Board of Directors

Susan B  Gross, Executive Director
Susan B Gross our Executive Director is a long time social activist. With  graduate degrees in Psychology from American University and Community Organization, from Boston University ,she has been at the forefront of several social issues, including child sexual assault  (forming the Northern Essex Coalition Against Sexual Assault) and services for women and children affected and infected with HIV/AIDS (founding “My Friend David’s House “) at the Boston Living Center.

After a trip to Africa in 2002, she realized that she needed to do something on that continent to make a difference.  Six months after her first visit, One Village at a Time was founded. Susan considers it both an honor and a work of love to work with One Village at a Time.

Keith Roux, Treasurer
Keith Roux has been a member of  the Board of Directors of One Village at a Time since 2009.  In addition to his role at OVAAT, he works at a Boston-based private equity firm, where he focuses on investments in the financial and healthcare service sectors. Previously, he worked for an investment banking firm, where he advised clients on M&A, corporate divestiture, and private placement transactions. He holds a B.S. in Economics and Finance, summa cum laude, from Bentley University and is a CFA charterholder.

Ashley Kennerson,  Secretary
Ashley Kenerson has been volunteering for One Village at a Time since the beginning of 2009.  She started with One Village as part of the fundraising committee and joined the Board in 2010.  Ashley was lucky enough to travel to Kenya in the Summer of 2010 for the first Breast and Cervical Cancer Walk and opening of the new KMET Health Center.  She also visited the three schools One Village is partnered with to meet with the headmaster, teachers, parents, and children.  She was able to see first hand the incredible work and progress One Village is making and is even more determined to drive further success.  Ashley works at Digitas as a Manager in the Strategy & Analysis department.  She graduated cum laude from Connecticut College and received a BA in Economics and Mathematics.

Johanna Myers, Chairman of Fundraising
Johanna Myers took over fundraising responsibilities for One Village at a Time September 2009 and has been an active board member for 3 years.  She graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Economics and received a M.B.A. from Boston University with a concentration in finance.   She traveled to Kenya for a second time in August 2010 and is currently a fixed income trader at Jennison Associates.

Christina Kotseas
Christina Kotseas has been volunteering for One Village at a Time since 2011 and was offered a seat on the Board of Directors later that year.  She first learned of the organization through a fellow Board member who invited her along to meetings and allowed her to help in the organization of the Annual Harambee celebration. She feels lucky to be part of such a loving non-profit and hopes to visit Africa in the coming years to see OVAAT’s efforts evolve, first hand.

Christina graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Marketing from Assumption College in 2006 and is now an Event Coordinator for the Boston Red Sox.

Elaine Sanfillipo
Elaine Sanfilippo has been volunteering for One Village at a Time since 2007, and joined the Board in 2011. Elaine brings first-hand start-up experience to the Board as the owner & operator of AdopTee’s, a line of human apparel and dog accessories that promote pet adoption (www.AdopTeesOnline.com). She also is an expert in marketing analytics, having worked for retail consultancies ProfitLogic and Compete (acquired by Oracle and WPP, respectively). Elaine holds a BS in Biomedical Engineering from WPI and an MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Business.

Richard Norton
(awaiting bio)