Erin Kökdil
Executive Director
Executive Director
As the Director of Maya Traditions, Erin is responsible for advancing the mission and vision of Maya Traditions. Before joining us at Maya Traditions, Erin volunteered and worked for a variety of non-profit organizations in the United States, Argentina, and Guatemala, teaching her much about sustainable development projects and the minority populations in those areas. Erin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Language & Literature and Latin American Studies from Smith College. She first traveled to Guatemala in 2011 as a volunteer and returned in 2012 to live and work permanently. Through her experience in non-profits and her commitment to working towards the mission of Maya Traditions, Erin works to ensure sustainability of the foundation, realizing the vision of founder Jane Mintz.
Alison Wandschneider
Director of Special Initiatives and Outreach
Director of Special Initiatives and Outreach
Alison is originally from St. Paul, MN but currently lives in Portland, Oregon. Alison has extensive experience in the non-profit sector, mostly with organizations that support the Latino community. Through this work, she became passionate about finding creative ways for non-profit organizations to work towards financial sustainability through transitioning to a social enterprise model. Alison holds a BA in International Affairs from Lewis and Clark College and an MBA with a focus in environmental sustainability and social justice from the Bainbridge Graduate Institute in Seattle, Washington. After working with Maya Traditions from 2014-2015 in Guatemala, Alison is excited to continue to support our mission in the United States in the areas of development and marketing.
Floridalma Pérez Sicay
Production Manager
Production Manager
Flory has worked with Maya Traditions since 2005 in a variety of roles including Accounting, Office Administrator, National Sales Representative, and currently as Production Manager. Flory is from the community of San Antonio Palopó and speaks Kaqchikel, Spanish, and is an avid English student. She graduated from high school with a certificate in Bookkeeping & Computer Science. Before joining the Maya Traditions’ team, Flory worked as a Secretary and Accountant with schools in San Antonio and Santa Cruz, as well as a volunteer with a local judge, translating Kaqchikel to Spanish. Flory has been a valuable member of the Maya Traditions team and is currently responsible for national sales, coordinating orders with the weaving groups and sewers, maintaining a high level of quality control on finished products, and office administration.
Marisol Morales Calel
Programs Coordinator
Programs Coordinator
Marisol is responsible for the Youth Education and the Community Health Programs with Maya Traditions Foundation. She is from the village of Panimatzalam, San Andrés Semetabaj and speaks four languages: K'iche, Kaqchikel, Spanish, and English. In 2010, she spent two years at Modesto Junior College in the United States on a scholarship from Georgetown University to earn a diploma in Agrobusiness. Upon her return from the US, she volunteered with Maya Traditions, translating documents from English to Spanish and assisting with monitoring and evaluation activities in the medicinal plant garden. Marisol started as the Community Health Program Coordinator in August 2012 and her position was expanded to include Youth Education in January of 2013. She collaborates closely with the Atitlán Ajq'omanela’ Association, Maya healers, towards the promotion of indigenous Maya medicine and the development of their roles as health advocates in their local communities. She also works with the students of our artisans, organizing workshops throughout the year, distributing scholarships monthly, and providing consistent support.
Isabel Chalcú
Artisan Development Program Coordinator
Artisan Development Program Coordinator
Isabel is originally from Panajachel, Sololá, where Maya Traditions Foundation is based. She is currently attending the Universidad Del Valle de Guatemala in Sololá, studying Specialized Bilingual Intercultural Education. As she enters her third semester, her goal is to become completely fluent in reading and writing in Kaqchikel. From 2012 to 2013, Isabel served as the 'Indigenous Queen of Panajachel,' representing the Maya Kaqchikel town in a wide range of activities. With this experience, Isabel was able to travel throughout Guatemala, meet many new people, and learned how to confidently speak in front of large groups in her native language of Kaqchikel. As the Artisan Development Coordinator, Isabel represents the link between the Foundation and the weaving cooperatives. She is responsible for traveling to the communities, ensuring that we are best representing the artisans with whom we work, and coordinating workshops with them based on their needs.
Edgar Tuy Vicente
Organic Medicinal Plant Gardener
Organic Medicinal Plant Gardener
Edgar is originally from Sololá, but currently lives in Panajachel. He attended the Instituto Adolfo B. Hale in Quiché where he received his high school degree in Agronomy. He is currently working towards his university degree in Agricultural Engineering with a focus on management at Rafael Landívar in Quetzaltenango, where he studies on Saturdays. He speaks both Spanish and Kaqchikel fluently, and can also converse in Tzutujil and K’iche. Edgar’s responsibilities at Maya Traditions Foundation include gardening, production of medicinal products, and hosting educational tours and workshops. Edgar is excited to work towards the preservation and promotion of medicinal plants in Guatemala, and specifically to increase productivity in the garden.
Oseas Chiquirin Aju
Groundskeeper, Office & Garden Assistant
Groundskeeper, Office & Garden Assistant
Oseas first began working with Maya Traditions in 2001 as the groundskeeper with founder Jane Mintz. He is originally from Panajachel and speaks Spanish and Kaqchikel. Through support from Maya Traditions, Oseas has had the opportunity to continue his studies. He will graduate from high school in late 2015 with a degree in Accounting. Through his time with the Foundation, Oseas has worked in the areas of maintenance, custodial, gardening, finance, production of medicinal plant products, and currently as the sales manager of the products made in our garden. Oseas is an integral part of the Maya Traditions´ team and has witnessed the growth of the Foundation in the past decade. He is most excited about working with the dynamic team of Maya Traditions and collaborating with volunteers.
Averie Floyd
Product Development & Sales Manager
Product Development & Sales Manager
Averie interned for Maya Traditions in the fall of 2014 and found the experience too irresistible to stay away for long. After graduating from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Apparel Design and Merchandising, she joined our team as the Product Development and Sales Manager in May of 2015. Averie originally came to Guatemala to explore her Guatemalan heritage and the incredible textiles produced here. Her passion lies in producing ethical and sustainable products, and she hopes to contribute to the success of Maya Traditions, completely funding its social programs through the sale of handmade products. She looks forward to collaborating with our design and retail partners to educate their customers about the beauty in Guatemalan textiles.
Laura Gehring
Community Tourism Coordinator
Community Tourism Coordinator
Laura first came to Guatemala to intern at a small organization in August of 2010, shortly after Hurricane Agatha had ravaged the Western Highlands. Inspired by the resilience of the indigenous people, she has interned and worked in various capacities at different institutions around Lake Atitlan ever since. Notably, she served as Coordinator of a Student Sponsorship Program and Director of Organizational Development at a non-profit orgnization in Panajachel for 3 years. Originally from Virginia, she holds Bachelor's degrees in Spanish Languauge and Geographic Science and a Graduate Certificate in International NGO Management from James Madison University. As Community Tourism Coordinator, Laura has the honor of bringing visitors out into the field to see our programs and artisans in action, and educating visitors about the stunning traditional Maya art form of backstrap weaving.
Jeaneth Rabbé
Finance and Administration Manager
Finance and Administration Manager
Jeaneth is originally from Guatemala City, but has been living in Panajachel for the past six years. Jeaneth has worked in banks, hotels, and non-profit organizations, giving her extensive experience in accounting and human resources, with a strong focus on problem solving. Jeaneth is currently studying Business Administration at the Rafael Landívar University. She looks forward to supporting the work of Maya Traditions and improving the financial and administrative organization of the Foundation.
Murray Mintz
Murray Mintz is a semi-retired screenwriter and filmmaker currently based in Guatemala. Murray was married to late founder Jane Stiller Mintz and when she was diagnosed with lung cancer, was asked to join the board of Maya Traditions. Murray hopes to preserve Jane’s memory and dreams for the indigenous women weavers of Guatemala, and to help the foundation grow and achieve sustainability.
Brenda Rosenbaum
Founder of Mayan Hands, an organization working with Maya weavers and cooperatives, Brenda was a close friend of founder Jane Mintz and has supported Maya Traditions since inception. Brenda, originally from Guatemala, has a PhD in Anthropology from the State University of New York in Albany and is also the author of With Our Heads Bowed: The Dynamics of Gender in a Maya Community.
Armando Alfonzo
Armando brings a wealth of experience with over 30 years working in development with indigenous peoples and communities in Mexico and Central America. Formerly the Executive Director of Maya Educational Foundation and Plumstock Mesoamerican studies, Armando currently works as an Independent Consultant. He provides support to the Maya Traditions team in terms of program development.
Marta Lynd-Altan
Martha first met Jane Mintz when she was an anthropology major and weaverfor a US market for weaving groups. Martha conducted a needs assessment in the communities in 1996 and was instrumental in initiating the Foundations’ health and education projects. She is also the author of, The International Craft Market: A Double-Edged Sword for Guatemalan Maya Women, featured in Artisans and Cooperatives: Developing Alternative Trade for the Global Economy (2000). A long term resident of Panajachel, Martha now resides in San Marcos La Laguna with her family, and continues to remain committed to the vision that she and Jane first developed.
Dana Geffner
Dana has been working in the Fair Trade movement for over 10 years. She began as founder of Pachamama, A World of Artisans, an organization that educated consumers about the importance of Fair Trade and brought fairly traded handicrafts to the US marketplace. In 2008, Dana started Global Exchange's wholesale division working directly with over 30 producer groups located in 10 different countries. In 2010, she co-founded the Fair World Project, an Organic Consumers Association independent project started in order to promote and insist on integrity in Fair Trade, and cultivate a holistic approach to global economics. She has held a nominated position on the Fair Trade Federation Board. She currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Domestic Fair Trade Association in the United States.
Member of the
World Fair Trade Organization