Valerie Kilfoil

Born and raised on the beautiful east coast of New Brunswick (a "Maritimer" as we are called by those from the other parts of Canada), I have always loved to travel and learn about the world. I have been fortunate that my career in communications has taken me to Turkey for a year, and to Costa Rica for six years. Of course living in these two countries allowed for lots of exploring of nearby countries.

My volunteer work with the Maritime-Guatemala Solidarity Network gave me the opportunity to be part of a carpenter team that built a school in Rabinal, Guatemala several years ago - one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The school kids were literally swinging from the rafters as they came in groups each day to help us build and I am sure managed to break every work safety rule ever written (but there were no accidents). Despite my travels, I am a Maritimer at heart and always return to my roots and my very large Irish/Scottish (my Dad's side) and Acadien French (my Mom's side) family in New Brunswick.

I have a 13 year old son who decided he would rather attend school (go figure) rather than backpack with me for three months in Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. He unfortunately didn't catch my travel bug but he is an amazing young man with a wonderful mind of his own...and he will join me for the Italy and Egypt trip in July.

I am looking forward to starting my nine-month sabatical from my communications job with the Government of New Brunswick by meeting everyone on the team and being part of what I am sure will be an amazing experience with Habitat for Humanity.

Colin Waldin

Colin Waldon is a retired geologist and general contractor from Greenwood Village, Colorado. Colin has been involved in the design and construction of homes in Colorado, New Mexico and New Hampshire (where he and his wife Firth have a cottage on a lake). Colin has a bachelors degree in geology from the University of Colorado and a masters degree in geology from the University of Wyoming. He worked as a geologist with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, Massachusetts where he worked aboard the research vessels Chain in the Indian Ocean and Atlantis II in the Atlantic Ocean. He is a former board member of Santa Fe Conservation Trust in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Colin is a board member of South Suburban Parks Foundation, a builder of urban trails in metropolitan Denver. Colin enjoys photography, woodworking, antique cars, hiking, travel and any water activity (sailing, kayaking, fishing, etc.). Colin and Firth have two grown daughters who live in NYC and Oklahoma City. In 2009 he participated with HFH Global Village project in Nepal where the team built a experimental bamboo home for a local villager.

Dean Ericson

Dean has lived in Colorado for thirty three years. His family, Judy and two grown sons, Ben and Peter, are skiers snowboarders, tennis players, and lovers of the “Colorado lifestyle.” Dean’s career includes business development leadership for what is now Time Warner Cable, founding a media consulting company, a Scandinavian channel cable programming network, a board member of the Colorado Prevention Center Foundation, chairman of Rocky Mountain PBS, and President of the International Skiing History Association. He is currently co-producing a PBS documentary series, Colorado Music Legends, featuring artists who are closely associated with Colorado, such as Richie Furay, Joe Cocker, and Judy Collins. Residing in Denver, Dean and Judy recently welcomed their first grandchild and a golden retriever put to their home. An experienced remodeler and long time admirer of Habitat For Humanity. Dean was a Global Village Volunteer in Nepal in 2010.

Lynn Brown

Lynn joined SIRVA Relocation in 1993 and is Vice President of Business Development. She received the Outstanding Sales Team of the Year Award from 2004-2007. Prior to joining SIRVA, Lynn was a multi-million dollar producer for Van Schaack Real Estate, Denver Colorado. She was awarded Outstanding Achievement of the Year in 1992. Before Lynn's real estate career, she was responsible for successfully taking Tofruzen Inc. public. Lynn enjoyed a five year entrepreneurial and business ownership experience for Tofruzen Inc. a specialty frozen foods company located in Denver Colorado.Lynn served on the board of directors for Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Denver, a national non profit organization. IHN is a shelter and a self-sufficiency program for homeless families in Denver, Colorado.Lyn sponsors a child in Indonesia through Compassion International. Lynn resides with her husband Jeff in Seattle. They have 7 grand children ranging in ages from 17 years to 18 months.

Lynn enjoys running working out, yoga, reading, photography, snoorkelleing, scuba diving and spending time in Placencia, Belize. Lynn was a Global Village Volunteer in Pokhara, Nepal in April 2010 and Vietnam in 2011

Fred Snyder

Hi, everyone. I retired a year ago on my 63rd birthday after working some 40 years in the non-profit sector in a variety of positions including church administrator, symphony musician, camp/conference center director and most recently as director of the Lawrence (University) Academy of Music. I am not one to sit around in a rocking chair so am busy pursuing new outlets of service for my talents, energies and labor. Habitat for Humanity Global Village program is dear to my heart and this trip to Bolivia will be my seventh in less than two years. Prior builds include El Salvador, Costa Rica, Kauai, Guatemala, Honduras and Paraguay (October 2011). I have traveled extensively to 37 countries often on mission ministry trips to such remote places as the Northern Frontier District of Kenya, Burundi (scary place), and my favorite, Cape Town, South Africa. I’ve been married for 39 years to Laura, a wonderful African-American lady who is a 41-year career veteran member of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. We have 3 grown children and a delightful granddaughter, Isabella. I love to cook, am an avid photographer, workout most every day at the local gym, enjoy reading African adventure novels and am a pretty good tinkerer-handyman. I can’t wait to meet everyone in person and bond together as a team working to assist others to provide adequate, safe shelter. With anticipation…Fred (Federico) Snyder