Meet our Board Trustees
Amjad Ghori
Co-Founder & Aziza's Father
Co-founder of Aziza's Place and the Aziza Ghori Charitable Foundation, Amjad lives in London in the UK with his wife and young daughter, Amina. He works for Crédit Agricole's Energy and Infrastructure Group and devotes a lot of his personal time to Aziza's Place. Amjad visits at least 3 times a year and has close friendships with the children and staff at Aziza's Place.
Laura Mountcastle
Trustee
Laura Mountcastle was a co-worker of Amjad's at CMS Energy and has many wonderful memories of spending time with Aziza and Amjad in Michigan. She first visited Cambodia and Aziza's Place in 2007 and was moved by the spirit of the children, staff and the colorful setting. Another visit in 2013 enabled her to see the growth and development of the children whose lives have benefited from the programs and community of Aziza's Place.
Laura recently retired from the corporate world and now spends time at Starfish Family Services helping to prepare young children for a successful start to school and serves on several boards for organizations focused on education and moving people and places out of poverty. Her interests also include sports and travel and she looks forward to annual trips to Cambodia.
Steve Fleischmann
Trustee
Steve has been a close friend of the Ghori family for almost 30 years and was closely involved in the efforts that led to the formation of the AGCF to honor Aziza’s memory. He has traveled the globe with his young family, including a wonderful extended visit with the staff and children of Aziza’s Place, where they expect to return for more visits.
Steve sees the mission of the Foundation to help (1) the children of Aziza’s Place overcome tremendous disadvantage; (2) achieve their full potential and (3) keep close family and community ties for spiritual strength and giving back.
He earned a doctoral degree and worked for the US Department of State. His primary focus after government service has been long term risk identification and mitigation. He has been a principal at two global risk consultancies.
Mark Arnold
Trustee
Mark Arnold is a lifelong friend of Amjad way, way back in the early 1970s. Mark and Amjad have remained friends ever since which then extended to their respective families and children. Aziza and Mark’s daughter Amy became fast friends and her passing had a profound effect on the Arnold Family. The opening of Aziza’s Place provided an opportunity for that relationship and friendship to continue with deep, strong bonds.
Mark has visited on several occasions and has formed close relationships with many of AP’s residents. Mark now lives in Vermont with his life partner Cindy Turcot and 2 children, Sam and Amy.
As often as their schedules will allow, Sam and Cindy will join Mark on his annual visits to AP and Cambodia.