Our Team

We are proud to have an international team of volunteers from countries like the Netherlands, Canada, India, and the United States.  Many of our team members work virtually, many come down to Granada for a few months and some even choose to make Nicaragua their home.

We are also extremely proud of our local staff, also known as our ground team.  They were born and raised in Nicaragua — all of them from Granada.  They are the engine that runs the organization.   They are vital to the success of our organization.  They are dedicated and passionate.  They are invested in the success of each and everyone of the children in the communities we serve.

GROUND TEAM

Anielka Gutierrez – Program Director	Carla Velez – Program Coordinator
Pamela Huete – Administrator / English Teacher	Oscar Lopez – Office Administrator / Activities Coordinator
Margarita Arroliga – Home visit coordinator / Counselor	Fatima Meza – Groundskeeper
Kathy Adams – Executive Director / Founder As a technical engineer, Kathy spent 4 years in Central America working as an engineer with Intel. With the level of poverty and seeing children selling and begging on the streets, Kathy felt compelled to change the situation. In 1998, she purchased the requisite uniforms, shoes and books and enrolled children from two families in schools with her own money.In 2007, Kathy decided to dedicate her efforts full-time to further provide children educational access and enriching communities in Central America. She returned to Central America to live in 2008, leaving her engineering life behind. Kathy now resides in Granada and is a proud member of the ground team. Today, Empowerment International is a US-registered non-profit organization, which gives over 340 children in Nicaragua access to education.

STUDENT INTERNS

Jeaneth – Afternoon Tutoring Coordinator	Anyelo – Morning Tutoring Coordinator
Anielka – Computer Program Coordinator	Rafael – Photography Club President

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Neha Singh – Website Manager. For website related issues, content ideas or suggestions for improvement, contact her at singhneh@yahoo.com (volunteer)

Leonardo Vila – Translator (volunteer)

Kshitiz Anand – Graphic Designer (volunteer)

Danielle Dubois – Graphic Designer (volunteer)

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Tracy Finch – Board Chair
Tracy lived as an ex-pat in Nicaragua for four years.  She spent most of that time in Granada and worked along side Empowerment International, learning and sharing.  Now as a wife and mother living full time in Colorado, she is able to contribute to EI in different ways.  Joining the Board of Directors as Chairman in January 2012, she is looking forward to supporting this cause so close to her heart.

Charles Partee – Member

Melissa Chiappetta – Member

Bronwyn Bateman – Member

Frank Gallo – Member

Doug Hopkins – Member

Wesley (Wes) Lum – Member
Wes is a software engineer by profession and a passionate nature and street photographer.  He discovered Empowerment International through a photography workshop with The Giving Lens in July 2012.  Since then, he has been volunteering locally and virtually with administrative tasks, social media, web development, and photography.

Morgan Smith – Advisor
Morgan is currently a freelance writer and photographer, but worked a majority of his career as an attorney.  He also served in the military and is passionate about serving the community.

Colby Brown – Advisor
Colby is a professional photographer, photo educator, author and entrepreneur from Denver, Colorado. He is also the founder of The Giving Lens.

OUR PARTNERS

Cal Ripken Foundation

Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation

SmugMug, Inc.

The Giving Lens

Hotel con Corazon

Kenneth King Foundation

YMCA International Club

Rider Family Foundation

And to all the donors, past, present and future, thank you!