Laurent Muvunyi, President

Laurent Muvunyi was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1977. He graduated from ISGM (the Congolese Institute of Management) in 2004 with a Bachelor’s degree in International Development. He currently works as a Program Specialist and Intake Coordinator for United Rehabilitation Services in Dayton, Ohio.

Laurent worked for the non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) World Relief, UGEAFI, and PEPFAR1, in Africa and Haiti, in management leadership positions and was actively involved in humanitarian initiatives during the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Some of his responsibilities included implementing complex grass roots development projects and providing strategic leadership, including lobbying nation-state actors, civil societies and NGOs to act together in order to sustain long term impact in community development, and identify resources to support communities affected by the genocide.

Laurent became involved in the work of ARDR, through his brother, Jean Munyurangabo, who is the founder and executive director of this impactful development organization in Rwamagana, Rwanda. Laurent came to the US on behalf of ARDR, to find support and raise awareness of its work for the vulnerable and poor. He has maintained ties with the people of Central Africa, as well as the refugees from that region living in the US. He co-wrote a book called “Voice of Central Africa DR Congo” to educate the world about the massacre in the Gatumba refugee camp in Burundi, in 2004.

Laurent moved to the USA in 2007, where he married Nicole Mapendo. Together they have four young children, Grant, Grace, Grania and Grata.

Tracie L. Johnson, Vice President

Biography for Tracie L. Johnson coming soon!

Jim Frazier, Treasurer

Jim Frazier is currently semi-retired from working for businesses in the surrounding Dayton area over the last 35 years. His specialty has been assisting businesses grow with new enterprise systems using the newest technologies available to increase revenue, improve efficiency of operations, and increase bottom line profits.

Jim met Laurent Muvunyi while attending a local church men’s group meeting in the Fall of 2020. Jim and his wife Kathy immediately became involved in Laurent’s dream of a Hope Center for Refugees. In early 2020, they attended Perspectives, a fifteen week course that highlights different aspects of God's global purpose. This gave them a goal, to take the gospel to the remaining unreached people groups of the world. They are currently assisting Refugees and Laurent in many different areas with the goal of establishing a new Hope Center for children and adults to become self-sustaining members of our great Dayton community.

Daniel Clark, Secretary

Biography for Daniel Clark is coming soon!

Kenneth E. Hamilton, Emeritus

Kenneth E. Hamilton was born in Dayton Ohio in 1955. He graduated from General Motors Institute in 1978 with a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering degree. He worked for General Motors Corporation/Delphi Corporation/MAHLE Behr for over 43 years prior to his retirement on November 1, 2016. He has had numerous and diverse experiences in management and non-management positions in Industrial Engineering, Human Resources and Manufacturing. A sampling of positions held, include Manufacturing Supervisor, Cost Reduction Engineer, Labor Relations Supervisor, Organizational Development Consultant, Personnel Director and Plant Manager. During Ken’s role as Plant Manager he was responsible for over 600 hourly and salaried employees in a manufacturing facility with $100M in annual revenue. He led a successful restructuring campaign reducing millions of dollars of expense ensuring the plant's long-term viability. His most recent position, prior to retiring, was Global Manufacturing Planning Manager. This was a position he held with Delphi Corporation and MAHLE Behr.

He became involved with ARDR in 2011 after being introduced to Laurent Muvunyi (whose brother Jean manages ARDR in Rwamagana, Rwanda). Upon learning about the mission of ARDR it has become a passion of Ken’s to find a way to share the story of those impacted by the genocide of 1994 in an effort to raise funds and help the people of ARDR help themselves.

Ken is married to Kim Hamilton and has three grown children (Chandra, Tyler & Kara).

Meet our Staff