About Us
OFFICERS & BOARD MEMBERS
Dr. David R. Allen, Ph.D. – Chairman of the Board of Directors
Dr. Allen is presently the Chairman of Quasar Group, a company specializing in international finance and business development and he is also the President of Allen International Financial Corporation. Dr. Allen’s business experience and success includes operating and selling a nuclear pharmacy in Washington State, during his tenure as a faculty member of the University of Washington; financing and operating two other radio-pharmaceutical companies based in Colorado; and functioning as Executive Vice President of a biotechnology company specializing in development of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. Dr. Allen is also a Board member of the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy.
Dr. Allen received his B.Sc. in Pharmacy from the University of Kansas and his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Washington. Dr. Allen is a respected pioneer in the fields of nuclear medicine and nuclear pharmacy and has served in a number of national professional societies. He is author and co-author of a number of scientific articles in nuclear pharmacy and nuclear medicine. He was the first President of the Radiopharmaceutical Science Council, Society of Nuclear Medicine; Chairman, Section on Nuclear Pharmacy, American Pharmaceutical Association; and recently served as President of the Colorado Medical Device Association. CMDA has recently merged with another regional biomedical association to form the Colorado Biosciences Association, which Dr. Allen served as a member of its Board of Directors.
Jana Hoisington Matthews, MA – Program Officer
Mrs. Matthews brings many years of federal experience to FELAE. During her 10 years in Washington, D.C., Mrs. Matthews served as a congressional aide to a U.S. Congressman, as a congressional liaison with the U.S. Department of Labor, and spent five years working on behalf of non-profit organizations at both the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Her most recent federal appointment was as Associate Director for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at HHS where she provided education, technical assistance, and oversight to local social service non-profits regarding funding and programs. From 2005-2009 she was a frequent speaker at White House and national federal conferences regarding federal funding opportunities for local organizations. Mrs. Matthews holds a M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Denver Seminary, and a B.A. in History with a minor in Political Science from Taylor University.
Robert A. Christopfel, CPA – Director & Treasurer of the Board
Robert A. Christopfel holds a MBA in accounting from the University of Cincinnati. Mr. Christopfel brings many years of accounting and business experience to Quasar Group. Mr. Christopfel began his career in the audit department of Touche Ross & Company (Deloitte & Touche), then four more years in the taxation department. Mr. Christopfel is a well-respected lecturing professor in the School of Business, University of Washington. He is a presenter of real estate and tax related courses for such organizations as the AICPA, University of Washington, Experimental College, and Washington Society of CPA’s. Mr. Christopfel is currently owner of his own accounting firm in Seattle Washington, specializing in business and taxation.
Aaron H. Sanchez – Director of the Board
Mr. Sanchez has twenty four years of domestic and international FBI experience in crisis management, hostage and extortion facilitation, negotiation, white-collar and drug investigations, training, program evaluation and development, strategic planning and management. He has extensive international private sector experience in the dealing with critical security and crises situations involving all manner of groups and individuals from governmental, military, and religious to guerrilla, terrorist and individual citizens. Mr. Sanchez has served as an expert federal witness regarding political, judicial, social, and human rights conditions in Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Central America and the Caribbean as well as critical incident crises. In addition, Mr. Sanchez has also worked for the Community Development Foundation for Latin America, and served as a grant writer and instructor for the Navajo Indian Tribe. Mr. Sanchez holds a B.Sc. in Economics and Latin American Studies and Spanish from Mankato State University, has done graduate work in Latin American Studies at the University of Northern Colorado, and took numerous management application courses at select universities and the FBI Academy.
Gina C. Piek Schlieman – Adviser to the Board
Mrs. Schlieman holds an M.Sc. in Social Policy and Planning from the London School of Economics and Political Science. A seasoned team and project manager and experienced policy advisor, Mrs. Schlieman is the founding member of GPS Strategies Group LLC, a policy and nonprofit consultancy. For more than five years, Mrs. Schlieman supported and advised two U.S. Senators on policy issues, including Education, Welfare, Children & Family, Social, Aerospace, Social Security, Workforce Development, and Economic Competitiveness issues. More recently, Mrs. Schlieman served as Cabinet Advisor to a senior executive member of a Local Government body in the United Kingdom, running his office, managing his affairs, and advising on operational and policy improvements for education, youth, economic development, and sport/physical activity government programs. Mrs. Schlieman also has significant experience in communications and public relations, and has established herself as an expert on Lifelong Learning and education in a globally competitive era. Mrs. Schlieman holds a B.A. in Social Science from Biola University with an emphasis in Secondary Education, and is a trained Social Studies teacher. She currently works at the Colorado Department of Education for their Innovation and Choice Division.
FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS
The Foundation for Excellence in Learning and Education is a charitable organization, and has applied for charitable nonprofit corporation recognition under the IRS Code 501(c)(3). An electric copy of this application, which also includes FELAE's incorporating documents and bylaws, is available upon request. Financial records are also made available upon request.
