The year 2006 was full of exciting progress for the Central America Leadership Initiative. After graduating its first group of 19 Central American Fellows last July, creating and registering a formal foundation (Fundacion CALI) to institutionalize and continue growing its support of the next generation of values based leaders in Central America, Fundacion CALI, in conjunction with its founding organizations, INCAE, Aspen Institute, FUNDEMAS and TechnoServe, and regional members of the board, are proud to present this new class of 24 outstanding fellows four from each of the six countries of Central America:
Costa Rica
Aurelia Garrido, 34, Viceminsiter of Culture, Ministry of Culture
Gerardo Sanchez, 34, Chief Financial Officer, Hospital Clinica Biblica
Ignacio Sanchez, 37, Director, Producciones Positivas, S. A.
Renata Villers, 43, Executive Officer, Asociacion Amigos del Aprendizaje (ADA)
El Salvador
Carmen I. Alas, 40, Publisher, Estrategia y Negocios
Juan M. Alvarez, 42, Executive Director, Salvanatura
Rafael Barraza, 41, Director General, Escuela Superior de Economia y Negocios
Rafael Salome, 44, Deputy Minister of Technology, Ministry of Education
Guatemala
Luis M. Castillo, 33, Vicepresident, CABCORP
Hugo R. Diaz, 31, Director, Biznet, S.A.
Roberto Gonzalez D., 38, Manager of the Presidency, Ministry of the Presidency
Maria Pacheco, 38, General Manager and Founder, Kiej de los Bosques
Honduras
Marcia Facusse de Villeda, 41, Legislator, Government of Honduras
Jose Jesus Mora, 37, Catholic Church Priest and Social Communicator
Jose R. Rivera F., 33, Lawyer, Consortium
Nicaragua
Chantal Chamorro, 39, Investment, Fin. & Commercial Manager, Seguros America
Ernesto Fernandez L., 31, Director of Shared Services, Grupo Financiero UNO
Klaus Stadthagen, 37, Coordinator Exec. Committee, Movimiento Por Nicaragua
Maria N. Rivas, 30, Minister, Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism
Panama
Sabrina Bacal, 31, News Director, Televisora Nacional
Diego Eleta, 38, President, Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture
Enrique de Obarrio, 44, Lawyer, De Obarrio, Carles y Asociados
Hildegard Vasquez, 36, Architect, Hache Uve, S.A.
This class was selected amidst growing competition to become part of this distinguished group, underscoring the increasing gap in effective enlightened leadership in the region, and the recognition that this initiative might be a step in the right direction to positive change in the region. Its composed of a mix of 15 men and 9 women, and reflects a diversity of fields with approximately 50% from the entrepreneurial, 25% from governmental, and 25% from the NGO or civil society sectors.
Fellows commit to participate in four seminars over the next 18 months, starting in February 2007. The seminars are modeled after the Aspen Institute’s Henry Crown Fellowship, focusing on building and refining leadership skills and values they will need to move “ideas into action” make a difference in their communities and societies. They Seminars include, The Challenge of Leadership, Great Values, Leadership in an Era of Globalization, and the Promise of Leadership. Additionally, fellows commit to developing a personal leadership project of their passion and design.