U.S. Staff

Jeff Berninger
Co-Founder/Executive Director, Strategic Initiatives

• Former Systems Analyst for Procter and Gamble, Inc.
• Graduate of Xavier University (BS, Business Administration/Information Systems, 1991)
• Has implemented development projects in Guatemala since 1994

Jeff is responsible for overall management and oversight of Guatemala operations. He is also responsible for program design, implementation, effectiveness, strategic planning, business plans, and measurable results.

Joseph Berninger
Co-Founder/Executive Director

• Former marketing representative for IBM Corporation
• Graduate of the University of Colorado (MA, Religious Studies, 1997)
• Graduate of Xavier University (BA, History, 1989)
• Has implemented development projects in Guatemala since 1997

As Executive Director, Joe has responsibility for overall management and oversight of U.S. operations. He is also responsible for program design, implementation, effectiveness, strategic planning, business plans, measurable results, and overall fundraising strategy.

Holly End
Development Director

• 14 years of professional experience in the not-for-profit sector, including work for United Way and as a Jesuit Volunteer
• Graduate coursework in Nonprofit Management (University of Missouri-St. Louis, 2003-2004)
• Graduate of Xavier University (BA, Public Relations, 1997, Minor – Peace Studies)

As Development Director, Holly is in charge of overall fundraising strategy and management, coordinating major gifts and other campaigns, planned giving, and overall event management.

Anne Cunningham
Controller

• Graduate of Ohio State University (MS, Physics, 1995)
• Graduate of Xavier University (BS/BSBA, Physics, Mathematics, Information Systems, 1991)

As CoEd’s Controller, Anne is responsible for budget creation and monitoring, providing decision support data, oversight of project purchasing, and oversight of the Guatemalan accounting team.

Karolina Alvarez
Accountant

• Nonprofit accounting experience in U.S.
• Corporate accounting experience in Venezuela and U.S.
• CPA, Caracas, Venezuela
• Graduate of Andrés Bello Catholic University in Caracas, Venezuela (Bachelor's Degree, Public Accounting)

As CoEd’s Accountant, Karolina is responsible for expense and income accounting, payroll, managing the Revolving Funds, and compliance and reporting.

Ann Dempsey
Development Manager

• Nine years of professional experience in the non-profit sector
• Graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management (Northern Kentucky University, 2006)
• Graduate of Xavier University (BS, Computer Science, 2002, Minor – Mathematics)

As Development Manager, Ann manages our grantsmanship program, written communications, and branding and marketing initiatives.

Jessica Stieritz
Senior Project Coordinator

• Nine years of professional experience in the not-for-profit sector, including work for Peace & Justice Programs at Xavier University and as a Jesuit Volunteer
• Graduate of Xavier University (BA, English, 2000)

As Senior Project Coordinator, Jessica is responsible for planning tours, special projects, and managing CoEd’s partnership with Rotary International, the Guatemala Literacy Project.

Jennifer Sands
Marketing Coordinator

• Graduate of Xavier University (BS, Finance, 2009)
• Brueggeman Fellow at Xavier, studied Fair Trade Coffee in Guatemala

As Marketing Coordinator, Jennifer manages our Fall Fiesta event, the School to School Program, coordinates volunteers, and provides support to our tours.

Katie Camillus
International Programs and Research Coordinator

• Former Project Manager, Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR), Thanjavur, India
• Graduate of Swarthmore College (BA, Economics, 2008, Minors—Public Policy and Peace & Conflict Studies)
• Swarthmore Lang Opportunity Scholar, implemented microfinance program in a community of Kampala, Uganda

Katie’s role involves support to our Guatemalan programs, research to improve program efficacy, research to develop new programs, and administrative support to the office.

Gina Lieser
Development Assistant

• Graduate of Xavier University (BA, History, 2009, Minors – Spanish & English)
• Focus on Latin American History; has traveled extensively within Central and South America

As Development Assistant, Gina provides administrative support to the U.S. staff and manages the Bridges and School to School programs, as well as the Sponsorship and Scholarship programs.

Renee Berlon
Development Assistant

• Graduate of the University of Dayton (BA, International Studies (concentration in Human Rights), Spanish, 2007; Minor – Political Science)
• Has worked for local, state-wide and international nonprofit advocacy groups focused on social issues, including time spent as a Jesuit Volunteer in Detroit, MI

As Development Assistant, Renee coordinates donor tracking and acknowledgement and manages the Speakers Bureau program. She also provides program, accounting, and administrative support to the U.S. staff.

Additional Supporting Staff

Rebecca Guerin

• Former Microenterprise Researcher, Women’s World Banking, New York, NY
• Former Project Coordinator, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) / Technology Information Promotion Systems (TIPS), Rome, Italy
• Former Economic Analyst & Bank Examiner, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
• Graduate of Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (MA, International Affairs)
• Graduate of Columbia University (BA, Italian)

Rebecca specializes in grant and promotional writing and special research projects.

Lisa Groh

• Experience designing and implementing websites for nonprofit organizations, including accessibility validation and usability testing
• Graduate of the University of Cincinnati (MA, English & Professional Writing, 2009)
• Graduate of Muskingum College (BA, English, Psychology, 2007, Minor—Spanish)

Lisa focuses on preparing grant proposals and writing web, newsletter, and marketing copy. She also manages updates to the website.

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