Meet the Founders
Ian & Janine Maxwell
Co-founders of Heart for Africa
Ian and Janine Maxwell built their lives and careers in Canada, running a successful marketing agency and raising their family. But along the way, their hearts were drawn toward something bigger. Encounters with poverty, hunger, and children in need shifted their focus and gave them a vision: to use their experience and resources to bring hope where it was desperately needed.
That vision became Heart for Africa, a place where faith and compassion meet practical action. Today, Ian and Janine continue to lead with the same conviction that first moved them: that love, when put to work, can change countless lives.
Hope lives here
Authored by Janine Maxwell
“With our current initiatives based in Eswatini, I wanted to capture what it truly feels like to walk this journey. That’s why I wrote Hope Lives Here. It’s not a manual or a report—it’s our story. The story of heartbreak and hope, of mistakes and miracles, of what it means to say yes when God asks you to step out in faith.
The book takes you behind the scenes of Project Canaan: a place where abandoned babies are welcomed into our family, where food is grown to fight hunger, and where education is opening doors for a new generation. It also weaves together the threads of my first two books, It’s Not Okay With Me and Is It Okay With You?, because this story didn’t begin in Eswatini, it’s been unfolding for years.
Hope Lives Here is our testimony that joy and sorrow often walk hand in hand, but when love leads, hope always has the final word.”
– Janine Maxwell
Meet the team
Senior Leadership
Spencer Maxwell
Chief Operations Officer
Spencer’s journey with Heart for Africa began as a child, traveling on service trips across Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, and Swaziland, witnessing the organization’s impact firsthand. With a background in consulting and business innovation at Ernst & Young and advanced degrees in International Business and Marketing Management, he brings strategic expertise to amplify Heart for Africa’s mission. Spencer is based in Michigan with his wife, Jane, and their son, Beck.
John McCarthy
Chief Financial Officer
After a family trip in 2012, John was inspired to join Heart for Africa and bring his 20+ years of accounting and operational management experience to the mission. Based in Chattanooga, he combines business expertise with a deep passion for nonprofit service and faith-driven leadership.
Margaret Woodis
Director of Development
Based in Middle Tennessee, Margaret brings over 13 years of experience in development and marketing to Heart for Africa, having worked with organizations like the American Heart Association and TrustPoint Hospital. She is passionate about using her skills to amplify the voices of marginalized communities and create meaningful impact.
Pamela Schreiner
Director of Operations
Pamela has spent her career in administration, fundraising, and event planning for nonprofit organizations, driven by a heart to serve those who have been exploited or are at risk. She is passionate about using her gifts to make a meaningful impact and grow the Kingdom through her work with Heart for Africa. She is based in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Our team
Jennifer Swindall
Relationship Manager
Kenya Hughes
Community Relations Coordinator
Lisa Borders
Content Strategist
Riley Powell
Trips
Coordinator
Tricia Ford
Executive Assistant
to the Board
Tara Boyer
Administrative
Support
Julie Wilkerson
Khutsala™ Artisan
Fulfillment
Katie Brown
Executive Assistant & Facilities Manager
Norma Tibshirany
Volunteer Travel
Coordinator
Board of Directors
Chris Winkle
Chairman
Chris Winkle is a seasoned healthcare executive with more than 35 years of leadership experience in senior living, acute and post-acute care, finance, and strategic planning. He served as CEO of Sunrise Senior Living from 2014 to 2021, following senior leadership roles at MedQuest, Mariner Health Care, and Integrated Health Services, where he helped pioneer the sub-acute care sector.
A longtime supporter of Heart for Africa, Chris first visited in 2009 for the ground blessing of Project Canaan and returned for the 10th Anniversary in 2019. He brings both professional expertise and a personal passion for service to his role on the Board of Directors. Chris resides in Middleburg, VA, with his wife, and together they enjoy time with their four children and two grandchildren.
Sandra Green
Vice Chairman
Sandra Green has been part of the Heart for Africa family since 2006, serving in many capacities including Finance Chair and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors. She has also led volunteer teams to Africa for nine summers, reflecting her deep commitment to the mission.
Professionally, Sandra is the owner of Winn Contracting Services in Gainesville, GA, and previously enjoyed a distinguished career in healthcare leadership, including senior executive roles at Medassets, Vizient, and Share Services Healthcare. She brings decades of expertise in strategic planning, contract negotiations, and organizational leadership to her role on the board.
Melva Tate
Secretary
Known as the “HR Fixer,” Melva Tate brings more than 25 years of human resource management expertise to her role on the Heart for Africa Board. As founder of Tate & Associates, LLC, she has guided organizations across the U.S. with consulting in leadership, employee engagement, diversity and inclusion, and compliance. A Navy veteran and award-winning business owner, Melva’s career is marked by excellence, service, and a passion for equipping others to succeed.
Her commitment to community leadership is evident in her service on numerous nonprofit boards and in the national recognition she’s received, including the Joseph R. Biden Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. Melva lives by her mantra “Put in the work” and continues to inspire teams, leaders, and communities to do the same.
Jill Wood-Wolff
Treasurer
Jill Wood-Wolff is a Certified Public Accountant with more than 20 years of experience in tax and accounting. As Chief Operating Officer of Steele Consulting LLC, she oversees offices in Atlanta, Silicon Valley, Detroit, and New York, guiding the firm’s financial operations, strategy, and business development. Her career has also included senior leadership roles at The Home Depot, Cox Enterprises, and PwC, giving her deep expertise in financial management and organizational growth.
An Atlanta native, Jill has long believed in using her gifts to serve others. Her passion for supporting orphaned and abandoned children has led her to travel to Africa, where she has seen firsthand the impact of Heart for Africa’s work. She feels called to combine her professional skills with her faith to help advance the mission of bringing hope through Hunger relief, Orphan care, Poverty alleviation, and Education.
Ian Maxwell
Founder & CEO
Ian Maxwell leads Heart for Africa with a vision for creating self-sustainable food security that drives long-term community transformation. With a background in economics and operations, he brings together partners from around the world to build lasting, collaborative solutions.
Before founding Heart for Africa, Ian served as Vice President of Operations at Onyx Marketing Group in Toronto, Canada, and holds a degree in Economics from Bishop’s University in Quebec.
Spencer Maxwell
COO
Spencer’s journey with Heart for Africa began as a child, traveling on service trips across Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, and Swaziland, witnessing the organization’s impact firsthand. With a background in consulting and business innovation at Ernst & Young and advanced degrees in International Business and Marketing Management, he brings strategic expertise to amplify Heart for Africa’s mission. Spencer is based in Michigan with his wife, Jane, and their son, Beck.
Janine Maxwell
Founder & CPO
Janine Maxwell built one of Canada’s most successful marketing firms before a life-changing experience on 9/11 set her on a new path. Seeking greater purpose, she traveled to Africa, where the realities of AIDS, hunger, and poverty moved her to action. Together with her husband, Ian, she co-founded Heart for Africa, a faith-based nonprofit focused on bringing hope through Hunger relief, Orphan care, Poverty alleviation, and Education.
A graduate of Evangel University, Janine is also the author of three books, including Hope Lives Here, which shares the behind-the-scenes story of Heart for Africa’s journey. She continues to lead with vision and passion, using her voice and experience to advocate for those too often unheard.
Doug Liptak
Board Member
Doug Liptak is a strategic leader dedicated to advancing Heart for Africa’s mission to fight hunger, poverty, and support education for children in Africa. As Chief Strategy Officer, he combines his expertise in financial planning, wealth management, and strategic leadership to guide the organization’s initiatives.
Doug co-founded SignatureFD, a leading wealth management firm, and holds a Master of Taxation from Georgia State University and a BA in Accounting from Furman University. He is a CPA and CFP, highlighting his deep expertise in finance.
A supporter of Heart for Africa since its founding, Doug has visited Africa multiple times to see the organization’s impact firsthand. He and his wife, Marianne, live in Greensboro, Georgia, and actively share the joy and results of Heart for Africa’s work in Hunger, Orphans, Poverty, and Education (HOPE).
La’Kerri Jackson
Board Member
La’Kerri Jackson is the Global Director of Social Impact at UPS, leading programs that promote economic empowerment, equity, and entrepreneurship worldwide. She oversees initiatives like the UPS Women Exporters Program, supporting women entrepreneurs across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, and manages multimillion-dollar investments for underserved communities.
La’Kerri founded the African Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative (TAWEEI), which has transformed the lives of over 3,000 women in Uganda. She also volunteers to mentor entrepreneurs in Cambodia and has served on boards including Career Rise and the Global Village Project.
She holds a B.A. in Leadership Studies from Beulah Heights University and an ABA-approved paralegal certification. La’Kerri enjoys traveling, volunteering, and helping others reach their potential.
Carol Hickman
Board Member
Carol Hickman is Chair of Heart for Africa (Canada) and a veteran family law attorney, mediator, and arbitrator in Greater Vancouver. She earned her law degree from the University of Saskatchewan, was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2010, and has over 25 years of experience in complex family law.
Carol founded West Coast ADR Law Group and continues her practice at Quay Law Centre. She is passionate about Project Canaan in Eswatini, raising funds and awareness for children affected by drought, famine, and AIDS, and has visited the region to support Heart for Africa’s outreach programs.
Kristi Morrill
Board Member
Kristi Morrill is a registered nurse with over 30 years of experience in Neonatal Intensive Care, and a dedicated supporter of Heart for Africa. Her faith and family are central to her life, and she is actively involved in mentoring, fundraising, and outreach initiatives with HFA.
Kristi became a monthly donor and volunteer after her first mission trip to Eswatini in 2017, an experience that inspired her to sponsor children at Project Canaan and support projects like Water Down the Mountain and Khutsala. She continues to advocate for HFA’s mission to improve the lives of children affected by poverty, hunger, and disease and plans her second trip to Eswatini in Spring 2023.
Tim Lambert
Board Member
Tim Lambert is a leader in the Canadian and global egg industry, passionate about sustainable food systems, nutrition, and public trust. He holds an Honours degree in Animal and Poultry Science from the University of Guelph and has built his career in agriculture, working with Ontario Swine Improvement, Beef Improvement Ontario, and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture’s genetic programs.
Tim is a founding Trustee and Chair of the International Egg Foundation, former President of the World Egg Organisation, and former Chair of Heart for Africa (Canada). He has been recognized with the University of Guelph Alumni of Honour award (2018) and named one of the Top 50 Most Influential People in Canadian Agriculture (2021).
