The Team

Harmon Parker, the visionary founder of Bridging the Gap Africa (BtGA), is a dedicated humanitarian driven by a lifelong commitment to making a tangible difference in the world. In 1997, moved by the urgent needs of an isolated Kenyan village, he built his first footbridge, igniting a transformative journey. Since then, BtGA has constructed over 80 life-changing footbridges across rural Kenya, ensuring safe and reliable passage over dangerous rivers for countless communities.

Harmon's extraordinary impact has garnered global recognition, including being named one of CNN's Top Ten Heroes in 2010. This prestigious honor amplified his mission, bringing worldwide attention to the critical importance of footbridges. In 2011, he shared his story by presenting a TEDx Talk at the Orange County event titled "Living in a Walking World."

Harmon is known for his unwavering dedication and adventurous spirit, sense of humor, and love for music. These personal attributes make him relatable, and his relentless commitment to helping others continues to inspire and lead the way in building bridges to a better world.

Bobby Reese is a registered Professional Engineer. He graduated in 2009 from the University of Arkansas with an M.S. in Civil Engineering. Bobby has a background in bridge design having worked as a Bridge Engineer with the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department for over 3 years. He was born in Zimbabwe and lived there until moving to Arkansas for college. Currently Bobby and his wife are back in Africa living and working just outside of Nairobi, Kenya.

Silas Chelimo holds a degree in Business Management. He is also a professionally trained accountant – CPA. He has worked for BtGA Ltd since 2018.  Silas has more than 15 years experience working with nonprofit organizations. He is passionate about the improvement of the lives of the less priviledged communities. He loves to serve others, studying and spending time with his family

Peris is a registered graduate engineer.

She graduated from the Technical University of Mombasa in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in Civil engineering. After graduation, she worked for a construction contracting firm in Mombasa for about one year before joining BtGA in 2019. Since then, Peris has become very passionate about bridge building and has helped build several bridges in various places in Kenya.

Peris was born and schooled in the coastal region of Kenya and later moved to Kitale in 2019 where she works from the BtGA's Kitale Office.

She got married in early 2022 and settled in Kitale together with her husband.

Katie SanFilippo is a seasoned nonprofit leader with extensive experience navigating and supporting executive transitions. With a background as an Executive Director, Interim Executive, and volunteer leader, Katie has witnessed firsthand the challenges and burnout that come with nonprofit leadership. She believes that while change is inevitable, uncertainty doesn't have to be. Katie is passionate about helping nonprofit leaders plan for the future—both for themselves and their organizations—turning times of uncertainty into opportunities for growth. Her mission is to guide leaders in finding the support and community they need to thrive, ensuring they are prepared to make a lasting impact.

Mac Donald is a skilled welder with eight years of experience contributing to bridge construction with Bridging the Gap Africa. Known for his strong work ethic and eagerness to learn, he consistently demonstrates a proactive approach in his role, helping to ensure the safety and success of each project.

Sila Asena Ndeges is currently the workshop Manager at Bridging the Gap Africa. He is a very talented skilled worker born and raised in Kakamega, Kenya. He has a wide range of experience as mason, welder and a carpenter, all acquired on job training. He has over 5 years’ experience as a labor foreman at bridge construction sites.