STAFF
Alejandra Camacho
Engagement Coordinator
Alejandra (Alex) joins Green Empowerment with research and field experience in Peru and Bolivia supporting and evaluating development projects in rural and indigenous communities. She completed a B.S. in Anthropology and Geography and is pursuing an M.A. in Global Studies at the University of Oregon. Alex brings a personal commitment to social justice and equity for underrepresented communities that will compliment her role as Engagement Coordinator in facilitating programmatic and visibility goals to benefit the communities we serve.
Amanda Morse
Administrative Manager
Amanda provides book-keeping and organizational support for several non-profits in the Portland area and runs a small urban farm, blue house greenhouse farm. She first joined our team in 2013 and enjoys supporting Green Empowerment because the model is so innovative and empowering for the communities in which we work.
Andrea Johnson
Executive Director
Andrea is a passionate, versatile leader with diverse management experience and a background in international development and energy efficiency program implementation. She is a strong believer in Green Empowerment’s mission and approach. As the Executive Director, Andrea is charged with leading fundraising efforts, supporting staff on program execution, managing operations and cultivating diverse partnerships.
Caitlyn Peake
Program Director
Caitlyn joined Green Empowerment in 2009 as a Program Fellow in Nicaragua, where she supported project expansion and implementation. In 2018, after eight years abroad, she relocated to Portland to serve as Program Director. In this role, Caitlyn supports staff and partners in both Latin America and Southeast Asia to provide access to clean water and renewable energy. She is passionate about improving rural livelihood opportunities and eliminating barriers to collaboration in the international development sector.
Daniel Schollaert
Program Coordinator
Daniel joined Green Empowerment in 2019 after a decade working in community-based sexual health and brings a diverse set of program development skills to his cross-organizational role. He has a Master’s in Public Health, extensive experience traveling and working in Latin America and is deeply committed to social justice and health equity.
Dan Frydman
Project Engineer
Dan is an electrical engineer by training and first got involved with Green Empowerment and our partners in Malaysian Borneo via Engineers without Borders UK. He's passionate about developing open-source technology for the renewable energy access sector and continues to work with our in-country partners to provide more cost effective and resilient systems.
Gabriel Sundoro Wynn
Regional Advisor, Asia
Gabriel is a renewable energy practitioner developing decentralized clean energy systems in Southeast Asia that are integrated with watershed conservation and rural water supply. As a Program Manager with Green Empowerment in Southeast Asia, he works closely with indigenous community groups seeking energy security and livelihoods that support a conservation vision.
Karen Wilson
Finance and Admin Director
Karen provides Green Empowerment with almost 15 years of nonprofit financial and administrative experience, ranging from international NGOs to local Portland community organizations. She is passionate about enhancing the operational efficiency and performance of Green Empowerment utilizing her Masters degree in Nonprofit Management and prior experience with the federal government. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Lift Up Portland, a nonprofit providing resources to those experiencing food insecurity in the Portland area.
Katya Díaz Salcedo
Peru Program Coordinator
Katya joined Green Empowerment in 2020 as Peru Program Coordinator. She is an environmental engineer, involved for almost 10 years in environmental conservation and sustainable development processes in the Peruvian Amazon. She has experience in geographic information systems, land management and project management with rural communities and public and private institutions from Peru and other countries.
Maria Espinoza
Nicaragua Program Coordinator
Maria has extensive experience in rural sector microfinance in Nicaragua and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. As our Program Fellow in Nicaragua, Maria supports the development and management of projects with our local partners including our revolving loan funds. Maria is excited to join the Green Empowerment team and continue supporting development in rural Nicaragua.
Mica Miro
Engagement Manager
Mica is a creative professional with a background in program management and arts education. She recently returned from Oaxaca, Mexico where she served as Interim Managing Director and Program Manager for a small NGO that supports women entrepreneurs. She is passionate about Green Empowerment's approach to development and excited to use her creative talents to share our story with the world.
Mohammad Pakravan
Technical Program Manager
Mohammad joined Green Empowerment in 2019 as the Technical Program Manager. His past experiences revolve around design, analysis and promotion of energy services in low- and middle-income regions. His academic background includes PhD in mechanical engineering and applied economics, M.Sc. in renewable and clean energy, and B.Sc. in mechanical engineering.
Nida Jafri
Malaysia Energy Program Coordinator
Nida joined Green Empowerment in 2021 as the Malaysia Energy Program Coordinator. She is an Electrochemist by training, having obtained a PhD in Chemical Engineering. Her research was centered on testing biomass-based materials for renewable energy generation, development of electrochemical energy systems, and innovative waste-to-energy technologies. She joins the organization with a passion to promote energy transition with sustainable engineering approaches, focused on improving the livelihood of indigenous and rural communities.
Sam Schlesinger
Regional Program Manager, Latin America
Having spent several years organizing community development projects in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Ecuador in partnership with local NGO’s, community organizations, and universities, Sam brings experience in clean water and renewable energy systems, training programs, and rural logistics to the management and expansion of Green Empowerment’s Ecuadorian projects.