Village Enterprise Fund

Our Organization
US Staff

Our US-based staff brings their life experience, talent, hard work, and passion to the task of alleviating poverty in East Africa. While they call California home, their hearts are never far from the people they serve. Click on selected photos to see the staff in action.

Brian Lehnen, our Co-Founder and Executive Director, has a wealth of experience in microenterprise for developing countries. He pioneered VEF's business model which combines training, microgrants, and mentoring to produce sustainable, income-generating businesses. He has been singularly effective in identifying partners who share his dedication and commitment to the poor. Brian received his undergraduate degree from UC Davis and his MBA from Eastern College.

Lyndsay Holley is our Operations Director and has worked for non-profits in East Africa since 2003. Lyndsay holds a BA degree in International Relations from Stanford. She speaks Swahili fluently, coaches and plays Ultimate Frisbee, and has a great talent for working with the field staff, volunteers, and business owners. Lyndsay serves on the board of Bahati Education, a non-profit innovator in education for girls in Africa.

Pat Brown is our Interim Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining us as a volunteer three years ago, he worked for over twenty years in the computer software industry. In his last position, he was the Senior Director of Technical Publications for Siebel System. Pat received his BA from UC Santa Barbara and a MA from California State University, Fresno. He completed doctoral work at UC Berkeley.

Philip Arscott joined the team as a volunteer in January 2008 and traveled to Tanzania the following summer to film short documentaries on our entrepreneurs and survey businesses. He became the Assistant Director of Operations in November 2008. Philip graduated from Hamilton College in upstate New York with a BA in Economics.

Susan Robertson joined VEF in September 2008 as our Director of Major Gifts. She comes to us from Scott Ministries where she worked in Donor Relations. She is a co-founder of the Sweet Sisters Baking Company. Susan attended UCLA and graduated from Notre Dame de Namur University with a BA in business communications.

Anjanette Lundell is the Associate Director of Development. Before joining VEF in 2005, Anjanette worked as a high school chemistry teacher and in investment real estate. She graduated from Westmont College with a BS in Biology and Chemistry. She has a teaching credential from Cal State University Hayward.

Meet our African staff »