Profile of the Executive board members

Dr. Ernest Okorie, MD – Chairman of the Foundation Management and Advisory Board

Dr. Ernest Okorie, MD, is a physician with extensive training and professional experience in both Europe and the United States. With over 20 years of expertise, he has distinguished himself in clinical practice as well as in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Dr. Okorie combines hands-on hospital and clinical experience with a proven track record in biotechnology, where he has played a key role in ensuring patient safety, regulatory compliance, and advancing innovative therapeutic solutions. His leadership, strategic insight, and commitment to excellence make him a recognized authority in bridging clinical care and the biotechnology sector.

Charles Okorie, MD

Dr. Charles Okorie is the Director General of the William and Teresa Okorie (WTO) Foundation, bringing over 25 years of leadership experience across academia, non-profit organizations, and the private sector. He has founded and managed two U.S.-based corporations, a breadth of experience that has been invaluable in shaping the vision and operations of the WTO Foundation.
Dr. Okorie serves as a Clinical Instructor of Medicine at the renowned George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and has been a board-certified diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine since 1992.
An accomplished entrepreneur and clinician, he founded and served as Medical Director of two acute care centers in Virginia—Fair Lakes Urgent Care Center (Fairfax) and VA Gateway Urgent Care Center (Gainesville)—which were acquired in 2014 by a publicly traded healthcare company.
Dr. Okorie’s academic journey began at Sacred Heart College, Aba, where he graduated in 1980 at the age of fifteen, and he was immediately admitted to the University of Nigeria College of Medicine, Enugu. In 1988, he moved to the United States for postgraduate medical education, completing his Internal Medicine residency at Howard University Hospital, Washington, D.C., in 1992, where he distinguished himself as Chief Resident of Internal Medicine. He then completed one year of advanced training in Critical Care Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s internationally acclaimed Critical Care Training Institute under Professor Ake Grenvik, a pioneer in the field.

Dr. Okorie practiced Critical Care Medicine at Doctors Community Hospital, Lanham, MD (1991–1999), and the Cardiothoracic ICU at Washington Hospital, PA (1993–1995), before transitioning to develop and lead urgent care centers. He was also among a select group of physicians in the U.S. designated as Senior Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs) by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), authorized to perform medical evaluations for pilots and air traffic controllers, and served as a Civil Surgeon for the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Scholar Okorie: Vice-Chair of the Foundation Advisory Board

Dr. (Mrs.) Scholar Nwoke is a highly skilled and compassionate healthcare professional with a diverse background in nursing, family practice, and optometry. With over fifteen years of experience in patient care, she brings expertise in clinical assessments, treatment planning, wound care, urgent care, and psychiatric evaluations. She is recognized for her strong leadership abilities, including supervising multidisciplinary teams and fostering collaborative approaches to patient care, particularly in fast-paced and high-pressure healthcare environments.

Her professional experience includes:
Nursing Supervisor, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, Twin Towers Correctional Facility (CTC): Dr. Nwoke conducts comprehensive head-to-toe assessments, develops and reassesses care plans, provides wound care, IV antibiotic therapy, and manages colostomy/urostomy care. She leads nursing staff, coordinates daily responsibilities, and oversees patient admissions and discharges, ensuring accurate documentation and strict adherence to healthcare protocols.

Staff Provider / Urgent Care Nurse, Watt Community Health Center: She provides urgent care services across all ages, including assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, with a focus on timely interventions and compassionate follow-up care.

Dr. Nwoke’s academic achievements include:

  • Doctor of Optometry (OD) – Abia State University, Nigeria (1985–1991)
  • Master of Science in Nursing / Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN/FNP) – University of Phoenix, Southern California (2007–2010)
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) – Excelsior College, Albany, New York (2002–2003)
  • Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) – El Camino College, Torrance, California (1995–2001)

She currently holds professional licenses as a Registered Nurse (RN) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) in California. Among her accolades, she received an Academic Scholarship Award from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s STAR Organization for academic and work excellence in 2010. She is also an active member of the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the California Association of Nurse Practitioners (CANP).

Barrister Anselem Okorie LLB, BL, LLM – Secretary of the Foundation

Atty. Okorie is a distinguished legal and development professional with over two decades of experience spanning the private and public sectors. Since his admission to the Nigerian Bar in 1991, he has held prominent positions in corporate law, public service, and international development. In 1996, he founded Mbadiwe Okorie & Co., a private legal consultancy firm, marking the beginning of a prolific career in legal practice.
Between 1998 and 2003, he served as Consultant and Senior Consultant at Analysis Research Planning Corporation (ARPC) in Washington, D.C., a forensic management consulting firm. Upon returning to Nigeria, he joined The World Bank, Abuja, as part of a consulting team that developed the Country Environmental Assessment (CEA) Report for the Niger Delta Region.
Atty. Okorie’s public service career began in 2005 as Advisor to the Honorable Minister of Education, Nigeria. He subsequently held key advisory roles in Imo State, including Junior Advisor on Petroleum & Environment (2007) and Senior Special Assistant on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs, 2008). In the latter role, he oversaw a $12 million joint Federal/State grant aimed at enhancing education, healthcare, and water & sanitation across Imo State’s 27 Local Government Areas.
From 2011 to 2015, he served as Consultant to the African Network of Parliamentarians on MDGs and the House of Representatives Committee on MDGs, collaborating closely with the United Nations Millennium Campaign, NGOs, CSOs, and international development partners. Between 2015 and 2019, he was Senior Advisor on Legal and Legislative Matters to the Chief Whip of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, and in 2019–2020, he served as Senior Advisor on United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to the Governor of his home state.
Returning to private legal practice, Atty. Okorie specializes in immigration and real estate law. He is also Co-Founder and Chairman of Mybase Real Estate Development Co. Ltd., a leading Abuja-based real estate conglomerate committed to urban housing development and advancing the UN’s “Habitat for All” initiative. Concurrently, he continues to serve as a Development Expert and National Consultant on SDGs, applying his expertise to sustainable development projects nationwide.
Atty. Okorie holds a Law degree from the University of Uyo (1990) and a Master’s degree in Environmental Law from Washington College of Law, American University, Washington, D.C. (2002). He is an active member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Africa Regional Forum of the International Bar Association (IBA), and the IBA’s Poverty and Social Development Committee. A seasoned international professional, he has participated in numerous global conferences and UN-affiliated meetings.
With a wealth of experience in law, governance, and sustainable development, Atty. Okorie brings strategic leadership, legal excellence, and social impact expertise to the William and Teresa Okorie Foundation, advancing its mission of transformative community development.

Michelle Nwoke – MBA, MSN, RN, FNP-C. Deputy Secretary of the Foundation

Michelle Nwoke is a licensed Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Registered Nurse (RN) with an MBA, bringing a distinctive combination of clinical expertise and business acumen to healthcare strategy and transformation. She spent nearly four years on the front lines of care across diverse clinical settings, including home health, the operating room, emergency department, and skilled nursing facilities.

Currently, Michelle serves as a healthcare consultant at McKinsey & Company, partnering with leading organizations to drive strategic initiatives, enhance system performance, and improve patient outcomes. Her work spans both the public and private sectors, with a focus on delivering impact at scale.

Originally from Los Angeles, Michelle is now based in Washington, D.C., where she remains deeply committed to advancing equitable, high-quality healthcare delivery and fostering innovative solutions that improve patient care.

Valentine Okorie- Chief Technology Officer of the Foundation

Valentine Okorie is a Nigerian-American professional with a diverse background spanning technology, entrepreneurship, and community development. Born and raised in Nigeria, he moved to Belgium and later the United States to pursue higher education and professional opportunities.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Vesalius College, Brussels, and a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Montclair State University, New Jersey. Valentine currently serves in a senior IT leadership role at DSV Air & Sea, a global logistics company.
In addition to his corporate career, he is the CEO and Founder of ValSystems, an import/export business specializing in sports merchandise, and Co-Founder of Americans Souvenir, a company producing unique American-themed merchandise.
Deeply committed to education and community development, Valentine serves on the Board of Trustees for Immaculate Conception Seminary, Umuahia, Nigeria, his alma mater. As President of the Class of ICS 88 Foundation, he actively supports the school and its alumni network. He also contributes his expertise to the William and Teresa Okorie Foundation, leveraging his experience in non-profit initiatives to advance the organization’s mission.

Ernest Okorie, Jr (Erny). -Asst. Technology Officer of the Foundation

Ernest “Erny” Okorie is a medical student at the University of Virginia School of Medicine (Class of 2029). He is also a recent graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences in December 2024. During his undergraduate studies, Ernest combined rigorous academics with hands-on experience in research and healthcare, building a strong foundation for his future medical career.
As a research assistant in the Olsen Lab at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Ernest contributed to studies on Parkinson’s disease, employing techniques such as fluorometric assays, western blotting, and Drosophila handling to explore neuroprotective mechanisms. In the Huppert Lab, he conducted brain-mapping research using high-density functional near-infrared spectroscopy, designing experiments with E-Prime scripts and working directly with human participants. These experiences honed his technical skills and deepened his understanding of the research process.
In addition to research, Ernest gained clinical experience as a medical assistant at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, supporting physicians through patient care, administering injections, and collecting laboratory specimens, while maintaining accurate records using the Epic Electronic Health Records system. He also gained administrative and crisis response experience at Soteria Home Health Agency and Crisis Text Line, developing skills in record management, effective communication, and providing support to individuals in urgent situations.
Outside of academics and healthcare, Ernest enjoys soccer and building computers, reflecting his enthusiasm for teamwork, problem-solving, and staying active. With a strong academic foundation, extensive research experience, and a commitment to patient care, Ernest is poised to make a meaningful impact in medicine and is eager to continue growing both professionally and personally as he embarks on his journey as a physician.

Profile of Advisory Board members

Louis Nweze Nwoke

Serial Entrepreneur | Global Investor | Visionary Philanthropist | Nation Builder
Louis Nweze Nwoke is a globally respected entrepreneur, strategic investor, and humanitarian leader whose dynamic career spans over three decades of excellence across finance, real estate, healthcare, and philanthropy. He is widely recognized for his visionary leadership, transformational impact in underserved communities, and relentless pursuit of economic empowerment and inclusive development—particularly in Nigeria and the African diaspora.
A native of Abia State, Nigeria, and a proud son of Umuopara Umuahia by heritage, Mr. Nwoke holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Banking & Finance) and an MBA in Finance from the University of Nebraska Omaha, USA. His academic foundation laid the groundwork for a trailblazing career defined by innovation, integrity, and social purpose.
Mr. Nwoke’s professional journey began with a decade-long tenure as Senior office at Bank, where he led complex corporate transactions and helped shape the financial landscape of California’s banking industry. He went on to make significant strides as Managing Director of LUNNS & Associates, overseeing more than $150 million in commercial real estate transactions and representing leading publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).
In 2006, he founded LUNNS Hope Corporation, where he continues to serve as Managing Director & CEO, providing strategic investment advisory, project development, and enterprise solutions across multiple sectors including housing, agriculture, healthcare, and infrastructure. His entrepreneurial acumen is matched by his deep sense of purpose—merging profit with impact.
As the CEO of Soteria Home Health Agency since 2010, Mr. Nwoke has developed and led one of California’s most respected home healthcare institutions. Under his leadership, Soteria has served hundreds of patients, including medically fragile individuals and people with developmental disabilities, delivering services grounded in dignity, innovation, and personalized care.
Leadership & Vision

Louis Nwoke is not just a business executive—he is a builder of legacies and a catalyst for transformation. He has advised high-net-worth individuals, guided multinational investments, and helped establish sustainable ventures in both developed and emerging markets. With expert knowledge in equity financing, fund structuring, due diligence, corporate governance, and risk management, he is often sought after for his ability to turn complex challenges into scalable solutions.

His strengths include:

  • Global investment strategy and portfolio development
  • Startup incubation and business acceleration
  • Strategic negotiations and international partnerships
  • Public-private collaboration and stakeholder engagement
  • Governance frameworks, compliance, and impact measurement
  • Policy advocacy for health equity, education, and economic justice
Giving Back: The Louis & Scholar Nwoke Foundation “ Meeting the Unmet Needs”.

Driven by a shared belief in human dignity and equity, Louis and his wife, Dr. Scholar C. Nwoke, founded the Louis & Scholar Nwoke Foundation in 2000. Funded entirely by the couple, the foundation has become a beacon of hope for vulnerable populations in Nigeria and beyond.

Notable Initiatives:

  • Monthly Provision of Supplies to:
    • Schools for the Blind
    • Centers for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
    • Orphanage Homes
    • School-Based Nutrition Programs for Underserved Children
  • Micro-Enterprise Support:
    • Over ₦450 million disbursed to 3100 women for small-scale business support
    • Donation of sewing machines to tailoring school graduates unable to afford startup equipment
    • Provision of professional hair dryer machines to women starting hair salons
    • Numerous financial empowerment programs for both men and women, enabling community entrepreneurship and job creation
  • Infrastructure & Community Projects:
    • Total renovation of Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Amankwo, Umuahia
    • Construction and donation of homes to displaced and impoverished families
  • Education & Scholarships:
    • Scholarships for deserving students at secondary and tertiary levels
    • Partnership with the WTO E-Library in Umuduru Mbieri, fostering digital access, literacy, and lifelong learning
Legacy and Purpose

Mr. Nwoke is deeply rooted in the belief that leadership is about service, and that success is measured not just by wealth, but by impact. A strategist, mentor, and change-maker, he is known for mentoring young professionals, coaching entrepreneurs, and collaborating with policymakers to build stronger, more resilient communities.

He stands as a living example of what it means to build bridges across continents, uplift the next generation, and reinvest in the soil that raised you.

“True wealth lies in the lives you touch, the futures you ignite, and the communities you empower. We rise by lifting others.”
– Louis Nweze Nwoke

Ambassador Howard Jeter

Ambassador Howard F. Jeter, a Career Diplomat,  retired from the American Foreign Service with the rank of Career Minister.  Jeter served in the Foreign Service for 27 years.

Jeter served as U. S. Ambassador to Nigeria from 2000-2003.  Prior to that assignment, he was, in the following order:  Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Director of West African Affairs, Special Presidential Envoy for Liberia, Ambassador to Botswana,  Deputy Chief of Mission and later Charge d’Affaires, a. i. , for Namibia and Lesotho respectively.

After retirement, Jeter was Executive Vice President of Goodworks International, interim President of the Sullivan Foundation,  and founded his own consulting firm, Jeter & Associates.

Jeter has served on several government advisory, corporate, and university boards of directors.

Jeter is married and he and his wife Donice are the proud parents of two adult children.

Jessica Finley

Jessica Finley is a dedicated literacy specialist and social worker with a Master’s degree in Social Work. She brings extensive experience in education, intervention coaching, and youth mentorship to her current role at the Fairfax County Public Schools Juvenile Detention Center, where she provides individualized literacy support and leads initiatives that promote both academic achievement and personal development. Throughout her career, Jessica has excelled in designing curricula, fostering student engagement, and offering professional development, especially for underserved and at-risk populations. By integrating social work principles with data-driven strategies, she effectively addresses the complex needs of students and young adults, contributing to both academic successand rehabilitation efforts in challenging environments

Rebecca Adamson

Jessica Finley is a dedicated literacy specialist and social worker with a Master’s degree in Social Work. She brings extensive experience in education, intervention coaching, and youth mentorship to her current role at the Fairfax County Public Schools Juvenile Detention Center, where she provides individualized literacy support and leads initiatives that promote both academic achievement and personal development. Throughout her career, Jessica has excelled in designing curricula, fostering student engagement, and offering professional development, especially for underserved and at-risk populations. By integrating social work principles with data-driven strategies, she effectively addresses the complex needs of students and young adults, contributing to both academic successand rehabilitation efforts in challenging environments
In addition, in collaboration with Calvert Social Investment Funds, she designed Community Notes (formerly known as High Social Impact Investments, 1993), the first private sector instrument for investing directly in CDFI’s. Today, over $1 billion dollars are invested in Community Notes. Her work led to legislation establishing the CDFI Act, and the Tribal Trust Fund Reform Act, which established new standards of accountability, financial reporting and beneficiary services for Native Americans. She currently serves as a Calvert Social Investment Fund Trustee where she partnered to create the first Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Investment Screen in 1999, and led the creation of the Indigenous Rights Risk Report, the first quantitative assessment of corporate risk exposure to Indigenous Peoples’ rights, in 2014. In 2015 she has established four Shareholder Advocacy Leadership Training Centers located in Argentina, Mexico and Canada as a new strategy for Indigenous leaders in addressing extractive industry on Indigenous territories. Ms. Adamson established a Masters in Public and Private Administration (MPPA) scholarship program for Native People at the Yale School of Organization and Management and an MBA scholarship at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.
Adamson has been appointed to numerous government committees. She currently serves as an advisor to the U.S. Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Multi-Stakeholder Group, serving from 2014 to the present. She is a nationally and internationally recognized and sought-after speaker, and most recently was invited to speak on TedMED, Emerald Planet and Al Jazeera. She serves on nonprofit boards and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Bay and Paul Foundations. She has published numerous papers including: ” Evaluation with Power, Jossey-Bass Inc. Publishers, San Francisco, (1998) pp. 123-140; and “The Native American Credit Market: Opportunity Knocks, but Relationships Stay,” RMA Journal of Lending & Credit Risk Management, (1997). She is also a co-author of The Color of Wealth – The Story behind the U.S. Racial Wealth Divide, New York, New Press. 2006. Her book went on to win the Myers Outstanding Book Award in 2006.
She holds a Masters in Science in Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University (formerly New Hampshire College) in Manchester, New Hampshire, where she has also taught a graduate course on Indigenous Economics within the Community Economic Development Program, and a Doctor in Humane Letters degree from Dartmouth College.

John Guffy

John Guffey founded Calvert Investments, a $15 billion investment management group in Bethesda, MD noted for their leadership in the area of socially responsible investment. He has worked as the Ventures Fund manager for the environmental and health care fields since 1998. He has degrees in Economics and Finance from the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania.

He is currently President of Aurora Press, Inc., a publisher of trade paperback books on alternative health and metaphysics.

William Stefan

Bill Stefan has almost 50 years of public and private sector experience, serving for over 45 years in government leadership plus 4 years in senior corporate leadership.

Bill has served as a Senior Executive in the Intelligence Community since 9/11 in IT, operations, and financial management Senior Executive positions.

 Bill served as the Deputy Associate Director of National Intelligence for Financial Management, overseeing financial management improvements, audit readiness, the Intelligence Resource Information System, and

 National Intelligence Program improvements for the 17 Intelligence Agencies and a budget over $50 billion.

At the National Reconnaissance Office, Bill served as Principal Deputy Director of the Corporate Applications Office.

At the Defense Intelligence Agency, Bill served as the Deputy for Enterprise Management, Deputy Director of the Military Intelligence Staff and other Senior Executive positions at the Defense Intelligence Agency both in the US and Iraq.

As Senior Managing Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), Bill managed PwC support to the Intelligence Community and managed projects leveraging technology to solve finance, logistics, administration and personnel projects across the Department of Defense for four years. After graduating from West Point, Bill commanded or served in increasingly responsible staff assignments at every level from platoon to Army Staff until he retired in 1998.  On the Army Staff, he administered all the Army’s operations, intelligence, and training programs.  In the Gulf War, he was the Chief of Operations for the 20,000 soldiers in the First Cavalry Division.

Bill is President and on the Board of the American Wine Society, as well as serving on the Board of Directors at 3 non-profits and is the Chair of these non-profits Audit Committees.  Bill is also a a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and holds an MSBA from Boston University

Marc Buiting

Marc Buiting is a Dutch professional with interests in business & commercial economics and in business science. He is also the owner of 1to3 Capital B.V. – Bankability Lab Foundation. Prior to this, and for a number of years, he managed the Infrastructure Development Fund focused on least developed Countries for a Dutch development bank.
Marc has a Bachelor’s degree from Erasmus School of Economics, an MScBA in Finance from Rotterdam School of Management, and a diploma from Copenhagen Business School, Erasmus University. In addition, he has also completed the following post-graduate courses: 5 weeks program Corporate Finance in from Amsterdam Institute of Finance; Development Economics from London School of Economic; Strategic Management from Darden Business School, Virginia, and MIT Boston (USA).

Mr. Buiting works with financial (development) institutions since 1990 and delivers bankability and financial readiness assessments. He was privileged in being asked to establish in 1995 ING Barings energy finance and advisory departments through which ING acted a.o. as underwriter and arranger in emerging markets of B-loans of renewable energy (RE) projects from the IFC for subsequent down selling to private sector banks. He has been involved in a number of complex projects including, but not limited to:

  • Bankability of developing countries infrastructure projects;
  • (Renewable) energy finance since 1993 and in Africa as from 2003;
  • Capacity development to PwC Netherlands in controlled auctions, modeling and renewable

energy propositions 2000-2003;

  • Capacity development to FMO in lead arranging and in renewable energy propositions

2003-2016, in specific to the Africa-Asia Energy Team; 

  • Support/grant-based (blending) development finance;
  • Overall quality and efficiency enhancement (products and processes).

 

Marc speaks five languages (Dutch, English, French, German, and Spanish). He joins the William and Teresa Okorie Foundation as an Advisory Board member and his experience in developmental economics and finance will help further the Foundation’s mission.