Sharon Boller
Sharon started working with refugee transition and resettlement in 2016 and discovered she had a passion for it. She has a Master’s degree in Education - specifically in instructional design - which makes a great foundation for designing English lessons and tutoring resources. While Sharon serves in the role of president of From Strangers to Neighbors, the organization exists because its founding Board of Directors all believe passionately in the work being done - and the value of helping a family at a time succeed in Indianapolis.
Prior to exiting corporate life in 2019, Sharon was a founding partner, along with her spouse, Kirk, of Bottom-Line Performance, Inc. or BLP. BLP served a variety of large corporate clients, producing sophisticated multimedia learning and development solutions. She and Kirk sold the business in 2019 after growing it from a company of 2 (when they incorporated it) to one that employed 36 people.
Sharon’s journey in working with refugee families was sparked by a 2015 storytelling presentation from a former refugee who had settled in Indianapolis. She was so struck by the story - and the incredible resilience of the young man - that she said “yes” when Bob Heimach (a current board member) invited her to become part of a co-sponsor team led by Liz Kaznak-Hall (another current board member.). Bob’s wife, Jenni, (our third Board member) was also part of that inaugural team.
The first family the team served was the Alhamwi family, whose son Mohammed also serves on our Board (and how incredible is that???). Sharon - and the entire team - saw the impact the team’s efforts had on the Alhamwi family. The rest is history as the team opted to formalize its efforts and form From Strangers to Neighbors so it had a fundraising and people-raising vehicle for continuing the work of helping one family at a time turn need into succeed.
Sharon Boller
Sharon started working with refugee transition and resettlement in 2016 and discovered she had a passion for it. She has a Master’s degree in Education - specifically in instructional design - which makes a great foundation for designing English lessons and tutoring resources. While Sharon serves in the role of president of From Strangers to Neighbors, the organization exists because its founding Board of Directors all believe passionately in the work being done - and the value of helping a family at a time succeed in Indianapolis.
Prior to exiting corporate life in 2019, Sharon was a founding partner, along with her spouse, Kirk, of Bottom-Line Performance, Inc. or BLP. BLP served a variety of large corporate clients, producing sophisticated multimedia learning and development solutions. She and Kirk sold the business in 2019 after growing it from a company of 2 (when they incorporated it) to one that employed 36 people.
Sharon’s journey in working with refugee families was sparked by a 2015 storytelling presentation from a former refugee who had settled in Indianapolis. She was so struck by the story - and the incredible resilience of the young man - that she said “yes” when Bob Heimach (a current board member) invited her to become part of a co-sponsor team led by Liz Kaznak-Hall (another current board member.). Bob’s wife, Jenni, (our third Board member) was also part of that inaugural team.
The first family the team served was the Alhamwi family, whose son Mohammed also serves on our Board (and how incredible is that???). Sharon - and the entire team - saw the impact the team’s efforts had on the Alhamwi family. The rest is history as the team opted to formalize its efforts and form From Strangers to Neighbors so it had a fundraising and people-raising vehicle for continuing the work of helping one family at a time turn need into succeed.