don’t be shy, meet the board!
Nancy Anderson
Nancy Anderson, RN, MSN, Director, Founding Member, President: Nancy has lived in North Palm Beach, FL since 1984. Originally from Indiana, she graduated from St. Elizabeth School of Nursing, received her Bachelor͛ Degree in Nursing from Purdue University in Indiana and her Master͛s in Nursing from Rush Presbyterian St. Luke͛s Medical Center in Chicago. Nancy first traveled to Haiti in 1977 with a surgical team, working at l͛’ hopital St. Croix in Leogane. In 2003 she began working with the local Haitian community in Palm Beach County and shortly after started the non-profit, Hands Together of the Palm Beaches, which changed its name to Hands Together for Haitians in 2018, with two other founding members. In 2006, their work expanded to Haiti. Presently, Nancy volunteers full-time in the capacity of President and Administrator of the organization. Nancy is married to Robert and they have seven children and nine grandchildren.
Dr. Robert Anderson
Robert Anderson, MD, Director, Founding Member: Robert has lived in North Palm Beach, FL since 1983 after graduating from Albany Medical School in NY, completing his surgical residency at North Shore Hospital in NY, and his Cardiovascular & Thoracic Fellowship in Chicago. He has been in a private Cardiovascular & Thoracic practice in Palm Beach County since 1983 and working at the Palm Beach Gardens & Jupiter Medical Centers. Dr. Anderson is actively involved in the work of HTPB and has been participating in the yearly medical mission trips to Haiti since 2006. Robert is married to Nancy and they have seven children.
Sabrina Brice
Sabrina Brice, BSN, RN, Director: Sabrina moved to Lake Worth, FL from Haiti when she was 10 years old. She attended Florida Gulf Coast University, where she earned a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Nursing in 2009. She has worked in various health care settings including hospitals, patient centered medical home clinics, home health and utilization management. Sabrina attended her first medical mission trip to Haiti with Hands Together for Haitians in 2010. She has done health and self-image development presentations for the youth and adults served by Hand Together for Haitians. Sabrina lives in Orlando, FL with her husband Elder and their 3 children.
Laveaux Narcisse
Laveaux Narcisse, Office Manager, IT & Computer Program Director: Laveaux moved to the U.S. from Haiti in 2003 and began volunteering with Hands Together for Haitians shortly after, teaching adult computer classes. Prior to moving to the U.S., Laveaux took accounting and computer classes in Haiti and taught computer classes to adults. After arriving in the U.S., Laveaux has taken several PC Professor courses and he is a Barber by trade.
At Hands Together for Haitians, Laveaux oversees the daily office operations, ensures tasks are carried out smoothly and works closely with management and program staff to ensure operations are consistent with the mission. He also manages and maintains the computer lab, the server and software to ensure reliable performance throughout the organization. For the adult computer programs, Laveaux develops lesson plans and teaching materials suitable for beginners and advanced learners and ensures that content is accessible, inclusive, and up-to-date with current technological trends. In addition, he supervises trainers and provides training on teaching methods and tools.
Without Laveaux, Hands Together for Haitians would not be where it is today! Laveaux has been involved in every aspect of its work since its inception in 2005. Laveaux is married to Ylomene and he has 2 daughters.
Mary Beth Donaldson
Mary Beth Donaldson, Director, Chairman of the Board: Mary Beth has lived in Jupiter since 1993. She was raised in New Providence, New Jersey and graduated in 1977 from Villanova University with a Bachelor Degree in Nursing. She has worked in the capacity of School Nurse at The Benjamin School since 2001. She is also involved with St. Dismas Society, a prison ministry. Mary Beth has been involved with Hands Together͛s work since 2010 and travels to Haiti for the yearly medical mission trips. Mary Beth has been married to George for 30 years and they have 3 children.
Mary Jo Higgins
Mary Jo Higgins, Director: Mary Jo was born in Philadelphia and came to Palm Beach County in 1971. She is a graduate of Cardinal Newman High School and the University of Notre Dame. Her post graduate education includes a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy from Texas Women͛s University in Houston. She and her husband Dan met and were married in Philadelphia and returned to West Palm Beach in 1985 where they have raised four children. Mary Jo has been involved with Hands Together since 2008. She volunteers with Hands Together͛s Saturday mentoring program as well as the annual medical mission trips. Her other volunteer efforts include working at St. Clare Catholic Church, the Palm Beach County Medical Society Alliance, St. Mark͛s Episcopal School, Cardinal Newman High School, Lake Park Elementary School Mentor, Holy Cross Catholic Pre-School and Center, the Notre Dame Alumni Club of Palm Beaches.
Louann Hausner
Louann Hausner, Director, Secretary: Louann lives in the Kansas City metro. Originally from Wisconsin, Louann graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a double degree in Agricultural Economics & Agricultural Journalism. She also studied French & International Agriculture Marketing at the Ecole Superieure d’Agriculture in Angers, France. Louann has worked for John Deere Company for over 20 years in various global responsibilities and is currently the Region Manager for Sales Training and Events Marketing. Having a deep passion for giving back, she has volunteered on 11 Mission Trips; four Mission Trips to Togo, West Africa focusing on education, female empowerment and building infrastructure, and seven Mission Trips to Jean Denis, Haiti, focusing on education, medicine, and agricultural development.
Bill Tiedje
William Tiedje, Director: Bill grew up in Davenport, Iowa and graduated from Assumption High School in 1962. He went on to Iowa State University and received a BS degree in Engineering in 1966. He spent four years in the US Air Force and left in 1970 as a Captain. After leaving the Air Force, he attended the Wharton Graduate School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, and received his MBA in Finance in 1971. After 25 years in banking he finished his working career as a Business Manager for St. Hilary Church and School, retiring in 2012. Bill and his wife, Dina, reside in Tiburon, California and have been part of the Haiti medical mission the past two years. They have three children and three grandchildren.
Nano Anderson Swetman
Nano Anderson Swetman, Director: Nano is the middle child of founders Nancy and Robert Anderson and grew up in North Palm Beach, Florida. She attended Duke University where she majored in Public Policy and Markets and Management. She then went on to work for Abercrombie & Fitch Headquarters for a few years, and ultimately left to start her own jewelry business, Cuffed by Nano. Nano lives in Columbus, OH with her husband David Swetman and three children.
Michael J. Mack, Jr.
Michael J. Mack, Jr, Director: Mike grew up in Iowa and now lives in Madison, Wisconsin. He has been married to Denise Mack since 1980. They have four adult children. He has a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago. He worked for Deere & Company for over 30 years in a variety of positions including: Chief Financial Officer; President, Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division; President, John Deere Financial; and head of Global Human Resources. He is retired from Deere & Company. Mike currently serves on the Board of Directors of Dana Incorporated.
Dr. Remiash Maurice
Dr. Remy Maurice, Director: Remy was born in Saint Marc, Haiti where he attended Lycee Stenio Vincent High School. He then attended Lycee Antenor Firmin in Port-au-Prince and the Haiti State University, School of Medicine. He became a Medical Doctor after 7 years and then worked in Gros Morne in Gonaives for two years with the ONG “Caritas” at Alma Mater Hospital. In 2008 Dr. Remy became a US resident and went to Palm Beach State College in 2009 where he took 3 classes on Human Growth and Development, Statistics and Nutrition. After the devastating earthquake in Haiti in January of 2010, Dr. Remy went back to Haiti to work with Doctors Without Borders from Belgium. By 2013, he decided to do a Fellowship in Orthopedic Surgery because he saw many orthopedic injuries, especially motorcycle accidents. In 2017, after 4 years in the residency program at Haiti State University Hospital, he graduated and became an Orthopedic Surgeon certified by Haiti State University. Since then Dr. Remy has worked at Eben Ezer Hospital (Croix des Bouquets), Sainte Famille de Nazareth Hospital (Croix des Bouquets), Rebekah Friedman Hospital (Croix des Bouquets) and Complexe Transfiguration Hospital (Catalpa, Delmas 33), all located in Haiti. Dr. Remy presently lives in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and since 2016 he has collaborated with Hands Together for Haitians on many projects and medical mission trips to Haiti.
Orestal Michel
Orestal Michel, Director: Orsetal was born and raised in Jean Denis, Haiti. He received a Diploma in Accounting from New Horizon Training Center in Haiti in September 2000. In 2003, Orestal moved to Palm Beach County, FL and since that time he has received certificates in Introduction to the Computer form the School District of Palm Beach County in 2005, Microsoft Outlook in 2007, and Teacher Helper Appreciation in 2006. Orestal is a leader in his Haitian church community and is involved with the education of the faithful in Lake Worth, Florida. Orestal has also been an Assistant for Hands Together for Haitians’ Adult Computer Program since 2008 and the Program Director for the Food Pantry since 2020. Presently, he is also working as a Professional Tax Preparer and with Legal Immigrations Services. Orestal is married to Solanie Michel and they have three children.