Victor Grinev, Chair

Before joining the board of the International Action in 2006, Victor was working for the International Center, a non-profit company that was involved in international environmental and public health programs. For the last 15 years he has been managing cross border supply projects. Currently he is running an export management company and U.S. Customs Brokerage company – https://achcustomsbroker.com/

Larry E. Newman, President

Larry is a professional Civil Engineer, registered in multiple states.  He graduated with a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland in 1974, and with a M.S. in 1980.  With over 40 years engineering experience, in the water, wastewater, stormwater, and structural engineering disciplines; Larry has nineteen years’ experience working on missionary and development work in Haiti.  He has been responsible for school construction, water system design and construction, and solar electric projects in Haiti, and is an active member of several church missionary groups working in the country.  Larry serves on several boards of organizations focused on development work in Haiti, including Hens for Haiti (a 501c3 organization focused on establishing sustainable egg production facilities) and the Build Haiti Foundation, based in Columbia Maryland.  Larry also serves on the Columbia, Maryland sister city committee; wherein the town of Columbia is twinned with Cap Haitien in northern Haiti. Larry is an active Rotarian, is the chairman of the International Committee for his Rotary club in Columbia, Maryland, and is responsible for several other international water projects through this organization. Larry travels to Haiti 2-3 times a year for multi-week assignments to oversee the Haiti Water development and sustainability efforts.

Jeffery Sejour, Treasurer

A Haitian-American, holds his Bachelor’s from Frostburg State University with a concentration in Economic Development, minors in French and Geography, and a certificate in International Area Studies – Middle East and Africa. He has been working with International Action since 2009, where he currently serves the role of Treasurer. He is also an integral link with international staff in Haiti, helping them maximize efficiency and organization. Additional, Jeffery has been involved in executing a clean water project that helps Haitians from waterborne illness.

Geri Lanham, Country Director

Geri is from the small central Illinois town of Charleston. Geri graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2015, & put her Haitian creole language skills to use by spending 3 years as a volunteer project manager with the Religious of Jesus & Mary in Gros Morne, Haiti. Thanks to experiences working with peasant organizations & chapels active in the 8 rural communal sections of Gros Morne, Geri saw how vital access to water is & how it dramatically changes the quality of life of a community. While participating in education formations about the importance of clean water with local women’s groups, Geri heard testimonials of women who shared how clean water improved the health of their families & how much they value the ability to have access to clean water.

Geri first encountered Haiti Water in 2017, when they began drilling wells in the area of Campeche in Gros Morne at a hen house supported by the local parish agronomy team. Geri joined the Haiti Water team in 2018, & acts as country director for the organization in-country as well as project manager for the well digging team, focusing on logistics & communication. Geri sees the well digging project as a way to help communities increase their assets by giving them access to a stable water source. She is eager to follow the development of these wells & see how access to water will impact the beneficiary communities.