About Us
Supporting Educational and Entrepreneurial endeavors
AVODA Fund's purpose is to raise support for educational and entrepreneurial endeavors in developing nations around the globe.
Our Board Members
Ross Walters
chairman
Ross is a retired wealth management executive with over 40 years of experience at BB&T and Bank of America. He is currently an adjunct professor at Anderson University and North Greenville University in South Carolina. He attained his MBA from Anderson University, MAR in Theology from Westminster Theological Seminary, and BBA in Finance from Florida Atlantic University. He also is a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church in America.
Jun Shiomitsu
Vice Chairman
Jun is the founder & president of AVODA Group. Prior to this, Jun was a banker for 13 years in Japan, the UK, and Switzerland, initially as the Assistant Vice President of the Treasury Department of Citibank Japan. He also
served as co-founder of the Global Financial Institute of Deutsche Bank Group. He earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Cambridge.
Jason MacGregor
Treasurer
Jason is an Associate Professor and Roderick Holmes Chair of Accountancy at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, USA. He is originally from Canada. He has undergraduate degree from the University of Windsor and a Ph.D. from the University of Florida. His academic research has been published in top journals including Auditing. Current Issues in Auditing, Managerial Auditing, Journal of Accounting and Public Policy.
Izak De Wet
Board Member
Izak is currently the Managing Director of a Fintech company called Plumb Line, specialising in compliance software and is based in Cape Town, South Africa.. Experienced in the Insurance and Finance industry, and skilled in Management, Financial Risk, Risk Management, and Managerial Finance. Obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) focused in Business Process Outsourcing from University of Wales, Cardiff. Also obtained a master’s in accounting and is a Chartered Accountant.
Joann K. Williams
Board Member
Joann earned her Ph.D. degree from Washington State University. Her teaching expertise is in the areas of management and human resource management with a focus on team and leadership development. Dr. Williams retired from full time collegiate teaching to pursue other areas of ministry. She currently serves as Director of Children’s Ministry at Riverwood Presbyterian Church in Tuscaloosa, AL. She is also the Academic Coordinator for AVODA Institute of Entrepreneurship for Africa. She was a faculty member and Academic Coordinator for African Business Institute, a program of African Bible College in Uganda and Malawi.
Dave Miller
Board Member
Dave is CEO at SmartPay Rentals and deacon at All Saints Church. He is passionate about building God’s kingdom through business and community. Dave and his wife Anne live in beautiful Lancaster County, Pennsylvania with their 7 rowdy and wonderful children.
Marcelo Vieira
Board Member
Marcelo Vieira has had extensive work in both the business and academic worlds. He is presently an Investment Analyst for Cadence Bank in Mississippi. Marcelo and his family spent a number of years in Malawi and Uganda where he taught graduate classes at the African
Business Institute (ABI) associated with the African Bible University. He continues on the Board of Advisors of ABI. A native of Brazil, Marcelo, his wife, Amanda, are both accomplished professional musicians. They along with their three children have settled in Mississippi. Marcelo related, “I believe I can contribute to AVODA Fund board with my cross-cultural background, cross-functional professional experience, and my faith that He who is greater that all will see His work done through us who follow His Word.”
Brian B. Lee
Board Member
Brian Lee is a global operations leader with over 20 years of experience in building and scaling operations from startup to billion-dollar companies. He has worked with Fortune500 clients in diverse industries in aerospace, automotive, defense, electronics, entertainment, food and beverage, and textiles. He has also launched and scaled operations in over 50 countries, led company and department reorganizations, and directed over 100 operations training sessions in eight countries.
Our Support Staff
Carole Walters
Corporate Secretary
Carole is a former science teacher. After her last child was born, she and her husband, Ross, organized the first crisis pregnancy center in South Florida. It grew to be one of the largest centers east of the Mississippi. After moving to South Carolina, she has used her administrative and development skills to assist a number of non-profit organizations.
Rebecca Milford
Communications Coordinator
Rebecca has worked in administration since college and has a passion for non-profit work. She enjoys helping organizations grow by helping them with their advertising, social media, and addressing details that allow them run more efficiently and smoothly. She loves being outdoors, whether hiking, paddling, or biking, and playing “tour guide” to those who visit and live in South Carolina.
Espoir Mbonyingabo
IT Support
Espoir is a graduate from AVODA Institute and held roles Marketing roles at African Business Institute and AVODA Group. He also started a consulting company helping businesses integrate Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies in their businesses. Espoir has consulted several other businesses on strategy, operations, business development, and marketing. He received his MBA from Anderson University in South Carolina.