Founder
Bridging International Communities was founded by Don Leach in 2013. Deacon Don Leach served as a permanent deacon at St. Aloysius and St. Patrick Catholic Parishes in downtown Detroit. He coordinated outreach efforts in a wide variety of socio-economic situations for the homeless and low income seniors in the downtown and midtown areas of the city. He retired from the Ann Arbor Police Department after 25 years of law enforcement service as the Deputy Chief of Administrative Services and Investigations. He received a Master of Public Administration degree from Wayne State University and a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from the University of Detroit-Mercy. He was educated at Sacred Heart Major Seminary and ordained to the permanent diaconate of the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1994. Don served as BIC's president until his death in 2017.
Board of Directors
Dr. Michelle Leach, PhD
Michelle Leach received her PhD in biomedical engineering from the University of Michigan in 2013. She first traveled to El Salvador in 2011 to foster our bridging effort with Haciendita Uno. Her interests include integrated agriculture and sustainable aquaculture. The development of the Oasis Aquaponic Food Production System is her main focus.
Mr. Robert Arocha II, CPA
Prior to launching his firm, Robert Arocha worked in Central Asia for a few years with an International Development consulting firm. His emphasis was on introducing and applying basic business principles to an economy/business environment not too familiar with such principles. The goal was ultimately help local businesses grow domestically and internationally to improve the local job climate, local tax base, and local economies. Geographically, he was based in Kyrgyzstan, but he also did some work in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. His client base ranged from small one person businesses to larger manufacturing concerns. Industries included services (banking), textiles, agriculture, food and consumer products, among others. A few years ago, he also spent some time in Guatemala volunteering time with a Women's Textile Co-op.
Mr. Ed Walton, MS
Ed Walton is retired from a career in the automotive industry. His expertise is in manufacturing and finance. He owned and operated a tool and die business and consulted with major OEMs and suppliers in cost accounting. Currently he is the administrator of a career networking group e-mail distribution service. He received a Master of Science in organic chemistry from Oregon State University and completed his Bachelor of Science in chemistry at Wayne State University.
Ms. Donna Delosh, MA
Donna Humphrey-DeLosh has extensive experience coaching executives and professionals from a wide array of industries and roles. She joined the University of Michigan Ross School Of Business as an Associate Director/Career Consultant the summer of 2014 where she coaches both current Executive MBA students and Executive MBA alumni in all aspects of career management, career transition and entrepreneurship. Prior to joining Ross, Donna spent 18 years with the global career management firm Right Management delivering career management and career transition coaching and consulting in the areas of Leadership Assessment and Executive Coaching. She is a Limited License Psychologist for the State of Michigan and was in private practice for six years.
Ms. Megan McDonald, BA
Megan McDonald is currently working at Lake Michigan Credit Union in Grand Rapids, MI. Previously, she worked at Booth Family Services Housing Assessment Program working to connect those who are homeless or in a housing crisis to community resources and support. She graduated from Aquinas College with a Bachelor of Art in sociology and Spanish. After graduation, Megan completed an internship with a child abuse prevention agency and a year of AmeriCorps service working with the homeless. She has traveled multiple times to Mexico and El Salvador in efforts to build community and alleviate the impacts of poverty.
Mr. Sam Tuck, BS
Sam Tuck received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology and Masters in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan. He was formerly employed as a Field Engineer at Thermo Fisher Scientific and is now currently working as a R&D engineer at startup biotech company named Celsee, Inc. in Plymouth, Michigan. Sam previously assisted in the construction of several aquaponic systems in El Salvador and is currently assisting in the production of newly designed systems.
Mr. Patrick Cullen, BS
Patrick Cullen is Director of the Land Resource Management Division in the Wayne County Department of Public Services. In this role, he coordinated Wayne County's CLEAN program which assists local communities and neighborhood organizations with blight removal. He also oversees waste management planning and regulatory requirements for Wayne County. He has extensive experience in a wide variety of environmental issues that impact urban areas. Patrick received his bachelor of Science degree from Central Michigan University.
About Us
Bridging International Communities exists to assist developing communities by sharing resources and professional expertise on a wide variety of topics and projects. While BIC was founded in 2013, various members of the Board of Directors have been involved with communities in El Salvador and Uganda since 2005. BIC was created in an effort to combine these distinct efforts under a single organization to better leverage talent and resources.
BIC is organized as a non-profit corporation and is an approved IRS 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. Tax ID# 46-3971672. Donations to BIC are tax deductible under US tax laws.
Dr. Michelle Leach, PhD
Michelle Leach received her PhD in biomedical engineering from the University of Michigan in 2013. She first traveled to El Salvador in 2011 to foster our bridging effort with Haciendita Uno. Her interests include integrated agriculture and sustainable aquaculture. The development of the Oasis Aquaponic Food Production System is her main focus.
Mr. Robert Arocha II, CPA
Prior to launching his firm, Robert Arocha worked in Central Asia for a few years with an International Development consulting firm. His emphasis was on introducing and applying basic business principles to an economy/business environment not too familiar with such principles. The goal was ultimately help local businesses grow domestically and internationally to improve the local job climate, local tax base, and local economies. Geographically, he was based in Kyrgyzstan, but he also did some work in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. His client base ranged from small one person businesses to larger manufacturing concerns. Industries included services (banking), textiles, agriculture, food and consumer products, among others. A few years ago, he also spent some time in Guatemala volunteering time with a Women's Textile Co-op.
Mr. Ed Walton, MS
Ed Walton is retired from a career in the automotive industry. His expertise is in manufacturing and finance. He owned and operated a tool and die business and consulted with major OEMs and suppliers in cost accounting. Currently he is the administrator of a career networking group e-mail distribution service. He received a Master of Science in organic chemistry from Oregon State University and completed his Bachelor of Science in chemistry at Wayne State University.
Ms. Donna Delosh, MA
Donna Humphrey-DeLosh has extensive experience coaching executives and professionals from a wide array of industries and roles. She joined the University of Michigan Ross School Of Business as an Associate Director/Career Consultant the summer of 2014 where she coaches both current Executive MBA students and Executive MBA alumni in all aspects of career management, career transition and entrepreneurship. Prior to joining Ross, Donna spent 18 years with the global career management firm Right Management delivering career management and career transition coaching and consulting in the areas of Leadership Assessment and Executive Coaching. She is a Limited License Psychologist for the State of Michigan and was in private practice for six years.
Ms. Megan McDonald, BA
Megan McDonald is currently working at Lake Michigan Credit Union in Grand Rapids, MI. Previously, she worked at Booth Family Services Housing Assessment Program working to connect those who are homeless or in a housing crisis to community resources and support. She graduated from Aquinas College with a Bachelor of Art in sociology and Spanish. After graduation, Megan completed an internship with a child abuse prevention agency and a year of AmeriCorps service working with the homeless. She has traveled multiple times to Mexico and El Salvador in efforts to build community and alleviate the impacts of poverty.
Mr. Sam Tuck, BS
Sam Tuck received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology and Masters in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan. He was formerly employed as a Field Engineer at Thermo Fisher Scientific and is now currently working as a R&D engineer at startup biotech company named Celsee, Inc. in Plymouth, Michigan. Sam previously assisted in the construction of several aquaponic systems in El Salvador and is currently assisting in the production of newly designed systems.
Mr. Patrick Cullen, BS
Patrick Cullen is Director of the Land Resource Management Division in the Wayne County Department of Public Services. In this role, he coordinated Wayne County's CLEAN program which assists local communities and neighborhood organizations with blight removal. He also oversees waste management planning and regulatory requirements for Wayne County. He has extensive experience in a wide variety of environmental issues that impact urban areas. Patrick received his bachelor of Science degree from Central Michigan University.
About Us
Bridging International Communities exists to assist developing communities by sharing resources and professional expertise on a wide variety of topics and projects. While BIC was founded in 2013, various members of the Board of Directors have been involved with communities in El Salvador and Uganda since 2005. BIC was created in an effort to combine these distinct efforts under a single organization to better leverage talent and resources.
BIC is organized as a non-profit corporation and is an approved IRS 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. Tax ID# 46-3971672. Donations to BIC are tax deductible under US tax laws.
