About

We link partners for holistic development in the Balkans

DEVELOPMENT STARTS WITH: "WHAT DO WE ALREADY HAVE?"

We believe that local partners should first ask the question: “What assets do we already have, and how can we tackle this problem on a local level?” rather than “What do we need, and who from the outside can meet those needs?”

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Therefore, on some of our projects we simply link existing local partners together around a shared development goal. With other projects, we link local partners with global ones, who bring additional value. 

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In all our work we seek to address development challenges in a holistic manner, recognizing, for example, that poverty is more than just the absence of money and health is more than just the absence of disease.

We collaborate with a variety of partners to accomplish our mission, including public institutions, aid agencies, embassies, businesses, non-profits, faith communities, and individual volunteers and donors.

We want to see lives being transformed 

GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER

We believe that development challenges must be addressed at a values-level that gets to the “heart” of the matter; otherwise, solutions will be superficial and short-lived.

Businesses, healthcare services, and community initiatives that are consistently led by positive, life-giving values will result in transformed lives and greater flourishing of society.

We recognize that change at this heart or values-level comes slowly, which is why we build long-term relationships with our partners and the communities we serve.

We seek to live out the following values in our work

Service:

Following Christ’s example of service to humanity and leading by example

Partnership:

Serving with our partners in a spirit of mutual cooperation and respect around a shared vision
 

Integrity:

Serving with honesty, transparency, and consistency
   

Credibility:

Serving in ways that add value and benefit communities physically, socially, and spiritually
 

Excellence:

Serving with professional, cultural, and linguistic excellence
   

Stewardship:

Wisely managing the resources that are entrusted to us

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Our organization is committed to basic Christian principles and beliefs. This informs and inspires our desire to serve all people in the Balkans regardless of their background.

Meet the Partners

Meet the Board of Directors

Mary Jo Wohlers

Registered Nurse, Fairfax County Health Department, Virginia

Mary Jo Wohlers is a registered nurse and is the wife of Paul D. Wohlers, U.S. Ambassador to Macedonia from 2011 to 2015. During her 6 years in Macedonia, Mary Jo was actively involved with various nonprofit and humanitarian endeavors, including LinkAcross’ work at the Children’s Hospital in Skopje and playgrounds around Macedonia.

Donald Bradshaw

MD, MPH, FAAFP, FACHE, FAAPL 

Donald M. Bradshaw is a senior Physician Advisor with Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. – a global advisory organization. Bradshaw earned his BS from Wheaton (Illinois), his MPH from University of Washington (Washington) and his MD from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (Maryland).   

Steve Mackie

Founder and president of SSI, an IT company based in Washington D.C. 

Steve Mackie brings a career of leadership and management expertise to LinkAcross, along with a passion for equipping others to succeed in entrepreneurial and vocational endeavors.

Clay Buttemere

Co-founder / Managing Partner of LinkAcross

Before relocating to Macedonia in 2008, Clay worked as a biomedical engineer for the Food and Drug Administration in Washington, D.C. He is focused on advancing pediatric and family healthcare, as well as healthcare leadership. 

Jonathan Mangels

Co-founder / Managing Partner of LinkAcross

Before relocating to Macedonia in 2007, Jonathan worked as a professionally licensed mechanical engineer in California and Oregon for nine years. He is passionate about bringing economic and social transformation to Macedonia through the development of ethical enterprises.

Jeff Barrett

Director of LinkAcross

Albania Office

Before relocating to Albania in 2016, Jeff worked as a corporate lawyer in Wisconsin for seven years. Jeff is driven by a desire to see holistic development take place in the business and legal sectors of Albania.

Reed Kennedy

Associate Professor of Management Practice, Virginia Tech

Reed teaches in the College of Business at Virginia Tech. He is also a business owner and has a background in hospital management--both in the U.S. and abroad. He serves as President and Chairman of the Board for LinkAcross.

Tom Judd

Global Healthcare Consultant

Tom chairs a global healthcare technology federation, has extensive international health resource management consulting experience with the World Health Organization, and is Associate Editor, Quality and Technology, for The Permanente Journal.

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Chee Kin Tang

Senior Resource Management Officer & Team Enabler, The World Bank

At the World Bank, Chee Kin works in the  corporate budgeting and reporting unit. In addition, he has extensive corporate finance and management consulting experience both in Europe and Asia.

Clay Buttemere

Jonathan Mangels

Jeff Barret

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