BOARD
Arne Bister
Arne Bister is a technical sales specialist, consultant and software engineer living in Ansbach, Germany. As a student he worked summer jobs as language counselor for Concordia Language Villages Waldsee Camp in Minnesota USA, gaining experience with child teaching and counseling. Finishing his study of physics he worked as an environmental scientist until branching out into software development in 1999. He worked for IBM for almost 20 years as software developer, architect, consultant and technical sales until deciding to leave for a smaller, impactful company in 2017. In 2015 and after he set up and coordinated volunteer work in Germany at the peak of the refugee crisis ensuing the Syrian war.
Arne has visited Project Somos three times between 2018 – 2020. He has been a part of the Antje Duvekot volunteer groups, in 2020 helping with setting up and conducting the trip. Since his first time he has developed a deep commitment to the Project, the cause and the people of Guatemala. Aside from convincing more people in Europe to take an interest in Project Somos Arne wants to bring to bear his engineering and technical talents together with marketing and sales expertise to further the mission. He is currently adding Spanish to his language repertoire to better communicate with children, staff and locals by taking online classes with a friend in Guatemala.
Angie Cazares
Hailing from a small Indiana town, Angie seized the chance to immerse herself in Spanish and Costa Rican culture during her study abroad stint, where she even found love on the salsa floor with her husband, Josiah.
In 2009, during a five-month journey through Central America, Angie discovered Project Somos and instantly connected with its vision, meeting its founders, Heather and Greg.
With a master’s certificate in nonprofit management, Angie later worked with educational nonprofits in Indianapolis while raising two children. Though she now focuses on her life coaching business, her commitment to Project Somos remains steadfast. Joining the Project Somos board was a natural fit for Angie, aligning her passions and experiences to support the organization. As a mother, the mission holds even greater significance for her, and she eagerly anticipates volunteering with her family in the future.
Liana Cathoir
With nearly two decades of professional experience, Liana currently serves as a manager in Petco’s Space and Assortment Analytics department. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Penn State, complemented by associate degrees in Business Administration and Economics. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Liana has called San Diego home for over 30 years. She’s married to a wonderful woman and is a proud stepmother. They share their home with two boxers and two kitties, embracing the Southern California lifestyle.
Joining Project Somos in February 2024, Liana was immediately drawn to its mission, people, and potential impact. She is eager to contribute her skills and passion to further the organization’s goals.
In her spare time, Liana enjoys gardening, playing guitar, and volunteering for causes like the AIDS Lifecycle and Susan G. Komen 3-Day walk. She has also dedicated years to fostering puppies for a local rescue organization. Inspired by making a positive difference in small ways, Liana finds motivation in music, travel, and the unconditional love of puppies. Thrilled about serving on the board of Project Somos, she looks forward to contributing her expertise and commitment to the organization’s success.
Angela Hanley
Angela Hanley lives in Baraboo, WI with her 4 teenage children, where she has been a chiropractor for 20 years. Her chiropractic practice focuses largely on women and children, as well as on nutrition. Those interests are what drew her attention to Project Somos, where she first joined Antje Duvekot in 2018. In late 2018 she established a 501-C3 nonprofit, Children’s Health Advocacy International (CHAI) with the intention of supporting projects like Somos in more structured and beneficial ways.
Angela grew up in the Midwest of the US, attended college in New Orleans, LA, and completed her chiropractic degree at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, IA in 2000.
Angela’s mission is to elevate the health and wellbeing of those who she connects with, with the understanding that people deserve the chance to thrive.
Les Irvin
Hailing from middle-class, middle America, Les has always felt a sense of purpose in giving back and paying forward the goodness he’s experienced in life. His involvement with Project Somos began with two volunteer trips, sparked by an invitation from Antje Duvekot. Having previously visited Guatemala in 2018, Les was drawn back by his love for the country and its people.
Project Somos resonates deeply with Les’s desire to make a difference. Witnessing the joy it brings to children, parents, teachers, and volunteers fuels his passion for the project.
In his spare time, Les immerses himself in reading, playing his stringed instruments, and pursuing his ongoing project of building a cabin in remote New Mexico. What inspires Les most is the inherent goodness, grace, compassion, and gratitude he discovers in people everywhere.
Jessie Dill Jakobs
Jessie is Director of Development at Safe Passage/Camino Seguro, an NGO based in the dump community of Guatemala City; she joined the US office in 2021. Overseeing the development operation in the US, she helps develop philanthropic relationships to grow revenue sources for the organization to sustain and optimize its impact.
Jessie holds a BA in Cultural Anthropology and Hispanic Studies from Wheaton College, and an MA in Social Anthropology from Brandeis University. Prior to her work in nonprofit development, Jessie was a social worker in the Cambridge/Somerville, Massachusetts area for the Department of Social Services, working primarily with families from the LAC region, and later under a federal grant at Entre Familia, which supports Latina mothers who experienced mental and substance use conditions. Over twenty years ago she transitioned into nonprofit development work in the Greater Boston area, at The Samaritans of Boston, a suicide prevention agency; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, a mentoring program for at-risk youth; and later the research organization, Wellesley Centers for Women at Wellesley College, focused on social issues affecting women and girls in the US and internationally, and later the University of New Hampshire. Jessie and her family reside in the Seacoast area of New Hampshire.
Greg Kemp
Greg is the Co-Founder and Executive Director on the ground in Guatemala as well as being a director of Compassion Fruit Society. He arrived in February 2011 to break ground and oversee the construction with the local team. It is a plus that he is bilingual and has previous knowledge of construction.
His lifelong interest in creating harmonious, efficient, and beautiful spaces for living led Greg to run successful renovation businesses in Canada, specializing first in heritage homes and later in high-end bathrooms and kitchens. With his care for the environment and an ability to discover creative solutions to structural and design problems, he has been the driving force behind Project Somos’ unique and solid eco-sustainable construction.
Fern Logan
Fern grew up in and lives in Vancouver, British Columbia with her husband, Sam. She has three kids, four grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and two Lovebirds. Once a month she leads a spiritual ceremony circle at her spiritual center, Unity of Vancouver. She believes that everything has a spirit and needs to be treated with dignity and respect.
Before getting involved with Project Somos Fern had been to Guatemala four times, loved the Mayan culture, and was looking for a place to volunteer. She saw the poster for and attended the Project’s first Fiesta Fundraiser over 16 years ago. She met Greg and Heather there and embraced their dream. She has been a volunteer ever since, both in Vancouver and at the Project in Guatemala.
She loves the holistic approach of Project Somos. The education program is inclusive of all the family, not just the children, including basic health and cooking nutritious meals, even how to play and have fun and respect animals.
In her spare time she likes to hike, to read, is learning to play the ukulele and takes opera singing lessons. She also enjoys cooking and being with family and friends. Fern is inspired by traveling and learning about other cultures, and hikes around our beautiful west coast coastline and in our beautiful rainforest.
James Simon
James is from Ann Arbor, Michigan and is currently an undergraduate student in the Computer Science Department and rising Master’s student in Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. At school he conducts research in the MIT Economics Department on development economics and industrial organization, consults for nonprofits, and plays on the varsity soccer and basketball teams.
Passionate about approaching social challenges from the head and heart, James has been involved with Project Somos since 2021. In his spare time James loves hiking and camping in the outdoors and spending time with his dog Pablo.