J. Tyler Blickhan
Board Member
Tyler Blickhan is an Associate Director for Ascension Investment Management with experience in social and impact investing. At Microfinancing Partners in Africa, Tyler has utilized his professional experience with impact investing and portfolio management while serving on the Partners and Finance Committees, before serving as Board President in 2020. Tyler moved to St. Louis in 2003 to attend Saint Louis University, having grown up in Quincy, IL. Tyler and his wife Jenna have a special interest in utilizing the power of microfinance to help women and their families acquire the tools necessary to improve their health, education, and financial outcomes.
Tim Bubenik
Board Member
Tim Bubenik is an attorney with McMahon Berger, PC, where he specializes in labor and employment law. While he came to the Board simply looking for an opportunity to give back, he has found his time and service extremely rewarding as he has seen the remarkable difference Microfinancing Partners in Africa makes in the lives of so many people half a world away.
John DeGregorio
Board Member
John DeGregorio joins the Microfinancing Partners in Africa board with a degree from Georgetown University in Economics and Government and a Law degree from Washington University School of Law. John has practiced law at Medco Health Solutions (today, Express Scripts, Inc) as well Kimberly-Clark Corp. where he was responsible for commercial, regulatory and litigation matters in Europe, Africa and the Middle East for brands like Huggies®, Kleenex®, Cottonelle®, Viva®, Scott®, Depends® and Kotex®.
DeGregorio will bring his years of law practice and expertise with some of the largest brands to serve Microfinancing Partners in Africa and help our partners grow.
Fr. Brad Modde
Board Member
Fr. Brad is a priest for the Archdiocese of St. Louis and the pastor of St. Simon the Apostle parish. Since being ordained in 1997, he has served at a number of parishes as well as St. Mary’s High School. When he arrived at St. Simon parish, he noticed “the cow project” display, and learned about Microfinancing Partners in Africa. After meeting Sr. Toni and learning about how Microfinancing Partners in Africa directly changes the lives of people, he accepted her invitation to join the board of directors, connecting with “the Church spread throughout the world.”
Tapiwa Mupereki
Board Member
Meet Tapiwa Mupereki, a pharmacist and public health practitioner with extensive experience working domestically and internationally, including in Africa and Europe. Tapiwa is the Co-Founder and CEO of JewelRide, a healthcare mobility company focused on providing non-emergency medical transportation. Based in Edwardsville, IL, JewelRide operates in Southern Illinois and the greater St Louis, MO metro area with a dedicated staff of 25 employees as of 2023.
In addition to his work with JewelRide, Tapiwa is also the Co-Founder and President of T and R Philanthropies, a 501c3 organization focused on increasing access to education and public health services in disadvantaged communities in Zimbabwe and beyond.
Tapiwa was inspired to join the board of Microfinancing Partners in Africa because he admires their approach that prioritizes building sustainability in all their programs. As an African who was born and raised in Zimbabwe, Tapiwa has a deep connection to Africa and a first-hand understanding of the challenges faced by impoverished communities. He believes that Africans have great potential if given access to opportunities.
In his free time, Tapiwa enjoys reading business books, especially biographical ones that talk about ultra-successful entrepreneurs. Tapiwa’s dedication to healthcare and philanthropy, along with his extensive experience in both fields, make him an invaluable member of the Microfinancing Partners in Africa board.
Paul Mutuura
Board Member
Paul Mutuura, originally from Kenya, overcame numerous challenges when he moved to St. Louis at the age of 15. He discovered his passion for Marketing and Branding and earned a Marketing degree from the University of St. Louis Missouri. Currently, he holds the position of Director of Marketing and Branding at Bieg Plumbing, where he utilizes his decade of experience in strategy and problem-solving to assist organizations in efficiently achieving their objectives. In addition to his passion for marketing, Paul is committed to creating positive change in mental health and poverty alleviation, constantly seeking opportunities to use his expertise to make a difference. During his free time, he enjoys staying active playing sports like pickleball or volleyball and exploring new destinations.
Paul Piechowski
Board Member
Paul is a native of Chicago, IL. After completing his accounting degree from Marquette University and Masters in Finance from De Paul University, he spent the next 45 years in the financial services industry. Paul and his wife Cindy have 3 children and 6 grandchildren. He spends his free time playing golf, traveling, reading, gardening, and being with family. Paul’s reason for working with Microfinancing Partners in Africa is his passion to support the idea of eradicating extreme poverty in Africa.
Mark Schaeffer
Board Member
Recently retired from the marketing communications business, Mark brings to Microfinancing Partners in Africa hands-on experience in microfinance as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic where he worked with micro-entrepreneurs receiving loans from a Dominican microfinance bank. Mark later received his Master’s degree in International Affairs from Washington University in St. Louis where his thesis explored microfinance models in Latin American and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ryan Shortal
Board Member
Ryan Shortal works in the biotech industry as a research scientist at MilliporeSigma. From 2013-2015 he lived in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania serving as a United States Peace Corps volunteer where he taught high school biology at Kwakoko Secondary School. Ryan holds a BS in Biochemistry from the University of Missouri and an MS in Environmental Engineering from the University of Arizona where his graduate research focused on water purification and wastewater treatment. He believes that access to clean water is a basic human right, so at Microfinancing Partners in Africa he focuses his efforts on the Clean Water Program.
Mojeri Coker
Board Member
Mojeri Coker is a filmmaker whose portfolio includes international projects based in Kenya and Uganda. He is the director, and producer of the feature-length documentary film Pipe Dreams, which tells the true story of Silvester Nzuki Mwami, a 9-year-old Kenyan villager who embarked on a 20-year journey to save his village from a 50-year drought. His mission is to bring about measurable, positive change with the inspiring and informative power of storytelling, particularly in developing communities. His work has provided funds for education, women’s health, and water for thousands of villagers in Africa.
Adrien Webb
Board Member
Adrien Webb has spent the last 30 years working in the investment industry. He is currently Managing Director at Granger Management LLC. Mr. Webb graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in finance. He and his wife, Erica, were especially drawn to the “hand-up not hand-out” philosophy at MPA.
Ann Bueler
Board Member
Ann brings 40 years of business experience to her role as President & CEO of Midwest Equipment Company. Headquartered in Fenton, MO, Midwest is an ESOP-owned, award-winning distributor of industry leading commercial food service equipment providing sales & service to food service establishments across a six-state region. Her background includes corporate account sales into the telecommunications industry for a Fortune 500 technology company, VP of Sales & Marketing and Co-President of a national health science book distribution company, and VP of Sales and Co-President of a regional cleaning & restoration services company. In addition, she owned a leadership development company focused on the creation & delivery of corporate training programs, speaking engagements, seminars, and facilitation for numerous corporate, civic, and professional organizations. Beyond her corporate roles, Ann has served as an advisor & board member to privately held companies, is an ambassador, volunteer and past board member for Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis, a raving fan, volunteer and current board member for Microfinancing Partners in Africa, current board member for CORE+, an industry related network cooperative, and board member for the Midwest Equipment Company ESOP. She and her husband reside in Des Peres, Missouri. They are the proud parents of three amazing adult children, three wonderful in-law kids and seven perfect grandchildren!
Dr. Sherry Teffey
Board Member
Coming soon!
