Meet Our Team
Nora Updegrove
President
Nora joined Chance For Change in 2015 and has worked with a variety of international nonprofits, The Rockefeller Foundation, and previously as a writer for a communications and consulting group addressing humanitarian issues. Nora is the President of Chance for Change. In the summer of 2018, she was a State Department intern in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, where she got to meet several of our beneficiaries.
FRED ECKHARD
President Emeritus
Co-founder and CEO, Frederic Eckhard, retired spokesman for United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, and 20-year veteran of the U.N., spearheaded the Chance for Change project after visiting Burkina Faso in 2009. He was deeply inspired by the optimism and spirit of the young women he met despite their many obstacles. Fred saw an opportunity to significantly change the lives of these young women by sharing their stories and collecting donations on their behalf from his extensive pool of friends, colleagues, and associates around the world. Fred will travel again to Burkina Faso in January 2020, but will limit his travel around the country because of the deteriorating security situation there.
JAN ECKHARD
Vice-President, Treasurer
Co-founder Jan Eckhard, inspired by his father’s efforts, established Chance for Change Inc. in 2011. Jan has worked in the music and entertainment business for seventeen years. He is happily married and a father of two beautiful children in Bloomfield NJ. Jan is Vice President and Treasurer of Chance for Change.
NANCY KOVACIC
Administrative Coordinator
Nancy was a classroom teacher for 30 years before retiring in 2012, and continues to work as an elementary school consultant. Nancy became board member in 2015 and believes that educating women is the optimal way to strengthen developing communities. Nancy is the Administrative Coordinator of Chance for Change.
MARIAM ILBOUDU
Burkina Faso Liasion
Mariam Ilboudu is a communications consultant in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; she previously worked for the UN Population Fund office there. She is an officer of the Burkina Association of University Women, and handles the financial affairs of Chance for Change.
HOLLY BUECHEL
Technical Media Coordinator
As a Video Editor and Producer, Holly joined the team in 2014. Holly has worked with non-profits in video production for the Girl Scouts USA, US Fencing, and Blue Engine - an educational support program in New York City. Holly also works with women in sports and leadership. She is excited to manage the behind-the-scenes work of the organization. Holly is the Technical Media Coordinator for Chance for Change.
BLAIR WELLS
Supporter
Co-founder, Blair Wells, is a Grammy winning recording engineer and music producer living in New York City. Inspired by the stories that Fred would bring back from his trips to Burkina Faso, Blair eagerly joined the cause to help educate these inspirational young women half a world away.