Testimonials

Steve Andersen brings knowledge, integrity and heart to his presentations about his Peace Corps experience in Africa.  As if that weren't enough, he's the teacher you wish you had in high school physics:  it's clear he's in love with his subject, and makes it sing for people who might be afraid to go there, even figuratively.  In a span of 30 minutes, Steve inspired a group of listeners to take action -- not on a grand scale, but to a degree that they could manage in their own lives and still make a positive difference in the lives of others halfway around the world. - Marilyn Paarlberg, The First Church in Albany, NY

I have known and worked with Steve on multiple projects over the years, He is an articulate and resourceful project manager with substantive  leadership experience. His positive, never say die attitude leads to always  getting  the job done.  Steve will settle for nothing less. He formulates a plan and sticks to it, accomplishing the work with the quality, schedule and budget agreed upon. He is passionate. - Tim Ryan, retired HR Vice President with Fortune 500 Companies.

Steve Andersen is an engaging and inspiring speaker. His deep integrity and values shine through his spirited and passionate descriptions of his experience with the Peace Corps and his ongoing work as a volunteer to sustain the programs he started. His stories about the people he met, the conditions he lived and worked in, and the technology he used are fascinating, and you could hear a pin drop in the room during his presentation. He also has a nice sense of humor and an ability to laugh at himself, which puts the audience at ease. Steve tailored his presentation to meet the needs and interests of our group. I would highly recommend Steve as a speaker. - Alan Krieger , Program Chair, Consulting Alliance, Albany, NY

Steve is a warm and compassionate guy, one of those people who wants to make a difference in this world and who knows how to inspire others to feel the same way.  His presentations about his experiences as a Peace Corps member in Mali, Africa are thought provoking, interesting, engaging and interactive. He brings a lot of knowledge and experience to his presentations, facts and photos, but also a sense of wonder and possibility, a sense that we are all connected in some way. - Steve Holmes, Administrative Director of the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State

Stephen Andersen spoke at the Project Management Institute's Global Congress in Malta in May 2008.  I found his speech, drawing upon his experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali, to be heartfelt and very moving. Steve had interviewed key managers in Mali to find out their perspectives on development improvements, synthesized their viewpoints and prepared a very impactful paper and presentation. Yet it was his personal vignettes from his two years working with his colleagues, neighbors and friends in Africa that moved the audience to tears. From the level of questions and interest after the talk, I could tell that his message impressed many of the attendees. It has resulted in funding offers from business owners to support project management capacity-building in Africa. - Lise Yale, Project Management Professional (PMP) and former PMI International Development SIG board member

I first came to know Mr. Andersen upon my arrival to Mali in July 2006 when I became the Deputy Peace Corps Country Director responsible for Programming and Training. The U.S. Peace Corps challenges men and women to assist developing countries by sharing their technical skills and knowledge with host-country partners while also engaging in cultural exchange. During his successful service as a Volunteer, Mr. Andersen did an excellent job of helping to achieve these goals. As part of my responsibilities I enable the work of Volunteers by identifying appropriate jobs and site placement, while also identifying and addressing Volunteer technical training needs. In Mr. Andersen’s case, he was assigned to work with a local municipality as a Small Business Volunteer in the village of Markala in the Segou Region of Mali. During the few months that Mr. Andersen worked in Markala, he proved to be an exceptional addition to our program. Mr. Andersen diligently accomplished a large number of tasks, which collectively contributed to an improvement in the quality of life for numerous households in Markala. After several months of service in Markala, there was an opportunity for Mr. Andersen to further apply his skills by working with a nongovernmental organization (NGO) in Bamako. Since coming to Bamako, Mr. Andersen has worked very successfully in meeting the needs of the NGO by providing them with expert consulting services concerning the business operations of the organization and their clients. Mr. Andersen is highly motivated, an analytical thinker, and able to work both independently while also being an excellent team player, depending on the situation. Mr. Andersen has excellent cross-cultural skills and is sensitive to the needs of others. He has very successfully functioned in the Malian culture for two years. An example of Mr. Andersen’s motivation and skills is through his establishment of a relationship between a group of handicapped people in Bamako and a similar group in the U.S. This exchange culminated in the organization of a videoconference in collaboration with the Public Affairs Division of the U.S. Embassy in Bamako. Mr. Andersen organized all aspects of this event, which is certain to lead to further similar collaborations in the future. Through discussions I have had with Mr. Andersen, I have learned of his interest to continue working in the development field, which has been encouraged a great deal by his work as a Volunteer. Through his work here Mr. Andersen has acquired an understanding of the nexus of economic development, people, and the conditions of communities that either enable or hinder the ability of people to realize their potential and to live meaningful and productive lives. Based on my discussions with Mr. Andersen, as well as knowledge of his skills and abilities, I believe that he will be an excellent asset to any organization and would recommend him highly. August 15, 2007 - Michael Simsik , Country Director U.S. Peace Corps/Mali