James DeWitt Wilde- Managing Director, Founder
Having been on many expeditions to remote areas of the world, James has had direct contact with the growing global water crisis. As a result, he founded TWF & Global H2O in July, working to offset many of the water and sanitation problems around the world. James has an MBA in International Business & Finance from The University of South Carolina and an undergraduate degree from North Carolina State University in Marketing. He has worked more than 14 years for companies like The Coca-Cola Company, Telefonica, and British Telecom, based out of Vienna, Munich, Sao Paulo and Moscow. Next to his career, James is a passionate mountaineer and finished the 7 summits this April on Everest.
David J. Simons- Administrative Officer, Founder
David Simons grew up in upstate New York and graduated from The State University of New York at Albany with a degree in Mathematics. His career at IBM lasted over 40 years, where he held various mangement roles in both the USA and Europe. David has vast experience and leadership in other non-profits and volunteer-based organisations (Capital City Jaycees- Founding member, held several offices including President; American International School of Nice, France- President of Parents’ Association; Habitat for Humanity-Participated in construction of 8 houses; Christ Church volunteer; Raleigh Sail & Power Squadron- Commander, Treasurer – 5 years, Administrative Officer, Executive Officer)
Chris Wooten- Chief Marketing Officer, Founder
Chris is co-owner and creative director of Modry Design Studio, a branding, design and communications firm based in Charlotte, NC. Chris attended Elon University and The University of North Carolina Charlotte. He uses his 18 years of experience in the design field to develop strong marketing pieces that get his clients noticed. Chris enjoys using the latest technology in creating applications that make his clients’ brands stronger, while also making their lives easier. Working with non-profits is one of his passions and he enjoys opportunities to make a difference. Chris is an avid traveler — and when he’s not in the studio, you can usually find him cycling.
Heather Phibbs- Public Relations & Communications
Heather is a marketing communications professional with nearly 15 years in the business. Originally from Richmond, VA, she studied journalism and political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Heather has worked for several global marketing firms, including Ogilvy & Mather, Saatchi & Saatchi and Porter Novelli — for clients like Proctor and Gamble, SAP, the World Wildlife Fund and the American Heart Association. Her greatest passions are travel and developing creative campaigns to advance non-profit causes. Currently she works on the staff of D.C. Habitat for Humanity and as a freelance writer and marketing consultant.
Michael Sosnowy- Treasurer
Michael has lived in numerous states around the US and three different countries. Since graduating from the University of North Carolina – Charlotte with a BA in History and Economics, his domestic and international professional experience spans industries ranging from financial services, telecom, oil and chemicals. In his off time, he can be found hiking, fishing or golfing.
David Humphrey- Country Lead Germany
Based in Munich, Germany, David W. Humphrey is director of European research for a leading analyst firm. He was educated in North America and Europe and holds an engineering degree from Stevens Institute of Technology as well as a joint MBA from the Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (Vienna) and the University of South Carolina. His hobbies range from music to film-making to flying sports. As a displaced New Englander, David has lived in Germany for over 20 years.
Wilhelm Brunner – Country Lead Austria
Fore more than a decade Wilhelm initiated and implemented the first MBA programs taught in the English language along US standards at the Vienna Economics & Business University. Since 2004 he has been on the management board of European Homecare, a social services provider for refugees. Next to his job as a corporate spokesperson, he has established several social projects for refugees and the communities living next to refugee camps. Some of these projects have been partly funded by the European Union. His work for refugees has convinced him that only improving the living conditions in the home countries will be the key to professional migration management.
In his leisure time he travels to distant places (such as Laos, Cambodia, Tierra del Fuego and many others), uses social networks to keep in touch with friends and updates his homepage regularly.
Jens Langen – Online Marketing Director
Jens lives in Munich, Germany and is a freelance consultant and developer for online projects and latest web technologies with focus on e-commerce (Magento) . He studied at the RWTH Aachen and holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science (Diplom Informatiker).
In his leisure time he likes to do sports, e.g. running, mountain biking and snowboarding. He loves all kinds of outdoor activities and to travel.
Jessica Khuat – College Intern Coordinator, USA
Jessica is not a stranger to relocation, as she grew up in numerous areas across the United States. Today, she resides in Raleigh, NC where she is a junior at North Carolina State University. Jessica intends to complete her Bachelors degree in Business Administration and minor in Spanish. After college, she hopes to continue her efforts at a non-profit organization.
Aside from school, Jessica is a movie fanatic—having seen over 500 titles. She also enjoys art and sewing.
Caroline Viktoria Bisanz – Coordinator, Austria
“Wicky“ grew up and went to a tourism school in Vienna. Having find out her bond to sports and nature, she went to Innsbruck to study there in the middle of the mountains. Recently, Wicky graduated with a degree in Master of Science in Organization Studies. This program was based on her Bachelor degree in Non-profit- and Social-Management. There she gained her first experiences as a volunteer in social projects in Argentina and Austria. Wicky recharges her energy with ski-mountaineering, kite surfing and horse-back riding…the nature!
Danijela Lazendic – Global Content Manager
Growing up in Croatia and Serbia gave Danijela an insight of non-profit organizations role in the lives of those in need. She studied Faculty of Political Science, mayor in Social Work and Politics, finished different courses and through the education did volunteering (humanitarian missions, fund-raising activities, campaigns, social events). She worked for UNDP, Peoples Office of the President, as an youth animator, with special social groups and for some time lived and worked in USA. As a result she got awareness about a different issues people are facing around the globe nowadays and she fights for human rights. On top of all this she enjoys music and fashion, and her passion is traveling and learning about other cultures.
Melanie Hartman- Head of Fundraising and Marketing for Global H2O in Germany
Now based in Munich, Melanie grew up in Germany, The Netherlands and the United States. Her non-profit experience spans more than 10 years, organizing large-scale, international conferences for the BMW Quandt Foundation in Munich and as Director of Membership & Operations at ULI – the Urban Land Institute office in London. Melanie has been an active fundraiser for a variety of causes in the UK and Germany and is well versed what motivates people to donate their time and money and is focused on facilitating the process for those that want to participate. Melanie obtained her MBA from Thunderbird, the Graduate School of International Management in Arizona in 2000.
