Who
Founders
Greg Bixler, Ph.D., P.E.
Co-Founder | CEO
Greg Bixler, Ph.D., P.E.
Greg Bixler, Ph.D., P.E., is a co-founder and CEO of Design Outreach. He also teaches engineering courses at The Ohio State University, including appropriate technology for developing countries. He started his engineering career at Battelle where he managed interdisciplinary teams of engineers working on a variety of R&D programs. Dr. Bixler came up with the idea for DO in 2007 after seeing extreme poverty up close and personal in Central Asia and realizing that he could help alleviate suffering using his engineering talents. In 2010, he co-founded Design Outreach. His endeavors have led him to 18 countries—all while serving as CEO of DO, resident director for the OSU service-learning program, and advisor for the OSU student chapter of Engineers Without Borders. Dr. Bixler was employed at Battelle before returning to complete his doctoral research in mechanical engineering at OSU. In his free time, he serves as an elder in his local church and as chaplain for Grace Brethren Boys. He and his wife have three kids.
Want to chat? Email Greg at greg@doutreach.org
Abe Wright
Co-Founder | Board Chairman
Abe Wright
Abe Wright is a Principal Engineer for DePuySynthes, where he is working with a team that’s improving the lives of people suffering from knee arthritis. Abe’s work has contributed to many innovations, and he’s named as inventor on 21 granted US patents. For his efforts and contributions, Abe was chosen to receive DePuy’s first-ever Never Stop Moving® in 2011. Abe holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Messiah College and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Denver.
Abe and his wife Lisa live in Winona Lake, Indiana, with their three children. They are actively involved in their church and desire to show God’s love to a hurting world. They enjoy all things outdoors and can often be found working in their garden or hiking in the woods.
Want to chat?
Email Abe at abe@doutreach.org
Staff
Jeff Jackson
Programs & Communications Coordinator
Jeff Jackson
Jeff is our first-ever employee, joining DO during its early stages to fill some much-needed roles. Jeff earned his undergraduate degree in landscape architecture and a master’s degree in community & economic development. He has had many experiences overseas which inspired his desire to make a difference that lasts. As our Programs & Communications Coordinator, he is responsible for making sure we always look our best. Just give him coffee and an idea, and let him take care of the rest. After hours, he loves to participate in his local adult home group Bible study and bake the most delicious creations.
Jeff may be reached by email at jeffj@doutreach.org
Amelia Messamore
Development Coordinator
Amelia Messamore
A native of Southwest Florida, Amelia has spent the last few years working as a journalist and editor for an industrial pump magazine based in Birmingham, Alabama. Through a series of providential events, Amelia ended up on a plane to Africa in 2015 to report on the life-changing work and mission of Design Outreach. Returning to Birmingham, she couldn't forget what she saw, and she was determined to be a part of DO's future work. Now, she is responsible for supporting the organization's fundraising and marketing efforts. She would love to share stories from Africa and Haiti over a cup of tea or chat with you about starting a campaign. Feel free to message her at ameliam@doutreach.org.
Lara Lambert
Operations Director
Lara Lambert
Lara Lambert comes to us from Mthatha, South Africa. Lara believes that we are defined by our compassion and kindness toward others—a vision shared by Nelson Mandela, from the Xhosa word Ubuntu. She has spent several years leading water projects in developing countries, with a more recent focus in Haiti. Lara is our Operations Director and coordinates our LifePump projects around the globe. She is passionate about her work at Design Outreach and strives to fulfill both the physical and spiritual needs of those we serve. Lara is available to speak at your next event to share more about the work and mission of DO. Feel free to contact Lara at laral@doutreach.org
Dr. Beatrice Chisenga
Africa Field Director
Dr. Beatrice Chisenga
Dr. Beatrice Chisenga, a native Malawian, earned her Ph.D. with research in micro-insurance for hand pump sustainability in her home country. Dr. Chisenga has 12+ years of experience working at managerial positions, providing technical support, in international development projects in Malawi including Safe Motherhood, Save the Children and CARE International. Dr. Chisenga has joined the Design Outreach team as the African Field Director working to secure a new supply chain and distribution system starting in Malawi and Zambia. Questions for Beatrice? Contact her at beatricec@doutreach.org
Board of Directors
Bradley Bryant, CPA manages financial statement assurance and consulting engagements within the manufacturing, distribution, and construction industries for Plante Moran, the 13th largest certified public accounting and business advisory firm in the United States. He has more than 10 years of experience providing financial services to public and privately held companies of various sizes and industries. Bradley became invested in the Design Outreach vision after hearing it from Greg Bixler at a meeting where they attend church together. He was truly inspired by the LifePump and its ability to fulfill the essential water needs of thousands of villages and millions of people in third-world countries. Bradley started working with Design Outreach in 2012 and has helped set up the organization’s treasury and accounting operations. He traveled to Haiti in 2016 to help install a LifePump and see its impact firsthand. Bradley hopes to aid in furthering the Design Outreach vision as well as work to bring the LifePump to as many villages as possible. Bradley, his wife Erin, and their three children, Cullen, McBride, and Brindley, enjoy spending time with family, playing sports, being outdoors, and traveling to the Outer Banks. They reside in Pataskala Village on the east side of Columbus, OH.
Dean Jessup is currently retired from daily operations of an animal agriculture products development company, Agrarian Solutions. However, he remains President of the Board. In retirement, he has had the opportunity to get deeply involved with mission efforts. Some earlier mission work was connected to a boy’s school in Honduras, El Sembrador, which operates a farm in support of the school. It was on a trip to Honduras that his wife, Jan, encountered a rural family that had no water source. This opened their eyes to the world problem of access to clean water. Shortly after, they were introduced to Design Outreach, which provided an opportunity to give back and help in alleviating this global problem. Dean and Jan live in Goshen, Indiana.
David Martin is a corporate and commercial transactions attorney with the law firm of Bailey Cavalieri LLC. He advises for-profit and nonprofit organizations on matters of corporate formation, corporate governance, commercial contracts, commercial transactions and commercialization strategies, including social enterprise for nonprofits. David previously served as in-house counsel at Battelle Memorial Institute where he focused primarily on business transactions and commercialization efforts across various technical fields. David has also served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps and as a federal judicial law clerk. David serves regularly on the boards of various nonprofit organizations and has co-founded two charitable enterprises, one domestically and one internationally. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Notre Dame Law School. He values investing his time in his faith, his family and community service.
Andy Warner is the President of Strataflo Products, Inc., a manufacturer and innovator of premium check valves, foot valves, and custom valves. After searching for several years for an opportunity to use their valves with a humanitarian, water well organization, a friend of a friend introduced Strataflo to Design Outreach in 2012. The Strataflo foot valve was a perfect fit for the Lifepump and has been used ever since. While visiting his mother in Kenya in 2016, Andy and his family were able to visit a village with a newly installed Lifepump, a very memorable experience! Andy, his wife Olivia, and two children, Campbell and Kellen, enjoy being outdoors, riding bikes, playing with their two dogs, and relaxing with family and friends. They live near Fort Wayne, Indiana.
