Melissa Daniel Bain
Melissa is passionate about building a better world, and believes each of us has a part to play in doing just that. After years of working domestically and internationally for Soles4Souls, Melissa saw an opportunity to move beyond the traditional nonprofit model - and so she founded The 610 Project in 2015 with a single goal: begin to break the cycle of poverty by empowering communities through education. While the work began (and continues still) in Haiti, The 610’s mission continues to evolve and expand, as does The 610 Project team, borrowing wisdom from the idea that sometimes the best place to serve grows from wherever we find ourselves planted. Melissa has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of North Alabama, and a Master of Arts in Christian Thought from Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN. In true Enneagram 7 fashion, Melissa is also a singer, published songwriter and Chief Operations Officer of Wound Care Specialists.
Susan Rowe
Susan Rowe is a founding member of The 610 Project. She has served on the board of The 610 Project for 8 years. As a professional photographer she has been able to travel and lend her talents and skills to The 610 Project as well as multiple other non profits in Guatemala and Haiti. Susan has helped to raise funding for educational programs and healthcare programs through coordinated and planning multiple and successful fundraising events. She has also helped to lead teams and organize numerous on the ground trips for The 610 Project.
Although her love of travel initially brought her to the 610 Project, the purpose behind the mission, helping to empower people through education, keeps her dedicated and excited about the work they do and will do.
Andy Thigpen
Andy Thigpen is a dedicated communicator and public affairs strategist. He developed a love for international travel and work while in college. This led him to teach in China and work in international development where he spent time in Africa, Asia, and Europe. He currently serves as a public affairs specialist for the United States Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). He has been on the board of the 610 Project since its inception and has had the privilege to travel to Haiti and assist with a band program. He lives in New Orleans where he spends his time listening to and playing music.
Jessica Ambuehl
Jessica Ambuehl is a professional storyteller with over 40 international trips spanning nearly three decades under her belt. Her love for people, different cultures, and giving a voice to the voiceless is evident in the work she does in the film/TV industry as well as in her passion for providing pro bono photojournalism for nonprofits in developing nations through her company Under The Tree Designs. Although she is strongly rooted in the Midwest, her heart and work expand the globe with the purpose of “using imagery to connect the world through human experiences by evoking emotions in the audience to desire to learn more, value differences, discover beauty in brokenness, and expose them to a world they didn’t know existed but can now no longer deny.” Jessica is honored to be a part of the 610 Project board for many years and looks forward to the organization’s continued work and impact in making a lasting difference