MEET OUR TEAM
Kelsey Potter Founder |
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Kelsey has an educational background in social work and a career background working with refugees, immigrants, and other international populations. She spends her free time fully immersed in passions of writing, traveling, essential oils and holistic wellness. She took her first trip to Tanzania in the summer of 2011, where she volunteered in a local nursery school and met a local volunteer named Carles. Less than a year later Kelsey partnered with Carles in his dream to open Project Hope Nursery School in an underserved village in rural Tanzania. She returned to Tanzania in 2013 to work with the children and community served by Project Hope School and fell immediately in love. She now travels to Tanzania annually in order to visit the children and community, and work with our local team to measure success and develop new programs. Kelsey enjoys meeting with the Project Hope community to discuss ways in which to improve and expand the programs that we provide. She is dedicated to the work of Toa Tumaini Foundation and the community she has come to know and love.
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Caitlin McCaliano president |
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Caitlin holds her bachelor’s degree in psychology as well as a Montessori Certification specializing in children from birth to age three. Throughout her career, Caitlin has always been involved with education, humanitarianism, and public service. She has worked with children and adults with disabilities, taught in a Montessori classroom, and volunteered locally and globally with at-risk youth and their families. In 2011, Caitlin volunteered in Tanzania with Cross-Cultural Solutions, an organization that improves education and health opportunities for communities that need it most. During Caitlin's work in Tanzania, she experienced first-hand the struggles that the local community had with obtaining basic needs and education, and she was struck by their overwhelming spirit of generosity in the face of this adversity, always welcoming visitors into the home to offer what very little they have. This eye-opening experience put life into perspective for Caitlin, who continues to admire and advocate for the people in Tanzania. She is dedicated to helping support the community there through her work with the amazing board of the Toa Tumani Foundation.
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Aaron Potter vice president |
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Aaron was born and raised in Oshkosh, WI. He is currently working as a brewer with 3 Sheeps Brewing Company where he is happy to say that he has turned a hobby and passion into a career. Aaron has a passion for exploring new places and experiencing new cultures as well as an appreciation for the outdoors. When he’s not working, Aaron is spending time outdoors or daydreaming about and planning his next trip. As a matter of fact, Aaron spent many years taking extended hiking trips each year and was excited when he was able to spend his hiking trip of 2017 climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro while on a voluntour trip with Toa Tumaini Foundation. He began volunteering with TTF in 2016, helping document and track donations and assisting with fundraising opportunities. Aaron's volunteering on the board turned into two voluntour trips to Tanzania during which he has enjoyed exploring the amazing country and working with the incredible people. He currently serves as Director of Photography and Media, assisting with the nonprofit's online presence.
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Mitch Hulet Secretary |
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Mitch joined the Toa Tumaini Foundation Board in 2019 with a desire to help drive and fulfill its mission of improving the lives of underserved children in Tanzania. His values include improving access to food for people of all circumstances and providing access to educational opportunities for people across the globe. Mitch brings to TTF his extensive experience working with and supporting children through over ten years of coaching youth sports and as a leader in the Boy Scouts of America. He hopes that his experience in business and in youth activities together with his passion to improve access to food and education for all people will benefit the Toa Tumaini Foundation. He has served as a board member on two subsequent boards for a leading engineering consulting firm in the energy industry. He has held senior leadership positions of Chief Operating Officer and his current role of Chief Risk Officer at EN Engineering. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bradley University, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from The University of Chicago. Mitch has been happily married to his wife Janet for 34 years and he loves to travel with their adult son and daughter.
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Hannah Ruplinger Treasurer |
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Hannah is a Laboratory Manager at a clinic in Appleton, WI. She loves to serve and since her trip to TZ in 2017 has developed an itch for travel that can not be scratched! She enjoys spending time with family and the outdoors. She can often be found playing strategy board games and training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with her fiance Bob. Her heart belongs to those in need and she strives to make a difference in the lives of others as frequently as possible. She is looking forward to the upcoming years with the Toa Tumaini board and conquering the challenges and possibilities that lay ahead.
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David Hulet Director |
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David Hulet was born in Chicago, Illinois and is a retired police officer. Dave has had a lifetime passion for social justice issues. He has a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and a Master's degree in Organizational Leadership and is now looking for new ways to work, serve and follow his passions. Dave is a life time lover of nature and wildlife and is moved by the beauty and magic of this special place and the children most of all who need our help. He has visited Project Hope School twice to work with the kids and community. He also participated in our first ever charity Mt. Kilimanjaro Climb. His love for Tanzania and the work we are doing increases with each visit
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Alexandria "Annie" King-Close director |
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Alexandria joined as a board member of Toa Tumaini Foundation in 2021, to contribute her experience in global development, non-profit management, and field research in Tanzania to an organization that makes a tangible, real world difference. She is a research tools consultant helping public sector scientific and medical researchers, and previously worked in public health policy translation and then international affairs at Harvard University. Alexandria also serves as Strategist Driver of Outreach in borderless development for Global Partners for People, Inc., a non-profit that connects teams from around the world to build innovative social entrepreneurship projects. She serves as an official ambassador of the City of Sheboygan, Wisconsin as a member of the Mayor’s International Committee, and has traveled as a political delegate to Japan and Venezuela. Alexandria earned her Bachelor of Arts from UW-Madison in Sociology, Women’s Studies, Global Cultures, and African Studies; and her Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies concentrating in International Relations from Harvard University. She enjoys embarking on little adventures with her family, and is learning to freshwater surf.
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