OIC International is announcing staff additions and is excited to introduce two new members to our organization, Dewardric L. “D. L.” McNeal and Christina Yantis.

Dewardric L. “D.L.” McNeal joins the Executive Office of OIC International as the Director of Global Strategy and Policy.  He will be responsible for evaluating market size, competitors and industry structures, and making recommendations to senior management to assist in the development of OICI’s goals and priorities. In addition he will be responsible for managing the development of OICI’s strategic plan, in collaboration with McKinsey and Company, and ensuring its implementation.

Before joining the senior staff at OIC International, Mr. McNeal served three years as the Special Assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia and China Country Director at the United States Department of Defense.  He was appointed to this position by President Obama in May 2009 after serving on the 2008 Obama for America Campaign’s Asia Advisory Team.  Prior to joining the Obama Administration, he spent four years as the Assistant Director for International Programs at the Brookings Institution’s John L. Thornton China Center.

He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies from Morehouse College and also studied Chinese politics, culture, and language at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and Nanjing University in China.

Christina Yantis joins the Finance team as the Grants and Contracts Compliance Specialist.  Christina is responsible for overall support for general grants and contracts administration, including grant/contract data management for field offices and financial reporting for the Ghana office and programs, among many other duties within the Finance Department.

Prior to joining OICI, Christina spent four years with the Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA).  At CEDPA, she worked as a Senior Accountant in the Finance Department, and later as a Grants and Contracts Specialist.  She provided financial and compliance technical support to all staff engaged with a project’s lifecycle.  She also developed cost proposals for USAID and other funders in collaboration with program and business development staff, prepared internal and external project financial reports, monitored and revised project budgets and ensured compliance with donor requirements.  She was responsible for a range of cash management functions, along with providing financial and operational support to field offices.  Christina holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Gettysburg College.

I appreciate you joining me in providing a warm welcome for D.L. and Christina.

With excitement,

Crispian Kirk

Dear OIC International Supporter,

A young woman in Ghana sees a magazine cover. She sees Iman in a business suit, and it inspires her to be a strong woman like her. But she knows her family can’t afford to send her to train as a seamstress. This is where the power of OIC International begins.

This young woman wants to study textiles and sewing and maybe even own her own small sewing business. She’s dreaming big. She even dreams of sewing for the next inspiring African supermodel. But she can’t without your help.

Put power in her hands right now. In Ghana, our trainees in our textiles classes learn to make beautiful, quality clothes. Literally $100 helps us provide a sewing machine and sewing classes for a young woman to help her provide for herself and for her family. Imagine giving this gift of power.

Help us help her dream big.

Sincerely,

Cripsian Kirk

Dear OIC International Supporter,

In 2010, OIC International President & CEO, Crispian Kirk, and a group of OICI team members spent four weeks in Africa with a camera crew and filmmakers. Their mission was to capture the OIC International story: who are the people behind the projects? Who is OIC International?

The people they encountered and the stories they brought back were truly breathtaking. From the remarkable perseverance of Sam Boateng in Samsam, Ghana, to the spirit of Pindavi Chiduwa and the women of the Tagona Peanut Butter Factory in Zimbabwe, the stories they were told spoke of endurance and strength, compassion and commitment.

The unifying message of everyone they met was: Tell our stories. Tell what we’ve been through, what we’ve accomplished—and how OIC International has helped.

These faces, these stories, these people are OIC International.

In the upcoming weeks, we’ll be sharing their stories with you and soon, you’ll be able to see them yourselves with the release of the incredible footage Cris and his crew caught.

Keep an eye out—these are stories you have to hear.

Sincerely,
OIC International