Our Team
Workineh Genetu
Country Director, Founder
Workineh is an organic farmer and beekeeper who lives and farms in the Dangla area where both he and Awoke were raised. He was named Ethiopia’s Farmer of the Year from 2007 – 2010 for his progressive farming practices and named a Millenium Man in Ethiopia. Workineh is highly respected by all in the region including officials who recognize the high quality of the Project Ethiopia’s work and by the farmers with whom he has generously shared his agricultural expertise and advice. He has a natural ability to recognize each person’s gifts and to train and encourage work teams for project work. Workineh sees ‘the big picture’, and is a change agent who can help people to be confident and independent as they embrace improvement in their lives.
Awoke Genetu
Project Leader, Founder
Awoke is a former history teacher who holds a university degree in history and currently owns and operates his own tour company in Addis Ababa. Awoke is the ‘can do’ man. Right from the start when Judy and Dennis felt overwhelmed at the logistics of digging a well, Awoke assured them that together they could implement whatever plans would help the community. He is the interface of Project Ethiopia with the government, regional officials, and the supporters. He has a long history of providing guidance and support to people to improve their situation, beginning in his high school days when he organized a group to educate his fellow students on AIDS through plays and posters.
Ethiopia Team
Under Workineh’s direct supervision and leadership, our in-country staff consists of local residents who, in addition to running their own farms, work as well diggers, plumbers, cement masons, carpenters, metal fabricators, and maintenance staff on all Project Ethiopia projects. Because our team live in nearby villages and value the work being done by Project Ethiopia, many have been part of the organization from the very beginning.
Dennis Wilkins and Judy Sanderman
Founders
Upon retiring from their careers in telecommunications and education, Dennis and Judy discovered their new passion – fighting poverty by facilitating community development projects in rural Ethiopia. They enjoyed extensive independent traveling after retirement, always seeking opportunities to be close to the culture and communities where they visited. Motivated by a trip to Ethiopia in 2002, they established Project Ethiopia, which satisfied their desire to be closely connected to the culture and their vision of addressing poverty in rural Ethiopia. In 2018, Dennis passed away in Vancouver, B.C. Judy continues to serve on the board of directors.
Sue Wilkes
Executive Director
Sue joined the Project Ethiopia team in January 2017 having worked for over 25 years in the nonprofit sector in Seattle both as an executive director and a consultant. Her first connection with the Ethiopian community began in 1990 as a volunteer with Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA) in Seattle where she went on to join the staff and work for eleven years. She has also worked with a wide array of health and human service organizations, housing providers, faith-based communities, and coalitions throughout Washington state and around the U.S.
Amy Ephrem
Development Coordinator
Amy joined the Project Ethiopia team in September 2024. A former elementary school teacher, Amy lived in Ethiopia from 2001-2004 teaching English and serving as the Field Business Administrator for CMF International. In addition to her work with Project Ethiopia, Amy also teaches English to immigrants and refugees at Bellevue College. She and her husband Ermias live in Seattle where they spend much of their free time watching their two teenage boys play soccer.
Board of Directors
Len Barson, President
Len worked 20 years for The Nature Conservancy, the world’s largest land conservation organization where he lobbied Congress and state governments on conservation issues, worked on state ballot measures across the country relating to land protection, and led an effort to protect sagebrush habitat across 11 western states. Previously, he worked as counsel for the Energy and Commerce Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Energy and Judiciary Committees of the Washington State Senate. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and received a master’s in law from Georgetown University Law School. Len is currently retired and resides with his wife in Seattle, Washington.
Wossen Mengiste, Vice President
Wossen retired from The Boeing Company in 2016 after enjoying a long and gratifying engineering career in multiple disciplines mostly managing and leading highly functional project teams. In his retirement years, he is motivated to offer services to nonprofits in his local community or non-governmental organizations supporting communities in Ethiopia where he was born and raised. Wossen brings a proven leadership experience with extensive background in policies, processes, and procedures. His educational background includes MBA from Seattle University, MA in Industrial Studies from California State University, Los Angeles, and BS in Engineering from California Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Sally Jo Gilbert de Vargas, Secretary
Sally Jo is a retired, 30-year public school educator and administrator. She is the Co-Minister at Interfaith Community Sanctuary and has served on their Guiding Council for more than 15 years. Sally Jo has been a volunteer, supporter, and member of the Board of Directors of Project Ethiopia since 2005. She is also on the Board of the Suraiya Ataur Medical Clinic that serves women and children in the village of Chondipur, Bangladesh.
Asamenech Afework, Treasurer
Asamenech attended college in the U.S. and went on to work with the City of Seattle Public Utilities for more than 30 years in the finance department. She has served in a volunteer capacity in a number of community organizations including the Ethiopian Community in Seattle and has participated in fundraising efforts to support a variety of health issues including AIDS, breast cancer, and heart disease. As a native of Ethiopia, Asamenech feels a moral obligation to lift up and strengthen rural communities in her home country.
Lynnda Laurie
Lynnda was the office manager for a Seattle-based environmental consulting company for 21 years. She met Judy and Dennis through a mutual friend and immediately knew she wanted to be involved. Currently she’s the President/Treasurer of her condominium HOA.
Rob Magnusson
Rob spent eight years working on account management and product development for local area tech companies before changing gears to be an at-home dad for his two kids. He now contributes his time and energy to good causes, music, books, friends and family. Rob and his wife, Brooke, have been Project Ethiopia supporters since 2005 – when Judy and Dennis first shared their inspirational story.
Mariko Langan
Mariko grew up in the Seattle area, with stops in Los Angeles and London along the way for college and several years abroad. Her interests in music, art, and dance helped spark her curiosity in many different cultures. She was introduced to Project Ethiopia through childhood friends and is honored to be on the board with such dynamic and inspirational members. When not working as a para educator, she thoroughly enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and photography.
Getachew Admasssu
As an educator, trainer, and cross‑cultural communications specialist, Getachew brings several years of experience in relationship building, workforce development, and community‑centered program leadership. He has served in key roles at Seattle Goodwill’s Job Training & Education programs and taught Business and Economics at local community colleges. Getachew enjoying writing poetry and is currently preparing an Amharic poetry collection as well as an English/Amharic children’s book. He is a multi‑talented communicator with an artistic flair and a resilient sense of humor.
Kidist Yasin
Kidist Yasin, Ph.D., is a philanthropy scholar, researcher, and practitioner who earned her Ph.D. in Philanthropic Studies from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy in 2024. She works as a fundraising consultant and researcher specializing in global philanthropy, donor behavior, and diversified and sustainable fundraising strategies. Her research examines formal and informal giving across contexts, ultra-high-net-worth philanthropy, and diaspora giving.