When we understand God has a unique purpose for our life and work, it is positively reflected in our behavior.
Our Team
Root-to-Fruit is a group of senior executives experienced in leading successful businesses and non-profits, and academic practitioners who have dedicated their careers to the topic of mindset change. Our mission is to improve lives by improving the performance of businesses and non-profits.
SHERRIE WOODRING
Founder, Senior Advisor
Sherrie Woodring is the Founder of Root-to-Fruit and serves as a senior advisor. She most recently was Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair of the Great African Food Company (GAFCo), an agricultural business operating in Tanzania that provided high value export markets to smallholder, mid-scale and commercial farmers.
Before pursuing philanthropic activities to serve the poor, Ms. Woodring co-founded and served as Chief Executive Officer for over twenty-six years for two successful information technology companies, VARCOM Corporation and Emprisa Networks. She also served as Chief Executive Officer of Inrange Technologies, a publicly listed company serving the IT industry.
Sherrie serves on the National Leadership Council of World Vision to provide time, talent, and resources to connect rural vulnerable households to markets and finance to improve family incomes and children wellbeing. She holds an MS in Electrical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland. She works for Root-to-Fruit as a volunteer.
Rev. Canon, Dr. DENNIS TONGOI
Kenya, Executive Director
Rev. Canon, Dr. Tongoi is the Root-to-Fruit Executive Director and senior Master Facilitator in Kenya. He holds DTh. in Missiology from the University of South Africa (2017). He is the founding International Director Emeritus of CMS-Africa (2008-2018). He coordinated Samaritan Strategy Africa (2001 to 2014), a movement of over six hundred trainers on Biblical Worldview and Wholistic Discipleship in more than 40 countries in Africa. Dennis has engaged with several community leadership initiatives among them, Board Chair of Carlile College from 2008 to 2011; General Secretary of Christians For A Just Society that mobilized and facilitated Kenyan Christian Professionals in addressing issues of poor governance and corruption.
Dennis served as the Business Leadership manager for the Executive MBA program run by the Copenhagen Business School in collaboration with Mount Kenya University (2010-2016). Over 110 CEO’s of Kenyan companies have been mentored through this program. Dennis is a Director at Herbal Garden Ltd an agribusiness SME established in 2007, and Bezalel Investments Ltd engaging in management of Real Estate development established in 1991. Dennis has authored several publications related to business and stewardship.
TIM ANDREWS
Director, Partnership Development
Tim Andrews leads Root-to-Fruit's global partnership development, drawing from a three-decade career deeply rooted in Africa. He is dedicated to empowering leaders to align their culture with their organization's purpose.
Tim's journey began in public accounting at Deloitte, followed by 28 years at World Vision International leading large-scale development and humanitarian aid programs dedicated to uplifting children from poverty through health, WASH, education, food security, livelihood initiatives and disaster relief. During his tenure he served as Global Finance Director, National Director for five country programs, Vice President USA, COO for World Vision Africa's 26-country initiatives and board Chair for two VisionFund MFIs.
Notably, his team pioneered the THRIVE program in Tanzania, integrating systems for sustainable child well-being rooted in an empowered biblical worldview. This innovation eventually led to two World Vision International global project models: Empowered Worldview and Building Secure Livelihoods, amplifying impact worldwide.
Wambui Mburu
Master Facilitator
Ms. Mburu is experienced in business development in the social enterprise arena with having run multiple business operational areas including accounting, tax compliance and human resource management as well as non-profit areas including capacity development, training and project management at several small and medium-sized ventures.
Wambui has been a trainer in worldview and development within the Eastern Africa region with the Samaritan Strategy Working Group for over a decade, training both at the community level and for regional heads of non-governmental organisations.
Wambui is an ICF-Certified leadership coach.
TERRY ANDREWS
Director, Monitor & Evaluation
Dr. Andrews leads Root-to-Fruit’s staff assessment and continuous improvement process for impact business clients.
For most of the past three decades Terry has served in Africa - first as a medical doctor working in war-torn countries bringing emergency health assistance to severely malnourished children. Then as the founder and CEO of Children in Christ (CIC) currently reaching and discipling over 257,000 children in 22 sub-Saharan African countries and India. Then as the creator of the God with Us curriculum for use with youth and children in schools, youth groups, churches, and football clubs.
During Terry’s leadership of CIC she developed an entire monitoring and evaluation tool-kit including a Logframe, performance indicators, quality data capture, formal surveys, rapid appraisals, participatory methods, empirical assessment, technical report writing, education and learning practices.
JOSH BROOKHART
Chief Strategist
Mr. Brookhart leads strategy for Root-to-Fruit and also serves as a senior advisor to its clients. He was previously Chief Strategist for The Great African Food Company and Chief Advisor for Resilience and Livelihood at World Vision Tanzania, a volunteer position. Prior to that, he spent 14 years in China as a serial entrepreneur and was Managing Director of TZG Partners, a Shanghai-based business incubator and investment firm. He was either founder or Chief Executive Officer of Tangula Luxury Trains, Fields China, Citylife China, QuAfrica and Apastron Capital Limited, among others. He was also a consultant with McKinsey & Company in Beijing, Shanghai, Sydney, Cape Town and San Francisco.
Josh serves on the National Leadership Council of World Vision. He holds an MBA and a MA in East Asian Studies from Stanford University and a BA in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University. He supports the mission of Root-to-Fruit as a volunteer..
CLEO BROOKHART
Director, Marketing Communications
Ms. Brookhart leads marketing communication for Root-to-Fruit. She currently also serves part time as a communications specialist for World Vision China and works as an independent contractor on projects related to graphic design, social media and video production. She previously led marketing communication for The Great African Food Company and served as a volunteer advisor on communications to World Vision Tanzania. Earlier in her career, she served as the Beijing producer for Australian Broadcasting Company and held production roles for ABC News, Swiss Television and multiple independent production companies in Hong Kong and New York.
Cleo serves on the National Leadership Council of World Vision. She holds an MA in Communications from Stanford University and a BA in Visual Arts, Animation and Video from Rhode Island School of Design. She works for Root-to-Fruit as a volunteer.