Friends of Cantera Executive Board
Friends of Cantera support CANTERA by donating their time, talent, and resources to support the sustainable development of the communities CANTERA accompanies. All members of the Friends of Cantera Executive Board serve on a voluntary, unpaid basis.
Alvin Raetzsch
President Alvin and his wife Michelle and four kids (ages 10, 8, 4 and 0) live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is a former chemical engineer, stay-at-home dad, and high school math teacher. He currently homeschools his children. Alvin first learned of CANTERA when he met Sr Dianne Fanguy in Baton Rouge in 2011 and has been hooked ever since. He travels to Nica two to three times a year in support of CANTERA, and loves to talk to anyone who will listen about CANTERA's unique and effective methodology that he believes can not only change Nicaragua, but the entire world. 
Andy Choi
Vice President Andy began his journey with CANTERA in 2012, serving as a volunteer and working as an international immersion and volunteer coordinator in CANTERA's Development Office and co-facilitating the National Gender Course on Masculinity. In June 2018, Andy made the difficult decision to return to the United States due to the political and civil unrest in Nicaragua. Although he is in the United States, his love and commitment to CANTERA and Nicaragua continues as he seeks new ways to support the people and communities that he worked with for almost 6 years. Andy currently works in Baltimore, MD. at his alma mater, Loyola University Maryland, in their Center for Community Service and Justice (CCSJ), coordinating CCSJ's student intern program, connecting his experiences and learning from Nicaragua to his work with students. Andy joined the board in June 2019 and is excited to think of new ways to serve and accompany Friends of Cantera and CANTERA from the United States. 
Lisa Fitzgerald
Board Member After graduating from Manhattanville College in 1966, Lisa taught high school in Harlem and then entered the Religious of the Sacred Heart where she served for 26 years. During those years and after, she worked as a Legal Services attorney, an Assistant Attorney General for Massachusetts, and finally as counsel for non-profit affordable housing developers in the Boston area. In addition, she served for several years as a co-coordinator of Rosie’s Place, a shelter for homeless women and children. From 1981 to 1984, Lisa lived and worked in Nicaragua. She testified before the U.S. House Intelligence Committee regarding the atrocities committed against civilians in 1983, and assisted the legal team representing Nicaragua before the International Court of Justice (the World Court) the following year. Since its founding over 30 years ago, Lisa has been an ardent supporter of Cantera both from Nicaragua as well as from the U.S. 
Bill Murray
CANTERA Liaison Originally from Syracuse, New York, Bill has had a long and distinguished career in both telecommunications and manufacturing. He has always believed in service to others, and in 2009, took his first trip to Nicaragua with the North Country Mission of Hope. Suffice to say, it changed his life. Accompanying the people of Nicaragua became a life goal for Bill, and he rose to become President of the Board of the Mission of Hope. In 2015 he made a life-changing decision to leave the business world behind and went to Nicaragua full-time for a year volunteering with the Mission of Hope. This experience cemented his belief in continuing humanitarian work internationally, and God blessed him with a perfect job match with CANTERA. Bill now resides in Nicaragua and is focused on developing more resources for CANTERA both through grants and by supporting Friends of Cantera. Bill is delighted to support CANTERA in continuing its mission! 
Marcia Morales
CANTERA Liaison She holds a degree in Social Communication with a Master's Degree in Communications as well, with over 21 years of experience. She has worked in print media, radio, television, and public relations in government institutions and non-profit organizations. Marcia has worked as well in gender issues and children and adolescents' rights. She is married, a mother of a 10-year-old girl named Luciana, and is deeply committed to the work carried out by Cantera in the communities |
Melanie Rose
Treasurer Melanie lives in Naples, Florida and is a retired IBMer who held executive positions in software product management and development. Upon retirement, she focused her attention on the non-profit world where she is President and co-Founder of the Perna-Rose Foundation for Hope (which supports CANTERA). She teaches Adult Computer Literacy to ESL students at Grace Place and is also a volunteer at Naples Community Hospital where she does pet therapy with a yellow lab named Rocco. Melanie spent a week at Cantera in 2009 and has been a fan and supporter ever since. In her spare time, she enjoys working with animals and playing golf and tennis. 
Ana Heck
Secretary From 2011-2013, Ana worked with CANTERA’s rural development team on projects related to family vegetable gardens, beekeeping, and environmental education. She has been working with the Friends of Cantera board since 2012, and she joined the board as a member in 2016. Ana holds a B.A. in Philosophy and Spanish with minors in Applied Ethics and Justice & Peace Studies from Creighton University and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota. She currently works with the University of Minnesota Bee Squad where she manages projects, manages honey bee colonies, and works with beekeepers and the public. 
Sister Donna Innes, CSA
Board Member As a Sister of St. Agnes, Sister Donna lived with Sr. Anabel Torres, a founder of CANTERA, when Sister Donna was teaching grade school and Sr. Anabel was earning her degree in social work at Marian College in Fond du Lac, WI. Now, over 30 years later, Sr. Donna is a Professor at Marian University. Over the years she has held various administrative positions as Dean and Assistant Provost. She teaches Educational Psychology to undergraduate students, Values Development for Educators to administrators in the Master's degree program, and courses such as Leadership and Ethics, to doctoral students. As a Kellogg Fellow, Sr. Donna was able to experience people striving to make life better for others in more than 13 countries. She believes that CANTERA is one of the best models for working with the range of needs the people have, and for deeply valuing each person as the organization and community work together for positive change. Sr. Donna is happy to be able to share her time and experience as a board member of Friends of Cantera. 
Sister Dianne Fanguy, CSJ
Board Member Sister Dianne Fanguy was born into a sugarcane growing, Cajun family in Bayou Blue, Louisiana when it was life with cistern water, kerosene lamps and no telephones. Her family eventually moved to Baton Rouge where Dianne finished high school at St. Joseph’s Academy and fell in love with the Sisters of St. Joseph. In 1957, just two weeks after her 18th birthday, Dianne turned down a marriage proposal and joined the congregation. As a sister, Dianne taught high school for 16 years, worked at a center for delinquent youth and did formation work with her congregation. However, through it all she felt a persistent calling to work in Latin America. Dianne first found an opportunity to work with the indigenous Mayan community in Guatemala and later on spent many years in Bolivia with the Aymara indigenous communities. Twenty-two years ago she came to Nicaragua and has been working with CANTERA ever since. Dianne says, “I am passionate about being part of something founded, directed and coordinated by a Nicaraguans, and working alongside some of the poorest who are not only dreaming the future of their country but are willing to work hard to make it a reality not just for themselves but for all.” 
Brian Talbot
Board Member Brian had the wonderful opportunity to spend six weeks working with CANTERA in 2017. Volunteering at the youth center in Dimitrov, Brian was inspired by the positivity, resilience, and work ethic of everyone he spent time with, from the energetic youth to the incredible staff. Through this experience, Brian felt like he received much more than he could have given in that time, and he did not want his relationship with the CANTERA family to end there. With a passion for longitudinal, relationship-based service, Brian began working with Friends of CANTERA after returning from Nicaragua and is excited to continue supporting this incredible organization as a board member. Brian has a BA in Biology with minors in Spanish and Religious Studies from Siena College in Loudonville, NY and currently attends Albany Medical College, with the plan of becoming a Family Medicine Physician. In his free time, Brian enjoys running, music, and spending time with his family and friends. |
Friends of Cantera | PO Box 86233 | Baton Rouge, LA 70879
