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 DirectorsSince 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.
Bob Farquharson
PEACE Punta de Mita founding donor/director and finance committeeBob 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 committeeRoberto 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.
Juli Bulloch
Secretary and Communications CommitteeJuli’s background, both professionally and in volunteerism, is primarily in communications. She and her husband, Scott, are longtime visitors of Mexico and residents of Punta Mita. Together, they funded and operated a non-profit organization which provided breakfast and temporary shelter to the homeless in downtown Denver. Juli worked in media relations/legislative compliance, was a paralegal, and was a co- founder of eCollege.com. She has volunteered extensively in her children’s schools and local charitable organizations. Scott is also very active within the Punta Mita community.
STAFF
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.
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
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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.
Paloma Bartz
English Teacher
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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
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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
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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.
