María Elena (Mae) Nazar Kafati

Program and Business Development Manager

Pan American Development Foundation (PADF)

Biography:

Born in the heart of Central America (Honduras), but originally from the heart of the world (Palestine). Universal citizen, multilingual, internationalist, creative constructivist, and currently Business Development Professional at the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), an organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS). Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) serving as a pathfinder to promote a hemisphere of opportunity for all by leveraging meaningful relationships to support causes that promote human rights, freedom, and promoting livelihoods and economic opportunities for vulnerable populations. Significant experience working within a broad thematic Caribbean portfolio in countries like Suriname, St. Lucia, The Bahamas, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago. Deeply rooted in international frameworks, governance, government policy decisions, human rights, democracy, international development, at-risk youth programs, and currently focused on human mobility (migration) within the Northern Triangle and Venezuelan populations, as well as sustainability (circular economy) in countries like Ecuador and beyond. Lateral thinker, natural intrapreneur, and firm believer in the power of connections to build wide bridges that positively affect change.

Nicole Griensewic

Executive Director

Region Nine Development Commission in Minnesota

Biografy:

Griensewic has served as Executive Director of Region Nine Development Commission since 2012. As executive director, Griensewic has made it a priority to foster collaboration and engagement by sharing Region Nine’s story both regionally and globally. Griensewic is an active board and committee member for multiple organizations throughout Minnesota. Griensewic is the immediate past President of the Greater Minnesota Partnership, and is the first female to chair the Executive Committee for the University of Minnesota’s Center for Transportation Studies, where she served as chair of the Governance Committee. Griensewic also served as secretary of Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota’s Governing Board of Directors and chaired the Governance Committee and currently serves as an advisory board member for South Central College’s Center for Agriculture. She serves on the executive committee for the MACS Board, Minnesotans for the American Community Survey Board of Directors and represents the Midwest on the National Assoc. of Development Orgs.’s (NADO) Board of Directors.

Griensewic is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and has completed course work through Harvard’s Kennedy School’s Executive Education. She received the 2017 Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Her professional background includes extensive private sector and non-profit leadership experience.

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