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How Thrive Supports a Sama Bajau Mom and Feeds Her Kids ?

By larkJuly 8, 2025No Comments

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Thrive is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Bangladesh Registered Trust, and Philippines NGO, with an international board and advisory council.

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Take Action
Our Impact
- Why Bangladesh & the Philippines
- Impact of School Meals
About Us
Where We Work
Stay Connected

Sue Wildish is the CEO of The Lunchbox Fund and brings over three decades of private‑sector and nonprofit leadership to school‑meal programs. She has built systems that deliver daily meals to hundreds of thousands of children across South Africa, experience that closely aligns with Thrive’s mission. Her background in global marketing, organizational development, and executive coaching equips her with the strategic and operational insight that helps Thrive strengthen and scale its own programs so more children can learn without the barrier of hunger.

Rayhnuma Ahmed is a product and operations leader with over a decade of experience building impactful healthtech and digital health solutions. Alongside her board work, Rayhnuma serves as Fractional Head of Product at Moneta Health and runs Bushwick Labs, advising early-stage startups on product strategy and GTM execution. Her background includes key leadership roles at Arrakis, Medidata Solutions, SHYFT Analytics, and Twine Health.

Rayhnuma holds a BA from Harvard University, where her passion for grassroots impact took root—including leading a Davis Projects for Peace clean water initiative in Bangladesh. Blending deep analytical rigor with genuine empathy, she is dedicated to building scalable solutions that help communities and teams truly flourish.

Rowena is the Founder of Meaningful Experiences, LLC, where she designs purpose-driven programs that harness the power of hospitality and tourism to build true workplace connection and cultural understanding. With over 20 years of leadership across economic development and strategic partnerships—including roles with I LOVE NY, Long Island City Partnership, Choose New Jersey, and the Greater Houston Partnership—Rowena brings a wealth of expertise to her work. She holds a BA from the University at Buffalo and an MBA from Texas A&M University.

Grounded in her Filipino and Chinese heritage, Rowena brings a warm, deeply personal appreciation for culture and community to everything she does. She lives with her husband, Raj, and their two sons, whose family story was lovingly completed through adoption.

Louise has built her career in the development sector, supporting grants, operations, and programs across nonprofit and donor-funded initiatives. Through her work, she has seen firsthand how strong partnerships and well-supported programs can make a meaningful difference in communities.

At Thrive, she continues to build on that experience while staying connected to communities and the people the organization serves. She looks forward to continuing to learn, grow, and find meaning in the journey.

Riva is a development and operations professional who believes some of the best work happens somewhere between the field and the spreadsheet.

Her experience spans community and livelihood development, stakeholder engagement, data, and nonprofit operations, but what keeps her going is seeing programs turn into real opportunities for people and communities.

She’s passionate about listening, connecting the dots, and turning plans into impact that reaches where it matters most.

Ana holds an AB Communication degree from the University of San Agustin – Iloilo and has spent five years working in the humanitarian sector as a filmmaker and Communications Specialist.

Passionate about community-centered storytelling, Ana puts a spotlight on the lived experiences of community leaders, children, and grassroots civic leaders through strategic and truthful narratives.

Nicole Alexis Ilagan is a Southeast Asian Studies graduate from De La Salle University – Manila with experience in nonprofit fundraising and development research.

She previously worked as a Development Associate at Smarter Good, supporting international nonprofit organizations through donor research, prospect development, and fundraising strategy.

Outside of work, she enjoys volunteering, community engagement, and exploring opportunities that create meaningful social impact.

Kuya Albert visited Dawahon and followed me around with his camera. He’s taken photos over 25 years for many companies. But his first loves are landscapes and seascapes like my island home.

Before anything, Yeda is a storyteller.

Yeda is an illustrator who loves to play with textures and bright colors to bring her stories to life. And never without the color yellow. Everything she does is in the hopes of being able to shape her art into the stories she wants to share

Ate Charis works at Thrive. Ate Charis and Ate Eli spent time on Dawahon listening to the stories of kids like me, so they could share all the meaningful things that make our island home unique.

Ate Eli works at Thrive. Ate Eli and Ate Charis spent time on Dawahon listening to the stories of kids like me, so they could share all the meaningful things that make our island home unique.

Sarah is a results driven professional known for combining strategic thinking with a strong commitment to service and relationship building. In addition to her corporate experience, she brings a meaningful background in the nonprofit sector, including serving on nonprofit boards and supporting mission driven organizations. These experiences have shaped her passion for service and her belief in creating impact beyond the workplace.

Sarah is recognized for her ability to quickly master new systems, adapt to evolving roles, and deliver thoughtful, human centric solutions. She values collaboration and building genuine connections. She is especially energized by opportunities that allow her to step outside of a traditional corporate environment and contribute to causes and communities she cares deeply about.

Outside of her professional work, Sarah is a proud mother of 4, based in Illinois in the US. She also holds a special connection to the Philippines through family, which has further deepened her appreciation for diverse cultures and the global community.

Jack is a freshman at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.

Benedicta “Dick” Du‑Baladad is a multi‑awarded accountant‑lawyer and Founding Partner, Chair, and CEO of Du‑Baladad and Associates. Consistently ranked among the Philippines’ top lawyers, she is a leading advocate for private‑sector action against child malnutrition, having spearheaded the Management Association of the Philippines’ Campaign Against Malnutrition and Child Stunting (CAMACS).

Lark is a graphic and multimedia artist from Metro Manila. Her skills in information design have developed through her advocacy work for food security and farmer’s welfare in the Philippines.

Moved by a desire to spread awareness about these pressing issues to the general public, Lark is thrilled to be lending her skills to Thrive’s mission to feed hungry school children.

Serwar is a Senior Innovation Director for Kaiser Permanente Northern California with a background in performance improvement, lean management systems, healthcare operations and business strategy. He holds an MBA from San Francisco State University and a BS degree in Biochemistry from UC Davis. He and his wife Kris have 2 teenage daughters, one a junior in high school and the other, a freshman at UC Santa Cruz. Both Serwar’s parents are from Bangladesh and he has a deep connection to his Bengali ancestry. Serwar enjoys traveling around the world with his family, woodworking and the outdoors.

Third is a dynamic marketing and communications professional passionate about connecting brands and missions with their audiences, bringing a creative and results-driven approach to every project.

With a background spanning non-profit development, F&B marketing, and multimedia creation, Third excels in crafting impactful strategies. Previously Marketing and Development Officer at ARK, he significantly boosted audience engagement and secured major partnerships and grants. He also led marketing campaigns for the Adobo Group and crafted visuals and communications for international brands at Madhouse Mnl. Third studied Development Communication in University of the Philippines.

Shakil is a dedicated team member who has been with Thrive for three years. A proud graduate, he is passionate about serving underprivileged communities and finds purpose in helping those in need. His compassion and commitment continue to inspire those around him.

Jill Miranda Tan brings over 20 years of leadership and expertise in strategic planning, people management, and marketing to Thrive Philippines’ advisory board. With prior roles in sales and marketing in the hospitality industry Jill’s career demonstrates her skill in relationship building, strategy execution, and team leadership.

Pax Doromal is President and CEO of Kapwa Agroforestry Corporation, leading ventures for sustainable agriculture and forest management. He also serves as a Board Trustee for the Haribon Foundation, supporting biodiversity conservation in the Philippines. Pax also spearheaded the development and implementation of the Kusina ng Kalinga feeding program by Gawad Kalinga. Thrive is honored to have Pax lend his extensive expertise and passion for sustainability to advance delivering healthy meals to undernourished schoolchildren everyday.

Roberto de Ocampo, OBE is one of the Philippines’ most esteemed public servants, known for his leadership as Secretary of Finance and CEO of the Development Bank of the Philippines. Now retired as Chairman and CEO of Philippine Veterans Bank, he continues to champion education and supports Thrive’s mission to ensure children learn without the barrier of hunger.

Julia has known about Thrive since childhood through the Gabel family. She joined the Thrive Youth Council because “I am very grateful for the wonderful life that I have been given, and I know for many around the world this is not the same.” She loves listening to music, hanging out with friends, and sushi.

Maddy first heard about Thrive through the Gabel family and joined the Thrive Youth Council because “I love the feeling of helping others, especially the ones who are less fortunate.” She enjoys playing lacrosse, the violin, and listening to music. Her favorite food is pasta.

Lily was introduced to Thrive by her friends at school and joined the Thrive Youth Council “to help the kids get the food they need.” She enjoys volleyball, paddle boarding, and sushi.

Kassiani joined the Thrive Youth Council after being invited to the first meeting by Mrs. Harris. “It breaks my heart that there are people in the world that can’t find food for themselves. It shouldn’t be the way it is.” She loves swimming, tennis, reading, board games, and traveling—and she loves all food!

Alice was introduced to Thrive through her mother, a co-founder of the organization. She has visited schools in Bangladesh and witnessed Thrive’s impact firsthand. “I think it’s really important to help people who suffer with food insecurity and aren’t privileged with the food we eat every day.” She enjoys music, golf, track, volleyball, skiing, and running, and her favorite food is raspberries.

Elizabeth learned about Thrive through friends and joined the Thrive Youth Council because “I think it’s important to provide people in need with as much help as possible. Food and education is something so many people take for granted.” She loves field hockey, skiing, and spending time with her dogs, and her favorite food is pasta.

Morgan was introduced to Thrive by a friend and joined the Thrive Youth Council because “it breaks my heart to see children around the world worrying about what their next meal is.” He enjoys running, reading, and trying food from around the world.

Introduced to Thrive through her family, Daphne joined the Thrive Youth Council because “I think it’s a really important and good cause that should be supported and I hope to make an impact in it.” She loves playing volleyball and basketball, and her favorite food is hot dogs.

Throop first learned about Thrive through an elementary school presentation. He joined the Thrive Youth Council because “it is a great opportunity to learn about real-world teamwork and give help to people trapped in poverty.” He enjoys football, running, and a good fried chicken sandwich.

Introduced to Thrive through his school and friends, Nadeem joined the Thrive Youth Council because “seeing people worse off than me struggle hurts and I wanted to do whatever I could to help them.” He enjoys swimming and his favorite food is mashed potatoes.

Dr. Ma. Cleofas, brings over 20 years of experience in environmental engineering, covering areas such as pollution control, hazardous waste management, water systems, and environmental compliance. She is a highly recognized figure in the Philippines for her contributions to sustainable development and environmental systems management.

Tim served as national consultant on health systems strengthening, social protection for vulnerable subpopulations in the Philippines through the Asian Development Bank, and have introduced clinical cancer nutrition management for Filipino pediatric cases through the International Initiatives for Pediatrics & Nutrition. As a Nutritionist-Dietitian and an advocate for pediatric nutrition programs, supporting optimal growth and development of vulnerable children through school meal provisions would be strategic, cost-effective

Charis is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, and start-up operations. She works with the Partnerships Team where she supports global fundraising. Previously, as the Strategic Partnerships Director at International Care Ministries, she managed multi-million dollar portfolios of private and public institutional funders. She also has extensive experience in marketing and advertising, as well as start-up operations, especially in service product development and human capital. Charis holds a BA in Film and Audio-Visual Communication from the University of the Philippines and an Executive MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology.

Dyan is an international development adviser to community-based organizations, international agencies, and diplomatic missions.

Griffin is a seasoned financial professional with a diverse background spanning corporate finance, accounting management, and consulting. Currently serving as Head of Finance at Whitehead Oil Company, he excels in stewarding financial resources to meet strategic initiatives. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his growing family, including his wife Emily, their two sons, and their beloved dog Milo.

Sari radiates positivity as a social media consultant from the sunny Philippines! With a heart full of affection for children, she’s lent her time to volunteering for them both locally and internationally.

Motivated by a desire to make a meaningful impact, Sari channels her expertise in social media, including her flair for audio and video editing, to empower communities. It is her aspiration to seamlessly blend her creative passion with her dedication to service, and with Thrive, she’s taking meaningful steps toward making that a reality.

Stacey Mihaly is a seasoned development and marketing leader who has a long career history of driving growth for global, national, regional and local nonprofits. Her expertise spans the areas of strategic planning, fundraising planning and execution, communications, cause marketing, and the building of development programs and teams.

Throughout her career, Stacey has always understood that the path to growth for any nonprofit is clear, emotive, and honest communications, as well as the building and sustaining of donor relationships at all levels of support. She is driven by the imperative to help people make giving decisions that satisfy their desire to make the world a better place.

Stacey is delighted to be a member of Thrive’s Advisory Council and to lend her expertise wherever it might be most useful.

Eugene B Mihaly (Gene) taught international business at the business schools of UC Berkeley and Dartmouth College (Tuck School). He currently consults on non-profit management, teaches in a lifelong learning program and serves on a number of boards and other bodies, most notably the Jamestown RI library of which he is chair. He has written and spoken extensively on international economic affairs. In government, he served as head of East Asia programs of the Peace Corps and as director of the large Peace Corps program in Tanzania. He also acted as a policy planner in the Agency for International Development (AID).

Eli transitioned her career from corporate to development work in 2017 inspired by her relief operations trip during typhoon Haiyan. She is passionate about food security, sustainability and community engagement. Eli is based in Manila, Philippines with her dog Fuji.

Drawing on experience across a wide variety of businesses and industries, John specializes in guiding organizations to a culture of growth through continuous innovation. At IBM, he built a digital business consulting program and role within cloud technical sales and professional services. Before IBM, John led product management in a range of companies, from startups like Chemdex/Ventro to large companies like Claris/Apple and Charles Schwab. John believes that tackling big challenges takes persistent, iterative learning towards a compelling long-term vision and that transforming communities starts with the health and education of children. John received his MBA at San Francisco State University and his BA in Biology at Colgate University.

Sara LaTrielle has worked in program management, organizational leadership, and improvement in a variety of donor-funded organizations throughout Asia, Africa, and the United States, including PSI (Population Services International), CDC (Center for Disease Control), and icddr,b (International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh) focusing on global health and social marketing projects. Sara has extended her project management to academic institutions over the last five years. She oversees a growing global public health research project portfolio with Cornell University. Sara received her MBA at the University of Montana and her BA in Anthropology and Asian Studies at the University of Montana and currently resides in Missoula, Montana.

Thrive US Bank Account

Bank: Union Bank & Trust

Address: PO Box 82535 Lincoln, NE 68501 USA

Account Name: Thrive

Account #: 602316962

Routing #: 104910795

Swift Code: UNTUUS42

Thrive Bangladesh Bank Account

Bank: EBL Bank

Address: Gulshan Branch 100, Gulshan Avenue, Dhaka‐1212,

Account Name: Thrive Bangladesh

Account #: 1041060420044

Routing #: 095261720

Swift Code: ebldbddh011

Priscilla moved to Dhaka in 2012. Her A-ha! moment? It came unexpectedly when she and her friends felt genuine joy at seeing the impact made by giving a banana to a hungry child. Priscilla feels crazy lucky that Thrive took root; she can’t imagine a better way to spend her time than by helping Thrive thrive. Having worked in the development sector for more than 25 years, Priscilla visits Bangladesh and the Philippines and keeps an ear out for others in need of food. When not handing out bananas, you’ll catch her hiking with her family of six. Make her day: Ask how you can join Thrive. Get in touch with Priscilla!

Kasey has always been passionate about supporting women and children in need. After having three little boys of her own, she became well-versed in the hunger needs of children, and joined the team helping with donor engagement. She currently lives in Michigan with her husband and sons.

Janelle was born and raised in the Philippines, a Typhoon Haiyan survivor, and a volunteer worker since 2009. She volunteers for different socio-civic organizations and is passionate about helping, especially those hit by typhoons. She lives with her family and five dogs! Janelle loves traveling and riding a motorcycle too!

Emma has enjoyed a career in Advertising for the past decade but also does freelance graphic design for projects and organizations that she is passionate about, including THRIVE. She lives with her husband and two boys in Michigan. They share a love of the great outdoors and enjoy camping, biking, hiking and traveling.

Kathy is a marketing entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience developing and executing marketing and advertising campaigns. Her experience includes blue-chip corporate product launches and helping small business owners plan and execute custom, strategic marketing plans. Kathy brings experience in digital marketing, social media, brand strategy, content development, and integrated branded experiences. Kathy and her family live in Michigan where they enjoy traveling, skiing, biking, running, and being active together as a family! *

Sharmin Akhi “Akhi” was born and raised in Bangladesh. Akhi received a Master’s in Computer Science at Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka.Akhi manages Thrive, Bangladesh’s operations and donor support. She works with Direct Fresh to create nutritional menus and to ensure the meals are delivered without fail.Akhi has always had the intention to help needy people towards the betterment of the world.

Although she grew up and completed her post graduate studies in Dress Designing in India, Archana has been living in Dhaka with her family for almost 30 years. She originally moved to Dhaka to work with a major apparel company before becoming a brand manager for several multinationals for few years. Eventually, she branched off as an entrepreneur in the same field. In 2017, she and her family moved to New Delhi, but she still goes back to her home in Bangladesh, where her business is located. “Thrive is a perfect fit not just for my schedule but also in its founding, I can see exactly where my contributions go and the impact that they have. I love that it was founded by mothers who wanted to help children have access to nutrition everyday, and that doing something that’s so small for me can be so big for the kids on the receiving end. Having worked in Bangladesh’s primary industry for so many years I know just how impactful access to meals are for these children.”

Farhan is an entrepreneur & professional with a passion for tech startups & socially responsible businesses. With a decade of experience working in Bangladesh, his key areas of focus are in business strategy, fundraising & management consulting, and possesses a keen understanding of innovative youth-centric marketing at scale. Farhan inherited a life-long enthusiasm for philanthropy from his parents & grandparents who have been ardent supporters of various causes particularly with regard to children’s issues such as education, nutrition & healthcare. In his personal time, he enjoys martial arts and useless trivia. He graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine with a degree in Government & Legal Studies specialized in International Relations with a minor in Economics.

Zulfikar is a Bangladeshi national and a true entrepreneur at heart. He is the Managing Director of Ezzy Group, which is a group of companies spread across several industries. He is also the Honorary Consul of Guatemala in Bangladesh. Besides being an entrepreneurial spirit, he has always been passionate about giving back to the society and supporting everyone around him. For Zulfikar, joining Thrive is a means to direct this passion into creating the most positive impact possible. On a typical day, you will find Zulfikar at one of the three places: at work, at the gym, or at home with his family.

Rose is a public health professional specializing in water, sanitation, and hygiene promotion. She received her master of public health degree in environment and health from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Earlier, she worked for USAID in the Bureau for Global Health and also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in The Gambia, West Africa. While living in Bangladesh for two years, Rose worked for Population Services & Training Center (a local NGO) as a technical adviser for a project focusing on improving environmental health in poor urban communities. This Raleigh, North Carolina, native and her family have since left Bangladesh for Morocco. Rose is an outdoor enthusiast and loves exploring the wonders of the world with her husband and three children.

Shelley is a repeat entrepreneur, strategist and digital marketer experienced in Consumer Goods & Services. She’s spent her career developing products and customer experiences that drive revenue for Fortune 500 clients in the cannabis, retail, communications and media industries. From taking Bravo The Real Housewives on tour across the U.S. to developing employee experiences with McKinsey, Shelley is passionate about solving problems with talented teams. Shelley recently joined Accenture on the Products team in the Atlanta office.

Dana graduated from James Madison College at Michigan State University. She has a background in non profit fundraising in the areas of politics, health research and education, and higher education. She spent nine years living in Australia and Brazil with her husband and son. While in Brazil, she volunteered in a orphanage close to her home, where she snuggled babies and worked with toddlers to develop fine motor skills. Today, she is a photographer living in Michigan.

Louie, a former federal prosecutor and experienced trial lawyer, is a partner at the international law firm Jones Day. Louie regularly counsels Fortune 500 companies and executives facing government investigations and high-stakes civil litigation. From 2012 to 2013, Louie served as the Resident Legal Advisor to the U.S. Embassy in Bangladesh, where he trained lawyers, judges, and investigators on advanced trial skills, anti-money laundering, and the detection and prosecution of terrorist financing. Louie graduated from John Carroll University and obtained his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. Today, Louie lives in Michigan with his wife and three daughters. He enjoys golf and basketball, and loves taking adventurous trips across the globe with his family.

Leni is a professional photographer and volunteered with Thrive since she moved to Dhaka in 2015. Though she currently lives in London, she is still involved with Thrive and tries to get back to Dhaka whenever possible.

Joe is the Executive Director of PAWS in Atlanta. Previously, he served as the Executive Director of Second Helpings Atlanta. Second Helpings Atlanta is a non-profit food rescue organization whose mission is to reduce hunger and food waste in the metropolitan Atlanta area by rescuing surplus food and delivering it to those in need. Prior to joining Second Helpings Atlanta in May 2015, Joe was the Vice President of Product Marketing at PGi, the Chief Marketing Officer at Enterprise Information Management and spent 30 years at IBM before he retired in November 2010.

With over two decades of experience across multiple continents, also a citizen of the UK and Bangladesh. Mishal has extensive investments in agrotech, fintech, digital marketing & PR, as well as renewable energy. This includes a stake holding in Business Research International (BRIC) a global investment company with large holdings in Renata Pharmaceuticals, one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers in Bangladesh. A self-made entrepreneur at age 42, his diversified investment portfolio features numerous businesses, each successful in its own right.

Monica was born in the Philippines, raised in Northern Virginia, and spent many years in Maui before returning to the Philippines in 2017. A George Washington University graduate in Exercise and Sports Science, she has worked across hospitality, health care, real estate, CSR, and sustainability. She loves traveling, golfing, and spending time with her husband and three children, and is passionate about helping others transform their lives.

Lisa Skylar is the CEO of Econ One, guiding the firm’s strategy and growth in the U.S. and India while strengthening its practice groups. A founding team member, she has helped shape Econ One’s expansion across practice areas, experts, and geographies. Feeding people has long been her passion—she co‑founded a weekly community meal in Los Angeles focused on cooking and sharing food you’d proudly serve your own family, a tradition she sustained for more than 20 years. Outside work, Lisa loves time with her husband, adult daughters, and teenage grandkids, and enjoys hiking, reading, traveling, and gathering with friends.

Priscilla moved to Dhaka in 2012. Her A-ha! moment? It came unexpectedly when she and her friends felt genuine joy at seeing the impact made by giving a banana to a hungry child. Priscilla feels crazy lucky that Thrive took root; she can’t imagine a better way to spend her time than by helping Thrive thrive. Having worked in the development sector for more than 25 years, Priscilla visits Bangladesh and the Philippines and keeps an ear out for others in need of food. When not handing out bananas, you’ll catch her hiking with her family of six. Make her day: Ask how you can join Thrive. Get in touch with Priscilla!

Cristina Imperial Carl, a Yale graduate, built her career in hospitality and now serves as CEO of Worldwide Internships Philippines. She helps university students and young graduates gain international experience through professional internships and life‑changing opportunities abroad. Cristina partners with purpose‑driven groups like “Give Life” to offer support and scholarships to underprivileged students, and she devotes much of her time to guiding young people in their pursuit of global training, travel, and career growth.

Debbie is a communications consultant with more than 25 years of experience helping companies with media relations, corporate positioning, and community relations. She began her career at a Los Angeles-based public relations agency, headed communications at companies including PowerBar and Wesabe, and served as a consultant for numerous start-ups and established corporations. She has volunteered and provided strategic counsel for nonprofits focused on literacy, gender equality, and education. She is a board member of the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado and Durango PlayFest. A recent Colorado transplant, Debbie and her husband enjoy hiking, paddle boarding, and trying to keep up with their twin boys on the ski slopes.

Kanwal has an undergraduate degree in physics and a postgrad in computer science. She’s lived in Dhaka for the last 17 years with her husband and two sons. A wearer of many hats, she’s worked in banking, as the registrar of American International School of Dhaka and, most recently, as an entrepreneur.

Amna is a retired school teacher and has been living in Bangladesh for the past 33 years. She was born in India, a descendant from the ancient Rajput Suryavanshi warrior Bargujar clan.

Jack is a senior trial attorney and litigator at Taft Law firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He specializes in high-stakes litigation and regulatory compliance matters across a broad array of sectors.When not at the office, he spends his time cheering on his three children and going on long walks with his wife, Missy.

Arsalan is a Bangladeshi national. He attended Shrewsbury School in the UK followed by an undergraduate degree at University College London in construction management.

Vance received his bachelor’s in Economics from California State University then Graduate work at San Diego State University in Labor Economics. He served in regional and global leadership roles with Nike and Thermo Fisher Scientific in the areas of Supply Chain, Transportation/Logistics, and Sourcing. During that time living and working in the USA, Europe, China and most recently Singapore and Thailand. Vance also served on the Graduate School Advisory Board at Northeastern University and participated in their Mentoring Program. While at Nike, he co-founded their Hispanic Caucus and was a founding member of Nike’s Summer Internship Program focused on minority students.

Sadia lives in Bangladesh. Sadia was born and raised in India. She married a banker and moved about the Far East before coming back to Bangladesh. Sadia operates a beauty business and has been writing a beauty-related column for Dhaka’s Daily Star newspaper for over a decade.

Rebecca is a global public health professional specializing in health communication and behavior change. She worked for Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs and has a master of public health degree in community and behavioral health. This active Rotarian and her 16-year-old son have lived in Bangladesh from 2012-15. Rebecca is originally from Rock Island, Illinois – home of The Blues Brothers! She was a Peace Corps volunteer in Madagascar and has lived and worked in Tanzania, Indonesia, and Turkey.

Gina received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from John Carroll University and her master’s degree in Special Education (Learning Disabilities) from Michigan State University. She is also a mother to three daughters and wife to Louie, and together their family has become deeply invested in Thrive’s mission. Whether through advocacy, or championing the power of daily school meals, Gina brings heart, consistency, and a shared sense of purpose to ensuring children can learn, grow, and dream without the barrier of hunger.