ABOUT US

Sonja Wood

Founder & Senior Advisor | Project Generation Connect

Sonja Wood holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance. Her work spans nonprofit association management and for-profit program development, with a focus on organizing people, processes, and resources around clearly defined objectives.

Mergers & Acquisitions (For-Profit)

On the for-profit side, Sonja works with companies to prepare for and facilitate mergers and acquisitions, supporting due diligence coordination, operational evaluation, transition planning, and gap identification. Her role often bridges owners, advisors, and operators, helping translate analysis into practical transition steps before and after transactions.

Association Leadership, Boards & Programs (Nonprofit)

On the nonprofit side, she has worked with multiple associations and served in board and advisory capacities, supporting:

Legislative and policy initiatives

• Stakeholder needs analysis
• Program development and administration
• Research and development efforts tied to member and community priorities

Her work emphasizes aligning organizational missions with stakeholder requirements, regulatory considerations, and available resources.

Social Enterprise & Gap-Bridging

Sonja leads a social enterprise model designed to bridge gaps between public needs, nonprofit capacity, and private-sector execution. The focus is on structuring initiatives so that funding, governance, and implementation are aligned, particularly for projects that fall between traditional public or private delivery models.

Role in the Ghana Project

Within the Ghana Project, Sonja is responsible for project organization, governance support, partner coordination, stakeholder alignment, and transition planning, with an emphasis on transparency, feasibility, and execution readiness.

Dr. Emmanuel Kontor

Senior Advisor | Ghana Institutional & Financial Systems

Dr. Kontor is a results-oriented professional with a Doctorate in Accounting and Information Technology, distinguished military service as a Veteran, and extensive experience as a former Financial Manager for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense. Currently thriving as an entrepreneur, CEO, and business owner in the real estate, healthcare and technology sectors, utilizing deep financial acumen and innovative problem-solving skills to drive growth and operational excellence. Actively engaged in professional development as a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), Society of Defense Financial Management (SDFM), and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA). Recognized for a strategic mindset, leadership capabilities, and a commitment to advancing fiscal integrity and technological advancement in diverse organizational settings.

Dr. Kontor serves as a local institutional and financial systems advisor to the Ghana Project. His role is to provide context, insight, and connectivity related to Ghana's economic, regulatory, and institutional environment.

Dr. Kontor supports the project by:



• Advising on institutional alignment - Helping ensure project concepts, sequencing, and structures are consistent with national, regional, and local priorities, policies, and administrative realities.
• Providing financial and economic systems insight - Offering perspective on local financing norms, public-private interfaces, trade and port systems, and economic development considerations relevant to project feasibility.
• Risk and navigation awareness - Helping identify regulatory, institutional, or execution risks early so projects can be structured responsibly and compliantly.

Howell Martin

Senior Advisor | Infrastructure, Development & Project Execution

Howell ("Hal") Martin has more than three decades of experience developing, owning, and operating businesses across business development, real estate construction, and project development, including residential, medical, commercial, industrial, and energy-related projects.

His background includes work in consulting, capital formation, and project financing, with exposure to venture capital, private equity, non-bank funding programs, private capital, and family offices.

He has supported projects involving asset recovery, construction, and development across a range of operating environments. Hal's skill set includes business development, investor and capital partner relations, team formation, project coordination, and project management, with a practical focus on execution and delivery.

His project work has included initiatives related to sustainability, emerging and disruptive technologies, green and industrial technologies, including bio- and crude-refining-adjacent activities, waste-stream utilization, industrial services, and manufacturing. He has also been involved in medical facilities, medical real estate development, medical devices and supplies, as well as specialty hospitality and resort developments, including international projects.

Within the Ghana Project, Hal provides execution-focused advisory support, helping assess feasibility, sequencing, delivery considerations, and coordination between capital, design, and implementation.