Our Team

Cori Sutherland

Executive Director

Cori Sutherland has worked with nonprofit organizations in the Salt Lake City area since 1994, and has experience in almost all aspects of nonprofit management, including financial accountability, communications, data management, and strategic planning. A long-time believer in the power of nonprofits to create positive change, she has worked on a wide-range of issues at the ACLU of Utah (as the Deputy Director), Utah Diné Bikéyah (as the Director of Operations), Fifth Ocean Consulting (as the Director of Operations), and the People with AIDS Coalition (as the Executive Director).

Cori first became involved with Philippines Humanitarian in 2016, when her family began sponsoring two students from Payatas who are the same ages as her daughters. She is deeply committed to the organization’s mission and grateful that it has helped to introduce her children to the value of charitable giving.

Erni Hernandez Armstrong

Chairman of the Board

Imelda (Erni) Hernandez Armstrong is the President and Founder of Freestyle Marketing Group, a full-service advertising agency headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Before starting her own agency, Erni served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of William & Rockwood Advertising and Design. Her background also includes several years in senior marketing positions with high tech companies, including stints as Vice President of Marketing for Axiom Technologies and Director of National Sales and Marketing for Park City Group.

Erni served on the Board of Trustees of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah and was the past Chairman of the Board of Prevent Child Abuse Utah. She has been recognized by the Asian Chamber of Commerce with the Utah Business Owner of the Year award and was named 30 Women to Watch by Utah Business Magazine.

Giving back to the community is an important part of Erni’s life philosophy, and she has made it Freestyle Marketing’s mission to choose a charitable organization to receive pro-bono or in-kind services every year. The long list of nonprofits she has supported personally and professionally includes Prevent Child Abuse Utah, Kids On The Move, And Justice For All, Friends of Alta, Utah Food Bank, the Disability Law Center, and others.

But the cause closest to Erni’s heart is helping children grow into healthy, happy, and productive adults, which is why she has spent the last decade personally volunteering her time and resources to Philippines Humanitarian.  As a native of the Philippines, it is important to her to help her countrymen, along with those in need in the United States, her adopted country.

She sponsors 14 children in Payatas.

Jan Brock

Treasurer

Jan Brock is a CPA, MBA, and has previously worked for the Disability Law Center as an advocate in their Abuse and Neglect Division. Jan has professional experience as a Congressional Auditor with the Government Accountability Office (GAO), in private accounting, as a business owner, and with the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce.

She is also involved in Utah legislation that supports people with disabilities as a member of the Utah League of Women Voters and as a member of the Legislative State Women’s Council for Utah.

Jan, her husband Michael, and daughter Haley, currently sponsor 7 children in the Philippines Humanitarian program.

Mike Tait

Development Committee Chair

John “Mike” Tait was elected to serve on our Board in February 2017. As the current Executive Vice President and Director of Credit Services and Administration at Zions Bancorporation, Mike works closely with the Corporate Credit Executive team to oversee critical projects, plan and oversee budget, interface with other key internal partners, and assist in optimizing operational efficiencies.

Mike and his wife (Dr. Lisa Tait) are passionate about the importance and value of education and have found a great deal of happiness and personal enjoyment through their contributions to Philippines Humanitarian. Mike has a strong background in business operations, strategic planning, and administration, and has used these skills through service on boards of multiple non-profits organizations, including Prevent Child Abuse Utah and the Best Buddies organization.

Mike currently chairs the Board Development Committee of Philippines Humanitarian. He and his wife Lisa sponsor 6 children in the Philippines Humanitarian program.

Jared King

Secretary

After receiving his degree in Computer Science from Utah Valley University, Jared King stayed local and built a prosperous career in Utah. Jared has worked as a Senior Program Manager for companies and institutions such as: Adobe Systems, Inc., Workfront, Instructure, FamilySearch, the LDS Church, and Novell, Inc., where he has had a successful 30 plus year career leading and managing hundreds of end-to end programs and projects with budgets ranging from $5 to the multi-millions. He is passionate about building and supporting teams to deliver on their goals, and the core principles are the same: build the people, communicate, align to the most important work, remove the blockers, mitigate the risk, plow through ambiguity, and continually review for improvement – both personally and across the team.

Jared brings his passion, expertise and a profound understanding of business operations, process analysis and establishment, and global project planning and execution to Philippines Humanitarian. ‘

Jared loves spending time with his wife and their six children and their expanding family – especially his many grandchildren. He loves to cook, read, travel, and to learn.

Jared and his wife Jamie became proud sponsors of two students in early 2018 and gave them the support they needed to get an education and create a path out of poverty. They currently sponsor 4 students in Payatas.

Jason Harrison

Board Member

Over the past three decades, Jason Harrison has worked in communication design. Currently the Creative Director of Freestyle Marketing Group, he has professional experience in all aspects of marketing, including brand development, digital marketing, broadcast, traditional print, and interactive design.

Throughout his career, Jason has volunteered his skills for different nonprofits, using design to help organizations better communicate their messages in visually compelling ways.

A long-time supporter of Philippines Humanitarian, Jason sponsors 4 students, who range in age from seventh grade to third year college.

Gale Lemmon

Board Member

Gale Lemmon brings legal expertise and a giving heart to the Philippines Humanitarian Board of Directors. He is formerly the Assistant Attorney General in the Utah Attorney General’s office, retiring in December of 2013.

Gale and his wife, Sue, served an 18-month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Philippines. During their tenure, he served as Associate Area Legal Counsel while Sue served as Assistant to the Area Medical Supervisor. It was this experience that cultivated an appreciation of the Filipino culture and people. In 2016, when they returned to Utah and heard about Philippines Humanitarian and our mission, they wanted to help. So, Gale joined the Board at that time, and when he and Sue left one more time to serve another mission in Asia, he agreed to serve on the Advisory Board while he was out of the country. Upon his return in 2020, he re-joined the regular Board. He and Sue are the proud sponsors of 6 of our students, 5 of whom are working towards their college degrees.

Nik Parcell

Board Member

Nik Parcell is the CEO and Co-Founder of an AI startup. He has professional experience as a Senior AI Engineer, and has led numerous projects that have saved millions of customer dollars by utilizing AI. Nik’s work has included projects such as Ukraine refugee migration patterns for relief efforts; using AI for indicators of success for students in colleges and universities; and other important undertakings.

Nik graduated from the University of Utah in Chemical Engineering, and later progressed in AI, Data Science, and Machine Learning. During his college years, he worked in the Utah Cancer Dynamics Laboratory and Writing Center. Nik enjoys skiing, climbing, golfing and spending time with family and friends.

In alignment with the values of Philippines Humanitarian, Nik believes that education is the mechanism through which the world advances. He has a passion to see the growth of education, especially in the STEM fields. Over the years, Nik has volunteered for the organization and is a long-time student sponsor.

Vanessa Pierce

Board Member

Vanessa Pierce, a native of Utah, is currently General Counsel and VP of Legal for New U Life Corp., a health and wellness company located in Lehi, UT. She specializes in corporate and intellectual property law, including complex agreements, business formation, regulatory compliance, employee matters, and litigation. Prior to returning home to Salt Lake City to join New U Life, Vanessa served as Senior Counsel for International and Legal Affairs for the Intellectual Property Owner’s Association in Washington, DC. During her six years with IPO, Pierce represented the association as a lead negotiator during domestic and international meetings with government entities in China, Korea, Japan, and India. Vanessa focused on IP-related legislation and regulations, agreements for international trade, and issues related to international law harmonization, and has testified or spoken on these issues before several government entities.

Prior to joining IPO, Vanessa was a full-time law school professor in Michigan, teaching contracts, patent, copyright, and trademark courses. Vanessa has written several articles and lectured frequently for various organizations. Before becoming a professor, Vanessa practiced corporate and intellectual property law for eight years in private practice where she assisted clients through the entire product development cycle, from the earliest decision to seek patent protection to the ultimate branding of the final product. A registered patent attorney, Vanessa also has expertise in negotiating and drafting various technology transfer, licensing, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, and in procuring and enforcing all forms of intellectual property rights.

Vanessa has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Utah, honors, and her Juris Doctor (cum laude) from the University of Notre Dame Law School. She currently teaches intellectual property law and cyber law as an adjunct professor for Purdue University. A participant in the Student Sponsorship Program, Vanessa supports a college student.

Dr. Geniel (Jamie) Hernandez Armstrong

Advisory Board Member

Dr. Geniel (Jamie) Hernandez Armstrong serves as the Chief Psychologist for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division (CAMHD) at the Hawai‘i Department of Health. With more than 20 years of experience in clinical psychology, she is dedicated to improving access to quality mental health services for Hawai‘i’s youth. Jamie specializes in evidence-based care, trauma-informed care, and family-centered treatment, working to address challenges such as trauma, anxiety, depression, and other behavioral disorders.

To ensure that comprehensive, family-centered mental health services are widely accessible, Jamie collaborates closely with educators, healthcare providers, and community organizations. She advocates for improvements to youth mental health services through legislative advocacy and systemic changes through the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division.

Jamie’s commitment to service is deeply rooted in her family’s legacy. As the granddaughter of Amelia and Diosdado Hernandez, original founders of Philippines Humanitarian, she was raised with a strong sense of compassion and dedication to helping others.

Beyond her professional work, Jamie is a proud wife and mom of two boys, who constantly remind her of the importance of balance, resilience, and laughter. An avid CrossFit enthusiast who loves river rafting, camping, and outdoor recreation, she brings the same energy and commitment to her personal life as she does to her work in mental health.

Jeff Davis

Advisory Board Member

Jeff Davis is the CEO and co-founder of Saratoga Trading Company and The Ready Store. After 9/11 and the ensuing War on Terror, Jeff and his wife, Amy, felt the need to help keep America strong by offering products that help families and communities get prepared. Along with the exceptional products that The Ready Store offers its valued customers, Jeff is most proud of the amazing team of employees that he has assembled.

Jeff has experience and expertise in all areas of business management with a primary focus on sales and marketing. He has a Bachelor’s in Spanish from Brigham Young University and completed Master’s coursework in Hispanic Linguistics.

Jeff enjoys spending time with his wife and five kids, sunshine, basketball and playing guitar. His dreams include riding an elephant in Thailand and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro with his wife.

Jeff and Amy support the education of four students in the Philippines.

Florian Hernandez

Advisory Board Member

Florian Hernandez holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Utah and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Utah State University. Her professional career in the financial industry spans over 15 years as an Investment Analyst at the Workers’ Compensation Fund of Utah, and later as a Financial Advisor for Morgan Stanley.

Florian served on the University of Utah College of Social and Behavioral Science (CSBS) Advancement Board, and is a member of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Utah Chapter, where she served as President for 2016-2017. She is also a member of the Utah Non-Profit Association (UNA) and Pi Alpha Alpha, the National Honor Society for Public Administration.

Florian’s past and current endeavors have focused on education and the under-represented. A long believer in the value of schooling, her long-term goals are to continue promoting, improving, and ensuring access to education, and ultimately to effect policy changes on an international scale.

She and her family sponsor seven children.

Iraida Hernandez

Emeritus Director

Iraida Hernandez is a veteran educator with 30 years experience ranging from preschool to postsecondary levels. Her passion and commitment to children and learning are apparent in her accomplishments in both the public and the private school system. She initiated a non-graded system in an elementary school where students excelled a minimum of one grade level above their same-age peers; coordinated and supervised a quarter of a million dollar grant providing supplemental education for low-performing students in 13 elementary schools; and was a selected state representative, mentor and model for California’s Volunteer Program which partnered with AmeriCorps.

A parent, grandparent, and sponsor of students, children are the core of Iraida’s efforts. Each child’s success is the ultimate goal, not only in learning but in life. Iraida’s personal philosophy, adopted from CHARACTER COUNTS! Program is to “Make IT Matter and to Live a Life That Matters.”

Jeremy Mangelson

Advisory Board Member

Jeremy Mangelson has had experience volunteering and serving people in multiple countries around the world, and desires to continue this work. He particularly has a close connection with the Philippines, as he spent multiple years living there where his admiration for the people and culture grew significantly.

Jeremy is passionate about making a difference in the lives of people in need throughout the world. Along with his wife and four children, they work to give back and help people develop through various service and humanitarian opportunities.

With over 20 years experience in various leadership positions in the pharmaceutical industry, Jeremy currently serves as the Vice President of Business Development at Constellation, an innovative company that has been revolutionizing marketing technology and data intelligence since 2016.

Anita Bombita Parsons

Advisory Board Member

Anita Bombita Parsons, originally from Metro Manila, Philippines, grew up as the sixth of ten siblings in Guadalupe, Makati. She briefly paused her finance studies at Manuel L. Quezon University to undertake an 18-month mission with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Mindanao Island.

After returning from her mission, Anita completed her finance studies at Cora Doloroso School, then interned at the Presiding Bishop’s Office (PBO) of the LDS Church, also participating in the inauguration of the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Manila. She later worked at Filipinas Micro Circuit Inc. (FMCI), where she met her future husband, Scott Parsons, an American doing business with FMCI. Their relationship blossomed through correspondence, leading to an engagement. In 1987, Anita moved to the United States, marrying Scott three months later.

They briefly lived in Korea while Scott worked with LG, then returned to the United States, settling in Santa Cruz, California. In 2002, they relocated to Draper, Utah, where they established and later sold Pacific Wireless. In 2008, they co-founded Tycon Systems, a company that designs and manufactures turnkey remote power systems utilizing solar and wind power. Named after their sons Tyler and Connor, Tycon Systems has not only enriched their lives but also facilitated support for charitable organizations, including Philippines Humanitarian.

Their family has expanded to include four sons and three grandchildren. Scott and Anita currently sponsor two elementary school students, and are funding a four-year college scholarship for an electrical engineering student.

Monica Wonnacott, M.D.

Advisory Board Member

Dr. Monica Wonnacott is a pediatrician with 16 years of experience in a multispecialty group in Riverton, UT. She has served as the pediatrics department chair on the medical executive committee at Riverton Hospital, and as a school board member at Renaissance Academy. She founded PediatricAnswers.com, an organization dedicated to healthcare education, philanthropy, and innovation, and holds two patents for devices designed to help address medical problems in children.

As a mother of four and long-time healthcare provider, Monica understands the needs of children and the challenges they face. She enjoys solving problems and educating both patients and parents. When she isn’t chasing kids at work and home, Monica enjoys running, good food, reading, and finding a nice beach.