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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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 To 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

Board Member
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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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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Dr. Theresa Turner

Treasurer
Dr. Theresa Turner started The Biz Doctor, in 2015, to provide business consulting services for small to medium sized businesses. She has a Masters’ and Doctorate in Business Administration and a B.S. in Human Resources...

Dr. Theresa Turner started The Biz Doctor, in 2015, to provide business consulting services for small to medium sized businesses. She has a Masters’ and Doctorate in Business Administration and a B.S. in Human Resources. Her career experience spans a range of services that include manufacturing, retail and food industries, and the consulting engineering and surveying professions. Prior to start up of The Biz Doctor, she served on the C-Suite as VP/CFO and Director of Human Resources for Draper Aden Associates. She also served on the Board of Directors and was a shareholder.

The vision for the Biz Doctor is to provide services for businesses to assist with achieving organizational and financial health. Financial health includes assistance with business start-ups, core business functions such as bookkeeping and financial performance analyses, and other forms of strategic planning. Organizational health includes operational and human resources assistance such as: operations planning, strategy and leadership development, succession planning and multiple professional development training sessions that include effective communication strategies, leadership development, succession planning, basics of business accounting and planning and more!

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LEADERSHIP TEAM

phil headshot

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.

Read More
kristen headshot

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.

Read More
_KNS4790-Edit-Edit

Dr. Theresa Turner

Accountant
Dr. Theresa Turner started The Biz Doctor, in 2015, to provide business consulting services for small to medium sized businesses. She has a Masters’ and Doctorate in Business Administration and a B.S. in Human Resources...

Dr. Theresa Turner started The Biz Doctor, in 2015, to provide business consulting services for small to medium sized businesses. She has a Masters’ and Doctorate in Business Administration and a B.S. in Human Resources. Her career experience spans a range of services that include manufacturing, retail and food industries, and the consulting engineering and surveying professions. Prior to start up of The Biz Doctor, she served on the C-Suite as VP/CFO and Director of Human Resources for Draper Aden Associates. She also served on the Board of Directors and was a shareholder.

The vision for the Biz Doctor is to provide services for businesses to assist with achieving organizational and financial health. Financial health includes assistance with business start-ups, core business functions such as bookkeeping and financial performance analyses, and other forms of strategic planning. Organizational health includes operational and human resources assistance such as: operations planning, strategy and leadership development, succession planning and multiple professional development training sessions that include effective communication strategies, leadership development, succession planning, basics of business accounting and planning and more!

Read More
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Ray Stell

3D Printing
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