2016 HALO Board of Directors
Eddie Welsh, President, COO at Capital Materials
Eddie Welsh served as a Peace Corps volunteer from
2003 – 2005 in the Republic of Panama. From this
experience, grew his passion for serving the less
fortunate. Upon his return to the United States, Eddie
attended the University of Missouri – Kansas City
working toward a Masters in Public Administration and
Non-Profit Management.
After serving in Peace Corps, Eddie also worked with
Children International serving as a liaison between
donors and program directors for almost 5 years. His
primary objectives were to grow awareness, build teams and create structures
within the existing organization that lent them to sustainable growth.
Currently, Eddie serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Capital Materials. The
company has more than 300 employees and operates limestone quarries,
asphalt plants, bridge and highway construction projects predominately in the
state of Missouri.
Carol Angerer, Treasurer, Partner and CPA at Abbott and Angerer CPAs
Carol has been involved with the accounting for HALO
for the last 10 years. She is deeply committed to HALO’s
success and mission of “helping youth in the greatest
need.” Carol is the owner and managing member of
Abbott & Angerer CPA’s, LLC, a Jefferson City
accounting firm with a 50+ year history.
Carol is a member of the American Institute of Certified
Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Missouri Society of
Certified Public Accountants. She has also obtained the
CGMA (Chartered Global Management Accountant)
designation from the AICPA. She holds a Bachelor of
Science degree in Business Administration with dual majors in Accounting and
Financial Services from Columbia College.
Carol is dedicated to helping clients achieve business success with her diverse
tax, financial, and business consulting proficiency, while encouraging sound tax
and financial practices. She provides expertise in comprehensive accounting
services, including individual, corporate, partnership, and nonprofit income tax
returns, financial statement compilations, and payroll taxes and processing.
Carol resides in Jefferson City, Mo. with her husband, Craig, and their two
children, Luke and Jacob. She is also the Finance Chairperson of Immanuel
Lutheran Church in Honey Creek, where she and her family are members. Carol
is an avid reader and enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and friends.
Leena Phadke Fry, Secretary, Attorney at U.S. Federal Government
Leena has been an attorney since 2007 and has practiced
in both the government and private sector. She was first
introduced to HALO by her husband, Josh. They began
dating shortly after he returned from a life-changing trip to
Kenya to shoot HALO's first mission video. After hearing
about HALO's great work and people, Leena began
volunteering on the Ambassador Board as the
organization's copy editor. Soon thereafter, she joined the
Board of Directors as Secretary. Leena is passionate about
education and believes that true learning can only
happen when a child's basic needs are met. She
believes wholeheartedly in the mission of HALO and strives
to provide quality guidance to the organization on policymaking issues.
David Baker, Founder & Managing Partner at Legacy Investment Partners
In October of 2004, David founded Legacy Investment
Partners, LLC and brought together a team of advisors
to develop a comprehensive, multigenerational
approach to wealth planning. He started his career as
a Registered Representative for George K. Baum &
Company. In 2000, he accepted the position of Senior
Vice-President Investment Officer for First Union
Securities. Following a merger with Wachovia, David
was retained as Senior Vice-President for Wachovia
Securities. He has represented individuals and families
with a comprehensive and collaborative approach
that includes a review of the client's investment, estate,
insurance and philanthropic goals. This unique CFO approach has made David
a prominent figure in the investment management industry.
Mr. and Mrs. Baker met in college and were married in 1999 and now have two
sons. David enjoys volunteering to coach his sons’ sports teams as well as
promoting his passion for the "Pay It Forward" model. As a true fiduciary and
trusted advisor, he is known throughout our community as a resource for both
academic and charitable foundations across the country. Community
Involvement includes Garth Brooks Foundation -Teammates for Kids, HALO
Foundation, Kansas City Community Food Kitchen & Culinary Cornerstones,
Higher Impact, Scholarship for Mothers, YMCA, and Women’s Employment
Network.
Tara Darbyshire, Founding Board Member at Archer Foundation
Tara is a Founding Board Member of the Archer
Foundation and passionately supports organizations that
foster services for children in need and aid for women in
crisis. Understanding the power of supporting women as
contributors to the global economy, Tara has served as a
mentor for women in technology through organizations
such as the Executive Women’s Forum (EWF) and the
Carnegie Mellon University INI Graduate Program.
Prior to the Archer Foundation, Tara served as CoFounder and Executive Vice President of Business
Development and Sales for Archer Technologies, a
leading risk and compliance software company.
Additional leadership positions include Vice President of Sales and Marketing for
eSecurityOnline, and National Director of Sales for the Information Security
practice of Ernst & Young.
Tara’s latest endeavor is to understand the impacts of environment and nutrition
on health, wellness and recovery from disease. She is currently pursuing her
certificate in holistic nutrition and instructing small, private groups in creating
healthy, organic meals adapted from traditional recipes.
Vanessa Connell, CPA and Community Activist
Vanessa has been a resident of Kansas City, Mo. for 19
years and has held many volunteer positions for
organizations across the City. In addition to HALO, she
currently serves as the treasurer for the board of Just
Like You Films, which is nonprofit production company
creating one-of-a-kind films that facilitate the physical
and emotional healing of unique children by creating
an environment of acceptance worldwide.
Vanessa grew up in Atlanta, Ga. She received a
Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of
Arizona. Upon moving to Kansas City, Vanessa worked for KPMG Peat Marwick in
their audit department, focusing her work on not-for-profit and healthcare
clients.
When Vanessa is not volunteering her time, she loves being with her husband
Jimmy Connell and their four children and two dogs.