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Our Team
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Eric Nelson, President
Eric holds degrees in biblical studies from Gordon College and a Masters of Divinity (Mdiv) from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. He has helped oversee and manage several group homes and emergency shelters for adults with developmental disabilities and has also been director of sales and marketing for a start-up business technology consulting company in Washington, D.C. Eric has been a pastor for more than 15 years in the USA, and is one of the founders of SHN.
Contact Eric[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”2102″ img_size=”285×285″ alignment=”right” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1592525291933{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_separator type=”normal” color=”#e8e8e8″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1600683586536{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]
Holly Nelson, Vice President
Holly is a special education teacher with dual degrees from Gordon College, certified in moderate to severe special needs, as well as early childhood education. In addition to the 10 years of teaching in public school systems, she has also created the educational program every year for their three adopted children who each have Down syndrome. She, with her husband Eric, is one of the founders of SHN.
Contact Holly[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”2103″ img_size=”285×285″ alignment=”right” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1592525304449{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_separator type=”normal” color=”#e8e8e8″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1599836741716{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]
Milika Phiri, Manager of Non-Education Programs
Milika graduated from Chelstone High School in Lusaka and worked at Kasisi Orphanage for one year. There, she staffed the start-up Special Education Classroom outfitted by Special Hope. After attending several training courses with Special Hope, Milika became one of Special Hope’s first full-time Zambian team members. She later earned a diploma in Secondary Teaching at Leading College of Education. Milika serves as the Program Manager for all non-education programs. She supervises our support staff, leads our Human Resources efforts, and works to create organized and efficient systems for SHN as a whole. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and energetic daughter!
Contact Milika[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”921″ img_size=”285×285″ alignment=”right” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1557779864531{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_separator type=”normal” color=”#dbdbdb” thickness=”1″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1598276574569{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]
Lauren Svymbersky, Director of Education
Lauren is an ASHA certified Speech Language Pathologist, graduating with her Bachelors Degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2011 and her Masters Degree in Speech Language Pathology from Northern Illinois University two years later. During her time at NIU, she found her passion for working with children and adults with significant language disorders. She spent two years working in Champaign, IL as the Speech Language Pathologist on the Functional and Essential Skills classrooms multi-disciplinary team. She joined Special Hope Network in November of 2015 and continues to be a valued member of the SHN team.
Contact Lauren[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”2104″ img_size=”285×285″ alignment=”right” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1592525316740{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_separator type=”normal” color=”#dbdbdb” thickness=”1″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1567693343699{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]
Dennis Kanyamuna, Head Community Care Center Manager
Dennis has been with Special Hope since 2012. He started as an Educational Specialist, and now oversees all 5 CCCs as the Head CCC Manager. Dennis loves seeing children and parents grow during their time at the CCCs. It can be challenging to work with parents who initially expect immediate results, but he says that it’s extremely rewarding to see those same parents understand progress in a new way as they learn alongside other parents who are in similar situations. Outside of work, Dennis enjoys studying and playing both football and chess.
Contact Dennis[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”1314″ img_size=”285×285″ alignment=”right” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1567693927961{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_separator type=”normal” color=”#dbdbdb” thickness=”1″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1598038877087{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]
Ben Phiri, Resource Center Manager
Ben joined Special Hope in 2012 and started as an Educational Specialist. He now serves as the Resource Center Manager, and oversees the Resource Center staff and all programming. Ben studied Business Administration and brings his attention to detail, strategic thinking, and thoughtfulness to his work with SHN. His favorite part about working with Special Hope is that he gets to work with vulnerable children, who oftentimes have been deemed irrelevant to society, and remind them that they are valued and that their life has importance and great meaning. He loves watching kids progress and develop in so many areas: academically, socially, in adaptive skills and communication, as well as in their mobility. Outside of work, Ben enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, as well as listening to music. He was born and raised in Zambia.
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Mirriam Zimba, Social Worker
Mirriam graduated from Kabulonga Girls High School in Lusaka, Zambia. She is a trained and certified Social Worker, working specifically with children’s families and medical care of our CCC kids. Her experience and studies allow her to interact with parents and caregivers in a professional, yet sensitive way. Mirriam works to train and equip parents to better care for their kids at home. She is married with three children.
Contact Mirriam[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”925″ img_size=”285×285″ alignment=”right” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1557781071234{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_separator type=”normal” color=”#dbdbdb” thickness=”1″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1600683767303{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]
Mahongo Njolomba, Social Worker
Mahongo holds a degree in Social Work from Livingstone International University of Tourism Excellence and Business Management (LIUTEBM). She serves the families at our CCCs by overseeing the health needs of their children, making home and hospital visits, and ensuring that each child is given proper care and medication. Prior to joining Special Hope, Mahongo used her certificate in Marketing to work as a Sales Representative. Her experience allows her to maintain organized systems for collecting and recording data, and caring for our families and children in a timely and compassionate manner.
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Jessica Cramer, Speech-Language Pathologist, CCC-SLP
Jessica is a Speech-Language Pathologist and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in Communication Sciences and Disorders (B.A., 2015) and Speech-Language Pathology (M.A., 2017). During her time at UNI, Jessica found her passion working with the pediatric population in the areas of Language Disorders and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Throughout multiple short-term mission experiences to Guatemala, God called Jessica to give of her talents for his work both locally and abroad. She spent her CFY year providing services as a school SLP in rural Iowa, working with low-income families, serving with ages birth to 21-years old. Jessica joined the Special Hope Network team in 2018. She is excited to see how the Lord continues to use her training to grow his kingdom, and serve his people.
Contact Jessica[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”2106″ img_size=”285×285″ add_caption=”yes” alignment=”right” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1592525372581{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_separator type=”normal” color=”#dbdbdb” thickness=”1″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1600100367321{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]
Andrea Ulrich, U.S. – Director of Finance
Andrea joined the Special Hope team as an answer to prayer! Andrea had been asking the Lord to put her accounting skills to use. Soon after these prayers, she received a call concerning SHN’s need for a skilled professional to streamline the accounting systems. In 2020, Andrea and her husband, Lou, traveled to Zambia to assist SHN with this need. Now she continues to serve Special Hope from her home in Maine. Andrea holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and an MBA from Rider University in New Jersey. She has worked in several different accounting roles and has experience serving in the nonprofit sector. She and her husband have been on several short-term mission trips and most recently spent 7.5 years in Alaska as full-time missionaries with SEND International. Andrea also uses her accounting skills to serve as Board Treasurer for First Step Pregnancy Resource Center in Bangor, Maine. Outside of work, Andrea, Lou, and their dog, Joy, enjoy spending time hiking, camping, and kayaking!
Contact Andrea[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”2301″ img_size=”full” alignment=”right” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1599837892833{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_separator type=”normal” color=”#dbdbdb” thickness=”1″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1600205659716{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]
Jessalin Elliott, U.S. – Director of Marketing & Communications
Jessalin graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelors Degree in Religious Studies. She previously worked as a Marketing and Member Education Coordinator for a Washington DC-based association and has served with various nonprofit organizations. Jessalin grew up working in her father’s dental practice where she learned the art of care through service. She enjoyed connecting patients with medical professionals they could trust. Her heart for others fuels her excitement to be part of the Special Hope team. Jessalin is enthusiastic about expanding the reach of Special Hope Network through creative fund development efforts. Jessalin lives in the Washington DC metro area with her husband, Ryan.
Contact Jessalin[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”845″ img_size=”285×285″ alignment=”right” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1554332508668{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_separator type=”normal” color=”#dbdbdb” thickness=”1″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1600683820632{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]
Laura Menenberg, U.S. – Director of Operations
Laura is a Registered Nurse and has a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from the University of Washington. She worked as a pediatric ICU nurse at Seattle Children’s Hospital before moving to Lusaka, Zambia in 2011. It was in Zambia that she found her true calling serving children with special needs. After she and her husband Ben adopted their Zambian-born son Nathaniel, who has hydrocephalus and cerebral palsy, she began to work with SHN as the Director of Health Care. Laura and her family returned to the US in 2013. They reside in Bellevue, WA along with their four sons, and plans to return to Lusaka in 2021.
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Andrew Morrissett, U.S. – Finance Support
Born and raised in Roanoke, VA, Andrew moved to Charlottesville to attend the University of Virginia, where he graduated with a degree in History in 2009. After graduating, Andrew worked with Charlottesville Abundant Life Ministries, a community development non-profit serving in a low income neighborhood. His experience in nonprofit management and advocating for vulnerable populations make him well-suited to contribute to Special Hope’s work in Zambia.
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