Leadership

Curtis R. Welling, President & Chief Executive Officer
Curt Welling joined AmeriCares as President and CEO in 2002. Since that time, he has guided the organization in delivering $5 billion in medicines and supplies around the world, enabling more people to live longer, healthier lives. Welling brings to AmeriCares an extensive career in the investment banking and securities industry with firms such as SG Cowen, Bear Stearns and Credit Suisse First Boston. Welling currently serves on the Boards of Coca-Cola Enterprises (NYSE: CCE), The Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy at Dartmouth College and Vice Chair of The Adirondack Council and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.  Previously, he served as Board Chair of Spence Chapin Services and was the founding Board Chair of the Donaldson Adoption Institute. He received both his Master’s of Business Administration and Bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College, and his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School.

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Carol Shattuck, Chief of Staff & SVP, Communications and Marketing
As Chief of Staff, Carol interfaces with the President & CEO, department heads and the Board of Directors to ensure the organization runs effectively and efficiently. In addition, she oversees all facets of the organization, communication and marketing functions, as well as the AmeriCares Free Clinics program. Carol brings 20 years of experience in management, development, marketing and communications in the private, nonprofit and government sectors. She also has extensive international experience, having lived in Germany, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. Carol received her Bachelor‘s degree from Middlebury College.

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Elizabeth Furst Frank, SVP, Global Program Operations
Elizabeth joined AmeriCares in 2006 after being on the Board of Directors from 2004-2006. She leads AmeriCares global program activities, including AmeriCares India and AmeriCares international and U.S. partnerships, global emergency response, corporate in-kind donor relationships and logistics and inventory management. Under her leadership, AmeriCares has globalized its resource acquisition, enhanced its medical expertise and launched several strategic initiatives. Previously, she was Vice President of Corporate Strategic Planning for Time Warner, and spent nine years at McKinsey & Company as a Partner in Media and Consumer Practices. Elizabeth graduated from Lehigh University and received a Master’s of Business Administration from Harvard University.

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Carolyn O'Brien, SVP, Development
Carolyn brings more than 20 years of management and development experience in the nonprofit sector as well as a background in marketing and advertising. She is responsible for overseeing AmeriCares fundraising and communications programs, including direct mail, major gifts, corporate and foundation relations, planned giving, special events and both internal and external communications. Carolyn received a Master's of Business Administration from Northwestern University and a Bachelor‘s degree from Smith College. 

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Katherine A. Sears, SVP Finance & Technology
Kate brings over 25 years of finance, executive leadership and consulting expertise to AmeriCares. Prior to joining AmeriCares, she served as Chief Financial Officer for Friederici, LLC and Hometown Entertainment and John Frieda Professional Haircare, Inc. In addition, her background includes extensive finance and business consultant roles in New York, Washington D.C., as well as overseas in Indonesia, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Kate received a Master’s of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor’s degree from Yale University.

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Kevin R. Gilrain, SVP, Human Resources
In his role as SVP of Human Resources, Kevin is responsible for aligning the human resources agenda with the organization’s strategy and organizational development work. Kevin leads the HR team with a focus on talent acquisition, development and management. Kevin brings more than 15 years of human resources experience in the for-profit sector, leading human capital priorities and organizational change. Prior to joining AmeriCares, he was SVP of Human Resources and Administration at Popular Club, a catalog retailer. Kevin received a BA in Business and Philosophy from Muhlenberg College and studied graduate-level philosophy at Syracuse University.

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Christoph Gorder, VP, Global Programs   
In his role as Vice President, Global Programs, Christoph; oversees the day-to-day operations of AmeriCares global programs on an integrated basis, optimizing gift-in-kind medical/ pharmaceutical donations through effective matching to recipient partner needs. In addition, he oversees AmeriCares global programs such as the AmeriCares Family Clinic in El Salvador and Emergency Response, coordinating responses to emergency disasters around the world. Christoph spent his youth in Nigeria and the Central African Republic. Christoph received both his Master‘s and Bachelor‘s degrees in Spanish Literature from New York University.

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Geoff Kneisel, VP, Corporate Relations  
Geoff oversees donations of medicines and medical supplies in support of AmeriCares emergency response work and AmeriCares international and domestic medical assistance programs.  He leads a team responsible for the development and maintenance of strong partnerships with pharmaceutical companies and medical supply manufacturers in order to solicit high-quality medical donations and provide a continual stream of inventory in support of our humanitarian work around the world and throughout the United States.  Geoff has been with AmeriCares since 1999, and received his bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Skidmore College in New York.

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Purvish M. Parikh, M.D., VP & Managing Director, AmeriCares India
Dr. Parikh is an expert in medical oncology and hematology. He joined AmeriCares India as managing director after an extensive career in medical research. Prior to AmeriCares India, he served as professor and head of medical oncology at Tata Memorial Hospital for 17 years, as well as founder and director of a nongovernmental organization, the Indian Co-operative Oncology Network.  As Managing Director, Dr. Parikh leads gift-in-kind partnerships with India-based pharmaceutical manufacturers and oversees donations to local health care programs in response to natural disasters and chronic resource constraints in poor communities. In addition, he oversees India-based logistical capabilities, providing AmeriCares with a global operational hub in India. Dr. Parikh received a M.D. from Bombay University, and earned both a Ph.D. and a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Mumbai. Dr. Parikh is a member of the Indian College of Physicians and the National Board in New Delhi.  

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Frank J Bia, M.D.,  Medical Director
Dr. Bia is an expert in infectious diseases and international health. He recently joined AmeriCares after a 30-year career at Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Bia served as a professor of both medicine in infectious diseases and laboratory medicine in clinical microbiology. He was also co-director of the International Health Program at Yale. As Medical Director, Dr. Bia oversees the planning, assessment, resourcing and clinical operations of AmeriCares Global Programs Operations, as well as the organization's work with free health care clinics throughout the United States, and provides medical oversight of the AmeriCares Free Clinics in Connecticut. He received his B.S. degree from Fordham University and his M.D. degree from Cornell University Medical College, as well as a Master's of Public Health degree from the Harvard School of Public Health. In addition, he honed his expertise in the areas of infectious diseases, tropical medicine and international health while working abroad in Haiti, China, Colombia, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Iran and Thailand.

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Peter Tokarczyk, Director, Logistics
Peter has served as Director of Distribution & Warehousing at AmeriCares since 1995. In this role, he maintains executive oversight for all aspects of inventory and warehouse management and development, with particular emphasis on coordinated operations. Peter works to ensure supply chain solutions that are executed with quality, accountability and measurable impact. Prior to AmeriCares, Peter worked for the Federal Aviation Administration and Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York. Peter received his Bachelor‘s degree in Transportation and Distribution Management from Syracuse University.

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