Brenda Wells, Volunteer Profile

Hello all, I am a late addition to the team and am very excited about this opportunity. I am currently living in Okinawa, Japan with my husband and our 3 rock-star kids, aged 14, 12, and 10. We arrived here this summer after finishing an incredible two-year tour in Stuttgart, Germany.

My husband is in the Marine Corps and his job does its share to help satisfy my wanderlust, as I love traveling, learning new cultures, art and architecture, and being outside. My education and work experience are in art history, art consulting, and teaching, but my practical experience includes reinventing our lives through 13 moves over the last 17 years; flexibility and adaptability are essential skills. My other loves include skiing, running, reading, and constantly learning.

I am truly looking forward to participating in this project and doing my part to contribute to such an important and worthy undertaking. No matter how many times we have moved, we have always had a place to call home, and having shelter is a luxury that we often take for granted. HFH-GV is providing me the chance to give back and I am sure this will be both an unforgettable and humbling experience.

Volunteer Profile, Peter

Hello All. My name is Peter Diguls from Willoughby(suburb of Cleveland), Ohio.For the past 12 years I have been a store manager for CVS/pharmacy. Previously I worked for a local home improvement chain as an assistant manager where I gained knowledge in home improvement. My interests include improving my 1930's home, gardening, cooking, restaurants. I am a very adventurous eater and will try practically anything. I have traveled to the usual tourist areas of Mexico, cruised to Central America, Caribbean, and the Bahamas but something as adventurous as Vietnam will be a first. Why Vietnam? I've always had an interest in Asian cultures and this opportunity will enable me to experience first hand while giving back to the local community in a hands on way. I am excited and looking forward to the project and meeting everyone.

Hey ya'll, my name is Regan Norman. I'm the one on the left, and Di(pronounced Yee) was what I'd call moral support from a build I participated on in Kien Giang province earlier this year and one of the best reasons for anyone to come to Vietnam. I am from Ridgeland, Mississippi, I'm involved in the family business of retailing nutritional supplements and I'm very active in my church particularly in the areas of personal evangelism and english language studies with the international community in Jackson. This will be my fourth time to Vietnam, the second as part of a Habitat group. Actually I married a girl from My Tho, pronounced Mee Taw, and from here on out my foray into the Vietnamese language begins to get sketchy. Unlike most of you as I can tell by reading your bios, I don't get out much it seems, but I do have an affinity for Vietnam and I do wish to thank you now for your interest in helping the country and the people I love very much. Please let me know if you have any travel plans within Vietnam, I might have a few suggestions or if you have any questions about My Tho, if I don't know the answer, I'm related to someone who does.

Volunteer profile, Jim

Team Members: I am Jim Bartroff, recently retired as a mechanical engineer working for an international industrial company where I did both design and management work. I’ve carried some of that experience into my retired life where I have “re-engineered” much of my home. I’m currently having fun rebuilding the kitchen, not an easy job as those of you do-it-yourselfers may already know.

I traveled extensively during my professional life, including Scotland, Ireland, Netherlands -- and Japan where I lived for 6 months during a company merger. My wife, Marci, and I have spent time in many other countries including Western and Eastern Europe, Africa, China, Mexico and Canada. Our prior GV work has been both rewarding and life changing.

I’m looking forward to working with everyone and the Vietnam experience.

Volunteer profile, Marci

Hello Vietnam team mates. My name is Marci Clark, and I am a native Oregonian currently residing as an active retiree in Portland. My prior life was in the health care field, giving me a 30-year inside look at the current health care debate. Today I do a weekly audio news broadcast with an on-line nonprofit organization sponsored by the Oregon Commission for the Blind, work with elementary students on reading skills, and serve as President of the large retiree organization associated with my former employer. My husband, Jim (Bartroff), and I have 3 daughters and 4 grandchildren who keep us on the move, as well as a daily walking regimen to help keep us in shape.

My passion is understanding world dynamics, including cultures, economics and political systems…..all in an effort to understand and interact with people from different environments. Habitat for Humanity GV has given me a great way to experience different cultures while giving back to families in need. Jim and I have participated in 3 GV builds including Romania, Botswana and Armenia. All were positive learning and working experiences.

I’m looking forward to hearing more about the Vietnamese family we will be working with and meeting all of you team members.

Volunteer Profile, Donna Maples

Hello Team Members! My name is Donna Maples. My husband Mike and I reside in Oakdale, Tennessee. We have three grown children and nine grandchildren. I currently work as a Logistics Manager for a nuclear services company in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. I enjoy my job and plan to continue working as long as I’m having fun.

During my spare time I enjoy camping in our RV, reading, cooking, and spending time with my grandchildren. I am an avid sports fan with a particular passion for the University of Tennessee football and basketball. I try and keep in shape by working out, yoga, hiking, bicycling and staying active. I love to travel and am enthusiastic about being part of the Vietnam Habitat for Humanity team.

Volunteer Profile, Mike Maples

Hello Team! My name is Mike Maples. My wife and I live in Oakdale, TN, a small rural community in East Tennessee approximately 40 miles west of Knoxville. I joined the US Army after high school and spent six years on active duty with two tours in Vietnam, one tour in Germany, and one tour in the Panama Canal Zone. After leaving the Army I trained as a steam generating plant operator with the Tennessee Valley Authority and worked as an operator in their fossil plants, retiring after 30 years of service. I also remained in the Army National Guard and retired with 23 years of service.

I am presently a stay at home house husband, where I enjoy working with my hands doing woodworking, crafts, carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, cooking and just about anything that needs to be done. I also enjoy the outdoors and camping with my wife.

I am truly looking forward to my return trip to Vietnam. Having spent two years in country, one as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Army, I enjoyed working with the Vietnamese people and left many friends behind. I hope that I can make a small contribution to their country by participating in this project. Looking forward to meeting and working with you all.