Washington, DC (PRWEB) October 19, 2014
SNV USA announces the appointment of Emmy Simmons and Kenneth Lanza to the SNV USA Board of Directors. Both Kenneth Lanza and Emmy Simmons have a wide breadth of experience in the development sector and their knowledge and expertise will add valuable perspectives to the board.
Emmy Simmons is an independent consultant focusing on issues of food and agriculture, particularly in Africa. She retired from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2005, completing nearly 30 years of service in the organization as the Assistant Administrator for Economic Growth, Agriculture, and Trade (EGAT).
Simmons serves on the boards of several organizations engaged in international agriculture and global development, including: Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa, and AVRDC - the World Vegetable Center. She is a co-chair for AGree, an initiative seeking to transform food and agricultural policy, and a member of the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition. Simmons began her international career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines from 1962 to 1964. She holds an M.S. in Agricultural Economics from Cornell University.
Kenneth Lanza is currently a Director at Grant Thornton LLP, where he manages the firm’s International Development sector. Prior to this role, he served as Senior Director in the Administrator’s office of USAID. From April to November, 2010, he acted as Chief Operating Officer for USAID overseeing the Agency’s management and operations, the Development Leadership Initiative and coordinating change management efforts. While with USAID, he managed and supported economic growth and private sector development portfolios for countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe and Eurasia. Lanza also served as a Senior Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Assistant to President George W. Bush from 2003-2004.
In addition, Lanza serves on the Board of Advisors of The Competitiveness Institute, the International Executive Service Corps, and the Society for International Development (SID). He is also on the Board of Independent Advisors for Volunteers in Economic Growth Associates (VEGA). He earned an M.A. in International Development Policy from Duke and an M.B.A. from the University of Miami.
SNV USA welcomes Emmy Simmons and Kenneth Lanza and looks forward to the fresh perspectives and personal approaches they will bring to the board and organization as a whole.
SNV provides innovative solutions in Agriculture and Food Security, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and Renewable Energy to 39 developing countries worldwide. Our global team of local and international advisors work with local partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America to equip government bodies, communities, businesses, and organizations with the tools, knowledge, connections and systems they need to increase their incomes and gain access to basic services. SNV empowers people to break the cycle of poverty and guide their own development. SNV is a registered 501(c)3 through SNV USA, a registered PVO with offices in Bethesda, MD. For more information, visit http://www.snvusa.org.