Advisory Board

Lisa Fox

James Gandolfini

Lauren Hutton

Michael Oppenheimer

Sheila Rooney

Board Members

Carter Coleman lived in Tanzania from 1987 through 1991, when he re-launched the Tanzania Forest Conservation Group, previously an advocacy group, as a grass-roots community conservation organization. A journalist who has written for Time, Life, Sports Illustrated, The Financial Times, The Los Angeles Times, among others, Carter is the author of two novels. Currently he is the managing director of InfEnergy Limited, a sustainable bio-fuels company.

P. Jay Cone II is a former partner with the Ness Motley law firm where he tried asbestos and tobacco cases on behalf of injured individuals. Jay is now involved with starting up several business including a recording studio and and a record label in Charleston SC. Jay also remains heavily involved in various non-profit ventures having traveled to Africa several times within the last year on behalf of the African Rainforest Conservancy. Jay is presently starting a non-profit venture that will ultimately provide 4 year scholarships to orphaned or single parent Tanzanian children.

Michele Clarke Michele Clarke has worked for numerous years as a marketing and business development consultant. She has written and implemented business and marketing plans, created cash flow projections, and budgets for businesses and non-profit organizations. Michele has overseen the development of branding strategies, and helped to implement those strategies through organization. She has been hired by a number of organizations to evaluate business potential to create new revenue streams through existing infrastructure or property, and helped to launch new divisions that steamed from this evaluation.

Michele worked for 10 years in Los Angeles, producing television commercials as well as writing and producing television promotion, sales films, image campaigns, interstitials and various other sales, marketing and promotional materials. She worked to brand and successfully launched television channels for Warner International Channels ( Latin America ) and Sony Entertainment Television (India/Singapore).  

Michele began her career as an advertising agency producer. She has held staff and freelance positions at both large and boutique advertising agencies. She has worked and lived in New York , Los Angeles , San Francisco and London.

Beth O'Donnell is an acclaimed photographer and painter exhibiting in galleries throughout the U.S. Her book, Angels in Africa, was published by the Vendome Press in 2006. It is a book about extraordinary women making a difference at the grassroots level. She has been to Tanzania several times to visit the projects of the TFCG. She also cofounded Miraval in 1995, life in balance resort and spa. And Sierra Tucson addictions facility.

Lindy Reilly Since 1995 I have been going to Africa every year and was one of the founders of authentic human development for Africa ... a non-profit venture that supported community development in South Africa. In 2006 I traveled twice to Kenya to help with the St. John Bosco center in Kitale that helps educate and care for children in the grade school years.

Peter Wirth is an Executive Vice President and Co-Head of the Investment Banking department at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., a boutique investment bank specializing in Financial Services. Mr. Wirth has been with KBW for over 20 years and founded their Structured Finance Group, which has raised billions in capital in the last several years.

David Yamner is the co-President and co-founder of Empire Entertainment, Inc., an event and entertainment production firm that designs and executes creative projects for corporations, associations, charities and private interests around the world. David is also co-owner and co-founder of Industrial Artist Management, a firm representing artists in the non ticketed market, as well as for performing arts centers and casinos. David's travels to Tanzania have taken him to Uhuru Peak on Mt. Kilimanjaro and throughout the Serengeti National Park. His background includes a 5 year stint as an associate finance attorney with Reid & Priest (now Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner). David also serves on the Phil Coltoff Center Advisory Board to the Children's Aid Society.