Mars van der Colff
Founder/Chairman/Executive Director
As Executive Director of Cargo of Dreams, van der Colff is responsible for International and US operations, which include promotion, program development, and fundraising.

Mars, with the support of many friends and family and current executive team, established Cargo of Dreams as a Christian relief organization. Committed to helping impoverished communities to reach their full potential to the glory of Jesus Christ,  compelled Mars to professionally dedicate his life’s work towards achieving these goals.

In addition to his work with Cargo of Dreams, Mars worked in Greenville Hospital’s Brain Injury program in Greenville South Carolina, establishing a pilot program to improve the quality of life of people that sustained traumatic brain injuries. The philosophy behind this initiative was “work worth doing”. Mars  also served in marketing management feeding programs in South Africa. Mars graduated at the University of Pretoria in South Africa with a Bachelors degree in business management and later returned to complete his MBA degree at the graduate school of Business Management.

Van der Colff resides in South Africa and travels extensively worldwide with the vision, mission, message and efforts of Cargo of Dreams.

Angel Shahrestani
Senior Director of Strategic Development,
Communications, and Vision

Angel Shahrestani leads with a passion and a desire to promote change through advocacy, communications, and media relations for Cargo of Dreams. She also plays a vital role in strategic development by working closely with the Executive Director to research, identify, and build key strategic partnerships with international organizations, churches, and companies that align with Cargo of Dreams’ worldwide efforts.

Shahrestani’s past professional history brings a rich and highly influential networking base which further promotes Cargo of Dreams’ mission. Angel’s journey began in the corporate sector specializing in project management and developing marketing strategies for executives found on Forbes top 100 list before God called her into full-time ministry as a young adult. 

She has served as a Ministry Director for the past fourteen years at Coast Hills Community Church in Aliso Viejo, CA. In addition, she has been a consultant to major non-profit organizations including MOPS International, Encouraging Words with Dr. John Trent, and has strategized marketing campaigns in the entertainment industry for the faith and family values audience.

Her vision has also developed and launched multiple ministries, programs and events with worldwide impact. Shahrestani resides in Southern California with her best friend and husband, Babak, and their four sons.

Greg Buckingham
Senior Director of Development

Mr. Buckingham brings to Cargo of Dreams organizational skills along with strategic vision and extensive experience in fund development. His strengths speak into the broader vision of Cargo of Dreams’ international relief efforts and he offers a diversified approach to fund development and sound fiscal responsibility ensuring COD’s mission success.

Mr. Buckingham has served on several ministry boards in role of leadership development. He has served locally on both The Sheepfold and Hope’s House boards for abused women and children. He developed major fund raising events for South African “Acres of Love” whose emphasis is to meet the needs of aids orphans, in Mexico for “Lily of the Valley” orphanage, and for the Sumba Foundation in Indonesia.

Currently he is involved in a closed country in Southeast Asia in bringing the gospel to an unreached people group and a construction development project with a local orphanage in the region.

He also serves as the strategic team leader for the Foundation for Hope disaster relief team. This team relocated hundreds of families to new lives after the Katrina hurricane. During the California fires the team was asked by the city of San Diego to head up the Rancho Bernardo relief center for the counties fire victims.

In business, Mr. Buckingham founded a national retail chain in 1987—whose growth has allowed him to dedicate his time to ministry projects through-out the world. He holds an MBA from Pepperdine University and a BA in finance from Michigan State University.

He is married with two teenage children and they reside in Southern California.

Suzanne Perrin
Director of Corporate Sponsors and Major Events

Dr. Suzanne Perrin oversees private donor engagement and fund raising, including the acquisition, growth, and servicing of corporate and individual donor relationships. Her responsibilities include initiating and writing grant proposals, developing and managing a major gift program, donor stewardship, annual appeals, corporate sponsorships, and event planning.

Prior to joining Cargo of Dreams, Perrin served on staff at Coast Hills Community Church in Administration as well as the Event Coordinator for Women’s Ministries. She also served as a consultant to MOPS International in areas of fund development and events.

In addition to working in ministry, Perrin worked in the field of Public Health as a Preventive Care Specialist focusing on lifestyle related disease prevention. She’s also worked in the corporate arena for the second largest mental health HMO in the United States and she has extensive experience working for non-profit health centers. Her passion is community based programs, planning and evaluation.

Jeanette Kotzé
Human Resources and Administration

Jeanette Kotzé is responsible for administrative management of Cargo of Dreams as well as overseeing human resource functions in the organization. Jeanette’s experience in related fields and her passion for missions formed a perfect pairing when joining the Cargo of Dreams team.

Kotzé received her education at the University of Stellenbosch with a B.A degree in Social Work and has served at Cargo of Dreams since its inception in 2007. Jeanette currently resides in South Africa and with frequent trips to the United States on the horizon as the organization's efforts are rapidly expanding.

Kenneth Hammond
Creative Director of Marketing and Web Materials

Bio coming soon.

Michael Sloan
Project Management Advisor

Bio coming soon.

Andy Schiller
Construction Management Advisor

Bio coming soon.