Lisa Ballantine
(Chief Executive Officer & Director)
Lisa is a Chicago
area native and has been married to
Michael (Director at Large) for 24
years. They have raised four
children and now enjoy their first
grandson.
The family moved to the Dominican
Republic for a year (2000) to do
mission work. This experience
transformed the family and also
fueled her interest in the need to
bring clean water to the world. She
had learned about ceramic water
filtration and was interested in
learning the technology.
On returning to the US, Lisa began
attending art classes at Northern
Illinois University. She consulted
with Prof. Manuel (Manny) Hernandez,
a Technical Advisor for Potters for
Peace and her professor at NIU at
that time. She studied under his
direction for three years and then
moved with her family to the
Dominican Republic. |
The ceramic water
filter and manufacturing processes
were re-engineered for increased
effectiveness and sustainability
with the help of Radhames Carela,
Prof. Hernandez, a major commercial
ceramic water filter company,
financial support from Insituform
Technologies, and many local
supporters and volunteers. From
this, AquaPure and later, FilterPure,
were formed.
Lisa has learned a lot from her
years of experience developing
AguaPure and FilterPure. She hopes
to see FilterPure expanding to
satisfy the need for safe drinking
water in other countries. |
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Michael Ballantine
(Director at Large)
 Michael
is a Chicago area native and has
always been an entrepreneur with
strong leadership skills. He has
been married to Lisa (FilterPure
Director) for 24 years. Together
they have raised four children and
are enjoying their first grandson.
After many years of owning a
successful Chicago printing company,
he and his family moved to the
Dominican Republic for a year (2000)
to do mission work. This experience
transformed the family and fueled
their interest in the need to bring
clean water to the world. |
Michael and Lisa returned to the
Dominican Republic permanently in
2006.
He started la Jamaca de Dios, a
first-class gated community and
mountain resort in Jarabacoa.
Michael helps FilterPure by managing
many of the mission and business
aspects of Filter Pure.
Michael’s business and mission
leadership and insight has been a
major help to FilterPure. His
passion and enthusiasm for life and
living for a higher calling is both
inspirational and contagious. |
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Jerry
DiPietro
 Coming
soon.
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David Webb
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Coming
soon. |
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Honoria "Honey" Niehaus
Honey
came to FilterPure after an
extensive career with Family Star, a
community based Montessori school
with 3 locations in the poorest
neighborhoods of Denver. She spent
20 years as a volunteer in various
roles. In 2004, she was recruited by
the board to take over as CEO and to
improve financial and personnel
management systems and fund raising
efforts. She retired from her post
as Executive Director in 2009.
Trained as an accountant and CPA,
she has more than 30 years of
experience in both for- profit and
non-profit organizations as Chief
Financial Officer, often in
demanding “turn-around” situations.
She developed expertise in US tax
law, governance standards
(Sarbanes-Oxley compliance) and
financial reporting for non-profits. |
Honey has developed strong skills in
budgeting, operations and
administration management, and
foundation funding. She has
extensive experience as board
member, officer, and appointed
commission member at the local and
state level.
She has developing country
experience, having worked in
Bangladesh for 3 years at the
International Centre for Diarrheal
Diseases Research. She has written
successful grant proposals to
international organizations such as
Oxfam and WHO.
Honey earned an MBA from the
University of Denver, and
undergraduate degree in Economics
from Washington University in St.
Louis. She has held an active
Colorado CPA license for more than
30 years. |
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Bengt
Salomonsson
(Director at Large)
 Mr.
Salomonsson comes to us from Sweden,
having grown up in a small town
there. He is a graduate in
Electrical Engineering and
Marketing/Economy and has spent
considerable time in various
industries, in engineering, sales
and management positions. Bengt
currently is Regional Channel
Manager – Region West for ABB North
America. ABB is a Global company
doing business in Process Automation
and Power distribution. |
He
and his wife, Birgitta, have been
married 25 years and they have two
daughters attending college. They
are active members of Willow Creek
Community Church in South
Barrington, IL
Bengt has shown that he is a devoted
Christian with a servant heart,
eager to help people in need. |
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