Our People

Mark has been with M. A. Mortenson Company since 1990, initially as a financial analyst before earning his law degree in 1995 and subsequently rejoining the company, serving in various project roles including assistant corporate secretary, until his appointment as corporate secretary in 2002. In 2005, he led the company in restructuring its investment program and in 2007 became president of Lansing Group, LLC, managing investment programs for the parent company, subsidiaries, and private entities, expanding into impact investing.

Mark is also involved in various philanthropic and mission-driven organizations, having chaired Alight’s board and served on the boards of Minnesota United FC and several other mission-driven businesses, and held positions in organizations like the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota, Minnesota Zoo Foundation, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, and Daystar U.S.

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!

Katie is an active volunteer in her community and serves on the Board of Mortenson Family Foundation. Her work and volunteer experience have focused on non-profit organizations that work in the US and globally in the areas of pediatric cardiac care and immigrant and refugee services.  She also spent many years teaching English as a Second Language. She was born and raised in Minnesota, US where she and her husband, Mark, have raised their three sons and where she loves spending time in the outdoors biking, hiking, cross-country skiing and enjoying nature.

Ann has spent over 25 years helping organizations capture the heart, inspire the mind, and motivate the hands of key stakeholders through strategic human resource practices, effective change management, and compelling communications. Ann has spent her professional career leading teams at Willis Towers Watson and Tradition Capital Bank as well as providing consulting and coaching support to for-profit and not-for-profit clients through Next Chapter Communications, which she founded in 2017.

Ann currently serves on the board of three nonprofits close to her heart: START Senior Solutions (chairperson), HEART Response Ministry (chairperson), and ASILI.

In her free time, Ann enjoys traveling the world and soaking in the culture, food, and music wherever she goes. Ann has two grown children and lives in St. Paul with her husband.

Born and raised in Bukavu, Valéry serves as Chief Executive Officer of Asili, overseeing the organization’s vision, strategy, operations, and growth. He ensures that Asili’s health and water services consistently deliver on the promise of quality, dignity, and impact for the communities served, with a constant attention to detail that brings the organization’s mission to life each day. A dedicated and values-driven leader, Valéry champions Asili’s commitment to community-led development, ensuring programs create lasting impact. He oversees Asili’s health and water programs while guiding strategic expansion in areas such as maternal health, nutrition, and economic empowerment, strengthening operational excellence and resilience in complex environments.

Valéry is deeply committed to developing local leadership and fostering a culture of accountability, dignity, and continuous learning across Asili’s teams. Known for his gentle sense of humor and steady leadership, he also serves as a key ambassador for the organization, building strong partnerships to advance Asili’s long-term sustainability and global impact. Beyond his work at Asili, Valéry is a gifted pianist and composer, recognized throughout the DRC and invited to perform in Kinshasa for the President. He lives and works in Bukavu, a city he deeply loves for its culture and architecture.

Bringing over a decade of professional experience, Arnauld is an expert in project and program management, strategic planning, social enterprise development, and organizational leadership. He excels in team building, effective communication, and public speaking, fluent in both French and English.

With a bachelor’s degree in development studies and a master’s degree in project planning and management, Arnauld has led programs in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, and Rwanda, demonstrating a strong commitment to African community development.

Divine serves as the Field Operations Manager at Asili, where she leads and strengthens field operations with a strong focus on impact and sustainability. Having joined in 2020 as a volunteer, she advanced into key roles overseeing water infrastructure projects in Bukavu and the surrounding areas. Her work contributes directly to improving service quality and expanding access to clean water for the most vulnerable communities.

Drawing on her experience in community development within conflict-affected regions, Divine brings a pragmatic and committed style of leadership. Firmly convinced that sustainable solutions emerge from local collaboration, she places communities at the heart of every intervention.

Dr. Mugisho possesses a master’s degree in community health alongside extensive experience in the South Kivu region. With a specialized focus on primary health care, he excels in planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating health initiatives.

Collaborating closely with organizations such as the WFP, UNICEF, and WHO, Mugisho has spearheaded vital nutrition, water supply, sanitation, and hygiene programs benefiting impoverished communities in Kabare. He has also managed comprehensive vaccination and health programs aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality rates. Additionally, Dr. Mugisho has played a pivotal role in conducting epidemiological surveillance and leading responses to various epidemics, including cholera, measles, and COVID-19, as well as managing disaster relief efforts during floods and fires.

A finance professional with expertise in financial management, accounting, and internal controls, Prince supports budgetary and financial management as well as partner training. He has worked with Asili for over ten years and prioritizes integrity, rigor, and continuous improvement to ensure transparency and financial performance.

Pascaline serves as Head of Administration and Human Resources at Asili, bringing over a decade of dedication, growth, and leadership within the organization. Since joining in 2014 as a Secretary-Receptionist, she has steadily advanced through her commitment, diligence, and perseverance. In her current role, Pascaline oversees administrative coordination, human resources management, and operational support, ensuring that teams are well-equipped and systems run smoothly. She leads recruitment, staff support, and key administrative processes that sustain Asili’s programs.

Before Asili, she worked as an Administrative Secretary for the Division of Industry, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in South Kivu, building a strong foundation in organizational management. Passionate about investing in people, Pascaline is committed to fostering a respectful and supportive work environment where teams can thrive. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and pursuing entrepreneurial activities.

Giovanni (Gio) serves as Asili’s Director of Development & Communications, a role dedicated to advancing the organization’s growth, sustainability, and impact through strategic fundraising and compelling storytelling. In this capacity, Gio leads institutional partnership development and private giving efforts, manages the grant lifecycle from prospecting to reporting, and cultivates meaningful relationships with foundations, corporate partners, and individual supporters. He oversees donor engagement and stewardship, directs cross-channel communications, and collaborates closely with leadership and field teams in Congo to align fundraising strategy with operational priorities in water, health, and energy sectors. The dedication, resilience, and leadership of Asili’s team on the ground inspire him daily and fuel his commitment to strengthening the support systems that allow their work to thrive.

Highly organized and detail-oriented, Gio holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and a master’s in Global Development and Justice, grounding his work in transformative and holistic development and applying those principles to advance Asili’s mission each day. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, traveling (especially to Africa), exploring the outdoors, tending to his garden and chickens, and reading.

Aude serves as Director of Operations and External Relations for Asili, where she orchestrates and streamlines operations while championing the organization’s mission to create sustainable, community-led development. Since her start with the Asili team, Aude has brought extensive professionalism and service management expertise. Her role progression to operations reflects her fervent passion for humanitarian development and her commitment to amplifying her colleagues’ transformative work in the DRC. What drives Aude’s dedication is Asili’s distinctive approach: programs that are fully built and managed by local Congolese teams, creating jobs, strengthening communities, and ensuring lasting impact well beyond any single project.

Before joining Asili, Aude held key leadership positions at Robert Half International and One Hope United. Trilingual in English, French, and Spanish, she leverages her diverse skill set to enhance community welfare and foster innovative development initiatives. Aude studied at the University of Bordeaux III in France, where she developed the administrative prowess and cross-cultural competencies that define her work today. Her greatest strength lies in her innate kindness and genuine compassion for others.