Our Team
Kim White, President
Kim White, President of the board and Director at Neema, volunteers her work at Neema Village. Her husband, Bruce supports her work at Neema.
Kim is spending more time now at Neema and makes all the major decisions under God’s guidance. She is passionate, dedicated and fierce about all things Neema! She is on the Finance Committee and the Education Committee of Neema Village.
Kim also oversees the Volunteer Program by handling correspondence and scheduling.
Kim volunteers her many hours of work and does not take a salary for her work at Neema Village.
Kelle O’Pry Samsill, Vice President
Kelle Samsill, Vice President of the board and Director at Neema, is a graduate of Abilene Christian University where she received her B.S. in education. She taught first grade for 10 years before becoming a stay at home mom in 1996. She and her husband Mark live in Keller, Texas. She has three grown children, Tyler (26), Colton (24), and Katie (22) who is a senior at Harding University. She also serves on the board of directors at Christian Works for Children. She is an active fundraiser and supporter of Neema Village, leading many volunteers and sponsors to visit Neema.
Kelle is also a volunteer and does not take a salary for her many hours of work and travel at Neema Village.
Michael and Dorris Fortson
Beginning as young missionaries near Mbeya in 1965, the Fortsons have a long history of service in Tanzania. Compelled by the images of homeless children on their trips to Tanzania, they decided to retire and return to Afica to help.
Michael and Dorris have four children and eight grandchildren. All of their children are involved in the support of Neema. Two of the Fortson’s children were born in Tanzania. Michael and Dorris are retired and serve as unpaid Directors of NV when Kim or Kelle are not on campus.
Ashley Berlin
Ashley Berlin is from Casper, Wyoming. She comes from a preacher family and is deeply committed to teaching the love of Jesus to all her students. Ashley and our Tanzanian teacher, make up the preschool teaching staff at Neema Village. Ashley is a volunteer and is not paid by Neema Village.
Marquisette Bickford
Marq came to Neema in September of 2022 to serve as the Sponsorship Coordinator. Originally from Iowa she spent 32 years in Kansas City, MO working in Procurement and Financial IT Support. She has been involved with children through mentoring, teaching children’s Bible classes, Bible camp and serving on several boards supporting these activities. She is a graduate of York College and received a degree in business management from Oklahoma Christian College. She loves to organize anything and everything earning the nickname of “The Cruise Director”. She is an avid fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and loves Chick-Fil-A. Marquisette is self-supported and volunteers her work at Neema Village. She has become our “go to girl!” at Neema and knows where every key to every building is filed.