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Meet our Team!

Hundreds of global-citizens have contributed to PeaceTrees Vietnam since the project was created in 1995. A small dedicated group of volunteers work on the project daily.  We could not do our important life-saving work without the assistance of these caring individuals.

United States Team

Blair B. Burroughs - Executive Director

Blair became the Executive Director of PeaceTrees in 2009 after serving on its board for two years and obtaining a master’s degree from the Nonprofit Leadership Program at Seattle University. Being a nonprofit leader is Blair’s “encore” career. His first career of thirty years was spent as a trial and municipal lawyer. As a partner with Lawler Burroughs & Baker, P.C., he acted as special or general counsel for numerous Washington cities and special purpose districts. He also represented these, as well as civil clients, in a wide variety of lawsuits.

In addition to his nonprofit leadership degree, Blair holds English and Russian literature degrees from the University of Washington, and graduated from its Law School with honors in 1978. After serving as a law clerk to the Chief Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court, he returned to the University of Washington Law School to teach before entering private practice. He is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and was named by Washington Law & Politics as one of its "Super Lawyer" each year from 2001 to 2007.

   

Milica Koscica - Program Coordinator

As the Program Coordinator for PeaceTrees Vietnam, Milica is the anchor in the Seattle office.  While she often serves as the face and voice of PeaceTrees to inquirers and visitors, she also assists in the fundraising and public relations functions, coordinates the Citizen Diplomacy trips and at times escorts the groups to Vietnam, and supports the Executive Director and Board members as they perform their respective responsibilities.  Milica has a background in philanthropy and has worked as a nonprofit fundraiser for one of the largest national civil and human rights coalitions in the country. She is a committed advocate for peace and human rights, and has worked and traveled extensively abroad. Milica loves live music, zazen, farmers markets and good food.  She is a recent transplant from Washington DC, and holds an International Relations degree from American University.

 

Andrew Fuller - Program Assistant

Andrew, a northwest native, comes to PeaceTrees after spending a year traveling and studying abroad.  Prior to his travels, Andrew served as Community Liaison for a U.S. Congressman where he was responsible for a wide range of issues including grant coordination, veteran and military affairs, and the environment.  While working for the US Forest Service he did field surveys for rare and endangered plants and had the opportunity to participate in the response to the Columbia space shuttle disaster in eastern Texas. Andrew received both a B.S. focused in Environmental Science and a B.A. focused in Social Science from The Evergreen State College in 1999.  He earned a Certificate in Environmental Law and Regulation from the University of Washington in 2008.  In 2009 he studied Environmental Justice and Sustainability through Augsburg College’s Center for Global Education in Managua, Nicaragua.  Woodworking is a hobby for Andrew, as well as snowboarding, xc skiing, mountain biking, and fly fishing, depending on the season.

 
Vietnam Team

Quang Le - Country Director
As the In-Country Representative for PeaceTrees Vietnam Quang Le provides direct oversight for all of our projects and work in the Quang Tri Province and acts as our liaison with Vietnamese officials.  He organizes our entire country itinerary:  transportation, lodging and meals for our Citizen Diplomacy trips.  Further, he provides PeaceTrees' immediate response to all victims of landmine/UXO accidents.  He determines the best way to help them and meet their immediate and long-term needs.
Quang Le is a Vietnamese American and resides and works in the PeaceTrees Vietnam office in Dong Ha nearly ten months a year.  He worked in Vietnam for over twelve years.

He has a bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Ohio.  He is married and has four daughters and one grandchild.  His home is in Fountain Valley, California.
   


Pham Thi Hoang Ha -
In-Country Project Manager;

Le Giang - In-Country Project Manager
Vo Thi Kieu Oanh -
Assistant programmer/Accountant; 

Mr. Trung Vo - Driver; 
Mr. Binh - Security/Maintenance

   
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team
Board Of Directors
Jerilyn Brusseau - Co-Founder/Board Member
Rae Cheney - Board Member
Cynthia Chirot - President/Board Member
Linda Cheever - Board Member
Tracy Garland - Board Member
Catherine Hazen - Board Member
Marie Thutrang - Board Member
Paul Kennel - Board Member
Evin Morris - Treasurer/Board Member
Thoa Nguyen - Board Member
Lam Nguyen-Bull - Board Member
Rick Preble - Board Member
Robert Stokes - Vice President/Board Member
Aly Vander Stoep - Board Member
Joe Yencich - Board Member
   

Jerilyn Brusseau, Co-Founder/Board Member
Jerilyn Brusseau is a cook, baker, restaurateur, business-woman, humanitarian and cultural diplomat.

In 1986, she founded PeaceTable to create shared culinary experiences between people of the United States and the former Soviet Republics as a tool for building cultural understanding. For this unique work, Jerilyn was given the National Giraffe Award, given to people who “stick their necks out” for the common good.

In 1995, she co-founded PeaceTrees Vietnam, a project to foster cross-cultural friendship and healing with the people and the land of Vietnam. Her husband and PeaceTrees Co-Founder, Danaan Parry, died suddenly in 1996, as the first PeaceTrees citizen diplomacy team was preparing to leave the USA for Vietnam. Her brother Daniel Cheney, a young helicopter pilot, was killed in the Vietnam War in 1969, and received the Distinguished Flying Cross for Bravery.  The loss of her brother inspired the creation of PeaceTrees Vietnam.

Jerilyn has been featured in People Magazine and in an Emmy-Award-Winning documentary film, “Vietnam Revealed”, on behalf of PeaceTrees Vietnam.  In April 2005, she was awarded the International Humanitarian of the Year Award by the International Association of Culinary Professionals for PeaceTrees Vietnam’s work.

Jerilyn is a founding member of the Seattle Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, a member of Seattle Four Rotary Club, and recipient of the first “Broadway Edison Culinary Award” for global and community service, offered by Seattle Central Community College. She serves on the Advisory Board of the Women’s Center of the University of Washington.

   

Rae Cheney - Board Member
Considered the "heart" of the organization, she does everything from helping with events to writing personal thank-you notes to thousands of donors, large and small.

A retired banking professional and mother of Daniel Cheney, a young helicopter pilot who lost his life in Vietnam 1969, Cheney has dedicated her post-retirement life to the organization and support its daily operations tirelessly with untold volunteer hours.

In 1970, Cheney was awarded the Gold Star Emblem, a medal bestowed on mothers who have lost their sons in foreign wars.  She has two daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She lives on Bainbridge Island.
   

Cynthia Chirot - President/Board Member
Cynthia retired from a 28 year career in banking where she served as Chief Operating Officer of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle and Vice President at Bank of America/Seafirst. She is now enjoying a second career focused on nonprofits, and currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the American Red Cross Serving King and Kitsap Counties.  Cynthia also serves on the boards of Capitol Hill Housing and City University Seattle, is a member and past Vice President – Service of the downtown Seattle Rotary and is a graduate of Leadership Tomorrow. Cynthia’s daughter, Laura, currently works in Vietnam.

 
   

Robert Stokes, Vice-President/Board member
Bob was born in Amarillo Texas in 1953 but grew up mainly in Europe. He graduated from Columbia College with a major in French in 1975 and from Columbia Law School in 1978. After clerking in the Federal District Court in Manhattan he moved to Seattle in 1979. He practiced Commercial law specializing in communications work. Much of his practice focused on wireless telephony. He was a founder of and partner in the Seattle law firm of Stokes Lawrence. In 1997 he began work at AT&T Wireless where he left the practice of law to focus on business development and mergers and acquisitions. He became Sr. Vice-President of Mergers and Acquisitions and negotiated the sale of AT&T Wireless in 2004. He retired in 2005. During his time at AT&T Bob worked extensively in South Asia as well as in Southeast Asia, Europe and Canada. With Indian partners he helped to develop one of the largest Indian wireless companies.

Bob has been volunteering his time with PeaceTrees Vietnam for more than a year and led the March 2009 Citizen Diplomacy trip to Quang Tri Province to dedicate the Jesse Griego Kindergarten.

 

 
Vietnamese Partners
PeaceTrees Vietnam works very closely with the People’s Committee of Quang Tri Province - a governmental body similar to the state level in the US. The Foreign Relations Department within the People’s Committee of Quang Tri Province is tasked with all Non-Governmental Organization affairs.

PeaceTrees Vietnam also works with The Women’s Union of Quang Tri Province. The Women’s Union is a well-organized national association that works to improve the health and welfare of women and children throughout Vietnam. The Women’s Union is instrumental in the mines awareness education project.

  People's Aid Coordinating Committee
People’s Committee of Quang Tri Province
Foreign Relations Department of Quang Tri Province
People's Committee Dong Ha Town
The Vietnam Women’s Union
The Vietnam Women’s Union of Quang Tri Province
The Vietnam-USA Society
United States Partners
PeaceTrees Vietnam works very closely with various organizations both governmental and non-governmental.

Over the years PeaceTrees Vietnam has been granted funds by the United States Department of State and the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement.  In 2008 we were awarded funding to extend our Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team (EOD) another year.  They have also granted us funding to expand our EOD Team, allowing us the capacity to double our life-saving work.  Our third grant for 2008 will allow us to create a Mine Risk Education program in the ethnic minority languages in Vietnam.

 


PTVN International Headquarters
1301 5th Avenue, Suite 2500
Seattle, Washington USA  98101
206-441-6136 ~ info@peacetreesvietnam.org