-Chair and VLP Child Advocacy Program Volunteer.
Community Recognition: Mr. Chang received the Namesake for the Samuel Chang Award for Excellence in Public Service.
Alexander J. Cudzewicz, Board Member, Development Chairperson
Current Roles: Alex Cudzewicz, CPA/PFS, is the President of Oak Brook Asset Management Corporation which provides investment advisory services for individual clients. Mr. Cudzewicz is also currently an Advisor to the International Finance Committee for the Society of Medical Missionaries.
Education: He received BA in Philosophy from Kilroe College, earned an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management, and his CPA certificate from University of Illinois.
Charity Experience: Mr. Cudzewicz has served on the Board of Directors and Advisory Boards of several not-for-profit art organizations, including the Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra, Chicago a cappella, and Jan Erkert and Dancers. Also, he was an active fundraiser for the Chicago Choral Artists.
Community Recognition: He is a Registered Investment Advisor and has been awarded the Personal Financial Specialist designation by the AICPA.
Jennifer Noto, Board Member, Communications Chairperson
Current Role: Jennifer first got involved with WTAP in 2008 when she came along for a delivery. Having just returned from a Christian mission trip to Africa, she was excited to learn of the many different cultures being relocated to Phoenix. As a graphic designer, she uses her background to help WTAP develop a solid brand and communication strategy. Jennifer also teaches yoga in Phoenix in her spare time.
Education: Ms. Noto received her Bachelor’s in Fine Art from The Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland. Her interest in human services work has also led her to pursue a Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling and Expressive Art Therapy. She graduates in Fall 2012.
Community Recognition: Sherri May & Company won a Spectrum Award for Special Event Design for the WTAP Prom invitation in both 2010 and 2011.
Sentari Minor, Board Member
Current Roles: Sentari Minor is on staff (Program Specialist) at the Rodel Charitable Foundation of Arizona.
Education: Mr. Minor is an alum of DePauw University where he studied creative writing.
Charity Experience: Mr. Minor is a project leader for Hands On Greater Phoenix and an active volunteer for a number of projects offered through Hands On. Additionally he serves as Youth Advisor for the Grand Canyon chapter of the American Red Cross.
Community Recognition: Sentari was awarded the “Rookie of the Year” award from Hands On Greater Phoenix recognizing the outstanding new project leader in 2010.
Staff
Megan O’Connor, Executive Director
Megan O’Connor is an Arizona native with several years experience working with local resettlement organizations in Phoenix before coming to WTAP as the Executive Director. Megan is an ASU graduate, and has studied politics and international studies at Charles University in the Czech Republic. Megan has recently been awarded a 2011 Carl Wilkens Fellowship in order to continue to advocate locally for victims of genocide arriving in Arizona. Contact Megan.
Collin Cunningham, VISTA
Collin Cunningham is an AmeriCorps VISTA serving at The Welcome to America Project. As a VISTA member, Collin is helping WTAP build organizational capacity in order to serve more refugees. Collin comes to The Welcome to America with a BA in Political Science from St. Olaf College and a Master’s of Public Policy from the University of Minnesota. Collin has lived, studied and traveled abroad and loves the opportunity for cultural exchange with members of the refugee community. Contact Collin.
Ophelia Bachini, Family Advocate
Ophelia Bachini joined WTAP in a volunteer capacity working the Clothes Closet and deliveries prior to assuming her current role of Family Advocate in October 2009. Before joining WTAP she spent 7 years as a volunteer with the Dobson Academy doing everything from fund-raising, to assisting in the classroom to operating the on-site library. While with Dobson Academy she received numerous awards including the presidential award for community service involvement. Ophelia worked for Tempe St. Lukes and Lutheran hospitals in admission and staffing which included scheduling of the nurses and support staff. She is also a Voting Inspector and supervisors at polling places for each election. Contact Ophelia.
Jack Bigus, Lead Driver
Jack Bigus is a retired UPS driver with over 30 years experience in customer service and driving in the Valley. As Lead Driver, Jack has excelled at connecting local furniture stores to the mission of WTAP in order to provide donated in-kind materials. Jack manages the logistics of driving and pick-ups as well as furniture selection for each family.
Johnny Momoh, Assistant Driver
Johnny Momoh, a former Liberian refugee, has worked for WTAP for 2 years as an Assistant Driver. Johnny enjoys working for WTAP and giving back through the organization that provided him support upon his arrival from Africa in 2008. Johnny is an enthusiastic team-member, speaking often to new groups of students and volunteers to educate them on refugees in Arizona.
Venant Vyamungu, Assistant Driver
Venant Vyamungu is a former refugee from Burundi. He holds a degree from the university in Bujumbura and has worked with refugees in many leadership roles in Arizona and abroad. Venant is an active member of the Burundi Association in Maricopa County and performs with the group’s drummers in cultural presentations across the Valley.
Alexis Niragira, Assistant Driver
Alexis Niragira is the newest member of our team, joining as an Assistant Driver. Alexis was born in Burundi and, due to war, grew up in a refugee camp in Tanzania where he lived for 13 years. In the camp he graduated from secondary school, being certified to teach elementary school French, Math, Science and other subjects. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge with children and planning activities. Alexis has been working for two years at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and attends classes at Phoenix College. His goal is to become a certified teacher here. Alexis is excited to be working with WTAP as he remembers our delivery to his family in 2008. Alexis says he was happy to meet the volunteers because, “I felt I was not alone in the USA, and I found family.”