President

Professional Background: Clayton has quite a background from serving as Vice President of International Client Relations in an Ed-tech company, to founder and business consultant of an international business coaching and consultant firm and currently partnering with his daughter in a real estate group. His recurring theme in all his endeavors has been relationship. Whether sales, service, or consulting, Clayton has found the foundation of relationship building to be key to success. He found this true both here and even more so in the international world. In traveling to many countries, he has experienced the power of relationships and continues to use many of those relationships to build awareness of the need for clean water in northern Nigeria. 

Missional Background: Clayton's mission background is as varied as his professional path! It all began in the early 2000’s when his teenage daughter returned from a church service, expressing her wish to participate in a short-term mission trip. Since she was underage, Clayton had to accompany her. On this first journey, he encountered experiences that left a lasting impression on him. He saw homes without doors or windows, extension cords running from utility poles across dirt roads to power a single light bulb or fan, and children without shoes sharing an old, battered bike as they rode on its rims over dirt and gravel. His heart ached for their plight, yet he felt inspired by the realization that he and his family could make a difference. While they might not solve every problem, they could help. It was on that trip, at that moment, that a difference-maker was born. 

Passion for the LearnWells Cause: Picture a day without easy access to clean water. For many of us, this is difficult to imagine, as we have only ever experienced the convenience of hot and cold running water at our fingertips. When our long-time pastor friend reached out for assistance in installing a well in a town in Northern Nigeria, we immediately agreed and began to investigate the issue. Our hearts broke again upon discovering the struggles faced by the local community – a staggering 70% of people in Northern Nigeria lack access to clean water! Realizing the potential impact, LearnWells was born! 

Family Background: Happily married to the amazing and talented “Mrs. K” since March 1982. Their daughter, her husband, along with their two grandchildren, live nearby. They seize every chance to shower them (especially the two little ones) with affection, ice cream and shenanigans. Their son resides in Denver with his two basset hounds and a bloodhound and remains a loyal Green Bay fan.

Marketing

Professional Background: Karen Kennedy is a retired marketing director with more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit organizations, particularly as a staff member at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Urbandale, Iowa. She leverages her experiences to help LearnWells enhance its public visibility.

Missional Background: Her commitment to aiding those in need began during her first mission trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where she was deeply moved by the sight of families lacking access to water, electricity, and food. This pivotal experience led her to focus on supporting vulnerable populations by sponsoring children through World Vision and Compassion International, organizing donation drives for immigrants and refugees, and supplying essential items for children in need. Moreover, she has volunteered as a tutor for children and co-taught classes at a local women’s center. 

Passion for the LearnWells Cause: When fully understanding all the ramifications of not having access to clean water in Northern Nigeria, Karen was “all in” when learning about the everyday plight of children spending hours of collecting water and not being able to attend school to the public. As Karen often says, “It’s all about the children.”

Family Background: Karen has been happily married to Clayton for 42 years. They complement each other well; Clayton is the "idea" person, while Karen is the “doer.”  They have cherish time with their daughter, son-in-law, two grandchildren and son.  She enjoys volunteering, painting, reading, indulging her grandchildren, and trying to figure out why their cat “Mr. Bojangles” is so odd.

Vice President 

Professional Background:  Doug Schulte is an Otolaryngologist  - Head and Neck Surgeon with The Iowa Clinic.  He started practice in 2000 following residency training at The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Missional Background:  Doug started working with Mercy Ships in 2016, initially in Madagascar.  Over the next 5 years, he continued to volunteer on the Africa Mercy ship in Cameroon, Benin, Guinea, and Senegal.  In 2021, he left practice in Iowa and moved with his wife to Monrovia, Liberia, to serve at ELWA Hospital under the Mercy Ships umbrella.  He became the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, and later the acting Chief Medical Officer of Mercy Ships and served in 2022 in Senegal.  Since then, Doug has worked with the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons in Kenya and at Koutiala Women's and Children's Hospital in Mali.

Passion for the LearnWells Cause:  Living in Africa and seeing young children struggle to get water for themselves and their family, Doug has seen first-hand how important is the LearnWells cause.  He sees education and safe access to water as keys to aid in Africa.

Family Background: Doug is excited to be part of LearnWells with his wife, Darcey.  They have five wonderful children.  In his free time, Doug enjoys riding his motorcycle to all ends of the Earth - Deadhorse, Alaska, Copper Canyon, Mexico, Ushuaia, Argentina, Spain, Mali, and the Himalayas.

Treasurer & Finance

Professional Background: Darcey spent 20 years as a special education teacher for Des Moines Public Schools. During this time, she cultivated a passion for working with children with diverse learning needs, ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to receive a good education, regardless of status, location, or individual ability. 

Mission Background: Since leaving her teaching career, Darcey has shifted her passions into volunteerism and mission work. She has 14 years of volunteer experience, focused on global heath, education, homelessness, and food security. Darcey has worked both locally and across six different countries in Africa. Her work in Africa, supported by Mercy Ships and Blessman Ministries, has consisted of working as an educator, starting a Liberian preschool, and mentoring teachers both on the ground and on Mercy Ships. 

Passion for the LearnWells Cause: Darcey’s background in global health and education aligns perfectly with the LearnWells cause. Upon learning that the wells would be planted in schoolyards, she was immediately invested in the mission to combine water security and education. This will give girls more access and opportunity to receive an education, which changes lives - for the girls themselves, their communities, and beyond. 

Grant Writer

Professional Background: For the past 15 years, Pastor Phil has dedicated his life to ministry, with significant experience in both Urbandale, Iowa, and Chicago, Illinois. During his tenure, he has been actively involved in addressing social justice issues. This unwavering commitment to effecting positive change has led him to join LearnWells, where he is currently focused on exploring opportunities to make a meaningful impact in northern Nigeria. 

Missional Background: Phil’s commitment to social justice issues originated in Des Moines, where his family collaborated with a local organization dedicated to addressing the homelessness population. Through this experience, he gained a profound understanding of the intricate dynamics that contribute to homelessness, leading him to develop a specific focus on the vulnerable and marginalized individuals within society. His missional journey was further enriched by participating in a missional group that included the Robarges and Kennedy families. This group emphasized the significance of building meaningful relationships and actively seeking opportunities to effect positive change in the world around them. 

Passion for the LearnWells Cause: Upon learning about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Northern Nigeria, it was challenging to resist the desire to contribute to the efforts being made to address this pressing issue. Several factors contribute to this crisis: firstly, access to clean water should not be a privilege that individuals struggle to obtain. Secondly, this region poses significant security risks, deterring major international organizations from venturing into the area. Lastly, women, girls, and often marginalized communities bear the brunt of this crisis, responsible for traveling to fetch clean water for their households. This diversion of their attention from education hinders their ability to pursue their full potential. Considering these circumstances, LearnWells emerges as a remarkable organization that comprehensively addresses the multifaceted challenges faced by these communities. By providing clean water access and ensuring equal educational opportunities for all children, LearnWells empowers forgotten communities to thrive and foster social growth.

Communications

Professional Background: Heather possesses a deep passion for education and has dedicated her career to teaching. She has held teaching positions in Avondale, St. Louis, Des Moines, and Chicago. During her tenure in Des Moines, she pursued a master’s degree in teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). This pursuit led her to a position at a high school where she developed a specialized class designed to cater to newcomers from diverse backgrounds worldwide. Her unwavering commitment to education continued during her time in Chicago, where she currently works with middle school students who had recently immigrated to the United States. 

Missional Background: Heather has consistently demonstrated a profound passion for witnessing the divine presence in the world. Alongside her family, she has dedicated herself to serving the underserved population in Des Moines, recognizing the vulnerability and marginalization of this community. Additionally, Heather was apart of the missional group alongside the Kennedy family, fostering meaningful connections and demonstrating that the impact of love that goes beyond a church setting to the authentic lives of individuals. This commitment to building relationships has remained steadfast throughout her journey, as she continues to engage with people from diverse backgrounds and communities. 

Passion for the LearnWells Cause: Upon learning about the dire situation in Northern Nigeria and witnessing the unwavering dedication of Karen and Clayton, Heather felt compelled to take action. While she is deeply concerned about the lack of clean water for the population, her alignment with LearnWells lies in its educational component. Heather is passionate about empowering every child, particularly young girls, to access quality education and unlock the boundless potential for a fulfilling future.