GENSHAI BOARD MEMBERS
THESE INDIVIDUALS VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME
& EXPERTISE TO GENSHAI
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our Board of Directors are an impressive group of individuals. These board members bring a unique set of expertise to ensure that public and private monies are well spent. The passion of basic human needs are shared throughout the whole team.
Lance Schiffman
Board – Founder
Lance Schiffman’s endeavors read like a roll call: philanthropist, entrepreneur, adventurer, investor, author, speaker, consultant, coach, humanitarian, advisor, and closest to his heart, he is a father to three beautiful girls and son. His current focus is to help build a Basic human Needs Non Profit- GENSHAI -With his extensive experience in directing to Chairing Them , He knows how to allocate and execute with efficiencies. Early on Lance started his first business before age ten, and by age 20 he owned an apartment complex and gas station. This led to his interests in commercial and residential real estate. With keen interest in participating in others’ success, he invests financial and intellectual capital in ventures which have forward thinking and resilient leadership. His passion is to find True Self Love , himself and especially help others find the same.
Lance utilizes his business and life experiences to identify the elements of wonder and uses this as a platform to educate others on how to play full out and create a more engaged world. He believes what we cultivate has a ripple effect to economies, relationships, innovation, productivity, contribution, personal significance, the intelligence of peace and a new horizon for how we live together in the world.
Judy Bangerter
Judy Schiffman Bangerter feels that all of her accomplishments in her life have led to the honor of accepting the position as Chairman of the Board of Genshai. The goals of Genshai resonate with all she has believed in and worked for in her life.
Judy has always had a passion to support others who have the same goals. She is fondly known as the best cheerleader and “Angel on Call” by her associates. She has also been recognized nationally for her grassroots, fundraising and networking connections.
The past 25 years she has served on the Board of the Christmas Box House International. Over 100,000 abused and neglected children have been served. She received the Spirit of the Christmas Box award in 2018, an honor she revers. From 1984 to 1992 she served on many committees and boards while in the Governor’s Office. Judy passionately fought against child abuse, suicide, drug abuse, and many family issues.
She served as National Chairman for McGruff House, President for the Coalition on Families, and the National Board of American Mothers. She is very excited to organize and dedicate her time to Grandmothers for Genshai. Helping Grandmothers spread kindness worldwide.
Tom Welch
President
Tom Welch has always had a front row seat to growth in his professional career. He served as Executive Vice President and General Council for Smith’s Food and Drug seeing the business grow from 6 stores to over 300 taking it to a $3 billion company before the millennium. Tom left Smith’s to focus on and become President and key architect of the successful 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Bid effort. During this time, Tom was called to the board of Maverik Inc, later being named Chairman of the Board for Maverik and served as President & Chief Adventure Guide (CEO), an FJ Management company, doubling Maverik number of stores and quadrupling their profits during his tenure. Tom is a legend, he lives his life legendary, never ordinary.
Joell Brown
Vice President – Treasurer
Joell Brown has devoted the last 20 years serving the most vulnerable population in our community. Joell has volunteered and fulfilled non-profit board of director positions serving children and youth experiencing homelessness, abuse and neglect. Her Organizations include; The Christmas Box International, Volunteers of America Utah Chapter, Utah Community Action, The Sandy Club a Safe Place for Girls and Boys, Children’s Service Society, Geraldine Women’s Resource Center, Youth Resource Center, Women and Children’s Resource Center, Grandfamilies and The Other Side Academy.
Garreth Dickson
Director – CMO
Garreth Dickson, a successful marketing entrepreneur with almost two decades of experience. He has always had a passion for helping others and giving back in any way that he can. Garreth has helped raise awareness as well as funds for dozens of non-profits. He created an awareness community for Autism (over 250k members) which brought awareness as well as initiatives for families. He also helped create Utah Pay It Forward; an effort to provide meals to those in need during the pandemic while also supporting small businesses. Garreth whole heartedly believes in Genshai’s mission and is dedicated in helping it become the Global Leader in providing basic human needs.
Arturo Fuentes
Director
Arturo Fuentes is an experienced social impact strategist with a demonstrated history of working in the Nonprofit Organization Management industry. Skilled in Social Entrepreneurship, Social Innovation, Leadership, Research, Corporate Social Responsibility, Nonprofits, and International Development. Strong community and social services professional with a Master of Science (M.S.) focused in Social Policy and Practice from University of Pennsylvania.
Melissa Sevy
Director
Melissa Sevy consider’s herself an “accidental entrepreneur” as she never set out to start a business, but was concerned with the economic challenges women in developing economies face and found a viable solution in building a bridge with the global handcraft sector. Melissa, has spent much of the last decade living and working in communities around the world with the driving philosophy that when people have access to fair pay and consistent work, they thrive. Melissa is a founding member and former president of the Social Enterprise Alliance of Utah and has taught classes in public health and international development at Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University.
Patrice Dickson
Director – Advisor
Patrice Dickson has over 20 years of experience working with high risk populations. She is currently the Chief Operations Officer and Assistant Head Start Director for Utah Community Action, an agency that served over 51,000 low-income clients in 2022. She has done direct client assistance as well as management and oversight for six different programs serving Salt Lake and Tooele Counties: Housing and Case Management which includes Homeless Services which include Diversion Services for each of the Homeless Shelters, Landlord Tenant Mediation and rent/deposit assistance; HEAT utility assistance, Adult Education, Head Start no cost comprehensive preschool, two large food pantries, and Weatherization services. She participated on Operation Rio Grande, a State initiative for the homeless, and implemented a homeless school outreach program to benefit homeless children in Salt Lake City School District. She has overseen agency services for refugees. Her career focus has been working to empower and advocate for individuals in poverty. She served on Utah State Women’s Legislative Council involved on the committee dealing with family policy. She is a past Board Member for United Cerebral Palsy and currently participates on the 211 Steering Committee.
