The Board

Kevin Fryatt, Board Chairman
Kevin's involvement with Freedom Stones dates back to the organization’s formative stages in 2007. As an Advisor, Kevin brings a range of skills to the table as well as international experience in East and West Africa as well as Central America. He is currently employed by World Relief in their Economic Development Unit as a Technical Advisor – Finance & Data Analyst – providing technical program and financial oversight to a portfolio of microfinance institutions serving over 200,000 clients around the world. From 2006-2008 he worked as a Finance Manager for Samaritan’s Purse Liberia, financially managing 30+ development programs with a budget of approximately $5mil USD and for Equip Liberia, a local Liberian NGO, transforming their financial and organizational systems to take on USAID funding. He has worked with donors such as USAID, EU, CIDA, Tearfund, ERF, UNICEF, FAO, Global Fund, as well as many others. He also holds a Masters of Arts in International Development from Eastern University with concentrated studies in Microfinance as well as Bachelor Degree in Business Administration with concentrated studies in Accounting. Furthermore, he currently sits on the Board of Directors for New Hope Adventist Church, as well as their international missions ministry ‘Sharing Our Strength’, and acts as an Advisor to L.A.C.E.S. (Life and Change Experienced Thru Sports). His true passions lie in the destruction of evil, the Kingdom of God, and seeing the whole person (mentally, physically, socially, spiritually, and economically) transformed through sustainable, measurable, and accountable activities worldwide.

Leah Knippel, Founder & Board Member
Leah began her advocacy on the issue of human trafficking in 2005 when she moved to Bangkok, Thailand to work with Rahab Ministries to help rescue women from human trafficking. She later became interested in trafficking prevention and took a position with World Concern working in the Asia Regional Office in Bangkok. In that position she often traveled and worked in Cambodia, with occasional trips to visit partners of World Concern on the Thai-Lao border, Nepal, the Thai-Burma border and Vietnam. She helped develop a network of organizations fighting child trafficking in Northern Thailand, Bangkok and Pattaya called San Jai in conjunction with the VIVA Network. She has to date started 5 income generation projects in Thailand, Cambodia and now Ghana teaching women to make jewelry using local raw materials and skills. Leah began Freedom Stones unofficially in 2005 and officially incorporated Freedom Stones into a non-profit in 2009. She enjoys spending time with her husband Paul and their new daughter.


Wayne Hester, Board Member
Wayne served as Leah Knippel's mentor and advisor while she was working in Asia.  He was also at the time the Executive Pastor for FountainGate Fellowship Church in Abilene, Texas, which supported Leah's work in Asia.  Wayne, along with his wife Tricia, have been a constant source of encouragement, advice and leadership as Freedom Stones has evolved since 2005. Wayne and his family currently live in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, serving Samaritan's Purse.


Talli Sperry, Board Member
Talli Sperry is a faculty member at Eastern University, where she has taught in Communication Studies for twelve years, and also served as Interim Department Chair of Communication Studies. During her time in Uganda, teaching a graduate class in Community Development, Talli discovered Freedom Stones.

To Freedom Stones Talli brings not only her academic work, but also her involvement partnering with two non-profits and one governmental agency in order to serve the children and teenagers of various countries in Eastern Europe. In addition, Talli has background as a Communication Consultant for one of the world's largest and most reputable investment management firms and experience working with media industries. A former Casting Associate, Talli's casting work includes Long Kiss Goodnight Witness, Sunset Beach, and commercials for McDonalds and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Her book on media as a profession is set to release in 2013. .


Freedom Stones International is actively recruiting board members to be part of the diverse governance team of a dynamic and expanding social business. Learn more »