Each year, we take a moment to shine a light on the people behind the scenes—those who show up again and again to protect vulnerable children, improve outcomes, and strengthen the systems that serve them. These individuals don’t do it for recognition. They do it because they believe every missing child deserves to be found, heard, and helped.
Today, we’re proud to honor some of the people who made an extraordinary impact this year. Meet our 2024 World Changers:
👑 Volunteer of the Year | Jochen Timmerman
When we talk about commitment, consistency, and quiet impact, we’re talking about Jochen.
Jochen Timmerman has consistently gone above and beyond in his volunteer work with NCPTF. He’s not just a skilled investigator—he’s a true partner to our team. His OSINT expertise, persistence, and sharp instincts have contributed to the resolution of multiple cases. And his approach? Always thoughtful, always collaborative.
Whether it’s adapting to a new case management system, recommending helpful tools, or identifying new OSINT strategies, Jochen is constantly pushing us forward. He’s the kind of teammate who listens closely, applies feedback immediately, and works tirelessly to help uncover the next clue.
He’s the volunteer you want on a tough case—and the one we hope every new volunteer grows into.
🚔 Law Enforcement Partner | Sergeant Matt Foster, Arkansas State Police
Matt Foster sets a standard for tenacity that simply cannot be matched. His tireless efforts to organize law enforcement, social services, and NGO partner resources to help respond to Arkansas' missing children is second to none - and he does it all for the children, without a single thought of credit or self-promotion.
NCPTF has been privileged to work alongside Matt over the years on many cases of missing, exploited, and trafficked children, where he has been the model law enforcement partner. With his relentless focus and child-centric approach, he has created, grown, and managed a powerhouse working group dedicated to doing whatever it takes to provide better outcomes for the children in their communities. We are continually in awe of what he's been able to accomplish, and amazed by his constant desire to do even more.
Matt would be the first to tell you that he's only one part of a much larger system making significant impact in this world, but everyone who knows Matt would gladly argue that he's so much more.
🦬 Leadership in Action | Lieutenant David Mann, Buffalo Police Department
When NCPTF first proposed a new model for community-based rescue operations, most people were cautious. Lt. David Mann wasn’t just open—he invited us in.
As the lead law enforcement partner in our first-ever Missing Child Rescue Operation, Lt. Mann gave us more than permission. He gave us trust. His willingness to try something different—to bring in external experts, challenge the usual response model, and prioritize the long-term safety of missing children—laid the foundation for one of the most impactful initiatives we’ve ever launched.
Since then, Lt. Mann has continued to lead with integrity, purpose, and follow-through. He’s helped ensure that the work didn’t end with a single operation. Because of his leadership, the City of Buffalo—and the State of New York—are better equipped to respond to missing and exploited children.
Lt. Mann wasn’t just willing to lead. He was willing to grow, adapt, and make space for something better.
🗽 Relentless Allies | New York DCJS Missing Persons Clearinghouse
Some partnerships go beyond collaboration. They become part of who we are.
The New York State Missing Persons Clearinghouse has stood with NCPTF in a way that’s hard to put into words. From the very first call, they’ve shown up—not just to support our efforts, but to actively help strengthen them. They’ve been in the trenches with us as we've created Missing Child Rescue Operations, helping to coordinate agencies, pull together resources, educate, innovate, and make sure no detail goes unnoticed when a child’s safety is on the line.
This team has become an extension of our own. They don’t hesitate to dig deeper, stay longer, or make the hard calls. They’ve helped us respond faster and more effectively—not just in New York, but in every state that learns from the model we built together.
They are more than partners. They are relentless protectors of missing children working towards a shared mission.
Earlier this year, NCPTF honored longtime Clearinghouse leader Cindy Neff for her extraordinary career protecting New York’s most vulnerable missing people. Her retirement came just after the Capital Region Missing Child Rescue Operation—an effort that located 71 missing children and one missing vulnerable adult. From the spark of an idea to 117 missing children located in just two operations, Cindy's dedication to creating a new way forward for missing kids is a legacy that will continue to shape the work we do, in New York and beyond.
