MICHAEL DITCHFIELD, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Michael Ditchfield brings an extensive background in humanitarian causes and professional sports to the Foundation.
Mr. Ditchfield co-founded The Sixteenth of May Foundation and became President and Chief Executive Officer. He plans, organizes, directs and provides overall oversight for The Foundation’s programs, projects and activities in accordance with policies established by the Board of Directors.
Mr. Ditchfield is a best selling author, former professional athlete and accomplished speaker on the Third World. As a Goodwill Ambassador to Africa for Project C.U.R.E he has worked in Rwanda with the orphans of the 1994 genocide, establishing a branch of the Sports for Peace Foundation. He was also instrumental in bringing sports into Project Mercy in Ethiopia through the Cunningham Foundation.
Mr. Ditchfield resides in Denver, Colorado and is a partner in JING Restaurant, which supports the efforts of The Foundation in the Sudan on a monthly basis. He will be documenting the rebuilding of Sudanese lives in a documentary and book with “Daniel” Deng Bol Aruei.
“DANIEL” DENG BOL ARUEI, VICE-PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
“Daniel” Deng Bol Aruei was born in a small village in Kongor, Twic East County of Southern Sudan in the late 1970s. During the Sudanese civil war, he took refuge in Ethiopia and Kenya before coming to the United States in Nov 2000.
Mr. Deng co-founded The Sixteenth of May Foundation and became Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer. He oversees creation, development, implementation and evaluation of The Foundation’s global programs and help with grant research and writing.
Mr. Deng has worked for many international organizations within the last fifteen years including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, International Rescue Committee, Lutheran World Federation and Save the Children-Sweden. One of the Lost Boys of Sudan, Mr. Deng is a student at the American Military University and designs websites.
Mr. Deng has a Diploma in Computer Science and Finance and Accounting, a certification in Nonprofit Administration and a Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership for CEOs and EDs. He is a member of New Horizons Computer Learning Centers – Dallas. He lives in Plano, Texas and currently provides nonprofit consulting for small nonprofit organizations.
JACOB MANYUON DENG, ELECTRONICAL AND ENGINEERING CONSULTANT
Jacob Manyuon Deng was born in Kongor, Twic East County of Southern Sudan. During the Sudanese civil war, he lived in Panyido and Kakuma Refugee Camps respectively.
Mr. Deng joined The Sixteenth of May Foundation as Electrical and Electronics Engineering Consultant. His roles and responsibilities are to help The Foundation determine appropriate electrical tariffs, design, layout power plants and erect power lines, building wiring and power plant maintenance and supervision.
Mr. Deng is an Engineer by profession, specialized in telecommunications, electronics and heavy power. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nairobi. He is a Member of Institute of Electrical Engineers of Kenya (MIEK) and Member Registration Board of Kenya (MRBK).
Mr. Deng previous worked for Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) as Site Assistant Engineer and currently employed with Gibb Africa, LTD, a Kenya based Engineering Company as Electrical Engineer. He has designed, installed and supervised power plants in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Sudan.
NEYESKA MUT, GOODWILL AMBASSADOR
Neyeska Mut comes to the Sixteenth of May Foundation from the oil and gas industry where she has spent 28 years pursuing diverse energy projects around the world. She is President and CEO of Nycon Energy Consulting where she specializes in bringing a Sustainable Development focus to major integrated projects operated by large international oil companies. This work has most recently been concentrated in Venezuela and Alberta Canada.
Mrs. Mut was born in Caracas, Venezuela. She is a petroleum engineer by training and a graduate of the University of Southern California. She works with indigenous peoples who are most directly impacted by the development of integrated energy mega-projects to both sustain a subsistence life style where that is preferred and to integrate communities into real partnerships with industry where that is desired.
Mrs. Mut is active in the Mile High United Way in Denver where she co-chaired the Tocqueville Society major donor organization with her husband Stephen. She is an active volunteer with United Way International where she is assisting efforts to bring "Success by Six", a program designed to upgrade early childhood educational facilities and curricula so that their graduates are properly prepared for kindergarten, to communities outside of North America. She lives in Denver Colorado with her husband and young son Stephen.