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Global Focus Films
Board of Directors
Susan Ramsey, President and Co-Founder
Ms. Ramsey conducts research for projects, designs and maintains web pages, and assists in the production of videos for international distribution. She develops educational outreach for Global Focus projects including university, high school and corporate materials, and is responsible for outreach to organizations and individuals internationally through the Internet. Ms. Ramsey earned her BA in sociology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She is a musician who has performed with the Long Island Symphonic Chorus, the St. John's Cathedral Choir, and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra Chorus.
Sandra L. Thurman
It was at the encouragement of Ms. Thurman in her role as Director, Office of National AIDS Policy, The White House (1997-01), that Global Focus Films began its original quest to document the fight against HIV/AIDS in the US and sub-Saharan Africa. With over 90% of people with AIDS (PWAs) living in developing nations, Ms. Thurman continues to work to build exchange programs between those on the frontlines of this pandemic. She provided on the ground support and guidance to Global Focus in Durban, South Africa and in Atlanta, GA, USA during filming for projects. Today, as Executive Director of the newly formed AIDS International Trust, Ms. Thurman continues to work closely with Global Focus on its projects and efforts to educate and mobilize communities confronted with AIDS.
Tara Lumpkin, Ph.D.
Dr. Lumpkin is an anthropologist who has worked for UNICEF, USAID,
and a variety of NGOs in the areas of health, environment, justice, communications and gender. As a consultant to UNICEF-Namibia, Dr. Lumpkin conducted one of the first assessments of the use of traditional medicine in Namibia focusing on improving collaboration between traditional healers and the biomedical health sector. She served as Interim Chief of Party for a USAID-funded information education and communication campaign in Rwanda. She holds a PhD in anthropology from The Union Institute, an MA from Antioch University and a BA from Yale University.
Jim Polsfut
Mr. Polsfut is a financial services management specialist. His community involvement includes service as chairman of Urban Peak (a shelter for Denver street children), as a board member of the DU Social Science Foundation, the Instititute for International Education, the Mi Casa Resource Center for Women, and the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities. He is an active supporter of IPODERAC, a self-sustaining orphanage located in Puebla, Mexico. For nine years he worked for GE Capital in Mexico City. Mr. Polsfut holds a MBA degree from Stanford Graduate School with an undergraduate degree with honors in political science from Harvard University. He has traveled & studied abroad as a Harvard University Benjamin Trustman fellow in Europe and Latin America and as an International Rotary Foundation fellow in Costa Rica.
Stephen Fallon, Ph.D.
Dr. Fallon has been working in education and health services for 15 years including as a consultant with the Centers for Disease Control, the University of Florida, Clemson University, and the Florida Department of Health. He provides employee training and community forums in areas of health promotion, disease prevention, agency capacity building, program development, and treatment issues. He provides grant writing, public relations, and consulting services to non-profit agencies, government entities, and for-profit companies. Dr. Fallon received his PhD and MA in English from the University of Florida and his BA in English and Economics, Boston College.
Essie Garret
Ms. Garret is an ultramarathon runner. She has run over 20,000 miles in her career, received numerous awards and raised over $1,000,000 for charities, nonprofits and individuals. Her runs directly help the homeless, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, provide computers to schools, shelter to battered women, financial aid to families of fallen police officers, to name a few. In July 1996, during the Olympics, she made a 1500-mile cross-country run from Atlanta to Denver to benefit Children's Hospital's HIV Program. Later she ran the 500 mile underground railroad path first traveled by Harriett Tubman.
Kate Shindle
In her role as Miss America 1998, AIDS activist Kate Shindle traveled the U.S. speaking to youth about HIV/AIDS prevention and education. Ms. Shindle quickly responded to a request by the producers of Global Focus Films to assist in raising funds for our first visit to South Africa. Today, as a member of our board of directors, she continues to be a strong and supportive voice in efforts to combat the global AIDS pandemic. She recently appeared in Broadway's "Jekyll & Hyde" and in the national touring production of "Cabaret." Ms. Shindle has a degree in Fine Arts from Northwestern University.
Lon Burke
Mr. Burke is an associate with the law firm of Davis Graham & Stubbs, where he practices complex commercial litigation, specializing in product liability. Prior to moving to Denver, he worked at Snell & Wilmer in Phoenix. Mr. Burke volunteers for the Human Rights Campaign and the Community Action Board for HIV/Net, and provides pro bono legal services to the Family Ties Adoption Agency and the United Way. He earned his JD at the University of Iowa College of Law and his BS in political science from Boise State University.