The WorldServe team is committed to fulfilling our mission. We are helping YOU, your organization, your school, your church, your community make a significant, positive impact in underserved communities around the world. Please visit the get involved page or contact to start connecting with us.
John Bongiorno
John Bongiorno, originally of Erie, PA, stands at the crossroads of first-world business and third world economic development. As an entrepreneur, John has been successful in business and was the President and CEO of Great Lakes Institute of Technology in Erie until 2001. He then served as Executive Vice President of AG Financial Services Group in Springfield, MO. With his passion to engage business leaders in entrepreneurial communities, John was asked to become president of WorldServe International, a faith-based economic development organization. In 2002, he founded Maji-Tech Engineering, Ltd., a private water resource development company that has provided clean water to nearly 2 million people in East Africa and created dozens of jobs for nationals. He’s also helped empower grassroots organizations to deal with AIDS in Africa and founded a faith-based consortium that combats human trafficking. As a credentialed minister, he believes in working with and through the local church to meet local needs. By emphasizing partnership, sustainability and a business-minded approach to ending poverty, John has become known as a bridge-builder and visionary leader. John and his wife Sandi split their time between Springfield, MO and Erie, PA, enjoying their two married children and two grandchildren.
Michael Cardone, III
Michael Cardone III is Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for CARDONE Industries, Inc. of Philadelphia, PA. CARDONE Industries is at the top of its class when it comes to new and remanufactured auto parts. The company has more than 4,600 employees operating 13 plants in the U.S., Europe, and Mexico, making CARDONE Industries a leading global supplier of automotive products for over 35 years. Cardone has held several corporate positions including director of world trade, marketing manager for the pumps division, and manager of marketing development and project leader for a Mexico plant startup, among others. In addition to his role on the board of WorldServe International, he also serves on the board of The Cardone Foundation. The foundation supports ministries throughout the Philadelphia area such as churches and battered women’s shelters. The family hopes these ministries are a great help in neighborhoods such as those where their factory families may live.
Thomas K. Carpenter
Tom Carpenter is a native of Minnesota and was educated at schools in New England. He has served on numerous boards, including multiple terms on the ECHO Board of Directors (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) and is President Emeritus of the organization. He became interested in ECHO in the 1980s and decided to help further its mission through a number of gifts, including a new Visitors’ Center, the Technical Building, a Bed & Breakfast, married housing facility, and a several other property purchases. He has donated a number of other valuable artifacts from his travels around the world, which are displayed throughout the campus. Tom has also been a generous and dedicated member of the WorldServe International board of directors for years, having invested in agricultural projects and always supporting the overall mission of the organization.
Doug Pitt
Doug Pitt has spent his career as the owner of ServiceWorld Computer Center in Springfield, Missouri. Outside of the tech field, Doug has a real estate development company and is involved in both residential and commercial developments. For over a decade, many of Doug’s works as a photojournalist have been published and displayed in numerous galleries. Seeing a water well drilling operation on his first trip to Africa opened his eyes. “It is the obvious first step to release people from dire poverty. Clean water most come first.” Doug is a director of Africa6000 International and WorldServe International. He is the former chairman of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. He started a nonprofit organization called Care to Learn to provide immediate financial and physical help to kids who come to school with health, hunger or hygiene needs. In just two years, Care to Learn has expanded to four cities and raised nearly $1 million. He has the same passion for children in Africa and is working on a new initiative to bring together the two causes of education and clean water. In April 2010, Doug was named the first ever Goodwill Ambassador to Tanzania by President Jakaya Kikwete. Doug and his wife Lisa reside in Springfield, MO and have three young children.
Gary Renaud
Gary Renaud of Erie, Pennsylvania has an extensive real estate and business management background. He was CEO of Erie Steel Products from 1977-2008, which was a large regional structural steel fabricator and erector. This 54-year-old family-owned business was sold to outside interests in 2008. He founded the following companies: Nautilus Fitness and Racquet Club, a health club voted one of the top 100 in America; Renaud Peck Real Estate Development Co., residential home building construction; Citadel Development Company, residential land development; 79 Realty Corp., commercial real estate owner and developer; Ruth Development, LLC, oil and gas development; and The Reno Company LLC, a real estate and business consulting firm.
One of the projects dear to Gary’s heart was the founding of Family First Sports Park in Erie, Pennsylvania. He founded it 15 years ago to give kids a place to go and play sports with a safe, healthy atmosphere. The Park hosts regional and national events and features over 70 acres of facilities including 18 outdoor playing fields, a field house with indoor soccer, basketball, volleyball, a fitness center, indoor golf dome and driving range, and a family fun center that features a go-kart track and three miniature golf courses.
Gary serves on several corporate, civic and charitable boards including St. Vincent Hospital, Mercyhurst College, Maji-Tech Engineering, Erie West Camp Gideons and the Family First Foundation. He and his wife Diane have been married 35 years and have three children.
