Board of Directors

Chris Crane is Founder & CEO of Edify. From 2002 to 2009, Chris served as President & CEO of Opportunity International Inc., the world’s largest Christian microfinance organization with 10,600 staff operating in 32 countries serving 1.5 million active clients. During his tenure, Opportunity’s primary revenue source – private donations – grew from $8 million to $53 million. In the field, the number of microfinance clients increased from 375,000 to 1,500,000. Prior to entering the field of microfinance, Chris owned a technology company, COMPS InfoSystems, that made 13 acquisitions in 8 years, took in two rounds of private equity, and held an initial public offering (IPO).

Chris earned an MBA from Harvard Business School; a B.S. summa cum laude in Finance from Boston College; and studied economics, art, and music for two years at the University of Vienna in Austria. In 1999, he was awarded the Ernst & Young/USA Today “Entrepreneur of the Year Award” in San Diego, and in 2009 the Bob Buford Half/Time Institute “Achievement Award.” Chris was a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) from 1990 to 2002. He has been married to Jane for 27 years, and they have one son, Andrew.

Chris’s specific expertise relevant to Edify is a track record for scaling-up organizations rapidly, recruiting strong executives, fundraising, and seven years of experience as CEO of a global network of Christian MFIs – including three years of involvement with making small business loans to schools in Africa.

Paula A. Cordeiro is the Dean of the School of Leadership and Education Sciences at the University of San Diego and a professor of Leadership Studies. Previously she was the coordinator of the masters and doctoral programs in Educational Leadership at the University of Connecticut. Cordeiro is a former teacher, principal and school head in international schools in Venezuela and Spain. Paula speaks Spanish and Portuguese and has spent approximately 15 years working and living outside the United States. She is a past president of the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA), and in 1998 was awarded a fellowship by the Commonwealth Council for Educational Administration and Management (FCCEAM). Cordeiro is a former member of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, past President of the San Diego Council on Literacy, a founding member of the Academy of International School Heads, and a board member of the International Council for the Education of Teachers (ICET).

Dean Cordeiro was recently elected to the board of the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education. In 2007 Paula was appointed to the board of The James Irvine Foundation in San Francisco. In addition to numerous articles, Paula has published three books and is working on the fifth edition of her co-authored text (with William G. Cunningham): Educational Leadership: A Bridge to Improved Practice. Paula’s research is in the areas of school leadership, somatic learning and global education. Currently she is developing a new course for graduate students on education in developing countries.

Dale Dawson is the founder of the nonprofit Bridge2Rwanda, which connects resources to Rwanda and shares Rwandan talent with the world. Dale is a key member of President Paul Kagame’s Presidential Advisory Council and sits on the boards of Muhabura University, a start-up college, and Urwego Opportunity Bank, the country’s largest microfinance institution. He was partner and national director at the global accounting firm KPMG; head of investment banking at Stephens Inc. (twice); and Chairman & CEO of TruckPro, the largest U.S. distributor of heavy-duty truck parts. He is a graduate of the University of Texas.

Peter Greer is president and CEO of HOPE International, a global nonprofit focused on uniting the Great Commandment and Great Commission through Christ-centered microfinance.

Formerly employed by World Relief as the managing director of Urwego, ranked the “best microfinance institution in Rwanda” by the United Nations, he also served with CARE Zimbabwe implementing fraud protection measures and was a microfinance advisor in Cambodia. Peter has an M.P.P. from Harvard’s Kennedy School and a B.S. from Messiah College.

Peter authored the first faith-based book on microfinance, The Poor Will Be Glad: Joining the Revolution to Lift the World Out of Poverty (Zondervan, 2009), and blogs at www.peterkgreer.com. Follow him on Twitter @peterkgreer.

Peter resides in Lancaster, Pa., with his wife Laurel and their three children.

Steve James is the Managing Partner of Boulder Telecom Partners and a venture capital investor. Steve has been the acting President and CEO of several companies since the inception of his investment and advisory business. Previously, he was the CEO for 9 years of Biomagnetic Technologies, a publicly- traded technology company. Steve serves on the board of directors of several nonprofits, including Colorado Uplift and The Foundation for Urban Youth Ministries. Steve is a graduate of Denison University.

Terry Looper is founder and CEO of Texon LP, a 22-year-old Houston energy company with $6 billion in revenues for 2010. Texon recently sold its crude oil division, but still gathers and sells natural gas and natural gas liquids from U.S. producers. Terry is currently serving on numerous boards including Houston Christian Foundation, Haddington Energy Partners and is current chair of Camp Eagle Board. His past board affiliations include Young Life National Board, as well as the board of Young Life’s Greater Houston Area. Looper was also a trustee of The Houston Christian High School. Terry graduated from Lamar University with a B.S. in Engineering.