MEET OUR TEAM
MIKE COUSINEAU
President & CEO
The son of two missionaries, Mike and his family moved to Côte d'Ivoire when he was in high school. After returning to the U.S., Mike began to feel a strong pull toward helping the people and the community he had known and was apart of for so many years. He later returned with his wife Deleen and lived and worked there for several years as a full time missionary, during which he developed his vision for what would become 1040i. In 2010, that vision became a reality. Today 1040i has made over 20 trips to Africa, and Mike has devoted fifty of his life to empowering the people of Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa.
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SABRINA YAW
Vice President
Sabrina made her first trip to West Africa in 2009 and has been working for 1040i since its' creation in 2010. Sabrina's position includes medical team administrator, financial executive and volunteer coordinator. Oddly enough, her husband Dane was the first to go to Africa. It was his experience that peaked her curiosity to go and see for herself what her husband described as life changing. Dane and Sabrina have been married over 25 years and have two adult children, Alix and Paiton. The work of 1040i is a family affair and they have all been able to serve together in West and North Africa on several occasions.
OLIVIA HEATH
Administrative Assistant
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PAUL AMIEZUS
President - Côte d'Ivoire
The son of two missionaries, Mike and his family moved to Côte d'Ivoire when he was in high school. After returning to the U.S., Mike began to feel a strong pull toward helping the people and the community he had known and was apart of for so many years. He later returned with his wife Deleen and lived and worked there for several years as a full time missionary, during which he developed his vision for what would become 1040i. In 2010, that vision became a reality. Today 1040i has made over 20 trips to Africa, and Mike has devoted fifty of his life to empowering the people of Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa.
APPOLINAIRE KAMBOU
Vice President - Côte d'Ivoire
Born in Bondoukou-Côte d’Ivoire-Africa,
Appolinaire had the chance to go to school at an early age. He completed elementary and high school in Doropo and Bouna and transferred to Bondoukou in 2002 after the civil war broke out. He completed and earned his high school diploma in 2008.
Appolinaire attended university in Abidjan where he was privileged to obtain a degree in Management from the most prestigious school in the country (Ecole Nationale d’Administration d’Abidjan).
His experience with a good educationhas convinced him that education is the means by which people can dig themselves out of poverty and train a new generation of leaders by integrity.
He has been involved with 1040i since 2013, and in 2016 was appointed Vice President of 1040i in Côte d'Ivoire. He is in charge of administrative process for 1040 INITIATIVE projects before the government. He also works to recruit Ivorian volunteers.
Appolinaire also plays a vital role as president of Tanda Bilingual Academy board of management, working with the board and administration to assure they remain on track both scholastically and financially.
He always seizes the opportunities to share the vision of 1040i with Ivorian government figures.
Since 2014 he is in charge of the Human Resources Division at the highest level at the Ministry of Economy and Finances for the Côte d’Ivoire government.
ELI SOM
Treasurer - Côte d'Ivoire
Eli was born in Doropo, Côte d'Ivoire. He is married and has one son. He thinks of himself as Mike and Deleen's son beacause him and his brothers grew up on their front porch in Doropo. He says he is "so happy he got to grow up in their hands". When 1040i was created, Eli was asked to join Mike in tending to amy accounting needs in Côte d'Ivoire.