Board of Directors
Kellan Morgan
Co-Founder, Treasurer
Current Location: Rochester, New York
Hometown: Waterville, NY
After graduating in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in economics from the State University of New York College at Geneseo, Kellan moved to Nicaragua in 2007 where he lived for 8 years before returning to Rochester, NY. From El Sauce, he began to serve as SUNY Geneseo's Resident Director for Study Abroad Programs. In 2010 he co-founded Enlace Project to further enhance the economic development work that was being done in El Sauce. He first came to Nicaragua in 2006 as part of the fact-finding trip for the university. His hobbies include exercising, reading, traveling, and playing basketball.
Yacarely Mairena
Co-Founder
Current Location: Rochester, New York
Hometown: Managua, Nicaragua
Yacarely, a Managua native, graduated from UNAN-Managua with a degree in Marketing in 2008. Prior to graduating, she worked as a Spanish tutor for International not-for-profit organizations and as an interpreter for student groups from State University of New York College at Geneseo. In 2008 she relocated to El Sauce to continue working for Geneseo as an assistant director for the study abroad program, and eventually went on to co-found Enlace Project. In 2011, she transitioned to be a strategic advisor for Enlace Project, as she started working as the Project Specialist for the Small Business Development Program from the Peace Corps Nicaragua. In 2015, after being awarded a Fulbright scholarship, she moved to Rochester, NY to pursue a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Advanced Project Management and Lean Six Sigma. Her hobbies are traveling, reading, and playing sports.
Kris Dreessen
Rochester, New York
Kris Dreessen is an award-winning photojournalist and writer who first visited El Sauce on a reporting assignment for the State University of New York College at Geneseo in 2009. Inspired by efforts of residents and volunteers, she has spent the years since documenting community development efforts and El Sauce culture.
Kris is the founder of The Friends Project, a grassroots initiative that provides small grants to residents and communities in developing areas where she travels for projects that will have long-lasting impact. Much of her work focuses on El Sauce, as she shares stories of accomplishments, everyday life and the impact everyday people can have when working together.
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Sarah Ventre
Rochester, New York
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Sarah travelled to El Sauce, Nicaragua for the first time in 2009 through a service-learning internship with SUNY Geneseo, at which time she was introduced to the programs and goals of Enlace Project. After that time, she continued her involvement with Enlace, with additional visits to Nicaragua and frequent communication from the US as a board member.
Sarah obtained a Medical Degree and Masters in Public Health from SUNY Upstate Medical University, and is currently practicing at a pediatric resident at Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester, New York.
Tim McMahon
Secretary
Geneseo, New York
Tim’s background includes 8 years working in youth services, 21 years working in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities, and 8 years as executive director of a 501 c3 not-for-profit agency, serving the poor in rural upstate New York.
He first visited Nicaragua in 2003 and returns every year to visit old friends and projects he and family and friends support. His interests include elementary and secondary education of children from low-income families, promoting economic development in the community, and supporting micro loan programs for female head of household families. His hobbies include reading, traveling, movies, golf, and volunteering with the Hispanic migrant and immigrant community. Tim has a BA in Sociology from St. John Fisher College, Rochester, NY, and a Master’s degree in Social Work from Syracuse University. Tim lives with his wife Mary in Geneseo, NY.
Patrick McCormick
Canandaguia, New York
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A 2015 graduate of SUNY Geneseo, Patrick first visited El Sauce in 2013 while studying abroad. Upon returning to Geneseo he was deeply involved in supporting the work Enlace Project does through fundraising and promotion of the trips they offer to students. After earning a degree in political science Patrick returned to Nicaragua to serve as the 2015-16 intern for Enlace Project.
Since returning to the United States Patrick has been heavily involved with the local migrant community working to establish an English and cultural exchange program at SUNY Geneseo and working for the NYS Migrant Education Program. When he is not working on these various side projects he can often be found impersonating his twin brother to Matt’s great annoyance.
Glenn McClure
Collaborator
Geneseo, New York
Glenn is a scholar, teacher, and composer. He serves on the faculties of SUNY Geneseo, the Eastman School of Music and Paul Smith. His first year as faculty director of SUNY Geneseo’s Nicaragua Service Learning and Humanities programs (2014) included the addition of a cross-cultural musical celebration that brought together musicians from Nicaragua and Geneseo.
Glenn received his BA and MA degrees from SUNY Geneseo. He has numerous publications of choral music and his work has gained enthusiastic audiences across Europe and in American concert halls including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Glenn is a veteran of cross-cultural work in Italy, Germany, Ghana, Mexico, and Haiti. His music serves as a vehicle for global development and intercultural dialogue. Glenn lives in Geneseo with his wife and two children. He loves to cook!
Steve Rehler
President
Rochester, New York
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Steve has been a member of the Enlace Project Board of Directors since 2012 and is focused of the development of economically sustainable entrepreneurs and small businesses in the communities that Enlace Project serves.
Steve obtained a BS in Business Administration from SUNY Geneseo in 2006 and completed his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University at Buffalo in 2013. Professionally, Steve has 11 years of experience in Human Resources and Leadership Development. He lives with his wife, Sarah, his children, Lillian and Jonah, and their dog, Amos.
