OUR TEAM

ACTING TO SERVE OTHERS

To support and carry out its mission, ANF has a team of over 110 staff members and a programs division consisting of a variety of subject matter experts including nutritionists, agronomists, water and sanitation specialists, architects, civil engineers, public health specialists, monitoring and evaluation supervisors, and development practitioners.

OUR TEAM

F. Alfredo Pellas, Jr.

PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER

Alfredo is the president and founder of ANF, alongside his wife Theresa. He is also Co-Chairman of BAC Florida Bank and Chairman BAC Florida Investments in Coral Gables, Florida. He has a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Santa Clara University and an MBA from IESE in Spain.

Theresa Pellas

VICE-PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER

Theresa and her husband, Alfredo, saw the opportunity to make a difference and founded ANF alongside Fr. León Pallais in 1992. Her drive to help others through the foundation has been instrumental in building a spirit of service throughout the organization. Mrs. Pellas studied Interior Design at the University of Miami.

Rafael Sánchez

VICE PRESIDENT

Rafael is a senior business executive, founder of BAC Financial Services, a Marketing Organization for insurance services in 20 countries. Over three decades of experience in the area of Capital Preservation and Business Insurance Planning to high-end earning families in Latin America. Graduated in Economic Sciences from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua.

Nicolás Argüello

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Nicolás is an international development practitioner who has worked at several nonprofit organizations in a variety of areas ranging from education policy and microfinance to mobile technologies for development and social venture capital. He holds a BA in Economics from Notre Dame, an MPA in Development Practice from Columbia University, and an MBA from Oxford University, where he attended on the Skoll Scholarship for Social Entrepreneurship.

Neida Pereira

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM MANAGER

Neida has been the Manager of Community and Economic Development for ANF for over sixteen years. She is responsible for identifying, leading, organizing and managing the implementation of all of ANF’s community and economic development projects. She has a degree in civil engineering from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua and graduate degree in Social Projects Management from Universidad Politécnica de Nicaragua (UPOLI). She is a certified by Project Management Institute (PMI).

Damaris Oporta

FINANCE MANAGER

Damaris’ extensive experience in internal processes and financial controls were acquired while working with international external audit firms for over twelve years. She also has experience with IFRS’ application. Damaris is a Certified Public Accountant, with emphasis in Audit, by the Charter of Public Accountants of Nicaragua and is a member of the Association of Internal Auditors of Nicaragua.

Keith Poe

AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS MANAGER

Keith is a rural enterprise and agriculture development expert with more than ten years of international project design, implementation, management and monitoring. His Bachelor’s of Art (History) is from Messiah College and his Master in Professional Studies (International Agriculture and Rural Development) is from Cornell University. His MBA in Administration and Business Management is from Universidad Centroamericana (UCA).

Roberto Jerez

LOGISTICS AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS MANAGER

Roberto has worked in social projects and programs financed by individuals, private companies, governments and government institutions for over seventeen years. An industrial engineer with a master’s degree in Business Administration, he also has post-graduate studies in Project Management and is certified by the Project Management Institute (PMI). Roberto also teaches Project Management and Investment Projects classes at a university.

Rosa María Méndez

HEALTH & NUTRITION PROGRAM MANAGER

Rosa María has dedicated most of her work experience to the public sector. Working for 18 years as the responsible of comprehensive care for women, children, and adolescents and as the head of strategic planning and the focal point for external cooperation in Carazo's SILAIS. Passionate about healthy habits and community health, Rosa María graduated from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua as a Doctor, with a master’s degree in Public Health at CIES, and post-graduate studies in project formulation, community health, nutrition, and physiotherapy.

Diana Corrales

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Diana brings 13 years of experience working in the non-for-profit sector, fueling purpose-driven organizations with increased revenue, and engaged audiences. Through strong faith and commitment, she currently oversees all the marketing, communications, and fundraising initiatives at ANF. A storyteller at heart, she enjoys traveling across Nicaragua and giving vulnerable communities a voice. Diana holds a BA in Marketing from Ave Maria College, and an MBA from Universidad de Palermo. She is certified by Georgetown University in Social Impact Storytelling.

Marisol Almendarez

DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, USA

Marisol joined ANF as the liaison to the Board of Directors and coordinator between the US and Nicaraguan ANF offices after over two decades as General Manager and co-owner of an environmental consulting firm. She also oversees the Miami office. Mrs. Almendarez’s educational background includes undergraduate work at Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Nicaragua and the University of Wisconsin. She completed graduate studies at Technische Universitat Dresden in Germany and the University of Kansas, where she also was a Fulbright Scholar.