Past Board Members/Advisory Board
BRETT PEARCE – Biomedical
I have been on four mission trips with Uplift, serving as the Bio Tech for the team. In the other segments of my life, I have been president of our Home Owners Association for 4 years. I am currently the vice-president of the board for the Thunder Hills Country Club being on that board for 7 years. Previously, I served on the board for the YMCA/YWCA and was a driver on the volunteer Rescue Squad for many years. I have been a member of Rotary for about 10 years and was a board member for a short while before transferring to a different club. These experiences with not-for-profit and for-profit groups has given me extensive knowledge of funding, fundraising, team dynamics, decision making processes/techniques, and methods for enabling groups to work cohesively. Currently I am a real estate manager and developer of residential properties. Previously, I was a financial advisor for a national investment company, a transportation manager and an owner of a small trucking company.
I am very honored that I was asked to serve on the board of Uplift Internationale. I have developed a very strong passion for the goals of the organization and therefore am pleased to be able to foster these goals not only by serving on the mission teams but also by serving on the board.
THOMAS WILLIAMS, DDS, MD – Oral Maxillo-facial Surgeon
Dr. Tom Williams is a graduate of the University of Illinois and completed a Residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at NYU/Bellevue Hospital in NYC. He practiced Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Dubuque, Iowa from 1973 to 2012. He is Board Certified in his specialty and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He was an Adjunct Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology at the University of Iowa from 1977 until 1994, Adjunct Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Texas at Houston from 2008 to the present. He has been Associate Editor of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and the Triple O Journal.
Dr Williams has received numerous awards including the Presidential Achievement Award from the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the Humanitarian Award from Uplift Internationale, the Arnold K Maislen Award from NYU, and the William F Harrigan Award from the William F Harrigan Society. He served as a Director of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and was its President in 1997-1998. He has authored numerous literature reports, textbook chapters and served as Co Editor of several Textbooks. He has participated in Global Surgical Missions for 35 years and for the past 15 years participated in missions to the Philippines with Uplift Internationale. Dr Williams serves on the Board of Directors of Uplift Internationale and the AAOMS OMS Foundation. He has served in numerous volunteer activities in Dubuque and currently volunteers as a varsity coach for the Dubuque Senior High School Football team.
FRANK DeANGELIS – Development Committee
Frank DeAngelis, a Colorado native, was a staff member and subsequently principal at Columbine High School in Littleton Colorado between 1979-2014. Frank has his Master’s Degree in Secondary Education and Social Studies, his Principal’s License, and a Master’s Degree from the University of Phoenix, He was selected as Colorado High School Principal of the year and was one of the three finalists for National Principal of the Year. He recently received the Jefferson County Lifetime Achievement Award and the Gandhi, King, Ikeda Community Builders Award. He is presently serving as a consultant for safety and emergency management for the Jeffco School District and continues to deliver speeches around the country. Frank joined the Uplift Internationale Board of Directors in 2015. ” a truly honored and blessed to be a board member for Uplift Internationale. The members of the group are definitely impacting lives. My participation in this wonderful organization has been life changing.”
SALLY CAPOOT, RN, Taghoy Committee, Lead OR Nurse
I worked as an Operating Room Technician at Porter Memorial Hospital in Denver from 1977-1983, during which time I went back to school to earn my Registered Nurse degree. I continued to work in the operating room specializing on the cardiac surgical team until 1990. From 1990-2005 I worked as an office nurse and private scrub for Dr. Gerald Capoot. Most recently I have volunteered at the Dumb Friends League in Health Care/Surgery services. I had the opportunity to be a part of the surgical team on the 2011 Operation Taghoy Mission. It was such a rewarding experience that I plan on coming back for the 2012 mission. My favorite activities include skiing, golfing, bicycling, hiking and gardening.
GINA LUTTRELL, Taghoy Committee, Outreach Lead
Born and raised in Virginia. Colorado resident for 16 years. I work as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant at Saint Joseph’s Hospital. That is where I first heard about Uplift Internationale. I went on my first mission in 2009. I was so moved by this organizations caring spirit, commitment and ability to change children’s lives forever that I have been involved every year since.
It is a sincere privilege to be a part of such a life changing transformation that occurs for each recipient.
LARRY WOLK, M.D.
During his tenure, he has overseen flood recovery, a federal shutdown, and the promulgation of the nation’s first air quality rules specific to methane reduction for oil and gas operations. His new frontier is addressing the myriad issues surrounding medical and retail marijuana.
Dr. Larry Wolk is former Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Since joining the department in September 2013, Dr. Wolk’s mission has been to simplify the health system for the citizens of Colorado and to position the department as the leader in providing evidence-based health and environmental information.
GURDEV “DEV” RAI, M.D., Anesthesia Lead
Dr. Gurdev Rai is a graduate of Chicago Medical School. He completed his residency at the University of Colorado.
He taught anesthesiology at the University of Colorado at Denver. Dr. Rai formerly served as the Chief of Anesthesia at the Denver VA Hospital for 10 years. Dr. Rai has participated in multiple missions with Uplift. Throughout his years of practice, he has served on a multitude of committees and task forces. In addition, Dr. Rai has various publications regarding anesthesiology. Dr. Rai strives to improve the quality of providing anesthesia to assure all patients receive state of the art care.
Martin Postma – Past Member
Martin Postma is an active leader in the nonprofit community contributing to a variety of projects for more than 20 years. A committed Rotarian since 1995, he was named Rotary District 5450 Rotarian of the Year in 2002. He was a guest speaker at United Nations Headquarters on the topic of NGO partnerships in education. In 2011, Martin was awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award in recognition of his dedication to the advancement of international humanitarian service.
Martin holds a Master’s of Public Administration from Drake University and is a Certified Economic Developer. He manages economic development and long-range planning projects for the City of Thornton. Martin joined the board of directors of Uplift Internationale in 2012. He participated in an assessment mission to the Philippines in February 2013, and a surgical mission to Honduras in October 2014. “Working with a diverse and committed group of professionals willing to donate their time and expertise to make a positive and enduring difference in the lives of needy children is extraordinary. “
