Board Members

Thomas Bourgeois

Tom Bourgeois is Deputy Director of the Pace Univ. Energy & Climate Center. He is Co-Director of the U.S. Department of Energy's Northeast Clean Energy Center (NECEAC). He has been the primary author of reports on issues of energy efficiency, renewable energy policy and regional economic development. He has been contributing author on numerous briefs and other submissions to the Public Service Commission in New York and the Department of Public Utilities in New Jersey. He has supplied testimony as an expert witness in proceedings before the Public Service Commission in New York and the Department of Public Utilities in New Jersey. In Oct. 2008, he was recipient of the "2008 CHP Champion Award" presented by the U.S. CleanHeat & Power Assoc. (www.uschpa.org), Prior to working for the Energy and Climate Center, he was the Director of the Economic Information Unit of the New York State Data Center, housed within the former New York State Department of Economic Development (now the Empire State Development Corporation). He also served as Principal Economist of the New York State Assembly Ways and Means Committee, where he was responsible for econometric modeling and preparing state and national economic forecasts for use by the tax policy and budget staff of the Assembly. He holds a masters degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from the School of Regional Planning (with a concentration in Economic Development). He completed all coursework and exams leading to the completion of a Ph.D. in managerial economics at RPI in Troy NY, a joint degree program offered by the Economics program and the School of Management at RPI.

Mark Creasser- President

Mark Creasser first went to Haiti in 2005 to visit the Missionaries of the Poor in Cap Haitien. He was shocked by the level of poverty and the everyday struggles of the Haitian people. After a number of visits, he came to realize the strength and beauty of the Haitian people. At that time, their most urgent need was the development of stable food supply- Haiti often sits on the ragged edge of food shortages and starvation. Through his church, they organized annual food drives to deliver food and materials each July http://www.haitifooddrive2010.com.

A group of people also realized that there was a desperate need for schools and decided to try and help with this problem. Almost half of the Haitian children never get to attend school. They began looking to partner with another non- profit - Starthrowers to help provide scholarship funding for higher education in existing schools. They eventually realized it was better to build schools in areas where there we no schools and started their organization - Hands for Haiti. About the same time, they were contacted by friends of Dr. Ray Ford about local rural village and their plight to have a school for the children. The group visited the "tent school" and met with the village elders to evaluate their need to see if they could help. During the initial visit we saw hundreds of children under a leaky tarp with dirt floors and no books. Most of the children had not eaten that day and were sitting on wood benches trying to learn their lessons. Many of their parents had never gone to school but they wanted something different for their children. The group decided to help and began the process to provide funding for teacher's salaries, land for a proper school, clean water, latrines, and a daily lunch program for these beautiful people. Mark believes it is truly a joy to work in partnership with the people of Tremesse. They run the school, provide security, and cook the food for the children.

Like the other Board members, he travels to Haiti and visits the village school throughout the year. He wants to be active partners in the process of building a proper school and help the people reach their goal of educating their children. He grew up in Sarasota Florida, graduated from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in 1977, served in the USAF and his career background is in the airlines, car rental companies, and as a business owner. He believes that once you see Haiti and the people who struggle every day, you cannot look away. The people teach us how to be strong and have dignity even in the most difficult times. He lives in Weddington , North Carolina and his email address is .

Steve Gebhardt

Steve Gebhardt lives in Randolph, New Jersey. He has lived in Randolph for the past 25 years. He is married to his wife Ann for 27 years, and has three children. Steve graduated from Morristown High School and Utah State with a degree in Microbiology.

Steve was inspired to go to Haiti after watching a television show on EWTN about The Missionaries of the Poor, a group of Brothers that have been helping the poor in Jamaica, Haiti, India, Kenya, the Philippines, Uganda and in Monroe, North Carolina. Steve viewed the broadcast in 2000, and was inspired to go to Jamaica to visit the Brothers. He took his first trip that year to visit the head office of THE MOP in Jamaica, and has filled his passport one time already with trips primarily to Cap Haitien, Haiti. During one of his visits, he met the children of Tremese, and fell in love with them. They are also in the Northern part of Haiti, as are the MOP brothers.

Steve is a member of St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church in Randolph NJ and leads a food drive that sends shipper containers full of food to Haiti annually. He works as a distributor of Cellular Communications and loves Notre Dame football and Seton Hall basketball in his free time.

Jeff Hynes

Jeff Hynes lives in Houston, Texas with his wife and two daughters. Formerly an engineer, Jeff returned to school several years ago to study business at Tufts University’s Fletcher School. While there, Jeff also studied international economic development, and first visited Haiti around the same time. Having traveled extensively in the developing world, Jeff was very interested in getting involved with an organization that would directly benefit those struggling with poverty, without all of the waste and overhead of many other large organizations. He strongly believes that the most effective way to make a difference is to partner locally, providing those in need with the means to break the cycle of poverty through their own hard work and effort. Since 2007, Jeff has made multiple trips to Tremesse to meet with the villagers and survey the progress of the school. He is amazed at what has been accomplished there in the past several years, and is very happy to work with an organization where all donations directly benefit the children and change lives on an individual level. It has been a joy for him to work with parents, teachers, and children of Tremesse, and to witness first hand the difference Hands for Haiti is helping to make in their lives.

Steve Favory

Steve Favory is Chief Financial Officer of the SMS System Maintenance Services, Inc, a Global IT Service Company.  Previous he has worked for several global IT, manufacturing and service companies and has spent considerable time living abroad.   He was shocked to see poverty of the world and how little was being done to help.  Steve has been involved in Haiti for 9 years with initial focus on food and water. After making several trips to Haiti, it was apparent the people of Haiti were willing and able to better their lives, if they were given a chance.

Being an active member on the Board provides him the opportunity and the pleasure to get involve directly with local Haitians willing to commit their time and efforts to better their children’s education.   

Steve lives in Charlotte North Carolina with his wife and three children.  His entire family enjoys participating in the annual Haiti Food Drive.  Steve has been on several non-profit and profit boards and has been active in multiple Homeless ministries in Charlotte, Atlanta and Phoenix.

Cindy Tice

Cindy grew up and graduated from high school in a small town in the Panhandle of Texas. She attained her Bachelor's degree in Speech and Hearing Therapy from West Texas A&M University and her Master's degree in Education from Stephen F. Austin University. In the late '80's, Cindy left the educational system and joined the ranks of corporate America as a wealth advisor. She is a mother of two daughters and a grandmother of six.

Cindy met Jeff Hynes and his family in 2010. His hands on involvement as a board member of Hands For Haiti (HFH) and his passion for these Haitian children and their educational development prompted her to accompany him on his next trip to Haiti. While in Haiti, her long time question of "Why have I been so blessed?" was answered. "Of those to whom much has been given, much is required" Luke 12:48 "I have been given so much so I can help those who have not." Those adorable Haitian children with whom I share my abundance, have in return shared their blessings of love, dignity, self respect and strength. In this endeavor, I have received much more than I have given. I have been blessed beyond my understanding".

Cindy now holds the position of First Vice President with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. She attends The Woodlands United Methodist Church and works and resides in The Woodlands, Texas. Cindy enjoys snow skiing, dancing, her family and her many friends. Her passion is giving back.