Our Board Members

 

Pat Herath, Chairman

Founder and Executive Director of Wells 4 Wellness, Pat is a former registered nurse and worked in the international travel business. Known for her limitless energy for outreach projects, she has served in event planning and on many non profit advisory boards. As world travelers, she and husband, Dr. Bob Herath, have seen contaminated water steal the health and livelihoods of people in many nations. Pat is committed to completing 30 wells in Niger, Africa where lives are at stake in one of the world’s most impoverished nations.

Originally we committed to 33 wells and as of 2021 we have passed that goal and now over 60 wells are completed and still going. Drilling in Niger, Africa where lives are at stake in the world’s most impoverished country.

Diane Borders , Secretary

Lives in Moline with her husband Curt and has a passion for people.  They have 5 children and 14 grandchildren.  Diane resigned after 30 years in youth ministry to stay home with grand kids which gives her great opportunity to serve humanity in amazing organizations like Wells 4 Wellness and ‘Love for L’Allemand’, Haiti.

 

 

Ann Marx

A retired social worker, Ann is an Illinois State University graduate with a degree in Sociology. With an unquenchable thirst to learn about diverse cultures, she traveled to Southeast Asia in 2007. There she saw the difference clean water sources made in the communities she visited. In 2016 she had the opportunity to visit Niger, Africa where she saw first handed the greatest need for clean water. When she’s not volunteering for Wells 4 Wellness, she can be found mentoring children. And she makes a mean apple pie!

 

Kristi Siwajek

Kristi has many years of work experience with nonprofit organizations. She worked for twenty years for Children International in serving people in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the United States through a wide range of programs in health, education, community development (including water wells). She has an MBA from Drake University, and BA in International Management and Spanish from Central College. She looks forward to furthering the mission of Wells4Wellness.

 

 

 

 

Gary Siwajek

Gary Siwajek

Gary has a very strong record as a Sr. Account Executive at Parker Hannifin. Parker Hannifin provides highly engineered electrical and hydraulic solutions to better heat, cool, connect, and feed a growing population. Gary has diverse experience in every facet of industrial products from design, production, quality, through sales and logistics. Gary’s extensive travel to third world countries has given him great drive and appreciation for our cause. He has a dual MBA in Marketing and Finance, and always brings energy and creativity to our cause.

 

Advisory Members

 

Bob Herath

 Robert Herath, B.S., D.V.M.

Dr. Bob married his wife, Pat, in 1972. Together they founded the Andalusia Road Veterinary Centre in Milan, Illinois in 1976. Besides working full-time at the veterinary centre, he advises and encourages Pat in establishing the Wells4Wellness outreach. They visited Niger in 2011 and 2018, there he took many photographs that are now loaded on the Wells4Wellness website. Dr. Herath entered a career in Veterinary Medicine because he loves to help pets who cannot help themselves. Now that same passion spills out in an effort to help provide clean, safe drinking water for people groups who need it the most.

 

Greg Swanson

Greg Swanson is Utilities General Manager for the City of Moline, where he has worked in the public water supply field since 1977. His work experience encompasses a broad range of activities ranging from water treatment and distribution O&M to utility management and strategic planning. Greg serves on the boards of the Illinois Section American Water Works Association and Global Awareness Citizens. Greg is a strong advocate of public outreach efforts that promote water knowledge and appreciation, and prompt action to address the many water challenges facing our world.

 

 

David Pautsch

David Pautsch

Mr. Pautsch serves as a business advisor to Wells 4 Wellness. He uses a straight-forward approach which keeps the organization focused on its major goal: To provide safe, clean drinking water to communities in Niger. Following his time with the US Army Band he earned a marketing and communications degree at Virginia Tech. David has coordinated events for Luis Palau and currently owns L.W. Ramsey Advertising Agency in Davenport, Iowa. His organization, Thy Kingdom Come Ministries, sponsors the annual Quad Cities Prayer Breakfast.

 

Deb Bowen

Deb Bowen

Deb’s passion is story telling: having students interview living history in their own communities. Stories of the Holocaust, Civil Rights and more are told through her book project called A BOOK by ME (www.abookbyme.com). In addition, she works with high school foreign exchange students from third world nations.She worked and was influential in helping with Mwalimu’s Dream arise funds for a water well in his village in Kenya. From there she has helped on other water projects. Now she has passion for water wells to be drilled around the world.

 

Kate McGovern

Kate McGovern

Kate is a longtime leader, motivator and teacher in women’s studies. She’s an experienced event planner and fundraiser. Her passion for Wells 4 Wellness inspires others to join the organization’s mission.

She and husband, Tom, enjoy family and home and nine grandchildren. Kate is embarking on a career as a television talk show host in 2013.