Board of Directors
Andrea Moore - President
Andrea lives life asking the question, “What would love do?” In answer to this question she has chosen to bring her organizational leadership to the Board of Global Peace Initiatives. Andrea has extensive experience as a human resource professional focusing on the growth and development of individuals, work teams, and leaders. Her passion is supporting people and organizations to help them through challenges and accomplish their goals. Andrea is a Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) through the American Society of Training and Development, her work covers a broad spectrum of learning and performance including employee engagement, coaching, performance management, interviewing and selection, change management, career planning and talent management, managing effective team relationships, and leadership development. She is a mother to Mayson, who is a light to the world.
Carl Ellison - Treasurer
Carl is Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Indiana Minority Health Coalition (IMHC), a statewide health advocacy organization he helped found in 1992. In this role, he manages, under Indiana’s Minority Health Initiative, the funding and oversight of twenty-four (24) local minority health coalitions and other community based organizations. He also is involved in legislative education and policy development on a wide range of issues.
Beth Meyerson - Secretary
Beth is founder and president of Policy Resource Group, LLC; a firm specializing in health policy research and strategy with domestic and international emphases. Dr. Meyerson’s work is informed by public health service as the AIDS/STD Director for the state of Missouri under the late Governor Mel Carnahan, and through years of service in private and non-profit sectors in St. Petersburg Florida, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Ann Arbor, and Boston. Beth’s previous career was in ordained ministry. Dr. Meyerson’s most recent work has taken her to Kenya, Nigeria, Botswana, India, Russia and throughout the Caribbean with focus on HIV/AIDS. She has authored several papers and books. Her most recent research appears in Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Public Health Reports, and the American Journal of Public Health.
David Sousa, APR - Board Member
David serves as assistant director for top 10 public accounting and consulting firm Crowe Horwath LLP and brings nearly 25 years experience in branding, marketing communications, public relations, and crisis communications to Global Peace Initiatives. Prior to joining Crowe, he served as chief communications and business development officer in the not-for-profit sector and as vice president at public relations firm Fleishman-Hillard International where he served clients in a wide range of industries. An award-winning communicator, creative director and producer, David also worked in the United States and Sweden for industrial giant ABB and began his career as a service engineer for Frigidaire. He holds a B.A. in Communication from Purdue University and is an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America.
Seana Murphy - Board Member
Linda Proffitt - Executive Director and Founder
Linda L. Proffitt, MSW is passionate about nature, peace and sharing her belief that peace is within each of us. Linda was named the Peace Pilgrim of Eagle Creek Park by the Peace Learning Center, because she is really passionate about peace, our intimate connection to nature and the divine. Her personal mission is to encourage the development of a global peace initiative that emanates from the heartland of the America. An Indiana native, Linda has hiked all over Indiana and surprises people with new experiences in unknown locations. Linda’s walk in life has literally taken her around the world. She spent four and a half years working and living in Bangkok, Thailand. Linda served as a consultant to several multi-lateral organizations, including UNESCO and SEAMEO. She was also a trainer for the United States Peace Corps and a lecturer at several universities, including Thammasat University and the International Buddhist Studies Program of Maha Chulalongkorn Rajavidyalia. While a resident of Thailand she hiked through many nations in Southeast Asia, but her own opinion, “there’s no place like home” and sharing peace is her mission.
Advisors
Hugh “Red” Baker
Hugh is an attorney at law in Indianapolis. Practicing 35 years, Hugh finds his passion in gardening and sharing knowledge about the earth as a guide for spiritual practice. He is legal counsel for Indiana Living Green Magazine and Chief Tiller for the GPI Peace Gardens. Hugh actively supports other garden initiatives including, Immaculate Heart of Mary parish in northern Indianapolis. In this garden refugee families from all over the world are involved in making the garden a place of community building.
Dr. Nelson Kraus - Director
Nelson is a physician, a career military officer, television and radio comentator, college professor and now...peacemaker. As a physician, Nelson came to know that the internal processes of mind and thought toward wellness had as much to do with recovery as the physical remedies he could provide to patients as a doctor. He has also realized the power of media. Nelson has provided medical commentary on radio and television for over fifteen years, including appearances on “Oprah.” Nelson believes in the potential of the mission of GPI to develop and promote positive messages that empower peace within and all around us.
Yogi Jim Wills
Jim provides peace instruction all over the city of Indianapolis through his talents as a yoga instructor. As a yoga instructor, he is known for keeping his cool in a hot yoga setting. Jim has also served as a Board member for the Indiana Yoga Association. Jim serves as Peace Hike leader for Global Peace Initiatives. Yogi Jim has also provided excellent leadership to youth in the Peace Gardens. In his spare time Jim enjoys his dog Bradley, other less hairy friends, his church, travel, fine food and attending cultural arts events. Jim was a graduate of Butler University’s Jordan School of Dance.
