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Board of Directors
PJT is currently seeking applicants for our
Board of Directors. For more information,
click here.
Ruth Farrell, Treasurer
Ruth worked with the Bridge of Hope Fair Trade Project, PJT's primary trade partner, in Lima, Peru from its inception through July 2007. Through that project, over 200 artisans organized themselves into cooperatives which receive training, and produce and export Fair Trade products. Like it or not, North Americans wield buying power – they can reward businesses who exploit or they can reward businesses in which workers are valued and benefit from a business’s success. Ruth’s passion is to help groups of artisans succeed socially as well as economically. Through their cooperative businesses, artisans have the opportunity to create communities in which they treat each other with respect, where they can pursue a better quality of life. Prior to working in Peru, Ruth worked in micro-enterprise development among women and immigrants in Louisville, Kentucky. Ruth has an MBA from George Washington University. Ruth and her husband Hunter live in Louisville, Kentucky.
Pam Jensen
After receiving a master’s degree in Public Administration from American University in Washington D.C., Pam moved back to the Chicago area and became a sales and marketing executive for Comcast Networks. She and her family became very active in their local church, where Pam has taught Sunday school for thirteen years, chaired the community outreach ministry, chaired the stewardship committee and chaired the fundraising committee. To her great delight, she discovered she enjoyed fundraising and had quite a knack for inviting others who also share in her strong belief for the ministries and mission of the church to join her in giving to strengthen those foundations.
In September 2009, Pam joined the Presbyterian Church USA as part of a new initiative to generate greater awareness of and engagement with World Mission. As regional development manager for the Midwest, Pam raises funds for the sending and support of the denomination’s 200+ mission co-workers in over 40 countries in the world. A mission trip to Peru in 2010 affected her deeply, as she witnessed the interconnectedness of hope and justice resulting in creating opportunities for a better quality of life, education, respect, fair wages and healthy environment. Pam became very interested in the work of PJT and its vision “to work with Fair Trade partners to create abundant life with social and economic justice for all involved.” She witnessed the positive, life-changing impact that fair trade practices have on the people of Peru, and is excited to serve and help grow the mission and goals of PJT. She lives in Lake Barrington, IL with her husband Rich and their daughter.
Alan Randolph, President
Alan Randolph is Professor of International Business, holds the CSX Distinguished Professor Chair, and is Director of the Center for Global Business Studies in the Robert G. Merrick School of Business, University of Baltimore. Alan teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses, specializing in management and international business. His graduate International Business courses provide students an opportunity to gain real experience by traveling abroad for analysis and application to real projects. Recent trips have been to China, Brazil, Poland, Peru, Germany and England. Alan's research interests focus on Working with National Cultures, Creating Cultures of Empowerment, Global Leadership Skills, International Business Challenges, and Teamwork for Better Results. He is currently conducting research on leadership and empowerment in Peru. Alan has also authored or co-authored eight books. His most recent books are GO TEAM! Take Your Team to the Next Level (written with Ken Blanchard & Peter Grazier, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2005), Empowerment Takes More Than A Minute, 2nd. Ed. (written with Ken Blanchard & John P. Carlos, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2001), and The 3 Keys to Empowerment: Release the Power within People for Astonishing Results (also with Ken Blanchard & John P. Carlos, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 1999). Alan serves as a consultant and executive educator both domestically and internationally. He is viewed as an expert on empowerment issues and leadership practices that yield results.
In 2005, Alan and his wife lived in Lima, Peru, for six months, where he taught at a business school. He is passionate about the challenges facing people in a country like Peru and has a strong interest in applying good business practices to help achieve Fair Trade practices that benefit artisans and crafts people in Latin America. Alan has also been on two mission trips to Honduras via his church, Towson Presbyterian Church, to aid in building projects, dentistry, and craft work in remote villages. Alan is working hard to become proficient in Spanish.
Sarah Tarver-Wahlquist
Sarah grew up in Tucson, AZ, and headed east to Georgetown University in Washington, DC, to attend college. After receiving a B.A. in English and Religious Studies at Georgetown University, Sarah stayed one extra year at Georgetown to obtain her M.A. in English. Her Masters Thesis revolved around the use of creative writing workshops in marginalized communities, and while working on her thesis Sarah taught a writing workshop at a residential drug treatment facility. After finishing her Masters work Sarah traveled around the United States and tried a stint of living the rural life in Pennsylvania. Eventually fate brought her back to Washington, DC, and full-time employment at Green America. Her work there supported Sarah’s belief that the best avenue for social and environmental change is through the buying habits of consumers, who have the power to drive businesses to be more socially just and environmentally sustainable. After the birth of her son, Sarah returned to Tucson, where she works part time as Senior Writer for Green America, tends to her chickens and garden, and raises Fair Trade and Earth-loving children.
Karen Wilson, Secretary
Karen joined the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1985 and has been both a deacon and an elder. She chairs the Christian Nurture Committee and teaches the middle high Sunday School class at College Avenue Presbyterian Church in Alton, Illinois. She is also an active member of the United Congregations of Metro East’s Racial Reconciliation committee in Alton. In 2002 Karen became active in the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy’s Joining Hands partnership with Peru, traveling to Peru in 2002 and in 2003 as chair of the Joining Hands Human Rights Task Force. Under her leadership, a letter-writing campaign was organized asking that the Peruvian Ambassador to the United States urge the President of Peru to implement the recommendations of Peru’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Members of the Human Rights Task Force, along with two Peruvians who had been affected by the violence of the Shining Path era, took those letters to the Ambassador in Washington DC. Currently, as chair of the Trade Justice Campaign of the Joining Hands program, Karen has been actively working for passage of the Trade, Reform, Accountability, Development and Employment Act (TRADE Act), which calls for the review and possible revision of current U.S. trade agreements as well as setting standards in human rights, employment, environment, etc. for future trade agreements. Karen has two sons and three grandchildren, Sierra, Josh and Aaron.
Robert Wray
Robert Wray is a serial entrepreneur and technology guru who was hired to manage online advertising and new media for Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley's 2010 re-election campaign. When he's not managing online advertising, Robert runs his two Baltimore-based technology companies, which he founded in the 1990s. As President of Innovative Technology, Robert provides technology solutions to Maryland small businesses. As President of mp3Car.com, Robert has developed and runs an online community, store, and consultancy that supports early adopters of mobile car computing technology around the world. More details can be found on www.robertwray.com.
Julio Zegarra-Ballon
Julio is a Wholesale Planning Manager at Brown Shoe Company, where he has worked since November 2008. He analyzes retail selling performance of multiple footwear brands across Department Stores, Mid-Tier and Mass merchants and Internet retailers. He applies data results to the wholesale procurement process to deliver company sales and profitability targets. He is currently working on an MBA.
Prior to joining Brown Shoe, Julio had a successful eighteen-year career with Macys Department Stores where he had multiple roles including Area Sales Manager, corporate merchandise buyer, merchandise planner and replenishment analyst.
Julio was born in Arequipa, Perú and obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Economics at Universidad Católica de Santa María. While attending his junior year in college, he met a wonderful American woman, Kathy, who was at the time teaching English at a local language center. After their marriage and Julio’s college graduation, they came to the United States in 1990.
Julio feels strongly about giving back to the community that has given him so much. He is passionate about social justice, Fair Trade, eco-friendly practices and healthy living. He wants to contribute to the extraordinary work Partners for Just Trade does, especially in Perú. Julio also serves on the Board of St. Margaret of Scotland School, is a Junior Achievement volunteer and participates in many of his church’s ministries. Julio lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with his wife, Kathy and their two daughters.
Ruth Farrell, Treasurer
Ruth worked with the Bridge of Hope Fair Trade Project, PJT's primary trade partner, in Lima, Peru from its inception through July 2007. Through that project, over 200 artisans organized themselves into cooperatives which receive training, and produce and export Fair Trade products. Like it or not, North Americans wield buying power – they can reward businesses who exploit or they can reward businesses in which workers are valued and benefit from a business’s success. Ruth’s passion is to help groups of artisans succeed socially as well as economically. Through their cooperative businesses, artisans have the opportunity to create communities in which they treat each other with respect, where they can pursue a better quality of life. Prior to working in Peru, Ruth worked in micro-enterprise development among women and immigrants in Louisville, Kentucky. Ruth has an MBA from George Washington University. Ruth and her husband Hunter live in Louisville, Kentucky.
Pam Jensen
After receiving a master’s degree in Public Administration from American University in Washington D.C., Pam moved back to the Chicago area and became a sales and marketing executive for Comcast Networks. She and her family became very active in their local church, where Pam has taught Sunday school for thirteen years, chaired the community outreach ministry, chaired the stewardship committee and chaired the fundraising committee. To her great delight, she discovered she enjoyed fundraising and had quite a knack for inviting others who also share in her strong belief for the ministries and mission of the church to join her in giving to strengthen those foundations.
In September 2009, Pam joined the Presbyterian Church USA as part of a new initiative to generate greater awareness of and engagement with World Mission. As regional development manager for the Midwest, Pam raises funds for the sending and support of the denomination’s 200+ mission co-workers in over 40 countries in the world. A mission trip to Peru in 2010 affected her deeply, as she witnessed the interconnectedness of hope and justice resulting in creating opportunities for a better quality of life, education, respect, fair wages and healthy environment. Pam became very interested in the work of PJT and its vision “to work with Fair Trade partners to create abundant life with social and economic justice for all involved.” She witnessed the positive, life-changing impact that fair trade practices have on the people of Peru, and is excited to serve and help grow the mission and goals of PJT. She lives in Lake Barrington, IL with her husband Rich and their daughter.
Alan Randolph, President
Alan Randolph is Professor of International Business, holds the CSX Distinguished Professor Chair, and is Director of the Center for Global Business Studies in the Robert G. Merrick School of Business, University of Baltimore. Alan teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses, specializing in management and international business. His graduate International Business courses provide students an opportunity to gain real experience by traveling abroad for analysis and application to real projects. Recent trips have been to China, Brazil, Poland, Peru, Germany and England. Alan's research interests focus on Working with National Cultures, Creating Cultures of Empowerment, Global Leadership Skills, International Business Challenges, and Teamwork for Better Results. He is currently conducting research on leadership and empowerment in Peru. Alan has also authored or co-authored eight books. His most recent books are GO TEAM! Take Your Team to the Next Level (written with Ken Blanchard & Peter Grazier, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2005), Empowerment Takes More Than A Minute, 2nd. Ed. (written with Ken Blanchard & John P. Carlos, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2001), and The 3 Keys to Empowerment: Release the Power within People for Astonishing Results (also with Ken Blanchard & John P. Carlos, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 1999). Alan serves as a consultant and executive educator both domestically and internationally. He is viewed as an expert on empowerment issues and leadership practices that yield results.
In 2005, Alan and his wife lived in Lima, Peru, for six months, where he taught at a business school. He is passionate about the challenges facing people in a country like Peru and has a strong interest in applying good business practices to help achieve Fair Trade practices that benefit artisans and crafts people in Latin America. Alan has also been on two mission trips to Honduras via his church, Towson Presbyterian Church, to aid in building projects, dentistry, and craft work in remote villages. Alan is working hard to become proficient in Spanish.
Sarah Tarver-Wahlquist
Sarah grew up in Tucson, AZ, and headed east to Georgetown University in Washington, DC, to attend college. After receiving a B.A. in English and Religious Studies at Georgetown University, Sarah stayed one extra year at Georgetown to obtain her M.A. in English. Her Masters Thesis revolved around the use of creative writing workshops in marginalized communities, and while working on her thesis Sarah taught a writing workshop at a residential drug treatment facility. After finishing her Masters work Sarah traveled around the United States and tried a stint of living the rural life in Pennsylvania. Eventually fate brought her back to Washington, DC, and full-time employment at Green America. Her work there supported Sarah’s belief that the best avenue for social and environmental change is through the buying habits of consumers, who have the power to drive businesses to be more socially just and environmentally sustainable. After the birth of her son, Sarah returned to Tucson, where she works part time as Senior Writer for Green America, tends to her chickens and garden, and raises Fair Trade and Earth-loving children.
Karen Wilson, Secretary
Karen joined the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1985 and has been both a deacon and an elder. She chairs the Christian Nurture Committee and teaches the middle high Sunday School class at College Avenue Presbyterian Church in Alton, Illinois. She is also an active member of the United Congregations of Metro East’s Racial Reconciliation committee in Alton. In 2002 Karen became active in the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy’s Joining Hands partnership with Peru, traveling to Peru in 2002 and in 2003 as chair of the Joining Hands Human Rights Task Force. Under her leadership, a letter-writing campaign was organized asking that the Peruvian Ambassador to the United States urge the President of Peru to implement the recommendations of Peru’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Members of the Human Rights Task Force, along with two Peruvians who had been affected by the violence of the Shining Path era, took those letters to the Ambassador in Washington DC. Currently, as chair of the Trade Justice Campaign of the Joining Hands program, Karen has been actively working for passage of the Trade, Reform, Accountability, Development and Employment Act (TRADE Act), which calls for the review and possible revision of current U.S. trade agreements as well as setting standards in human rights, employment, environment, etc. for future trade agreements. Karen has two sons and three grandchildren, Sierra, Josh and Aaron.
Robert Wray
Robert Wray is a serial entrepreneur and technology guru who was hired to manage online advertising and new media for Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley's 2010 re-election campaign. When he's not managing online advertising, Robert runs his two Baltimore-based technology companies, which he founded in the 1990s. As President of Innovative Technology, Robert provides technology solutions to Maryland small businesses. As President of mp3Car.com, Robert has developed and runs an online community, store, and consultancy that supports early adopters of mobile car computing technology around the world. More details can be found on www.robertwray.com.
Julio Zegarra-Ballon
Julio is a Wholesale Planning Manager at Brown Shoe Company, where he has worked since November 2008. He analyzes retail selling performance of multiple footwear brands across Department Stores, Mid-Tier and Mass merchants and Internet retailers. He applies data results to the wholesale procurement process to deliver company sales and profitability targets. He is currently working on an MBA.
Prior to joining Brown Shoe, Julio had a successful eighteen-year career with Macys Department Stores where he had multiple roles including Area Sales Manager, corporate merchandise buyer, merchandise planner and replenishment analyst.
Julio was born in Arequipa, Perú and obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Economics at Universidad Católica de Santa María. While attending his junior year in college, he met a wonderful American woman, Kathy, who was at the time teaching English at a local language center. After their marriage and Julio’s college graduation, they came to the United States in 1990.
Julio feels strongly about giving back to the community that has given him so much. He is passionate about social justice, Fair Trade, eco-friendly practices and healthy living. He wants to contribute to the extraordinary work Partners for Just Trade does, especially in Perú. Julio also serves on the Board of St. Margaret of Scotland School, is a Junior Achievement volunteer and participates in many of his church’s ministries. Julio lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with his wife, Kathy and their two daughters.