A Child's Right

Eric Stowe, MA (A Child's Right – Director)Eric founded A Child's Right after working for several years in the international adoption field. During this time he worked in concert with national and local governments of several countries, as well as state-run and private orphanages in several developing countries. He also oversaw the water purification projects for the agency in Vietnam, Sri Lanka, China, Panama, and Nepal. After a brief stint in Cambodia working with trafficked and homeless children, Eric came home to found ACR with the belief that an organization focused solely on clean water for children in the urban and semi-urban sphere was of paramount importance as, to date, none of the major water organizations focused on these target areas. Mr. Stowe's background designing and overseeing international relief projects from inception to delivery, oversight of the intake, allocation and disbursement of funds for relief projects keeping within the projected budgets, initiating and installing dozens of water purification systems around the world in diverse political and cultural climates, dealing with foreign governmental and non-governmental agencies to procure approval for relief projects, extensive travel history, understanding of complex intercultural and intergovernmental interactions, and role developing, improving, and maintaining relationships within foreign governmental and non-governmental agencies all provide A Child's Right with a strong leader who is fully committed to promoting and implementing the goals and mission of A Child's Right. Eric holds a Masters degree in China Studies from the University of Washington- Henry M. Jackson School, and his BA in International Studies at the University of Washington. Eric currently resides in Tacoma, WA with his wife Anne and son Hayden.

Karen Nilsen, MD (Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital – Pediatrician)Dr. Nilsen has been a practicing Pediatric Physician at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital for 9 years. Until recently she has been the Director of the Pediatric Inpatient Service and Observation Unit for the hospital. During her tenure, the Inpatient Service grew from a two physician service to a service that includes over 19 physicians and has a significantly expanded service area. Dr. Nilsen has also served as the Medical Director for Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, overseeing the medical operations of all outpatient and inpatient services. She played a vital role in the Mary Bridge Strategic Planning process, and remains active in many aspects of program development for the hospital. Dr Nilsen has been an active member of many medical committees and is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Washington, Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Nilsen's proven dedication to international relief efforts and focus on hygiene education for children provides A Child's Right with a tremendous asset who will be able to help shape and guide our organization keeping the health and safety of the children we serve as a paramount concern. Dr. Nilsen provides guidance and assistance to the organization to ensure that all manner of hygiene education efforts adhere with the original goals and mission of the organization as well as provide the best level of care for the children we serve. Dr. Nilsen has a BS in Biology from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah and a MD from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Dr Nilsen currently resides in Tacoma, WA with her husband Barry and two children Marly and Madeline who were adopted from China.

Terry Adams, PhD (Adams Consulting - Director)Dr. Terry Adams is an independent technical consultant with more than thirty years of experience in the areas of combustion and chemical recovery. For nine years he was a professor at the University of British Columbia, and for six years an Environmental Scientist for Weyerhaeuser Co., before starting his own independent consulting practice in 1986. From 1998 to 2007 he was a Senior Scientist and Chief Technology Officer for Changing World Technologies, a firm developing alternative fuel technology. His responsibility was to develop and patent technology for converting plant, animal, and consumer waste into transportation fuels. His areas of expertise include energy efficiency and environmental compliance. He has extensive experience in North America, Scandinavia, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. He has authored two books, chapters in several other books, and over seventy papers in his area of expertise. Dr. Adams has been an invited speaker at national and international meetings. Dr. Adams' broad international work, extensive technical and scientific knowledge regarding water purification techniques, and commitment to children's issues provide ACR with a grounded and pragmatic counsel for the technical side of our mission. Dr. Adams earned a B.S. degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara where he was on the Dean's List; and an M.S. degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor where he was awarded an Air Products and Chemicals Corporation Research Fellowship. He received his Ph.D. from Drexel University in Philadelphia, where he was awarded an NIH Special Air Pollution Research Fellowship. Dr. Adams has been the recipient of many honors and awards throughout his career including TAPPI's Finest Faculty-Kraft Recovery Operations Shortcourse for 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998. Dr. Adams lives in Seattle, WA with his wife Ruth and has two children and four grandchildren.

Ryan Gledhill (T-Mobile USA – Senior Manager, Finance)Ryan is currently Senior Manager in the Finance division of T-Mobile Business Operations. He is responsible for understanding and translating financial objectives and performance, as well as providing strategic leadership, communication and visibility to the financial goals and performance of the entire organization. Ryan is accountable for oversight of accounting-related activities, including weekly and monthly financial reporting and schedules, development of forecasts, weekly and monthly variance analysis to forecasts, assisting in development and tracking departmental and program budgets, and maintaining an open dialogue with all stakeholders regarding financial issues. Ryan is also responsible for assuring financial compliance and control for Business Operations. Prior to this, Ryan was the Cost Accounting Manager and Internal Auditor for PACCAR, Inc. In this role Ryan evaluated adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls, ensured compliance with policies and procedures, identified opportunities for maximizing quality and performance, and undertook extensive international travel to PACCAR sites to ensure adherence to company standards. Ryan's lengthy experience and impressive credentials in accounting work within major US manufacturers, his extensive overseas work conducting audits in foreign offices, and his history and dedication to children's rights issues provides for a solid oversight of A Child's Right's finances. Ryan is an active participant of the Board as the Treasurer and offers his guidance and expertise to ensure that the accounting of A Child's Right follows all requirements for a 501 (c)(3); as well, he ensures that all grant disbursements are properly overseen and all financial requirements within the grants are fulfilled. Ryan holds a BA of Accounting from the University of Washington and is Six Sigma certified (Green Belt certification). Ryan currently resides in Woodinville, WA with his wife Kate and son Jacob.

Rebecca Field (Starbucks Coffee International – Operations Manager)Rebecca is currently an operations manager responsible for providing operational support and training to new and existing Starbucks Coffee Company countries. Over a nine year partner of Starbucks she has worked the past five years in international where she has managed programs which help establish and maintain Starbucks standards in the areas of staffing, equipment and partner and customer satisfaction. She is currently also on the leadership team of Starbucks China Club in charge of Chinese education and language programs. Rebecca's work overseas for a major US corporation setting up programs compliant with US corporate standards of service and operation, her dedication to providing care for orphaned and at-risk children, and her passion for our mission provide ACR with a talented and caring member with extremely high professional standards and criteria from which to assess ACR's global work and effectiveness. She has a bachelor degree in Business Administration from Oregon State University and a Training Certification Program in Adult Education from University of Washington.  She resides in Kirkland, WA with her daughter Madison Ruo Field adopted from China in 2004.