MPA Board of Directors
J. Tyler Blickhan
Tyler Blickhan is an Associate Director for Ascension Investment Management with experience in social and impact investing. At MPA, 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
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 MPA makes in the lives of so many people half a world away.
Julie Shearburn
Christina Anderson
Toni Temporiti, CPPS
Antoinette “Toni” Temporiti was born and raised on The Hill in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1975, she joined the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood in O’Fallon.
In 2003, Sr. Toni Temporiti took a sabbatical, camping overland over 8 months from Cairo to Cape Town to Africa. On this trip, Sr. Toni met local women who asked where would they get food for their families; would their children be able to go to school; and what if they or their children got sick?
Upon her return to St. Louis, while eating at a restaurant in Clayton, Sr. Toni realized that for the cost of her lunch, a woman in Africa could get a small loan (microfinancing) to help her business, and have an answer to those questions.
In November 2006, Sr. Toni attended a microcredit summit in Nova Scotia and met Ingrid Munro, founder of Jamii Bora Trust, and Mohammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank, both of whom filled her with ideas. With the help of friends and colleagues, MicroFinancing Partners in Africa was founded and received 501c3 certification in December 2006.
Dick Arnoldy
Dick is retired from St. Louis-based Arco Construction, which he co-founded in 1992. ARCO upholds his core values of fairness and ethics. Crediting his success to following these values, Dick feels fortunate to have had such an enjoyable career. Helping young associates develop and achieve both professional and financial success has been Dick’s most gratifying achievement. Dick now devotes himself to various charitable organizations, especially MicroFinancing Partners in Africa.
Ryan Brennell
Ryan is the co-founder and CEO at Gladitood, a fundraising software company, where he spends his days helping nonprofits raise more money and reach more donors online. He’s passionate about MPA’s work using microfinancing to provide a hand up.
Julie Gundlach
In her capacity as Development Coordinator, Julie holds the leadership of the Gala Committee and works to develop new relationships of possible partners from her current and prospective contacts.
Julie has been involved with MPA since 2012, when she traveled to Africa with us and fell in love with our partners. She has worked in the past in sales, hospitality, and education.
Linda Hall
As the Director of the Tiffany & Company – St. Louis store located in Plaza Frontenac, St. Louis’ premier retail shopping mall, Linda has been serving on the board with an interest in the challenges and potential of the beautiful people of Africa and how microfinance can aid their communities. Along with her husband Ed Hall, Linda currently lives in University City.
Fr. Brad Modde
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 MPA. After meeting Sr. Toni and learning about how MPA directly changes the lives of people, he accepted her invitation to join the board of directors, connecting with “the Church spread throughout the world.”
Charise Thomas
Charise was previously an office manager for MPA after a career in finance/ accounting for 20+ years. She holds a bachelor of arts degree from Fontbonne University in Organizational Management – Business and a certificate from Washington University’s, University College in Leadership and Development. She is an avid reader and the coach and player of 2 softball teams.
Sherry Teefey, M.D.
Kristi Vrtiska
As a Registered Nurse and Chief Clinical Officer for Kindred Hospital – St. Louis – Central West End, Kristi has been involved with MPA since 2019 with a special interest in aiding the Safe Birth Program. In conjunction to her role on the board, she also serves on the Partner’s Committee. Kristi has lived in the St. Louis area for 1 1/2 years and is originally from the Wichita, Kansas area.
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