Somos Children's Village, a home, a family, a future  
   
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  Directors and Advisory Board  
 
 
Board of Directors
Lloyd Bernhardt Kathy Day Maria Jácome
Greg Kemp Denis Knox Kate Lasiuk Ginette Nielsen
Lloyd Bernhardt established the Ethical Bean Coffee Company in Summer 2003 in Vancouver, British Columbia. It started with a deep, personal connection with Latin America. It grew out of a sense of social and environmental responsibility and a love of great coffee. Ethical Bean has quickly evolved into the Lower Mainland's fastest growing Certified Fair Trade coffee supplier and BC's only 100% Transfair Canada Certified Fair Trade coffee roaster.? A recipient of various excellence awards, Lloyd was honored to be included in the 1991 'Top 40 under 40 Achievers' (Business in Vancouver)  
  Kathy Day has been in corporate communications for over 15 years specializing in training and multi media production. Her hobbies are yoga, hiking, various crafts and she is also an avid amateur photographer. Kathy lives in Vancouver with her daughter and one dog.

Maria Jácome   came to Canada as a refugee from Guatemala when she was a child.  She is currently an elementary school teacher in Vancouver, and a proud mother of a 10-year-old boy.  Maria is motivated by her love of children and her strong belief in Sustainable Community Development. She enjoys working with children and helping in the community any way she can. Maria has always been passionate about giving back to her homeland, a passion which is evident in the infectious energy that she brings to Project Somos.  

 
  Greg Kemp has been continuously engaged in the non profit sector for over 30 years, in many capacities including work as a volunteer, board member, founder, and executive director. In the private sector he has also had a wide spectrum of successful venturesincluding; an organizational development consultant; partner in a successful dealership selling homeopathic diagnostic software; owner and operator of an organic farm; cofounder of a retail and wholesale import giftware business; certified Waldorf teacher, and home renovation and repair business. Greg is fluent in Spanish.
Denis Knox is an experienced hands-on Human Resources professional with a commitment to helping others help themselves. He has used his expertise as a Board member with a number of not-for-profit organizations that have a focus on helping women and children. He works as an independent executive coach and is actively involved in his church. Denis lives in Burnaby, BC and has been married to Susan for over 45 years. They have three children and five grandchildren.  
 
Kate Lasiuk has worked in the non-profit sector in several capacities, including serving as the Sustainable Living Coordinator on an ecological demonstration site in southern Spain, and more recently as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. Kate travelled to Guatemala in 2007 where she became fluent in Spanish, and gained first-hand experience of the social & political realities of that country.  Kate is passionate about social and environmental justice.  She loves travelling, cooking, and learning foreign languages. She recently completed a Permaculture Design Certificate, and is currently a student of International Development at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.

Ginette Nielsen is a passionate Mom of three homelearners, a professional gardener, a loyal friend and a loving partner. Her life has been enriched by the amazing number of wonderful families that she has met through the alternative education community. She's an enthusiastic, confident and diligent worker, and believes her life experiences will be beneficial in aiding Project Somos to enrich the lives of Guatemalan children. She believes when love guides our decisions the answers to our questions come to us quickly and clearly. She is extremely honoured to be a board member.

Advisory Board

Elaine Arrowsmith, Senior Procurement & Distribution Specialist, Whole Foods Market

Chris Baker,  Independent Computer Consultant, Small Vineyard Owner and Manager

Kevin Chipperfield,  Professional Agrologist and Sustainability Advocate

Barbara Chirinos,  Event Producer and Manager

Ellen Coburn,  Family Physician, Founder and ED of Mayan Health and Education Project

Cara Harper  (Buckshaw),  Founder and Director of Harper Learning and Development Inc

Matthew Kemp,  Sales Director, Horizon Wines

David LePage,  Program Manager, Enterprising Non-Profits

Sandy McNary-Ostrem,  Psychologist

Gloria Sutcliffe,  Registered Clinical Counsellor

Cilla Utne,  Cross-Cultural Trainer and Activist

Mirsada Vins,  Professional Homeopath and Instructor, Ontario College of Homeopathic Medicine

Marc Zornes,  INSEAD Student, France & Singapore- International MBA 
Project Somos Spokespersons

Martyn Joseph - View video

Steve Smith