PEACE - Punta de Mita

Who we are

Founded in April, 2013, PEACE Punta de Mita, is a non-profit organization located on the North Shore of the Bay of Banderas in the State of Nayarit. The area comprises the communities of Emiliano Zapata, Corral del Risco, and Higuera Blanca. The charity was founded by a small group of part time residents, and its operations are funded through an increasing base of caring people from Mexico, Canada, and the United States of America.

Board of directors

Frank Hutto

PEACE Punta de Mita chairman of the Board of Directors

Since joining PEACE in 2019, Frank has actively contributed to the Campus task force and financial committee. A long-time visitor and resident alongside Holly, he offers the board 30 years of experience from a family foundation and volunteering in Ecuador. His background includes management and engineering in the oil and gas sector in the western USA. Frank's prior roles include president of Las Marietas' vigilance committee and current membership in the Punta Mita operations committee, underlining his commitment to enhancing resident opportunities through education.

Mariette Woestemeyer

Director and management oversight

Mariette has served on the PEACE Punta de Mita Board nearly since its inception, and has interfaced with multiple committees during her tenure. She has served on fundraising committees with various non-profit organizations and focuses her philanthropic endeavors primarily on education.

Bob Farquharson

PEACE Punta de Mita founding donor/director and finance committee

Bob brings to PEACE a vast amount non-profit experience in Toronto, Canada, including: Chair Emeritus, Royal Ontario Museum Board of Governors; Trustee of The University of Guelph; Prostate Cancer Research Foundation Board; and Tarragon Theatre Board. Bob is a member of the Board of Directors of the Fraser Institute, an independent non-partisan research and educational organization based in Vancouver.

Roberto Santa Cruz

Director and community pride committee head and management oversight committee

Roberto joined the PEACE Board in 2014 and has served on multiple committees. He has served on the Board of The American School in Guadalajara. He is a member of YPO/WPO, and founder of the YPO Chapter in Guadalajara. In the Punta Mita area he was one of the founders of The Punta Mita Foundation. He has participated in the Vigilance Committee of Hacienda de Mita, and was past President.

Juan Pablo (JP) Stone

Juan Pablo (JP) Stone has been a lifelong resident of the greater Puerto Vallarta-Riviera Nayarit area. His architectural and construction company, Stone Contractors, is a preeminent builder of many of the best homes both inside and outside of the gates of Punta Mita. He has a reputation of honesty, integrity, commitment, and excellence in all he does. In addition, JP was an early on prime mover for charitable works in the area and most recently, he has supported PEACE Punta de Mita by developing concepts and volunteering the expertise of his company. JP and his wife, Celeste, reside with their beautiful family in Nuevo Vallarta, and they are also members of the Punta Mita community.

Mandy Shapansky

Mandy, a Certified Public Accountant by training, is former Chairperson and CEO of a large technology company in Canada where she won national acclaim. With husband and their four children, Mandy has been involved with hands-on international development, beginning more than 20 years ago with the building of a school in Kenya, and then partnered with a micro finance charity to bring loans to underprivileged entrepreneurs.

Alfredo Bonnin Erales

Alfredo has a long professional career in tourism projects, being General Director of DINE Punta Mita, in addition to being Director of the American School of Puerto Vallarta, which allows him to be a great support for PEACE Punta de Mita when it is necessary to work with Government at the state or local levels and not only that, thanks to his experience he manages to contribute greatly to one of our strongest service categories, education.

STAFF

Jeovana Van de Velde

Executive Director

Jeovana's honors and recognitions include the FBI's Community Service Award, the Arizona LULAC Awards, and acknowledgement from the Mexican Consulate in Tucson, Arizona for her outstanding work in community development. Esteemed for her unwavering commitment to Latin American women and the Hispanic community, she has also received awards from the Pima County Ward 5 for her efforts in community service and economic development.

Her prior roles range from PR for the education-focused HSL Foundation and Director of Sales for Arizona Bilingual Magazine to producing news programs for TV Azteca. She served on the board of PEACE for six months before joining PEACE as Executive Director in November 2022. Jeovana continues to champion growth and development, steadfastly believing in the transformative power of education.

Omar Covarrubias

Administrator

Omar, originally from Aguascalientes, pursued his studies in Accounting with a Finance specialty at UASLP, before building a multifaceted career. Living in Bahía de Banderas for almost 17 years, he has embraced the community wholeheartedly. His professional journey spans from working in the industry from 1994 to 2004 to launching his own business, and later moving to real estate with REMAX in Bucerías. His diverse experience includes being an operations manager for PSAV at the Four Seasons hotel and joining WILDMEX, a surf activities company, in 2012. Omar also DJed in Punta Mita from 2015. Since 2018, he has been the administrator for PEACE Punta de Mita, a role he continues to hold today.

Alexis Ornelas

English and Computer Programs Coordinator

Alexis, born and raised in Puerto Vallarta, embodies a commitment to education and cultural diversity. At 20, while pursuing law at the Universidad de Guadalajara, Alexis moved to China, starting an educational career and learning the local language. After graduating in 2018, Alexis's international experience led to managerial roles in Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, and Canada, where he also studied French. Certified in English by The Trinity College London and TOEFL, Alexis also has awards from the OEA for human rights defense, a degree in forensic psychology from UDG, and certifications in human resources management from the University of Minnesota. Joining PEACE in 2015 as an English teacher, he returned in 2021, now coordinating English and computer programs, reflecting his passion for arts, philanthropy, and languages.

Karina Orozco

Education Coordinator

Karina Orozco, the Education Coordinator at PEACE Punta de Mita, currently manages various programs such as INEA, Support for Community Schools, Scholarship, and Campeones, with her leadership in the latter dating back three years. Her strong leadership and sense of responsibility guide our community's youth towards reaching their goals. Karina honed her skills in Hotel Administration at the Iberoamerican University in Mexico City, where her passion for teaching was kindled during her social service at the Cuajimalpa Foundation A.C. Following her tenure at the Ministry of Tourism and a three-year stay in Alberta, Canada, she gained a decade of experience in the hospitality industry. It was at Vidanta Foundation where she discovered her ultimate passion: “To transcend through Education."

Adrian Luna

IT Specialist

Adrián Luna, an Information Technology specialist from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, holds a degree from the University of Guadalajara. His distinguished career includes active participation in various international software and web development projects, as well as managing IT infrastructures and providing multi-level technical support. In 2019, he relocated to Istanbul, Turkey, for diverse projects before returning to Guadalajara in 2022. Upon his return, Adrián made significant contributions to the zClub Programming program at the University of Guadalajara, aiding students with programming support. With a steadfast commitment to applying innovative technologies, he tirelessly strives to address challenges effectively and foster continuous improvements.

Eduviges Malacara

English Teacher

Eduviges Malcara has been a dedicated English language teacher for 15 years, with a constant presence for the last 5. Her proficiency, honed through experience with Richmond, Cambridge, and Gsuite, has enabled her to develop effective pedagogical skills, benefiting both minors and adults who need educational support. Eduviges' approach creates dynamic, inclusive, and memorable learning experiences, fostering a love for language learning. Her work at PEACE reinforces her commitment to education. Through delivering impactful classes and continually striving for self-improvement, Eduviges broadens the horizons of her students, enhancing their prospects for future projects and ultimately improving the standard of living in their community.

Paloma Bartz

English Teacher

Paloma Bartz is an accomplished EFL teacher for PEACE's Campeones Jr. program, where she enthusiastically imparts English lessons to 5th and 6th graders through interactive activities and online resources. Her passion for teaching was ignited five years ago while tutoring in Liberia, Costa Rica. Armed with a degree in Education Sciences and an impressive array of certifications including TQUK Level 5, TEFL, and TKT 1, 2, and 3—these last ones achieved with the supportive backing of PEACE—Paloma continually strives to create transformative learning experiences. Her aim is to equip the Campeones Jr. for a globally interconnected world, adhering to her firm belief in making a lasting impact through education. Paloma approaches her role with a spirit of gratitude and dedication.

Alondra Flores

SUPERA-INEA Program Facilitator

At 22 years old, Alondra resides in the community of Corral del Risco. A participant in the "Campeones" Program, she won a full scholarship to attend a private school. Recently, she graduated with a degree in Tourism Management and Development. Now, she leads the INEA Program as an advisor, which supports those who were unable to secure their primary and secondary education certifications on time for various reasons.

Lourdes Orozco

Facility Maintenance and kitchen

Originally from Nayarit, Lourdes has been living in Bahía de Banderas for over 15 years. She brings a passion for her work, characterized by her proactive and energetic nature. Lourdes enjoys aiding her community and interacting with CAMPEONES students, marking her 8th year at PEACE in October 2023. Committed to continual learning, she has certified as a therapist in massage and facial treatments through PEACE-offered courses, supplemented with nutrition courses aimed at improving CAMPEONES students' dietary habits. Lourdes is currently pursuing a degree in Psychology at the University of Guadalajara's CUCOSTA.