Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you're up to today.

A:   This is my second week as President and CEO of Plan USA.  I have worked in international development my whole professional life.  I have worked in the for profit sector, as a partner in PricewaterhouseCoopers, in charge of their international development practice, and Group VP for a consulting company specializing in international development.  I have also worked in the World Bank as a senior executive.  I had never worked in the non profit community but was very attracted to Plan by its wonderful mission, seeking to enable children around the world to realize their full potential.  International development is by definition forward looking, it is about creating a better tomorrow for the people that we support and serve around the world.  What better place to focus on than with children and with youth, in whose hands is the future of their families and communities? I was delighted to find out that Amigos is a partner to our organization. 

 

Q: What are you proud to have accomplished or to be currently working on?

A:   I am proud of many things because I think the work all of us in the international development field do is incredibly important.  We live in a highly interconnected world.  The key to our advancement is not just in what we do to improve our own communities here in the US, but how we enable communities, families and individuals everywhere else to prosper and advance.  I get up every morning and get excited about the work I do because I believe so passionately in the importance of this work and the mission of organizations like your and ours.

 

Q: How has AMIGOS affected your life, or enabled you get to where you are today?

A:   Goodness, I think I have had a wonderful career in international development because of the opportunities that Amigos gave me to understand what it is all about and to participate, from a very early age in helping to deliver vital goods and services to disadvantaged people in Latin America.  In hindsight, I find it remarkable, and wonderful, that Amigos trusted me at the early age of 16, 17, 18 to handle vaccines, organize vaccination routes, negotiate with government officials and local village notables.  I first learned what management, team work and logistics support was all about from working at Amigos.  The  experience also gave me great confidence to believe I was capable of stretching myself and accomplishing a great deal.