IT REALLY DOES TAKE A VILLAGE

Horizon was formed in 2004, with a passion to rescue children in need, restore their identity and hope, and empower them to a thriving, healthy, self-sustaining future.

GRETCHEN VILLEGAS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Gretchen is passionate about empowering children, families, and their respective communities to self-sustainability. Her expertise in community-led development in rural, vulnerable communities and vision for impact scaling through enterprise development comes from a 15+ year career of living and working in Latin America and East and Southern Africa.

As an experienced Executive-level leader, Gretchen specializes in designing programs based on data and analytics to intentionally optimize impacts for vulnerable children, at-risk youth and their families. She is dedicated to finding sustainable solutions to break the cycles of poverty which enables families and their communities to reach a thriving, dignified life. She is a systems thinker who disrupts the status quo to ensure those who are most vulnerable are included within the ecosystem that supports them.

Gretchen received her Master of Arts in Intercultural Management from The School for International Training. After serving in the Peace Corps as a volunteer, and many years of raising three daughters overseas, her family has settled in central Arkansas, where they enjoy spending time with extended family.

gvillegas@empowertheorphaned.org

MEET THE TEAM

GLOBAL OFFICE
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Team Photos 0009 Jacob Keeler Headshot 2

JACOB KEELER

Head of Global Strategy
jkeeler@empowertheorphaned.org

Team Photos 0000 Dane

DAN FINEBERG

Director of Development
dfineberg@empowertheorphaned.org

Team Photos 0019 Sarah Pryor Creative Content Coordinator

SARAH PRYOR

Creative Content Coordinator
spryor@empowertheorphaned.org

Kate Keely

KATE KEELY

Social Media Manager
kkeely@empowertheorphaned.org

Team Photos 0014 Onesimo Feliz Child Development Technical Advisor

ONESIMO FELIZ

Child Development Technical Advisor
ofeliz@empowertheorphaned.org

Jeff

JEFF LUEHM

Child Development Technical Specialist
jluehm@empowertheorphaned.org

Team Photos 0001 Dorice

DORICE LUSULI

Kenya Engagement Facilitator
dlusuli@empowertheorphaned.org

Team Photos 0017 Julissa Arana Engagement Facilitator

JULISSA ARANA

Latin America Engagement Facilitator
jarana@empowertheorphaned.org

REGIONAL LEADERSHIP
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JAPHET NYANG‘ORO

Regional Director of Africa
jnyangoro@empowertheorphaned.org

Ricardo

RICARDO ESPINOZA

Regional Director of Latin America
respinoza@empowertheorphaned.org

Team Photos 0003 Sammuel Kaunga Country Director KN

SAMUEL KAUNGA

Kenya Country Director
skaunga@empowertheorphaned.org

Team Photos 0010 Reyna Locon Country Director GT

REYNA LOCON

Guatemala Country Director
rlocon@empowertheorphaned.org

Godofredo Headshot

GODOFREDO BENAVIDES

Honduras Country Director
gbenavides@empowertheorphaned.org

IMPACT INVESTING AND ANALYTICS
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Team Photos 0013 Frank Valdivia Head Of Impact And Analytics

FRANK VALDIVIA

Head of Impact & Analytics
fvaldivia@empowertheorphaned.org

Team Photos 0012 Yaritza Beltre LAC Impact Investment Manager

YARITZA BELTRE

Impact Investing Manager
ybeltre@empowertheorphaned.org

Team Photos 0018 Henry Arana Impact Investing Analyst

HENRY ARANA

Impact Investing Analyst
harana@empowertheorphaned.org

Alejandra

ALEJANDRA SANCHEZ

Businge

BUSINGE RICHARD

Africa MEL Support
brichard@empowertheorphaned.org

ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE

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Ike Picture

STEVE IKE

Head of Finance and Administration
sike@empowertheorphaned.org

Team Photos 0015 Salyiena Lo Accountant

SALYIENA LO

Staff Accountant
slo@empowertheorphaned.org

Maximo

MÁXIMO MERCADO

International Finance Support
mmercado@empowertheorphaned.org

Team Photos 0016 Marsha Wiegand Finance Administrative Assistant

MARSHA WIEGAND

Finance Administrative Assistant
mwiegand@empowertheorphaned.org

Team Photos 0008 Renoh Alal Accountant KE

RENOH ALAL

Accountant, Kenya
ralal@empowertheorphaned.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Daryl

DARYL HELLER
CO-FOUNDER & BOARD MEMBER
Chair of Heller Capital Group 

Jimmy

JIM PESCE
CO-FOUNDER & BOARD MEMBER
CEO of Hallehluya Food Company

FOUNDERS STORY

 

As investors, entrepreneurs and philanthropists with a goal of investing for good, the business-minded lens through which they envisioned effective, lasting change helped to shape the model and values to what they are today.

AUSTIN HALLER

BOARD CHAIR
PowerCoin CEO

MATTHEW BURKHOLDER

BOARD MEMBER
CEO of Dutch Valley Food Distributors

RICK HALLER

BOARD MEMBER
Founder and Chairman of Haller Enterprises

LARRY KREIDER

SPIRITUAL ADVISOR
Founder and International Director of DOVE International

RON MYER

SPIRITUAL ADVISOR
Dove Christian Fellowship International Apostolic Council

STEVE PEROFF

BOARD MEMBER
Realtor and Business Leader

BILL POOLE

BOARD MEMBER
Entrepreneur and Business Leader

GENE STRITE

BOARD MEMBER
Entrepreneur and Business Leader

JERRY WEAVER

BOARD MEMBER
Co-Owner, President and CEO of Quality Custom Cabinetry, Inc.