Board of Directors
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Here are the current members of our board of directors, ordered by start date:
Mark Ely founded Pura Vida in 2002 after a series of long stays at an orphanage in Guatemala beginning in 1999. He now runs day-to-day operations at Pura Vida, administering programs and leading occasional work trips. Mark formerly provided IT consulting to Compassion International, the U.S. Antarctic Program, Swisscom, and agencies of the United States federal government.
Executive Director 
Richard Ely brings extensive nonprofit experience to Pura Vida as a former executive director of Ruritan National, a national civic organization based in Dublin, Virginia. He also served as chair of the Community Relationships Committee of the Boy Scouts of America, board member and executive committee member of the Community Foundation of the New River Valley, and as a partner of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.
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Laura Richards, a certified secondary math teacher and educator for over 28 years, has extensive experience with non-profit organizations. She has been involved with Pura Vida since 2005, first on a work trip to Guatemala, and now as a trip leader and trip coordinator. She volunteers nearly full time for Pura Vida coordinating group travel requirements and handles the U.S. side of the sponsor letter process.
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Jerry Bucholz had a 35 year career in financial management and commercial lending followed by his current 14 career as a master tax advisor with Block Advisors. He has served on the boards of several churches and nonprofit organizations. Jerry and his wife Donna are student sponsors. He has participated in the Guatemala English camp since its inception.
Board Treasurer 
Ken Fong retired as a Vice President from Lucent Technologies in 1999. He is on the board of trustees of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church and Performing Arts Academy. He has been active with Pura Vida since he first traveled to Guatemala in 2005 and fell in love with the people there. He has traveled to Guatemala with Pura Vida at least once a year since then.
Bill Mistretta has sponsored students through Pura Vida since 2008 and took his first trip to Guatemala in 2009. Since then he’s gained a real connection with the Guatemalan people through his continued student sponsorships and Pura Vida work trips. He leads technology operations for Pacific Metrics, a software company that develops software for student learning. Bill brings his corporate experience to Pura Vida to help in its educational and development programs.
Board President 
Janie Williams brings to Pura Vida a lifetime of experience in non-profit and educational endeavors having taught in the classroom, served on the school district’s board of directors, and assisted in establishing and sustaining 501(c)(3) organizations. Following two years in the desert mountains of Peru with her husband and three children, she taught English as a Second Language. Janie has a passion for the organization’s mission and philosophy, and a deep appreciation for the indigenous peoples and culture of Guatemala.
Lynne Kendig was an elementary school teacher before moving to Denver in 1980, where she studied medicine. She was a Family Medicine practitioner until retiring in 2011. Since 2013, she has served as a physician volunteer seeing patients at the Inner City Health Clinic in Denver. Lynne's first trips to Guatemala were with Pura Vida medical teams in 2005 and 2007.
Board Secretary 
Mary Sue Alexander brings to Pura Vida a lifetime of graphic and digital communications for nonprofit and corporate clients. After a career as principal of a design studio, she retired as director of marketing communications at Iliff School of Theology in 2016. Mary Sue and husband, Hugh, traveled on an early work trip to Guatemala and have sponsored students and participated in an English camp since that first life-changing trip.
Charlie Bouchard was a financial advisor for over 30 years with AG Edwards and Well Fargo Advisors. Charlie serves on the Board and Executive Council for the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado and chairs the Finance Committee for them as well. He is involved with Loveland Rotary and chairs the Foundation for that organization. He is also involved as chair of Church Council with First United Methodist Church in Loveland.
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