Our Team

Melissa Bain

Melissa is passionate about building a better world, and believes each of us has a part to play in doing just that. After years of working domestically and internationally for Soles4Souls, Melissa saw an opportunity to move beyond the traditional nonprofit model - and so she founded The 610 Project in 2015 with a single goal: begin to break the cycle of poverty by empowering communities through education. While the work began (and continues still) in Haiti, The 610’s mission continues to evolve and expand, as does The 610 Project team, borrowing wisdom from the idea that sometimes the best place to serve grows from wherever we find ourselves planted. Melissa has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of North Alabama, and a Master of Arts in Christian Thought from Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN. In true Enneagram 7 fashion, Melissa is also a songwriter and musician, owner of Rooted Plant Co., and Senior Vice President of Sycamore Independent Physicians

Susan Rowe

Susan Rowe is a founding member of The 610 Project. She has served on the board of The 610 Project for 8 years. As a professional photographer she has been able to travel and lend her talents and skills to The 610 Project as well as multiple other non profits in Guatemala and Haiti. Susan has helped to raise funding for educational programs and healthcare programs through coordinated and planning multiple and successful fundraising events. She has also helped to lead teams and organize numerous on the ground trips for The 610 Project. 

Although her love of travel initially brought her to the 610 Project, the purpose behind the mission, helping to empower people through education, keeps her dedicated and excited about the work they do and will do. 

Marica Pook, MD

Dr. Marica is an internal medicine physician in Boulder, Colorado.  Her first medical mission to Ukraine was in Aprli 2022.  She and her brother in law Mike, flew to Warsaw with 10 duffel bags full of surgical instruments and ICU level medications which were delivered into Kyiv, which was under siege at the time.  Dr. Marica worked at a medical clinic on the Ukraine-Poland border crossing.  In addition, she, her family and friends sent 3 more shipments of instruments, dressings, body armor and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.  The experience has been life changing, and she hopes to continue her medical mission work for years to come

Andy Thigpen

Andy Thigpen is a dedicated communicator and public affairs strategist. He developed a love for international travel and work while in college. This led him to teach in China and work in international development where he spent time in Africa, Asia, and Europe. He currently serves as a public affairs specialist for the United States Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). He has been on the board of the 610 Project since its inception and has had the privilege to travel to Haiti and assist with a band program. He lives in New Orleans where he spends his time listening to and playing music.

Tatiana Follett

Tatiana is a law and master’s of public administration student at the University of Utah. She is passionate about helping displaced Ukrainians and supporting those fighting for national sovereignty in Ukraine. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, she was inspired to start helping in part because of her late grandfather, Laszlo Pook, who was born and raised in Budapest, Hungary while the nation was communist under the Russians. Tatiana looks forward to continuing to aid Ukraine and Ukrainians by providing immigration help for refugees and delivering needed medical supplies. 

Stephen Noorlander

Stephen Noorlander is a family medicine physician and enjoys participating in humanitarian aid. He has done medical missions in Dominica, Honduras, Poland, and Ukraine and plans on doing many more in the future. He is married to his amazing wife Jennifer and is the father of three kids.