Board of Directors

William Roderick Richards

Board Chair

Roderick began his banking career with Chase Manhattan Bank, as VP and Global Market Manager in New York.  He spent three years as Chase's Country Manager and Managing Director of Chase Merchant Bank Nigeria, while also serving on the Board of Chase Bank Cameroon.

Roderick has recently retired from the American Express Company as a banker in the U.S. and international markets.  Previously, he led the investment banking businesses of NatWest Markets in Mumbai and Delhi, and was a Director of HDFC Bank.

Roderick is a graduate of Merton College, Oxford.  In 1988, he spearheaded the establishment of a 501(c)3 entity to manage the College's fundraising efforts in the U.S., raising over $10 million.  He is currently a member of the MCS Board and of its Development and Investment Committees.

Lelia Lamson

Vice Chair

Lelia has worked in survey research, education and residential real estate management.  While accompanying her husband John - a State Department Office whose posts included Niger - Lelia worked for the U.S. Embassies in a variety of capacities.  Interested in photography and handicrafts, Lelia has visited numerous villages in Niger including the desert regions of RAIN's work.

Harry A. Schult

Treasurer

Harry holds an MBA from Stanford University and is a CPA with an extensive financial career in both the U.S. and abroad.  He spent twenty-seven years with Ernst & Young, including five years in Paris.  Harry has acted as CFO for numerous start-up and high technology companies and serves on the Boards of several companies.

Nancy Borden

Secretary

A graduate from Smith College in 1966, Nancy joined the Peace Corps to do community development work in Brazil.  In 1974, she received a Masters Degree in Adult Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. A Master Gardener, Nancy is interested in sustainable agriculture. Active in the New Hampshire Seacoast region, she is a founding member of Friends of Fort Constitution and the New Castle Library Museum.

John L. Ahlgren, Esq.

John is Senior Partner with Ahlgren, Perrault & Podlowski, a general practice law firm in Portsmouth, NH.  He served as Assistant Attorney General of New Hampshire for five years.  John is active in many civic organizations, has served on the Board of Directors for various non-profit organizations, and has traveled extensively, including three trips to Niger.

Susan E. Lassen

Member At-Large

Susan recently transitioned from NetsforLife - a malaria prevention program working in seventeen countries in Sub-Saharan Africa - to her post as Executive Director of the White Flowers Foundation.  At WFF, Susan worked with the founder to create an investment fund for NetsforLife, raising $12 million to impact three million people.

Susan was General Manager of an international business consulting company, and is a Registered Nurse and cardiac surgery specialist.  She has served as a Trustee of Save the Children, as Chair of Save the Children's Education Council, and as founder of the Long Island Council of Save the Children.  She has traveled extensively, auditing programs and leading delegations to countries throughout Asia and Africa.

Bess Palmisciano

Founding Director

Prior to founding Rain for the Sahel and Sahara in December 2001, Bess enjoyed a successful and varied professional life as a college administrator and later, as an attorney. Bess was Senior Counsel at FleetBoston Financial in January of 2000, when she and her husband, John Ahlgren, decided to visit friends who were living in Niger.  It was during this trip that the seeds of RAIN were sown. She now works full time at the helm of RAIN as Executive Director, overseeing staff and planning programs in both the U.S. and Niger.

Allison Reedy

Allison's past experience includes working with Software Publishers Association in Washington D.C. as International Membership Marketing Coordinator, and for America Online, as both Senior Business Manager and Producer and Director of Marketing Operations, Digital Marketing Services Division.  Since 2007, she has served as a volunteer in the Emergency Services Department of the American Red Cross, Great Bay Chapter, as a member of Disaster Assessment, Service to the Armed Forces and Logistics teams, where she was awarded Rookie Volunteer of the Year in 2008.  

Zenagui Brahim

Member-at-Large

Zenagui is currently Director of Operations at New Hampshire Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NH MEP).  In 2010, Zenagui was appointed New Hampshire Commercial Consul to North Africa.  He is curretnly VP of the Algerian-American Foundation for Culture, Education, Science and Technology.  Zenagui serves at the NH Governor's Advanced Manufacturing Education Council, and is an active member of New Hampshire business, high school and community college boards. 

Kathleen Hofer