Board of Directors

Mrs. Veronica Kabaki is the visionary behind Kijiji International. Veronica emigrated with her family into the United States in 1999. Having lived in the United States for 13 years she feels that God is calling her to go back to her Kenyan homeland and use the knowledge that she has learnt in America to help especially the poor people in Kenya.
Veronica graduated in 2009 from Laymans Bible College organized by Faith Christian Center where she is a member and serves in the Usher and Hostess Department. She has also worked for several American companies including health facilities and she has always admired the high quality healthcare that is available in the United States. It is not comparable to the healthcare situation in Kenya.

Hundreds of renal failure patients continue to die in Kenya because either they do not have access to a dialysis clinic or they cannot afford to pay the high costs charged by the few available dialysis clinics in the country. Between 2010 and 2011, Veronica lost three close family members because they could not afford to continue paying for the high cost of dialysis treatments in Kenya. She decided to so start Kijiji International as a nonprofit organization with the goal of helping to stop unnecessary loss of life by providing high quality dialysis care especially to the poor in the underserved areas in Kenya.

Veronica has made a decision to dedicate the rest of her life for this much needed cause.

Alice Jane Sorrels graduated from nursing school in Austin, Texas in 1969 and she immediately went to work in critical care where she worked for eight years, moving from a staff nurse position to a charge nurse position. Poppy started her experience in dialysis in 1982 in a research position for Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) under the direction of Jack W. Moncrief, MD, the physician attributed with its development. She quickly became acquainted with chronically ill dialysis patients as she realized that because their condition is chronic and primarily caused by other co-morbidities, they not only presented a healthcare challenge but an emotional one as well. Working with these patients has been a privilege as well as a blessing for many years.

Poppy continued her professional activities in the nephrology arena for the next many years, becoming a Certified Nephrology Nurse (CNN) in 1999. She consulted with manufacturers and legislators in promoting the use of CAPD in under-served areas and traveled extensively, educating the international nephrology community and promoting the utilization of CAPD She helped open several dialysis facilities for independent nephrologists as well as Large Dialysis Organizations (LDO) throughout the state of Texas. Poppy later launched her own business as a nephrology nurse consultant in 2003 and became a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant (CLNC) in 2007. Her business focused on consulting with the state licensing agency to assist and monitor dialysis facilities that had been found deficient in the standards and regulations for care of dialysis patients. She also consulted with medical case management departments of various insurance companies. Poppy looks forward to utilizing her gifts to assist in the important medical arena of nephrology and dialysis in Kenya, as part of her personal mission to “provide healing and wellness in the suffering and needy through advocacy, compassion, education, service and support”.

Ashley Evans life and professional career is one of achievement, creativity, and dedication to her community and profession. Ms. Evans holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Florida (UF) and has worked as a Project Engineer, Designer, and Manager at HDR Engineering, Inc. (HDR) since graduating in 2005. Since graduation she has earned her Professional Engineer (PE) license and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP). Ms. Evans specializes in water, sanitation, storm water and waste management design.

Ashley currently holds the position of President Elect for the Jacksonville Professionals Chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB-USA) that is currently providing environmental engineering work in rural Guatemala; where she has performed field work, engineering designs, and construction of water distribution and sanitation projects. In 2010, Ms. Evans was awarded the Young Engineer of the Year Award from EWB. Ashley is also a board member of the World Water Alliance of Florida where she currently serves as Secretary and leads fundraising efforts for water and sanitation projects in developing countries around the world. Ms. Evans also volunteers for the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) where she is a member of the Education Committee.

As a board member of Kijiji International, Ashley provides insight to engineering, fundraising, and partnerships with other non-profits to successfully design and build dialysis clinics in Kenya.

Dan Hewitt is currently the General Manager for Specialty Dialysis
Services, Inc. This firm is dedicated to providing quality reconditioned renal equipment to regions of the world that otherwise could not afford renal care. Prior to working in the medical equipment field, he managed American Mortgage’s Capital Markets Division from 2005 to 2010. Mr. Hewitt graduated Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Business.

Phyllis Johnson is a native of Jacksonville, Florida. She is married and the mother of two awesome teenagers. Phyllis has 18 years experience in Early Childhood Development. Phyllis graduated in 2009 from Laymans Bible College organized by Faith Christian Center where she is a member and serves in the Music Department. Phyllis currently works as a Client Support Advocate as well as counselor for a local shelter in Jacksonville. Phyllis also serves as an instructor at the center. She has had an interest in the African native culture since a very young age. She also knows and realizes how important it is for the natives to get and maintain quality healthcare. Mrs. Johnson currently serves on the Board of Kijiji International and works diligently in helping to procure dialysis equipment and organize fundraisers.

Dr. Dewey E. Painter Sr. is a Retired Naval Officer with over twenty two decoration and he served in Vietnam and is a service connected disabled veteran. He is a Muskogee Creek American Indian and has five earned Doctorate Degrees in Education, Industrial, Management, Family and Marriage Counseling. He is past President/Chancellor of two universities and two colleges and is currently Chancellor of a University and President of a College. He has served
as pastor and as a missionary for many years. Dr. Painter has led mission efforts in over seventy seventy countries and has direct involvement in establishing educational, orphanages and mission/church planting in various countries.

He currently serves as a member or chairman of the Board of Directors from research to education and ministries. He is the Executive Director of the International Education and Professional Association and has published seven books and is currently writing four new manuscripts. Dr. Painter has built long-standing relationships with several hospitals in the US and he looks forward to help Kijiji International get dialysis machines, reverse osmosis machines and medical supplies.