Our Board of Directors.
Developing World Connections – the organization – is the vehicle our community of global citizens uses to make a difference. It is truly about community; a community of passion, compassionate, service and a foundation of belief in the ability of individuals to make a difference.
It may often appear from the outside that this community spontaneously ‘happens’. Sometimes it does, but to a large degree it takes tremendous people that are attracted to our organization. The Board of Directors exemplifies those traits of our community. Filled with passion and compassion, they serve Developing World Connections by developing organizational policy and expectations and monitoring operational compliance.
MARCIA JULIAN – Past Chair: Through Marcia’s work as both a social worker and a manager with a social service agency, she has worked extensively with children and their families since 1986. Much of this work involved adults and children with special needs. Her love of humanitarian work has grown from her experiences in this career. For several years of her career she was the project manager, working with a council of community volunteers, to develop a regionalized governance model for child welfare services in the Interior of British Columbia. Most recently she has returned to her roots and manages prevention and early intervention programs in the Interior region. Her passion for the work of Developing World Connections has taken her as both a team leader and as a participant to many third world countries. Marcia has been a board member with the National YWCA of/du Canada as well as with several local organizations. She and her family foster a child in Haiti.
KYM BEHRNS – Chair: Kym has been a Rotarian since 1991 serving as a past President of Kamloops Daybreak Rotary Club. Through his work with Rotary he has been involved in international projects including travel to Guatemala on a Rotary discovery mission. The British Columbia Lottery Corporation currently employs him as Manager for Facilities Gaming. Kym has traveled through America and Europe and has been involved with the Rotary group study exchange for the past four years.
BONNIE FLANAGAN – Director: Bonnie has been actively involved in her community through her work with several societies dealing with disabilities as well as being an active member and current treasurer of the local Toastmasters Club. Bonnie currently works with her husband in owning and operating six Subway restaurants in Kamloops. Through this position and also through previous work in bookkeeping, Bonnie has many skills to offer to DWC. In addition, she is an outdoor enthusiast who has run a marathon, volunteers with the BC Summer Games and has trekked across England and around British Columbia.
NEVILLE FLANAGAN – Vice Chair: Neville is a successful businessman who started and owns six Subway restaurants in Kamloops, British Columbia. His previous career involved twelve years of teaching and coordinating the Recreation Management program at the University College of the Cariboo. Neville has been involved with the Kamloops Daybreak Rotary Club since 1994, serving several terms on the executive and as President. With Rotary he traveled to India to participate as a volunteer at a cataract camp and to administer Polio drops to children. He is currently the president of the local YM/YWCA.
SEAN MCKENNA – Director: Sean has been actively involved in international service work through Rotary International since 2002 and has participated in projects in Guatemala and India with his local club, as well as a trip to Vietnam to build a school. Sean is the Vice President of Operations an international warehousing and distribution company called NRI Distribution that employs over 300 people. He is responsible for human resources and physical operations. In the spring of 2008, his 18 year old son Mike participated in a project in Guatemala with Developing World Connections. Sean is the President of his local Rotary Club for 2008-2009 and looks forward to sharing the life-changing experiences of volunteer project work with others.
RICHARD SREPEL – Treasurer: Richard is a member of the Kamloops Daybreak Rotary Club, serving since 2001. He participated in a Rotary international project setting up a clean water system for a new school and village in Guatemala. Richard runs his own business, Specialty Electronics, specializing in Satellite communications, computers and custom installation work. His previous employment experience was with the Canadian and Quebec governments working in Arctic Canada. Richard enjoys skiing, hiking, camping, canoeing, volleyball and has introduced Frisbee to the children he met in Guatemala.
DAN MILLER – Director: Dan’s international experience has been through Rotary, of which he has been a member in various locations throughout British Columbia since 1990. Since 1998 he has been involved in both fundraising and organizing aspects for a water project in Guatemala that culminated in 2001. He and family support a child through World Visions Canada. Formerly a senior Operations Manager with the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, Dan is now in his own business of providing mediation and arbitration services from Kamloops British Columbia. He also serves on the board of the BC Arbitration and Mediation Institute.
