Friends of Ngong Road is governed by a volunteer board of directors. Responsibilities include:
- Ensure that affairs of FoNR are conducted in a fiscally responsible manner and that legal and compliance requirements are met.
- Actively participate in the strategic planning, development, and recruitment activities of the organization.
- Monitor and evaluate programs, outcomes, impact, and performance of FoNR.
The FoNR board is a working board, with each board member having his or her responsibilities in the U. S. and Kenya. All travel and many expenses are borne by the individual board members.
Our sister organization, Ngong Road Children’s Foundation, is governed by a Kenyan board of directors.
Paula Meyer – Founder
Friends of Ngong Road, Founder. Member of Executive Committee. Chair of Nominating /Governance and Human Resources Committees.
Karibu Loo, Founder
Independent Director, Mutual of Omaha and Diamond Hill Investment Group
Paula Meyer left a successful career at Ameriprise Financial in 2006 and has focused on building Friends of Ngong Road since then. Beginning in 2022 when the organization hired Carole Patrikakos as its Executive Director, Meyer has moved out of day-to-day management of the organization. Her focus is on supporting Carole’s efforts to lead the organization and raise the funds necessary to support its work. She has been actively involved from a governance perspective in engineering this transition.
Meyer will remain on the Friends of Ngong Road board of directors through early 2026 when she reaches the board’s age limit for retirement. She has retired from her roles on the Ngong Road Children’s Foundation and Karibu Loo Boards of Directors. Meyer expects to remain actively involved with Friends of Ngong Road as a volunteer for the foreseeable future. For a full biography, please click here.
For a full biography, please click here.
Kris Petersen – Board Chair
Friends of Ngong Road,Nominating and Governance Committee
Senior Vice President, think2perform
Kris is currently Senior Vice President of think2perform providing executive leadership coaching and training. Kris’s area of expertise is helping leaders maximize their effectiveness by helping them improve their emotional competency and strengthen their business skills. Before joining think2perform, she held the role of Senior Vice President and General Manager for Financial Planning and Advice at Ameriprise Financial. In her 13-year tenure at the company, she held a variety of leadership positions in Brokerage, External Products, Wealth Management Products, and Retail Retirement Planning.
Before she joined Ameriprise Financial, Kris worked in various strategic planning, product management, and audit management positions at U.S. Bank and Marquette Consulting. She holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas and a BS from St. Cloud State University. In addition to FONR, Kris serves on the boards of Hennepin Health Systems, think2perform, and think2perform Research Institute.
Responsibilities at FoNR:
Kris currently serves on theNominating and Governance Committee, performing key roles to expand the reach and impact of the organization.
Why I am involved with FoNR:
Having sponsored two girls since the start of FONR, I see the very positive impact FONR has on these children and their families. I’ve traveled to Kenya twice to meet and spend time with the girls I sponsor as well as to teach at the summer camp. This experience reinforced my belief that FONR changes these children’s lives and provides them with more opportunities than they would have had without FONR.
Grace Ondara – Board Secretary
Friends of Ngong Road, Development Committee
Grace Ondara is a dedicated professional with extensive experience in the banking industry. After spending a decade as a relationship manager at Barclays Bank of Kenya and Standard Chartered Bank of Kenya, she shifted her focus to nonprofit development, drawing on her previous business experience to support her current work.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Grace started mentoring youth aged 10-21 through a program called Future Voices. This experience proved transformative for her, motivating her to move to the United States to pursue a Master’s program in Family, Youth, and Community Sciences focusing on nonprofit development.
Grace is an ardent champion of youth development, and she serves as a mentor to many young people both in Kenya and the United States. She is passionate about empowering young people to realize their full potential and become active members of their communities.
Grace holds a BSc in Actuarial Sciences, an MBA in Strategic Management from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya,, and an MSc in Family, Youth, and Community Sciences from the University of Florida.
Why I am involved with FoNR:
I learned about FoNR through a colleague who introduced me to Paula. Finding an organization based in Minneapolis, where I live, that serves youth in a neighborhood familiar to me in Kenya was very intriguing. Getting to learn more about FoNR’s objectives has been a thrilling experience. FoNR’s history and impact, and its ongoing transformation of hundreds of lives, compelled me to join the board.
I look forward to bringing my knowledge of Kenya and my experience with Kenyan youth to create new perspectives in collaboration with FoNR’s efforts.
Judy Vijums – Board Treasurer
Friends of Ngong Road, Nominating and Governance, and Audit Committees Karibu Loo Operating Committee, Audit Committee
Founder/ Partner at Cobalt Capital Partners
A Minnesota native, Judy Vijums is a co-founder and partner at Cobalt Capital Partners, a private equity firm serving small, privately held companies. Judy has spent more than 25 years in the private equity space. She is actively involved with the transportation, logistics, and automotive sectors and is focused on diligence, acquisitions, and management of portfolio companies. Before moving into private equity, Judy spent five years at Arthur Andersen & Co in their Accounting and Advisory Group. She holds a B.A. from Luther College.
Responsibilities at FoNR:
Judy is involved in helping to shape the internship program for FoNR graduates called “Techmates” and otherSmall Business/Entreprenuership and Apprenticeship Programs. She serves on the Nominating & Governance Committee and will continue to expand her financial leadership.
Why I am involved with FoNR:
I learned about FoNR through Paula Meyer and was so inspired by the dedication of all involved with FoNR to advance the lives of kids and their families less fortunate than us through education and ultimately employment. I have sponsored a student since 2009 who recently graduated from high school and is advancing to a university program. I am excited to be part of the board and hope that my passion for education as a tool to transform lives will help add to the success of this impressive organization.
Keith Kale – Board Member
Friends of Ngong Road Marketing Committee Karibu Loo Operating Committee Chair
Keith retired after 10+ years as an independent marketing and strategic planning consultant at The Kale Group. Before starting his own company, Keith spent five years at U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray as Marketing Director for the brokerage unit. Before moving to financial services, Keith had spent 15 years in marketing at The Pillsbury Company in the U.S. and Europe. He holds a B.A. from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, and an M.S. in Marketing from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Responsibilities at FoNR:
Keith is a member of the Marketing Committee and advises the Karibu Loo business while continuing to explore other ways to find employment for our graduates.
Why I am involved with FoNR:
I became involved in Friends of Ngong Road at its inception. In 2006, Paula told my wife and me about her trip to Kenya. I have always been a deep believer in the value of education and Paula’s idea to found Friends of Ngong Road appeared to be a perfect fit with my interests. With my wife, Kathleen, we sponsored the second child entering the program, Jackline. I became one of the founding board members and helped found the program in 2006 and ready the children for the January 2007 school term. My first trip to Kenya was in early 2008 as the program was just beginning to take shape. There we met our sponsored child and her mother in their very humble home where we were graciously and gratefully welcomed. Jackline worked very hard and graduated from high school in 2012. She finished a post-secondary course in front-office management and was employed at NRCF and Karibu Loo as a receptionist for a few months. She is now employed full-time at Bimeda, a veterinary supply company, in their customer care area. We sponsored another girl, Freshia, and four boys – Eric (one of the first university graduates from the program), Gavin, Michael, and Jack. We are happy that all of them continue to progress in ways that would not have been possible without our support.
John Kundtz – Board Member
Friends of Ngong Road Marketing Committee
John has been a sponsor and volunteer for over 15 years and joined the board of FoNR in 2020. As an independent marketing and business consultant with Spotlight Consulting, he works with a range of clients in different industries to help them better understand their customers, categories, or competition; refine value propositions, or to develop customer-centered marketing plans. John’s work includes projects, interim leadership roles, and social intelligence research. He started his career at The Pillsbury Company becoming Vice President of the Totinos brand. He also worked as a Vice President at CNS (Breathe Right products), Nielsen and the University of MN Health and Fairview Health System. He holds a BA and MBA from the University of Michigan.
Responsibilities at FoNR:
John chairs the marketing committee. He directs the planning and execution of key events, newsletters, web content, communications, and social media. He also serves on the Development Committee.
Why I am involved with FoNR:
I learned about FoNR through Keith Kale and was intrigued by its unique mission and the potential to transform kids’ lives through education. I sponsored my first student in 2008 (who graduated from high school in 2014) and am currently sponsoring two boys in different day schools. It is amazing to see how these individuals mature and set goals for their education, potential careers, and life. The quantifiable success of FoNR is impressive. In joining the board I am excited to help take FoNR to the next level and I look forward to the time I can visit Kenya.
Keith Richard – Board Member
Friends of Ngong Road Technology Committee
Keith Richard is the Director of Information Technology at GreaterGood.com, where he oversees IT operations, infrastructure, and security. He manages enterprise systems and leads initiatives that support business continuity, data protection, and reliable service delivery across the organization. With more than 15 years of IT leadership experience, Keith has managed teams, vendor partnerships, and technology projects that improve performance and support organizational growth.
Keith holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas – Opus College of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Minnesota. He is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), a Certified virtual Chief Information Security Officer (CvCISO), and has earned multiple additional technical certifications.
Since 2024, Keith has served as a member of the Ngong Road Tech Committee, contributing his expertise to advance the organization’s technology capabilities in support of its mission. He is passionate about using technology as a force for good and building systems that empower people and organizations to succeed.
Responsibilities at FoNR:
Keith currently serves on the Technology Committee
Why I am involved with FoNR:
I believe deeply in the power of education to transform lives. Friends of Ngong Road creates opportunities for students that extend far beyond the classroom, opening doors to brighter futures and stronger communities. Being part of this mission allows me to support meaningful change through both technology and education.
Doug Roderick – Board Member
Friends of Ngong Road Finance and Audit Committee
Doug is currently the Chief Financial Officer for Twin Cities Public Television (TPT), and has over 20 years of experience working with non-profit organizations in senior financial roles.
Before shifting to non-profit work, Doug worked at American Express and its subsidiaries, including a long-term international assignment based in London, its financial services entity Ameriprise, and in several start-ups. Doug holds a BSB-Accounting degree and an MBA from the University of Minnesota and is a certified public accountant.
A native of Minnesota, Doug lives in the southwestern suburbs.
Responsibilities at FoNR:
Doug serves on the Finance and Audit Committee.
Why I am involved with FoNR:
I have always valued education and the power it has to uplift and change lives. I have
served on educational non-profit boards, and have taught financial topics at K-12,
undergraduate and graduate levels—learning first-hand how what happens in the
classroom translates to students’ confidence, outlook and, for older students, their
work… and how bringing in their experiences from outside the classroom accelerates
richer classroom discussions and experiences.
Sara Janz – Board Member
Friends of Ngong Road Board Member
Sara S. Janz, Senior Vice President of Communications and Marketing for Wealth Management Solutions and RiverSource Life at Ameriprise Financial.
As Senior Vice President of Communications and Marketing for Wealth Management Solutions and RiverSource Insurance, Sara leads strategic marketing positioning, communications, digital tool design and development, and advisor training and education for both Wealth Management Solutions RiverSource Life.
Sara is committed to diversity and has served as the executive liaison for the Black Employee Network at Ameriprise for the past six years.
Ms. Janz joined Ameriprise in 2000. Prior to her Ameriprise tenure, she held marketing and sales positions in the insurance industry.
Sara lives in the Minneapolis area and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of Minnesota.
Responsibilities at FoNR:
I have been involved with FoNR for years as a sponsor and am delighted to now be more deeply involved with this group. Education is a powerful tool that can change the trajectory of a life and have broader impacts to the community. To be a part of this organization is inspiring.
Why I am involved with FoNR:
As a member of the FoNR Board, I feel lucky to participate in the Development Committee working on growth strategies to raise awareness of this amazing organization, the people and the difference it makes in real lives. As a board member, I am also involved in shaping the strategic direction for FoNR.