BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DR. ABUL SHARAH
Abul completed his undergraduate education in India, earning a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Tokyo and a Ph.D. in engineering physics from Carleton University in Canada. He immigrated to the United States in 1972, where he had a 27 year professional career in executive and management at companies such as Tectonics Research, Inc., Honeywell, Inc., and MTS Systems Corporation. Abul took an early retirement in 1999 to found International Village Clinic. He remains its executive director.
IQBAL AHMED
Iqbal joined the board in 2012. He is a retired electrical engineer, living in Silver Spring, Maryland. He earned a Master’s degree in electrical engineering from Northeastern University, Boston and held engineering positions at Stone & Webster, Bechtel and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Born in India in a village, not far from our project site, Iqbal knows the language and the culture of the region and can make a significant contribution in overseeing our project.
TERRY HILL
Terry is Executive Director of Rural Health Innovations (RHI) and Founder and now Senior Advisor to the National Rural Health Resource Center (the Center). The Center is currently the United States' leading rural health technical assistance provider and has multiple contracts with various agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hill has testified before Congressional committees and at the White House, and spoken at more than 150 national and state health conferences.
CHRISTY BAUM: SECRETARY
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Christine (Christy) Baum. I am married with 2 sons, Alex and Nick, who will be 27 and 23 in January. My husband, Jerry, and I enjoy time at our cabin in northern Wisconsin when we are not busy with work. Our sons, friends and family enjoy joining us for all of the outdoor activities and relaxing environment.
My family and I have lived in Hastings for the last 22 years where I am in my 17th year of teaching special education. I am currently at Hastings High School, but I have taught elementary and middle school as well. I have enjoyed 26 years of teaching, and while I dream of retirement someday, I have a few years of fun left. I obtained my undergraduate degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education at Winona State University. After teaching for about 10 years, I went to St. Mary’s University and obtained a Master’s degree in Education, a Specialist degree in Administration, a Principal licensure, and a Director of Special Education license. I am fortunate to love what I do and enjoy my days with students and staff. The days go by fast and the years have been wonderful.
When I am not teaching or at the cabin relaxing, I enjoy traveling, shopping, walking, reading, and hanging out with family and friends.
BENJAMIN THEISEN-ESCOBAR
After 13 years in the non-profit sector working with families in the Twin Cities Area, Benjamin joined his wife Krystell in the Theisen Escobar Agency in the Fall of 2012. His passion and expertise is helping families and business owners achieve and protect their dreams and harness a future of prosperity. He and his wife own a Farmers Insurance Agency located in West St Paul, MN where he works to protect the families they serve through life insurance and build their assets through savings and investment plans. Benjamin has a Bachelors Degree from the College of Liberal Arts from the University of MN. Benjamin enjoys spending time with his family and volunteering in various committees and board in his community such as the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), the Cinco de Mayo Committee of St Paul, and recently finished an 11 year term, most recently as President, with Peace and Hope International based in Lima Peru and the US.
DAN MARTENS
Dan joined the Board in 2014 and is currently running a Financial Services business in Neenah, Wisconsin. He has been involved with Rotary for over 20 years with the Hudson Rotary Club in Hudson, Wisconsin, is heavily involved in International charities. He has visited the facilities and operations in India on multiple occasions.
MICHAEL MCNABB
Michael has been engaged in the general practice of law in Burnsville since 1980. He has worked with Abul in an unofficial capacity since shortly after the founding of IVC. In 2014 he joined the IVC board.
PAULA MCNABB
Paula brings to the boarda 24 years of nursing practice in all areas of maternal and newborn services, 9 years in project management in clinical information systems implementation and more than 7 years in community health and medical mission program development at Fairview Health Services. McNabb holds a BS in Nursing from St. Olaf College, a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership Certificate from the College of St. Catherine, and a Master of Arts in Nursing from Augsburg College.
DAVID SENNESS: TREASURER
David was elected to the IVC board in 2012. Prior to coming on the board, he worked with Abul Sharah in securing matching grants from The Rotary Foundation. He continues to work with Abul in this effort. David owns and operates a CPA practice in Bloomington, MN. He is actively involved in civic, community, business and professional organizations as well.
BOARD RESOURCES
The Board Resources section of the site contains materials for use and reference by the all-volunteer IVC board and those who provide assistance to the board's activities. Login required.
