Staff
Dr. Brian Fikkert
Founder & CEO
Dr. Brian Fikkert is a Professor of Economics and Community Development and the founder and Executive Director of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College. Dr. Fikkert earned a Ph.D. in economics from Yale University, specializing in international economics and economic development. He has been a consultant to the World Bank and is the author of numerous articles in both academic and popular journals. Prior to coming to Covenant College, he was a professor at the University of Maryland—College Park and a research fellow at the Center for Institutional Reform and the Informal Sector.
Amy Kuenzel
Training Administrator
Amy Kuenzel has a BA in Corporate Communications from the College of Charleston. Her experience includes accounting as a consultant and in small business development, international shipping in the area of expediting and validation, website development, customer service and a home-based religious products supply business, founded and operated during the formative years as a stay-at-home parent.
Benjamin Thomas
Director of Marketing and Communications
Benjamin Thomas is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Chalmers Center For Economic Development. Ben has a B.A. in Literature from Covenant College and a M.A. in History and Social Thought from New York University where he concentrated on Postcolonialism in Africa culminating in his thesis on French immigration policies and the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. He also completed graduate work in Human Rights & Transitional Justice at Columbia University’s SIPA Program. Over the past decade, Ben has worked at Endeavor Global, a leading international economic development organization supporting high- impact entrepreneurs in emerging markets; in marketing and communications for a multi-strategy quantitative investment fund; and as a creative director, writer, and marketing enthusiast across the following fields: advertising and branding, economic development, human rights, investment and finance, and nonprofit management. For fun, Ben enjoys writing short stories, traveling, and spreading social justice.
Bernie Alimonti
Executive Assistant to Dr. Brian Fikkert
Bernie Alimonti is the Executive Assistant to Dr. Brian Fikkert at the Chalmers Center. Mr. Alimonti has a combination of non-profit and corporate experience. Prior to joining the Chalmers Center, he was the marketing manager for an international, short-term mission agency in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Alimonti held field and headquarter positions in sales, marketing, and product development for Digital Equipment Corporation, and for a start-up technology company. In recognition of his long-term effort and contribution, he received a number of corporate awards, including a Marketing Excellence Award, and a Marketing Achievement Award. Bernie has a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Lance Wescher
U.S. Economic Development Specialist
Dr. Lance Wescher is an Assistant Professor of Economics and the Chairman of the Department of Economics and Community Development at Covenant College. He also serves as the U.S. Economic Development Specialist and is the Director of the IDA Pilot Program for the Chalmers Center for Economic and Community Development at Covenant College. Dr. Wescher earned his B.A. in Economics with a minor in Theology from Wheaton College and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Notre Dame. Lance has worked in banking with Wells Fargo and Company and consulting with Hewitt Associates. His areas of research include Labor Economics, Health Economics, Pensions and Finance. Prior to coming to Covenant College he taught Economics at Wheaton College.
Dr. Russell Mask
International Microenterprise Technical Advisor
Dr. Russell Mask is an Associate Professor of Community Development at Covenant College. He also serves as the International Microenterprise Technical Advisor for the Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College. Dr. Mask earned a B.A. from Wheaton College, an M.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his Ph.D. in Development from the Land Tenure Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has extensive experience in village-level development practice and research in both Asia and Africa. Dr. Mask is the co-author of “Christian Microenterprise Development: An Introduction”, with David Bussau of Maranatha Trust.
Gregg Burgess
ASSET Program Director
Gregg has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Southern Methodist University and a Masters Degree in International Business from the University of San Diego. He has worked for the past ten years in business development and anti-human trafficking in Cambodia. Prior to this, Gregg worked in the pharmaceutical and other high-tech industries in the U.S. Gregg and his wife, Denise, have three children.
Jerilyn Sanders
Director of ADDC and Work & Savings Network
Jerilyn Sanders is the Director of Asset Driven Development of Chattanooga, a pilot project to help churches and ministries to build the wealth of poor people through matched savings. Jerilyn has worked in a variety of educational and youth development programs in the U.S., with an emphasis on urban communities. She has spent nearly a decade in Chattanooga working to increase educational access and opportunities for low-income families. Jerilyn has a B.A. in Psychology from Biola University and an Ed.M. in Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her interests include reading, creative writing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Duane, have two children.
John Mark Bowers
Curriculum Specialist
John Mark Bowers is the Curriculum Project Manager at the Chalmers Center for Economic Development where he manages the development, translation, and pilot-test of an international microfinance with education curriculum entitled Training Low-Income People in Business, Home, and Health. He also serves as an Adjunct Instructor at Covenant College/Quest. John Mark has a B.A. in Psychology from Bryan College. He completed an M.A. in Intercultural Studies through Wheaton College while teaching Oral English and American Literature at Quy Nhon University of Pedagogy in Quy Nhon, Vietnam. John Mark’s strongest interests include training and curriculum, short story/oral narrative, foreign language, and intercultural reconciliation.
Joy Stanton
Finance Officer
Joy Stanton is the Finance Officer for the Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College. Mrs. Stanton has a B.A. in Psychology from Covenant College. Previously, she was the Project Manager for Neathawk Dubuque & Packett, a marketing / advertising / public relations agency located in Chattanooga, TN.
Katie Jo Ramsey
Communications Assistant
Katie Jo Ramsey is the Communications Assistant for the Chalmers Center for Economic Development, where she fosters the Prayer Support Network, Global Leadership Network, and the Helping Without Hurting Network. Katie Jo has a B.A. in Community Development from Covenant College, where she focused on Domestic Economic Development. Katie Jo is passionate about Asset-Based Community Development principles and enjoys championing their use in practical ways in the local church.
Marco Perez
Operations Manager, ADDC and Work & Savings Network
Marco Perez was born and raised in Costa Rica. He served in Costa Rica for 11 years as the Director of Portantorchas Bible School, a member of Torchbearers of the Capernwray Missionary Fellowship. He has also served as a business consultant helping companies co-locate to Costa Rica, and even owned his own ornamental fish store. Marco has a B.S. from Columbia International University, an M.A. from Crown College and an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management. He moved to Chattanooga in the summer of 2011 with his wife and three daughters.
Sam Moore
Director of Training
Sam has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and a M.A. in Intercultural Studies with an emphasis in International Development from Fuller Seminary. He served in Guatemala for five years, assisting in small-scale rural development projects. For the last five years, Sam served with Lifewater International, working in the areas of program management, curriculum design, training, and monitoring and evaluation. He is married to Nickole and has two children.
Smita Donthamsetty
Senior Microfinance Advisor
Smita Donthamsetty is currently Senior Microfinance Advisor and works in the Dominican Republic. She researches and trains church leaders and members in economic development strategies that can be implemented by local churches. Previously, Ms. Donthamsetty served as the Program Officer for the Chalmers Center in the head office at Lookout Mountain where her primary roles were creating systems for Chalmers’ efforts to develop prototypes of church-centered, economic development programs and producing training materials for use by church-centered ministries. Ms. Donthamsetty earned a B.A. in Sociology from Davidson College, and an MA in International and Intercultural Management from the School for International Training. Smita’s passions include Jesus, His word, her family, the local church, diverse cultures, being in community with the economically impoverished, and community development. She is married to Johel Adames.
Steve Corbett
Community Development Specialist
Steve Corbett is an Assistant Professor of Community Development at Covenant College and serves as a Community Development Specialist for the Chalmers Center. Previously, Mr. Corbett served as Director of Field Operations and Training for the Chalmers Center. Prior to coming to Covenant College, Steve worked for Food for the Hungry International (FHI) as the Regional Director for Central and South America for two years. Before assuming these responsibilities, he served as the Director of Staff Training for nine years. In this capacity, he participated in the orientation and training of 1500 staff working in 25 countries. Mr. Corbett has a B.A. from Covenant College and a M.Ed. in Adult Education from the University of Georgia.
Tom LePage
Senior Director of Operations
Mr. LePage has a B.S. in Economics from Montana State University and a Masters Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Regent College. Mr. LePage has served in International Relief and Development in Haiti and across Africa for 17 years. He has held service, management or board positions progressing from the village to the continental level. Prior to coming to the Chalmers Center, Mr. LePage served 11 years as the Africa Area Director for World Concern. He is married and has three children.
Will Kendall
ASSET Technical Advisor
Will Kendall is the ASSET Technical Advisor at the Chalmers Center for Economic Development. He and his wife Margaret are based in Lomé, Togo where he focuses on the technical training and support of ASSET Mobile Training Centers throughout West Africa. Will graduated in 2009 from Covenant College where he studied international community development and economics. As a part of his studies he conducted research on church-based savings groups in rural Rwanda. Will's interests include international development, microfinance, and technology. When not working, Will enjoys reading, pop culture, traveling, the great outdoors, and spending time with his wife.
