Kevin Lee, or "Kiwi", comes to ASD via the US Peace Corp. Kiwi served in as a volunteer for from 2004-2006 in the mountain barangay (Filipino for "village") of Ambaguio on the island of Luzon. His barangay still maintained some indigenous traditions and was in a remote part of the Mountain Province that was often plagued with storms and landslides sometimes stranding him for weeks.  He learned the local language and acclimated to the culture quickly.  

A mechanical engineer by trade, and one of the youngest men to ever run an American steel mill, Kiwi brings a perspective that offers the community a very practical solution that addresses an urgent need. His vast experience in project and operations management, not to mention living inside a community for two years where water was an issue, offers a realistic model for sustainable implementation and community participation.  After enduring numerous storms, landslides and flooding up to his ankles, he realized that the Philippines didn't have a water problem, but rather, a water infrastructure problem.  

Kevin’s experience stems from thirteen years of working in heavy industry as a mechanical engineer, project and operations manager.  In Ambaguio, he designed a community water system project that the community members implemented.  He was not only challenged in working within governmental limitations, he also had to deal with unfamiliar cultural attitudes. His flexible nature and patience in establishing harmonious relationships with government employees and local villagers, established a mutual trust and respect. 

Kiwi, as ASDs Director of Program Development, is the acting Executive Director for ASDSW to develop the PODS program. The goal is to transfer ASDSW to our staff of Philippine Nationals and design a replication model to expand to other countries in need.

His favorite piece of advice "Lead, follow or get out of the dam way!"