Board and Staff

Hans is a native of Omaha, Nebraska where he attended Creighton University. Prior to studying medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center he spent a semester as a volunteer in Tijuana, Mexico with a group of Franciscan Sisters. He trained in family medicine in Wichita Kansas. Shortly after his training he spent three years in Ocotepque, Honduras as a volunteer with Unbound. His focus during that time was working with children who were sponsored through Unbound, and collaborating with a group of Franciscan Sisters caring for severely malnourished children. Hans has worked since 2000 at a community health center in south Omaha that serves the primarily Hispanic population of that area. Since 2012 Hans has worked as the medical director for an Omaha-based non-profit called Chronic Care International (CCI). CCI provides care to patients with chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure in the Dominican Republic. Hans’ wife, Andrea, is an elementary education teacher, and they have 3 adult children, Allison, Chris, and Rachel. Allison was an FMS volunteer in Bolivia.

Laura Rainey, OFS, is a Secular Franciscan, currently serving as Secretary of the St. Anthony of Nagasaki fraternity. “SFOTony” meets at Casa San Salvador and is honored to provide an open space for future and returning missioners to join in monthly meetings and share their experiences. Prior to joining the Board in 2019, Laura participated in one of FMS's short-term mission trips to Bolivia, where she witnessed first-hand the joyful ministry of presence provided by FMS missioners in La Paz, Cochabamba, and Carmen Pampa.

Laura grew up around the world in a military family and graduated from St. Bonaventure University in 1991. She is a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace parish in Arlington, Virginia, and works as an Audit Director at the National Science Foundation. In her spare time, Laura loves reading, building LEGO sets, and attending Washington Nationals baseball games. Laura and her rescue dog Georgia live in Alexandria, Virginia.

Pat is currently the Principal Director for Joint Operational Programs for Aerospace at the Goddard Space Flight Center in MD, supporting remote sensing and environmental monitoring and weather programs. She is a lector and Chair of the Finance Council for her parish in Reston, VA, St John Neumann, and also on the Board of Directors for InTrust and the Washington Theological Union.

Joshua Maxey is the Executive Director of Bet Mishpachah. Josh served as a full-time volunteer with Franciscan Mission Service where he was a part of the Inaugural Class of DC Service Corps. During his year of service, Josh served as the Vendor Manager for Street Sense Media, Inc–an organization in the DC metro area whose mission is to eradicate homelessness by giving a voice and sharing the stories of the unhoused.

In his spare time, he enjoys traveling and exploring the DMV area. Josh is a member of Washington Hebrew Congregation where he sits on the SEA Change Racial Equity Committee, and the Board of Directors, and serves as the coordinator for the Jews of Color Cohort. Josh is also a member of the Board of Directors for the National Bell Festival, the Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. Josh is proud of his Western New York roots, where he grew up in Rochester, NY, and attended Saint Bonaventure University.

With a dynamic career in fundraising and development, Paola brings a comprehensive skill set rooted in a deep understanding of both the art and science of philanthropy. Paola has a proven ability to build and nurture relationships with key stakeholders, leveraging their passion for causes to drive significant financial support. Their expertise extends beyond traditional fundraising; Paola is adept at implementing cutting-edge Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems and streamlining operations to optimize donor engagement and maximize contributions.

In her current role as Social Finance Manager, Paola is known for their meticulous planning, execution, and ability to lead cross-functional teams towards achieving a client’s ambitious revenue goals. Paola has a keen eye for identifying opportunities for improvement and is not afraid to initiate change, demonstrating a remarkable capacity for change management that ensures organizational adaptability and growth.

Paola envisions a world where philanthropy is not just about transactions, but about building meaningful, lasting connections that propel forward the missions of organizations they are passionate about. Paola is not just a fundraiser; she is a catalyst for change, a builder of communities, and a visionary leader who inspires others to invest in a brighter future. In her spare time, Paola enjoys baking for her friends and family, watching The Bachelor, and visiting local coffee shops with her husband.

Fr. Joe Cavoto, OFM, is a member of the newly configured Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  He serves as the Provincial Delegate for Safeguarding and is a therapist on the staff of the Counseling Center at the Church of St. Francis in New York City.

Kimberly Cox is a community volunteer with a commitment to serving people in need, in particular folks who struggle with homelessness and people faced with food insecurity. Before retiring in 2022, Kim served as the President of The Father McKenna Center where she managed a $5 million capital raise and facilities renovation. In addition, she oversaw professional development for the staff and facilitated an increase in the number of volunteers.

Previous nonprofit service includes directing a school for children who are blind, Catholic Charities of Orange County (CA), OC Girl Scout Council  endowment, and parish Youth Ministry leader. Twenty years of teaching Economics at the university level preceded taking leadership in nonprofits.

Kim’s commitment to social justice informs her work and her believe that all persons are children of God.

Margaret Mary Kimmins, OSF, was born in Brooklyn and was raised in Broad Channel, Queens, NY. She entered the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, an intercultural congregation ministering in Jamaica, Brazil, Bolivia, Africa, (Mozambique), and the United States after graduating from St. John’s University in 1964. Previous to her re-election as Congregational Minister of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, she ministered at Bread for the World in Washington, D.C. She served as President of Franciscan Action Network, Vice President of Franciscans International, and served as liaison to the St. Elizabeth Mission Society.

Fr. Paul Lininger, OFM Conv. Ph.D., is a Conventual Franciscan and member of Our Lady of Angels Province. He currently serves his Franciscan community as the elected JPIC Director and JPIC Coordinator for the Conventual Franciscan Federation of North America. Prior to taking on this social justice ministry, he served in numerous roles internally within his religious community and externally in the broader life of the domestic and international Church.

Since joining the Order of Friars Minor Conventual in the '70’s, his life is blessed with a broad history of ministerial service opportunities, i.e., leadership, parish life, higher education, religious formation, and clinical mental health environments, etc. For Paul, the greatest joy of life is loving God and seeing the face of Christ Jesus in the people with whom and to whom he is graced to minister.

Sister Pat McMahon, OSF, is a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, an international congregation of religious women. She was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, but spent much of her adult life ministering in Columbus, Ohio. Her ministerial experiences include Healthcare Chaplaincy and Administration as well as Adult Faith Formation and Pastoral Ministry in parishes. She also served as a board member of several community services agencies while living in Columbus. Following a five-year term as a member of the international leadership team of her congregation in Rome, Italy, she returned to her hometown and is currently the Mission Integration Minister for her Province.

Greg is an Associate Vice-President for Advancement at The Catholic University of America. Prior to his role at the University, Greg has worked in advancement for over twenty years with a focus on Catholic schools. Most recently, he was working with schools serving low-income communities both locally and nationally. Greg was an Expert-in-Residence for Advancement at the University of Notre Dame where he taught Catholic school leaders fundraising and development. Currently, Greg is responsible for managing all aspects of advancement for five of the twelve schools at Catholic University as well as athletics and family engagement.

Fr. John O’Connor, OFM, currently serves as the superior of the Franciscan community at St Bonaventure University, where he also ministers to the university community. He has previously served as the pastor of St. Francis Parish in Triangle, Virginia; the Executive Assistant to the Minister General of the Franciscans, where he established the first Development and Fundraising office for the Order; and as the Provincial Minister of the Holy Name Province of Franciscan Friars. 

In addition to these ministries, he is also a New York State trained and certified firefighter. He served as Assistant Chief of the Allegany New York Fire Department from 1979 to 1982 and as a Reserve Chaplain and Chaplain for the Prince William County Virginia Police Department 1991 to 2003 and 2004 to 2023. Fr. John was awarded the Anselm Moons Award by FMS in 2015 because of his deep commitment to mission and lay partnerships.

Harold Zavarce is a Secular Franciscan with a 30+ year career as public servant. He has served as senior economist in the International Monetary Fund since 2010. Prior to that, he served in research at the Central Bank of Venezuela for 20 years. Also, he was professor of Economics at the Catholic University in Caracas. Harold received a degree in Economics from the Central University of Venezuela and holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Texas A&M University. He has been married for 22 years, has two children and is a member of the St. Anthony of Nagasaki Fraternity and Holy Trinity Parish in Georgetown.