LEADERSHIP

Hope To Walk is a volunteer-run organization.
Our Leadership and Board are not compensated (in this world!) for the countless hours they have invested helping others walk.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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Fred Kuhn

Chair
Fred Kuhn is a servant leader with over 30-years of nonprofit, media and publishing experience.

Currently, Kuhn serves as Governing Board Chair for Hope To Walk and is the Chief Growth Officer for NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement overseeing all growth initiatives, finances, membership, marketing and revenue generating activities for the organization. Originally from Chicago but operates out of Warrenton, Virginia, Kuhn has previously held leadership positions with AARP, U.S. News & World Report and Atlantic Media and holds a MA in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University and a BA in Sociology from Northern Illinois University.

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Heath Guinn

Vice-Chair
Heath Guinn is an entrepreneur and social impact leader based in Tennessee.

Heath Guinn is an entrepreneur and social impact leader based in Tennessee. Over the last 20 years, Guinn has led multiple projects and companies to sustainable success and become a leader in regional economic development strategy. In 2019, Guinn started Sync Space, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization focused on unleashing the power of entrepreneurship for social and economic change. Over the course of the first four years of the organization, a network of 50+ supporting businesses and more than $5,000,000 has been deployed in the rural Appalachian region of the United States, and the extension of the organization’s entrepreneurs have reached more than 23 rural counties of Appalachia and more than 12 countries worldwide. Guinn is a respected voice for the role that social impact entrepreneurship plays in creating prosperity for traditionally social and economically disadvantaged communities around the world.

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Phillip Johnson

Founder
Phillip has over 34 years of prosthetic and orthotic experience. He is an inventor with many skills and a passion for training others.

"My passion is to be Hope To Walk’s inventor and problem-solver. If I can donate my life by passing on God’s gift to me, that’s my goal."

 
Hope To Walk’s founder, brings 37 years of prosthetics and orthotics experience. He is a certified orthotist and a certified prosthetist through the Board of Orthotics and Prosthetics. In 2002, Phil traveled to Guatemala to help a young boy with a prosthetic
leg. The next morning, 18 children were lined up in hopes of receiving a leg as well. He was overwhelmed by the need in the third world, and knew there was no way he could help them with the standard prosthetic devices used in the first world. The trip
got him thinking of ways to solve the problem for those who could not afford prosthetics and had no access to healthcare or insurance. In 2014, Phil met a young medical student and the two founded Hope To Walk.
 
Since its inception, Phil has taken over 60 mission trips to Central America, Asia and Africa. He has invented and patented a below-the-knee, above-the-knee and an arm
that are some of the lowest cost prosthetics in the world. Phil enjoys the outdoors, gardening, painting and woodworking in his spare time.
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Kristen Staples

Board Member
Kristen is the Executive Director and she describes her work with Hope To Walk as the culmination of all her prior experience.

Kristen Staples, Executive Director, went on a mission trip with Hope To Walk in July 2018 – a trip that changed her life forever. Within just two days she knew that she could not return to a regular life in the USA and forget the plight of those less fortunate in developing countries. She jumped right in, and moved from marketing to executive leadership over the past few years. She describes her work with Hope to Walk as the culmination of all her prior experience.

As the granddaughter of a prosthetic inventor, she felt called toward the mission as soon as she heard about it. She studied Spanish in high school and minored in it in college, then moved to Spain after earning her BA in Economics. Later she returned home to California and worked in Silicon Valley for large tech firms such as Oracle. Wanting a more creative career, she enrolled in the MBA program at Georgetown University and transitioned into marketing. Upon graduation the Internet was in its infancy and Kristen then took a position at MCI Telecommunications as Product Manager where she helped shape the earliest products of the Internet, including the first online shopping mall and online directories.

After years in tech, and wanting something even more creative, Kristen changed careers and became a professional photographer in 2008. Taking her skills in marketing, photography, technology and community building, and coupling them with her desire to make an impact, Kristen now leads Hope To Walk. She lives in Guatemala and enjoys speaking Spanish every day and helping the people there.

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Loy Burch

Loy Burch

Board Member
Loy grew up at Espanola, New Mexico, holds Bachelors and Masters degrees from Eastern New Mexico University. He and his wife have been involved in mission work…

Loy Burch grew up at Espanola, New Mexico, holds Bachelors and Masters degrees from Eastern New Mexico University.  He and his wife have been involved in mission work in Honduras for over 30 years. He presently serves on the Board of Directors at the Baxter Institute, a four year Bible College and Medical Clinic in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Baxter is having a great impact on all Latin countries with students from eleven nations.  These students come from their home countries to study the Bible for 4 years and after graduation, return to their nations to serve others. This school is also the site of the clinic where Hope To Walk is based out of.

In 2011 Loy was contacted by a friend that a Honduran man, Juan Zavala, was in an accident and lost a leg. After inquiring about possibilities of his receiving a prosthetic leg in Honduras, he learned it was next to impossible. Loy brought Juan’s picture to Phillip Johnson and asked, “What will be the cost of a prosthetic leg for Juan?”  Phillip said, “Bring him here and I will make him a prosthetic leg at no cost”.  Next thing you know, Juan was on a plane leaving for America for the first time in his life. Philip fitted him with his prosthetic leg and Juan walked immediately. Loy and Phil continue to joke about how they had to tell Juan to slow down as he was running up the hill behind the office.

This whetted the interest of Loy and Phil.  They thought, “How can these prosthetic needs be met in Central America and around the world to help the poor?”  Phil had been concerned about this need for quite some time and had ideas and interest in the concept for “Hope To Walk.”  This development is so exciting that such a blessing can be potentially available to so many people in developing countries.

Loy is interested in making the “Johnson Leg” available to all who need it.

Loy and his wife Mary currently reside in Blacksburg.

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Jack Richmond

Board Member
A seasoned leader, Jack previously served as the CEO of the Amputee Coalition, the nation’s leading non-profit serving people affected by limb loss and limb difference.

We are thrilled that Jack Richmond has joined the Hope To Walk Board as of the Fall of 2019.

Jack’s leadership experience will play a pivotal role in Hope To Walk’s growth.  He previously served as the CEO of the Amputee Coalition, the nation’s leading non-profit serving people affected by limb loss and limb difference from 2016 to 2019. Jack understands full well what challenges amputee patients face as he experienced a crush injury to his foot in 1987 that resulted in a transtibial (below-knee) amputation. Soon after his limb loss he began working with a local amputee support group and quickly discovered he could help others to move forward while he was also moving on after limb loss.

Jack never forgot his initial journey of loss and recovery and it inspired him to enter a career in rehabilitation and prosthetics. Working for several providers and manufacturers since 1991, he earned a clinical credential as a Certified Prosthetic and Orthotic Assistant (CPOA) from the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics (ABC).

Jack is committed to improving access to prosthetic care for people around the world. He has been a volunteer with several organizations, including serving as the president of the Orthotic and Prosthetic Activities Foundation (OPAF), the Barr Foundation for Amputees and the United Amputee Services Association (UASA).  In 2018, the American Academy of Orthotics and Prosthetics (AAOP) recognized Jack’s commitment to advocacy and helping other amputees by awarding him an Honorary Lifetime Membership. 

Jack is an avid runner and cyclist and has completed five marathons since his limb loss. While the competition motivates him in races, he says his greatest motivation is ensuring others have access to the same support and prosthetic care that has enabled him to take care of his family and live a life of new ability, not disability.  He and his wife Laurie are an incredible addition to the Hope To Walk family and they currently live in East Tennessee.

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Dr. Daniel Drysdale

Board Member
Dan is a Florida native who grew up on an Alligator Farm which his brother still runs.

After finishing medical school at Duke, he specialized in ophthalmic surgery and has been working in Blacksburg his entire career.

Between work and visiting children and grandchildren with his wife Debi, he enjoys reading, travel, and golf, especially with his brother in St. Augustine, and with college classmates in New Jersey.

He has designed several eye surgical instruments, one of which has become a world-wide favorite and has a special place in mission eye surgery.

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Shelley Ballard

Board Member
Shelley Ballard, is a sales management, marketing, and event executive of the State, Local and Education (SLED) technology sector with more than 25 years of experience.

Her passion is to help implement products, services, and policies, to effectively improve the
citizen experience.

She has worked with all levels of government including elected officials, state legislators, and government affairs. In her current roll, she serves as a client executive for the research and advisory firm, Gartner Inc, working directly with State of California Health and Human Services departments and agencies.

Her “why” to join the board of Hope to Walk, is driven by her passion for helping people, her experience with loved ones impacted by the inability to walk, and desire to be a change agent for good.

She lives outside of Sacramento, CA. She attended CA State University at Sacramento where she studied business, communications, and journalism.

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Kim Abrego

Board Member
Dr. Kim Abrego, PT, DPT serves on the Board for Hope To Walk and is the President, COO, and co-founder of Disaster Recovery Services, LLC, a disaster recovery consulting company.

Kim has over 20 years of experience in leadership roles, repeatedly spearheading organizational growth through a combination of visionary and pragmatic leadership. She is now parlaying those skills into the non-profit world, contributing to the continued success of this important organization while combining her business and healthcare backgrounds. Kim was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and grew up in Toronto, Canada. She now resides in Austin, Texas with her husband and two children. Kim holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Texas Woman's University and a BS in Kinesiology from the University of Houston.

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Doug Buffkin

Board Member
Doug Buffkin is based in Virginia and has over 35 years of leadership and sales experience.

Doug joined the Hope To Walk board in 2023 bringing his experience in leading sales organizations supporting large corporations and federal agencies. He is passionate about giving (and giving back) and inspired by the work being done at HTW.

Mr. Buffkin is a telecommunications veteran with over 35 years of leadership and sales experience. Most recently, he led Civilian sales within AT&T’s Public Sector organization focused on delivering technology solutions through network transformation, cloud computing, IP-based services, 5G, cyber-security and IT professional services for federal agencies.

Doug is a proud graduate of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, but also has ties to Virginia Tech where his son is currently attending. He is married with 3 children and resides in Aldie, Virginia.

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Jeri Curry

Board Member
Jeri has extensive experience in C-suite leadership and has worked in more than 40 countries.
Jeri is an Inspiring and results-driven executive with extensive media, strategic communications, nonprofit, humanitarian response, disaster recovery, international development, the nonprofit sector, management consulting and C-suite leadership experience at sector leading organizations including; The Washington Post, Northrop Grumman, Department of Defense, Deloitte, MCI, Discovery Communications, Vanderbilt University, Internews and Public Interest Registry. She has worked in more than 40 countries around the world, and is passionate about the intersection of technology, community, business, and communications. 
 
Jeri owns Fourth Sector Digital, a strategic communications and management consulting firm and is currently the Executive Director of Marshall ROC , the VOAD long term recovery group working to restore the communities impacted by the December 30. 2021, Marshall Fire & Windstorm Disaster in Boulder County, Colorado. 
 
Jeri is a graduate of the University of Colorado School of Journalism and the Georgetown University School of Public Policy NonProfit Executive Management program.
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LEADERSHIP TEAM

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Phil Johnson

Founder
Phil has over 34 years of prosthetic and orthotic experience. He is an inventor with many skills and a passion for training others.

"My passion is to be Hope To Walk’s inventor and problem-solver. If I can donate my life by passing on God’s gift to me, that’s my goal."

Hope tTo Walk’s founder, Phil Johnson, brings 34 years of prosthetics and orthotics experience. He is a certified orthotist and a certified prosthetist through the Board of Orthotics and Prosthetics.

In addition to his practice, Phil has a passion for using his training and skills to help those who are most in need by traveling on mission trips to Central America. On a trip to Guatemala, he gave a boy a leg. The next morning, thirty more children were lined up in hopes of receiving a leg as well. He was overwhelmed by the need and knew that there was no way that he could help them with the standard prosthetic devices available at the time.

Years later, when Phil met Michael Mabry, his interest was re-ignited as Michael was able to bring some new skills and capabilities that could help them address this need. Together they began to research and collaborate. Michael introduced Phil to Ed Bellaire and Hope to Walk was born.

Phil’s quite a renaissance man. From bull riding to gardening to painting, he’s truly done it all. Phil’s an outdoors-man who enjoys hiking, fishing, and hunting near his century-old house in Appalachian Mountains of Virginia.

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Kristen Staples

Executive Director
Kristen is currently leading our Marketing Team and she describes her work with Hope To Walk as the culmination of all her prior experience.

Kristen Staples is currently leading our Marketing Team and she describes her work with Hope to Walk as the culmination of all her prior experience. As the granddaughter of a prosthetic inventor, she felt called toward the mission as soon as she heard about it.

Kristen attended the University of California Santa Barbara and earned a BA in Economics and minored in Spanish. She began her post-college career in Barcelona for one of Spain’s largest banks, however she would later return home to California and worked in Silicon Valley for large tech firms such as Oracle. Wanting a more creative career, she enrolled in the MBA program at Georgetown University and transitioned into marketing. Upon graduation the Internet was in its infancy and Kristen then took a position at MCI Telecommunications as Product Manager where she helped shape the earliest products of the Internet, including the first online shopping mall and online directories.

Later she started a marketing consulting company serving small and large companies with a concentration on building user-friendly websites. After years in tech, and wanting something even more creative, Kristen changed careers and became a professional photographer in 2008. She runs a portrait business in Leesburg, Virginia. From 2015 to 2018, seeking a way to give back, Kristen built the leading U.S. presence for a UK-based women’s networking organization, building a community of over 1,200 women in the D.C. area.

Taking her skills in marketing, photography, technology and community building, and coupling them with her desire to make an impact, Kristen now leads Marketing efforts for Hope to Walk. She lives with her husband in Northern Virginia and has two children who are in college.

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Ray Stell

3D Printing
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