OUR people
Board of Directors
- Alfredo Álvarez Cárdenas
- Lic. Antonieta Béguerisse de Beltran (Toñe)
- Jorge Contreras
- Ana María de la Garza
- Jaime González Rodríguez
- Russell Jones
- Richard Kiy
- Cheryl Alethia Phelps
- Carla A. Roberts
- Francisco Solis
- Karen Yarza
Staff
- Andy Carey, Executive Director
- Christiana DeBenedict, Director of Member Services
- Michelle Jaramillo, Director of Communications and Public Relations
Board of Directors
The BPP Board of Directors is co-chaired by Karen Yarza, Fundación Comunitaria de la Frontera Norte and Richard Kiy, International Community Foundation
Board Member Biographies and contact information:
ALFREDO ÁLVAREZ CÁRDENAS is an attorney. He obtained his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the Universidad de Alcalá de Henares and the Instituto Nacional de Administracino Publica en Espana. As a member of the board of directors of the Fundación Internacional de la Comunidad, he oversees legal matters for the foundation. He is also a founding board member of Consultoría para la Gestión, S.C. He has participated on the Bi-national Committee for Environmental Cooperation (la Comisión de Cooperación Ecológica Fronteriza) as chair of the Committee’s advisory council. Additionally he was founding board member of the Border Bi-national Committee on Education and Culture. Dr. Alvarez Cardenas was previously the Director of the Cultural Center of Tijuana (Centro Cultural Tijuana) and was a federal delegate to a committee that studied migratory services in Baja California. Cardenas was also dean at the University Americana de Acapulco and Director of Conservation Works (Obras Conservacino y Equipamiento) of the national state department. Presently he is the Director of the School of Extended Studies at UNAM in Los Angeles California, President of the Board of the Baja California Orchestra and member of the Board of Fundación UABC. Contact Alfredo Álvarez at cpg@telnor.net
LIC.ANTONIETA BÉGUERISSE DE BELTRAN (Toñe) (Committee Co-chair) received her undergraduate degree in Education with a specialization in family therapy. Since May 2004, she has served as the Director of the Fundación Internacional de la Comunidad, A.C. in Baja California. Currently she serves as co-chair to the Executive Committee of the US-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership. Within the education arena she served as head of the department to several renowned universities such as the Universidad Panamericana in la Ciudad de México y la University of San Diego en los Estado Unidos. She served as coordinator to el Centro de Ensenanza Técnica y Superior, CETYS, where she received the award for Educational Excellence. She was the Co-founder and later Director of Operations of Alfa Omega de Tijuana for eight years – a center dedicated to provided coaching and clinics for Special Education Needs clients. She was also Co-founder of Pasitos Pre-Escolar (Center for Autism.) Within the public sector she was responsible for the training program for the Secretary of Fishing, and was in charge of public relations at the International Airport in the city of Tijuana, Mexico. Within the field of philanthropy, Toñe spent eight years as Director of Share in Mexico – an American nonprofit organization that reaches over two hundred thousand families monthly throughout all of the Mexican Republic by providing a food program based on food exchanges for community work. During which time she oversaw the development of important projects such as Compartamos, del Grupo Gente Nueva and Un Kilo de Ayuda, Rotarios y Fundación Social. Tone has also participated in the International Rotary. Contact Toñe Béguerisse at abeguerisse@ficbaja.org.
JORGE CONTRERAS is the Executive Director of Sofamaster Sa de Cv, President of both the Fundación Comunitaria Paso del Norte A.C. and the Programa de Reactivacion Social A.C., as well as a board member on of the statewide chapter of Fundación Empresarido Chihuahuense A.C. and Chair of the Fundación Comunitaria de la Frontera Norte in Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua. He is currently a member of the fundraising committee of the Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez; and the fund of the Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey; the statewide board of CONALEP; and the Fundación Pro-Educación A.C. Previously, Mr. Contreras has been President and board member of COPARMEX Ciudad Juarez, Vice-President of DECJ, and served as a board member for several regional and national corporations including the Consejo de Administracion de Zona Norte de BITAL, Banamex, Probursa, and the Grupo Financiero Margen. Contact Jorge Contreras at jorge.contreras@terra.com.mx .
ANA MARÍA DE LA GARZA comes from the border city called la Gran Puerta de México, Matamoros, Tamaulipas. She studied Clinical Studies in Guadalajara and studied law in Matamoros, Tamaulipas. She received her insurance license at el Insituto Mexicano de Agentes de Seguros y de Finanzas. From 1978 to date she has been involved in community work related to youth and adults. She was member of the Rotary Club for more than 10 years. She participated as a Board member of the Youth Symphony Orchestra in Matamoros for more than five years. She also served on the Board of the Firefighters Organization. Over the years she has been a motivational speaker in many Rotary forums, local universities and associations. She was a laywoman missionary for the Catholic Church and for two years worked full-time to support the human, economic and spiritual development of low income families and youth, (some of which were part of the famous Chavos band), in the southern part of Mexico City. She was a founding member of the Fundación Comunitaria de Matamoros, A.C., and served also as Director of the Foundation for the first two years in operation. Contact Ana Maria de la Garza adelagarza@limaydelagarza.com.mx .
JAIME GONZALEZ RODRIQUEZ is a certified public accountant and also an entrepreneur in the hotel and hospitality industry. He is the Nogales representative to the Sonora association of hotels and motels. Jaime serves on the board of the National Chamber of Commerce and Tourism and is involved with Rescate Urbano de Nogales, an urban development organization serving Nogales, Sonora. In addition to his busy professional activities Jaime has been actively involved in philanthropy and as a volunteer with many local nonprofit organizations for over 15 years. His introduction to philanthropy began with founding Grupo Juvenile de Nogales that raised funds for communities in need through youth dances and events. He is currently Chair of the Nogales chapter of Fundación del Empresariado Sonorense A. C. Jaime is also legal counsel to Colegios Particulares A. C. and serves on the board of director for the citizen's council on public security in Nogales and the La Casa del Estudiante. He is married with four children and enjoys the hobbies of aquariums, photography, camping, literature and film
RUSSELL JONES, President of R.L. Jones Management Group, maintains offices in Arizona and California with entities encompassing customhouse brokerage services, international trucking, warehousing, foreign freight forwarding, trade software development and sales, commercial property development, and insurance services, both in the U.S. and Mexico. Some of Russ's civic and philanthropic activities include his serving with the Civil Air Patrol, representing Yuma County on the Border Trade Alliance Board of Directors and as Co-Chairman of the Agro-Industries Committee for the Arizona-Mexico Commission. He is also an active member of the Yuma Community Foundation; Border Philanthropic Project Executive Committee representing ACF and Community Foundations in general; TSN Multi-Modal Manifest Sub-Committee and TSN-ACE Release Committee. Russ was formerly a Board Member for the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce and currently sits on the Boards of both the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce, San Luis Division. Elected to the Arizona State House of Representatives in 2004, Russ was proud to sit on three of the most influential committees that dealt with items that greatly impact the lives of all of his constituents: Counties, Municipalities and Military Affairs Committee; Transportation Committee; and was the Vice-Chairman of the Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee. Russ represented the Arizona State Legislature at the Border Legislators Conference, made up of legislators from the ten U.S. and Mexican Border States. Contact Russ Jones at Russ@rljones.com .
RICHARD KIY is President and CEO of the International Community Foundation (ICF), serving in that position since 2001. Kiy comes to ICF with over twenty years of international experience in the private, public and non-profit sectors including his recent work as Senior Vice President for Business Development at PriceSmart, Inc. Over the years he has also held several senior level positions in the U.S. Government including Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environmental, Health & Safety at the U.S. Department of Energy; Acting Environmental Attache at the U.S. Embassy-Mexico and Special Assistant for US-MexicoBorder Affairs for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C A graduate of Stanford University and Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Kiy is the co-editor of two books: the Environmental Management Along North American Borders and The Ties that Bind Us: Mexican Migrants in San Diego County. Kiy is a board member of San Diego Grantmakers and the New American Immigration Museum. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the US-MexicoBorder Philanthropy Partnership, is a member of the Binational Advisory Board for the San Diego Natural History Museum and is a member of the Board of Overseers for the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Contact Richard Kiy at rkiy@icfdn.org.
CHERYL ALETHIA PHELPS is the Director of Civil Society, Analysis & Strategy at The San Diego Foundation. Twenty years of experience in public interest, non-profit, and legislative environments, and a passion for social entrepreneurship inform and inspire Cheryl’s work at San Diego County’s leading charitable giver. With a Working Group of skilled volunteers, Cheryl oversees The San Diego Foundation’s strategic philanthropy for civic engagement, identifying major issues affecting the region, and developing the initiatives, resources, capacity and citizen leadership to achieve meaningful solutions. In addition, she is the lead staff assigned to The Foundation’s newly formed Public Policy Task Force, responsible for building her organization’s capacity to effectively articulate and advance its priorities through public policy involvement and advocacy. Prior to joining The San Diego Foundation in October 2007, Cheryl was the principal in a consulting practice specializing in strategic planning, organizational sustainability, civic participation, and cultural enrichment. She also worked for the U.S. House of Representatives for several years, serving on the professional staff of the Legislation and National Security Subcommittee and the Human Resources and Intergovernmental Relations Subcommittee of what is now the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Her oversight jurisdiction encompassed State Department activities in sub-Saharan Africa, including U.S. support of emerging democracies. During the 1994 elections in the Republic of South Africa that resulted in Nelson Mandela’s presidency, Cheryl was at the polls in Cape Town where she monitored Colored and Black South Africans voting for the first time. Cheryl graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Political Science. A San Diego native, she enjoys strong community ties and an active volunteer schedule, investing her time and expertise in efforts that foster civic responsibility and participation. Contact Cheryl Alethia Phelps at cheryl@sdfoundation.org .
CARLA A. ROBERTS is Vice President of Affiliates for the Arizona Community Foundation with responsibility for managing a statewide network of affiliated community foundations. The affiliate network includes more than 175 staff, board members and volunteers engaged in building community philanthropy. In addition to working closely with the regional staff, Ms. Roberts draws 30 years of not for profit management experience to provide services, such as board development, endowment campaign planning, strategic grantmaking and long range planning for affiliate communities. Roberts is an Eastern Delaware Indian and prior to joining the Foundation, served as the Executive Director of Atlatl, National Service Organization for Native American Arts for over seven years. In this capacity, she provided training, and technical assistance services to indigenous cultural organizations nationally and internationally, including Mexico and Australia. Roberts holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art from the University of Alaska in Fairbanks and a Master of Fine Arts in Nonprofit Arts Management from the University of Iowa in Iowa City. She was a National Endowment for the Arts Fellow with the Division of Human Rights in 1981. Roberts is a published author and public speaker. She is a qualified trainer in Technology of Participation methodologies for group facilitation and consensus building. She is also trained in fundraising with an emphasis on planned giving. She has extensive community service experience, including the Council on Foundations International Committee (2003-07), Native Americans in Philanthropy Board Member (current), National Trust for Historic Preservation (2001-06), and the Arizona Rural Development Council (Founding Board Member and Current Vice Chair). As a Transatlantic Community Foundation Fellow she was in residence during June 2003 at the Community Foundation of Bardejov in Slovakia. In 2006 she was selected as a 3-year Synergos Senior Fellow in community philanthropy. Community Affiliations: Eastern Delaware Nations; Native Americans in Philanthropy, Board; National Trust for Historic Preservation, Former Arizona Advisor; Arizona Rural Development Council, Founding Board Member Special Awards: Transatlantic Community Foundation Fellow; Synergos Senior Fellow Contact Carla Roberts at croberts@azfoundation.org
FRANCISCO SOLIS is a practicing Certified Public Accountant in Ciudad Juarez Mexico. He is a partner of BDO Hernandez Marron y Cia., S.C. which is a partnership affiliated with the international public accounting firm BDO. He is the managing partner of the Juarez BDO office. BDO has 13 offices in Mexico, and 626 offices in 111 countries. Mr. Solis formerly practiced with KPMG and Deloitte Haskins & Sells. Mr. Solis was graduated as a Certified Public Accountant from Technical Institute of Ciudad Juarez. He also holds a Masters in Business Administration Sciences from the Institute of Technology and Superior Studies of Monterrey. Mr. Solis is a member of the Mexican Institute of Financial Executives, the Mexican Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Certified Public Accounting Society of Ciudad Juarez. Member and actual Chairman of the board of Fundacion del Empresariado Chihuahuense in Juarez. He was Chairman of the board of the World Trade Center El Paso / Juarez. Mr. Solis has presented at various conferences and meetings, including joint meetings of the Internal Revenue Services and the Mexican Government Treasury Ministry. He represents numerous companies in diverse industries, with a focus on tax and financial planning and strategy. He works on a frequent and continual basis with many United States attorneys and certified public accountants on cross border transactions.
KAREN YARZA serves as the Executive Director of the Fundación Comunitaria de la Frontera Norte, A.C. since its creation in 2003. Prior to this she served as the Executive Director of Fundación Rosario Campos de Fernandez, a Corporate Foundation which focuses on education in several states of Mexico and to which she still serves as an external consultant. In both Foundations, she has played a major role in conceiving, designing and managing the majority of the initiatives undertaken by the Foundations. By occupying various positions in different nonprofits over the past 12 years, she has gained additional experience and knowledge of her community. Presently she sits on the board of several non-profit organizations and participates actively in different networks such as the Border Philanthropy Partnership, and Fundaciones Comunitarias (Mexico network of Community Foundations). She is a Synergos Senior Fellow, class 2006 and has a B.A. in International Commerce from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. Contact Karen Yarza at karen@fcfronteranorte.org
Staff
ANDY CAREY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
andy@borderpartnership.org
Andy Carey was named Executive Director of the US-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership in September 2008. Prior to joining the BPP, Andy served for 15 years at Kiwanis International, presently the third largest service club organization in the world. Andy served as a member of the Executive Management Team, and was responsible for leading growth initiatives, fundraising and development programs, and leadership development opportunities throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the South Pacific.
Andy led Kiwanis’ Worldwide Service Project initiative in Latin America to virtually eliminate Iodine Deficiency Disorders, the world’s leading cause of preventable mental disabilities. For the last 15 years, Andy has traveled the US-Mexico border region engaging the US and Mexico business communities in philanthropic activities including health and awareness campaigns, education initiatives, and fundraising and development programs.
Andy is an avid supporter of volunteer initiatives. Before coming to San Diego, he was President of the Broad Ripple Kiwanis group, where he led 54 volunteers in community service initiatives in inner-city Indianapolis. Under Andy’s leadership the group raised $100,000 to support important local projects that served vulnerable youth.
He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Foreign Language, and his Master of Arts degree in Latin American Studies at Purdue University. Andy is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. Andy and his wife Lisa are the proud parents of four young children, Michael, John, Meredith, and Lauren.
CHRISTIANA DEBENEDICT, DIRECTOR OF MEMBER SERVICES
christiana@borderpartnership.org
As BPP’s Director of Member Services, Christiana DeBenedict stewards the partnership’s programs that strengthen the capacity of BPP members to advance philanthropy, leadership and collaboration in the border region. Previously in her capacity as Program Officer with Synergos Institute, Christiana supported the BPP in meeting its vision to develop the institutional capacity of border community foundations and strengthen the network to improve quality of life in the border region. Christiana graduated with high honors from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts in Hispanic Languages and Bilingual Issues. Her subsequent move to San Diego was strongly motivated by a desire to put to practical use her prior work experience and academic studies by seeking employment close to the US-Mexico border. Christiana brings to the organization more than seven years of professional experience in program coordination, operations management, customer relations, marketing and sales, and administrative support. She is actively involved in the nonprofit and philanthropic sector in San Diego, serving as a member of the steering committee that recently established a local San Diego chapter for Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy. She also serves as a member of the Director's Circle at Shakti Rising, an organization providing services for young women in recovery.
MICHELLE JARAMILLO, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
michelle@borderpartnership.org
Michelle Jaramillo currently serves as the Director of Communications and Public Relations for the US-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership (BPP). The BPP is a binational membership organization that increases the resources available to address border issues by nurturing regional leadership and catalyzing new and more effective philanthropic giving in the region. Michelle has served the partnership in a variety of capacities since joining the BPP in 2003. A Canadian native of Colombian descent, Michelle graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelors degree in Political Science and Latin American Studies. More recently Michelle completed a Master of Arts Degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management at the University of San Diego. A fervent believer in the imperative of supporting and nurturing emerging leadership in the nonprofit and philanthropic sector, Michelle is co-founder of the San Diego chapter of Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (BPP). She is also currently volunteering with a group of USD peers, to establish a ‘friends of fund’ for Fundación Nahual, a community development nongovernmental organization in Antigua, Guatemala. Michelle enjoys learning about different cultures and languages. She is fluent in English, Spanish and French and working on her Italian!