I would like to run a US or Canadian-based organization that is struggling to make a significant difference. I have over twenty years experience running a wide range of organizations and I am very good at developing a strategic vision, uniting a team behind that vision, and marshaling the resources to accomplish it. Although I love my current program, I need to return to North America for family reasons.
If you need great leadership, let me know. Maybe we can team together and change the world.
For over 20 years, I have led a wide range of projects throughout the world. I build excellent teams, do remarkable work, and create sustainable change. I am very good at building strong teams, both within and outside my organization and fostering a strong learning environment. I understand the challenges of helping local communities to manage their own development and of managing complex grants. I have led projects that improved the dynamic of the Haitian-Dominican border, established the community-based disaster system now used by all NGOs in Haiti, developed detailed training programs, and implemented dozens of rural infrastructure projects.
Some of my past positions include
- Country Director, Pan American Development Foundation, Dominican Republic, Nov 2003-June 2010: Directed six-year project to mitigate conflicts, strengthen civil society, and create economic opportunities in the Haiti-Dominican Republic borderlands (www.ourborder.org). The program succeeded in significantly raising awareness of the border region in both counties, attracting new funding for the local organizations, and building bridges and understanding across the border.
- Project Director, Pan American Development Foundation, Haiti, 2000-2003: Directed $14 million, four-year umbrella grant program to develop local disaster mitigation committees, improve agricultural income, rebuild damaged infrastructure, rehabilitate key watersheds and improve public awareness on mitigation and preparedness. Funding came through two USAID contracts and one USDA contract.
- Project Director/Engineer, Sheladia Associates and Louis Berger International, Guinea Bissau, Ethiopia, Vietnam, United States; 1996-2000: Worked as a design engineer, resident engineer, and project director for a variety of civil engineering projects.
- Management Specialist, Reconstruction, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Program, Sierra Leone, 1996: Developed detailed grants management program to provide World Bank funding for projects to be implemented by local NGOs at village level.
- Project Director, Haiti Municipal Initiatives Project, Haiti, 1993-96: Trained mayors and their staff in basic project design and implementation, management, accounting and secretarial techniques. Guided the mayors through a year-long participatory planning process. Assisted the municipalities in the design and implementation of small infrastructure projects.
- Project Manager, Rural Road Rehabilitation Project, USAID, Guinea-Conakry (1991 – 1992): Implemented $3.2 million project to use local resources to rehabilitate 120 km of roads and 14 bridges. Trained engineers and villagers, directed economic impact analysis, and designed follow-on $2.2 million project.
- Peace Corps Volunteer and Trainer, Togo (1986-1988).
Education
Master Degree in Civil Engineering with a specialty in Project Management, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (1990)
Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia (1986)
Languages
Fluency in English (mother tongue), Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole
For more information, see my profile on Linkedin or read the FAQs on this blog.
