US Staff
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Executive Director
Dino Maccari joined Etta Projects in early 2017. Originally from Italy, he holds a Master’s degree in Economic and International Development from the University of Murcia, Spain. Dino lived in Bolivia for seven years, where he first worked at the Nutrition Center Madre Teresa de Calcuta—Etta Projects’ first initiative—and later served as Program Director, overseeing project implementation and assessing community needs.
In 2022, Dino relocated to Tacoma, Washington, where he became Etta Projects’ Director of Operations. In January 2025, he was appointed Executive Director. In this role, Dino provides strategic leadership, manages day-to-day operations, ensures financial sustainability, and leads the organization’s fundraising efforts. He also develops new projects, writes proposals, tracks program impact, and plays a key role in building partnerships that expand Etta Projects’ reach and impact.
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Founder & Associate Director
Prior to founding Etta Projects, Pennye practiced as a child, family and marriage therapist. She holds an M.A. in Psychology from Pacific Lutheran University and a B.A. in Human Services from the University of Tennessee. Pennye was awarded the RESULTS Kitsap Peninsula Global Humanitarian Award for her work with global poverty, and the International Woman of the Year Award by the city of Montero, Bolivia. She was also awarded The Greater Tacoma Peace Prize Laureate for 2017 and was honored to participate in the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremonies in Oslo Norway.
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Marketing Coordinator
Dana comes to Etta Projects with extensive experience in marketing, graphic design and events planning. She has worked in non-profit healthcare for 8 years and is responsible for the day-to-day promotion and communications of Etta Projects globally. Dana has an affinity for working with indigenous communities and sharing in their rich culture while brining safe and sanitary solutions throughout Eastern Bolivia. In her Bolivia-based role, Dana worked previously as Communications Coordinator at the Community Transformation. This role focused on overall management of the Community Transformation Center, coordinator with volunteers, groups scheduled, including orientation, yoga and mindfulness activities.
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Thanks to highly skilled volunteers ranging in expertise from graphic design to data entry, we are able to maximize resources being allocated to the direct service needs of rural Bolivian communities. These dedicated teammates are a backbone of our holistic approach, which includes supporting all of our work with education and empowerment, as we grow systemic and lasting solutions.
Bolivian Staff
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Director of Programs
Veronica Pellizzari studied International Law in the city of Trento, Italy. She first joined Etta Projects in 2019 through the Italian Peace Corps Program. The experience with EP made her decide to come back and work as the coordinator of HIV Program and Girls Sexual Health and Empowerment. She took on her role as Etta Projects Program Director in 2022, and oversees all project activities carried out by program staff. This includes community needs assessments, monitoring, and evaluation of past and present Etta Projects programs.
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Construction Coordinator of Water Sanitation and Hygene (WASH)
Edizon is from Cochabamba, born in the small town of Cliza, but has lived in Santa Cruz for 18 years. He speaks both Spanish and Quechua. After graduating from high school, Edizon went on to study Food Technology and earned a degree as a Food Technician. Edizon worked at USAID as a facilitator of basic health promoters. He began working full time with Etta Projects in 2017 as a liaison for the construction of ecological dry composting latrines. In Edison’s words, "I am fascinated by field work because I was born and raised in the countryside, so I teach and share the knowledge of my experiences with the communities."
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Sexual and Reproductive Health Facilitator
Cristina Sempertegui is a general physician with five years of experience working in a primary health care center. She is a certified facilitator in subdermal implant and IUD insertion, as well as in the Comprehensive and Differentiated Adolescent Care (AIDA) model. For the past year, she has been responsible for managing an AIDA clinic, which recently received accreditation from the Ministry of Health.
Cristina is passionate about working with adolescents, providing information on sexual and reproductive health, mental health, and other topics that help young people make informed decisions.
In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and visiting rural communities in Santa Cruz.
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Accounting/ Training Coordinator of Water Sanitation and Hygene (WASH)
Yanine is an industrial engineer and joined the Etta Projects team in 2021 as a trainer and coordinator of the Sanitation and Water projects. She is currently studying accounting and she is now the new accountant at the Montero office.
Since the beginning, her focus has been on strengthening the water and sanitation committees in rural communities, aimed at improving public health in sustainable ways. Specifically, she has worked with 124 families who received Dry Ecological Latrines in the Buena Vista region, and is now expanding to the San Pedro region. Yanine also circles back to support communites where Etta Projects has already installed water systems.
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Coordinator of Public Health Projects
Fiorella Burgos has been a physiotherapist and kinesiologist for 7 years, as well as being trained as a paramedic, and volunteer forest firefighter. She started working with Etta Projects in 2021, when she helped train our Community Health Promoters, and assisted with our Sexual Health program for young women. Today she is one of the coordinators of our Chronic Disease Prevention and Healthy Lifestyle project.
In her free time, Fiorella is passionate about outdoor activities, like hiking and mountain biking.
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Facilitator for Girls Empowerment workshops
Carla joined the Etta Projects team in April 2024 to work with the wonder girls program, proposing strategies to recruit teenagers, in order to train them in different topics such as mental health, sexual and reproductive health, leadership, and menstrual hygiene, among others. She has been working with children, adolescents and women victims of different types of violence for approximately 4 years. As well as making evaluations and diagnoses of different pathologies and performing therapeutic treatment.
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Maintenance and Groundskeeper, Tekoatí campus
Joining Etta Projects staff in 2016, Don Alfredo is a familiar face on our Tekoatí campus, and knew these lands long before we were established on the property. Don Alfredo can speak Spanish, Quechua and Portuguese, but even more impressive is his knowledge of the local plants and species. For nearly 20 years, prior to coming to Tekoati, Don Alfredo was an Amboro National Park Guard, responsible for educating citizens on respecting the natural world for future generations and confronting poachers, commonly found throughout Bolivia. As the eyes and ears of Tekoatí, there is not a single plant that Don Alfredo cannot identify. Originally from the Chuquisaca in Bolivia, Don Afredo now calls Buena Vista his home and can be seen around the property helping out in the many areas of his expertise.
Valued Contractors - US & Bolivia
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Trainer and Psychologist
Gabriela is a psychologist with training in clinical and behavioral psychotherapy for adolescents and adults. She has 4 years of experience in psychological assessment and intervention in anxiety spectrum problems, depression, emotional dysregulation, self-awareness, vocational guidance, and social skills training. She is one of our most valuable contractors as she trains young girls through our Girls Empowerment program and provides psychological support for some of our Sexual and Reproductive Health program participants.
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Natural Medicine Trainer
Dr. Simón Beltrán Rodríguez is a naturopathic doctor who is also President of the Association of Naturopathic Doctors of Eastern Bolivia - ANORBOL. He has been practicing his profession for 26 years and has a very deep knowledge of the use of medicinal plants. He also speaks Quechua and has a special gift for communicating easily and effectively with all people. Etta Projects is honored to collaborate with Simón on dynamic trainings which he has a special gift for making both informative and fun!
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University of Minnesota Researcher
Vanessa is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Macalester College (Saint Paul, MN, USA) and an Adjunct Instructor at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs (Minneapolis, MN, USA). Vanessa was first introduced to Etta Projects in 2015 when she studied abroad in Bolivia for a semester. In 2019, Vanessa returned to Bolivia to assist Etta Projects in developing and implementing a sexual and reproductive health training program for adolescents in the region. In 2023, she received a Fulbright Research Award to return to Bolivia, evaluate Etta Project's contraceptive implant initiative, and complete her doctoral fieldwork, which explored the barriers adolescents face in accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare in rural communities. In 2024, Vanessa will again return to Bolivia to assist in a two-year study examining the prevalence of gender-based violence in rural communities and developing a training program for Etta Project's CHW to support victim/survivors. When she is not supporting Etta Project's research efforts, Vanessa enjoys hiking and climbing in Bolivia's breathtaking Cordillera Real, drinking mate de coca, perusing the open-air vegetable markets, and learning about Bolivia's political history. Vanessa received a BA in Sociology and Spanish (Colorado College), a MA in International Development Studies (University of Minnesota), and will be graduating with her PhD in Comparative International Development and Education with a graduate minor in Global Health in December 2023 (University of Minnesota).
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Self-defense coach
Five years ago, the Femme Sinistre women's jiu-jitsu team was born with the ideology of the fight against gender violence, making a pact for every woman and girl in Bolivia, promoting sorority with a voice, and striving for the empowerment of women. The leader of this amazing team is Claudia López Rosse, and since 2021 she and her team have been supporting Etta Projects, inspiring youth and young people to self-defense as a means of caring for themselves.
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HIV Prevention Trainer
Ernesto lives and works in Montero and has overseen the Municipal HIV Program for many years. He is an activist for the rights of People Living with HIV, and thanks to him and others, law 3729 was passed in Bolivia, which protects people who contract the virus and provides free treatment to them. He is a very passionate, dynamic person with a great passion for his work. Ernesto collaborates with Etta Projects in HIV prevention through trainings in high schools as well as with other high-risk groups. Ernesto’s classes include offering condoms as well as HIV rapid tests.
Board of Directors
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Co-President
Donna has been a supporter of Etta Projects for several years. She has many years of non profit experience and is currently working in the learning and development field. Donna has a Master’s of Science degree in Management with a focus on Organizational Development.
She lives in Tacoma with her two children, husband and dog. Her daughter is beginning college and so she has recently become a University of Oregon Ducks fan!
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Co-President
Bev (M.S. Edu.) has over 20 years of experience in leadership and learning development, including more than a decade in healthcare and behavioral health.
She has worked internationally with Development Associates International in Nigeria and Uganda, delivering a master’s program in organizational leadership. A longtime supporter of Etta Projects, Bev has facilitated the Board’s annual retreat for nearly a decade.
She is also a registered yoga teacher who integrates mindfulness and well-being into her work to help people and organizations thrive.
She lives in the Tacoma, WA area with her husband (Graeme) teen son (Liam), labradoodle (Ryker) and four cats. She enjoys tending to their chickens, hiking, shark diving/scuba & great coffee shops.
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Vice President
Barb Willock earned her BA in 1986 and MFA in 1989, both from the University of Washington. She retired in 2011 from a local daily newspaper where she had worked 20 years in the editorial department. Barb performed nearly every job in the newsroom except reporting and photographer, her last being page design (layout). She has volunteered with Etta Projects for many years, most of which as secretary, and traveled to Bolivia as a volunteer with the Dental/Vision teams four times. In addition to her work with Etta Projects, she is a board of director of the League of Women Voters/Kitsap as well as Enl!ghten Kitsap. She and her husband, George, live in Southworth, and she enjoys reading, knitting and traveling.
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Treasurer
Jonathan has 20 years of non-profit finance and accounting experience , with work in various sectors, including arts and culture, education, and NGOs. Jonathan currently works at Landesa, a respected NGO dedicated to advancing land rights.
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Board Secretary
Tiffany was the original project manager at Comedor de Niños Etta Turner. From there she worked on small humanitarian aid projects in Bolivia for the next 4 years.
While living in the United States, she became a nurse and has worked in multiple areas, including mental health, maternal child health, and overall public health. Currently Tiffany is a nurse home visitor with a nurse family partnership under the local Health Department in her home city of Erie, PA.
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Board Member
Tonnie has volunteered with Etta Projects for over 12 years and joined the board in January 2023. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and is currently pursuing a Masters in Professional Accounting. She brings many years of experience in the legal field to the board and applies her skills in organizational administration to the role.
Tonnie is particularly passionate about Etta Projects’ collaborative approach to public health projects, as well as female empowerment in rural Bolivia. She is a life-long Washington State resident and enjoys hiking, kayaking, and camping all around the Pacific Northwest.
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Board Member
Claire started volunteering with Etta projects when she worked in Bolivia as an intern in 2014. She has since become a Physician Assistant and worked in the Emergency Department and as a primary care provider before transitioning to acute oncologic care at UW/FHCC.
She recently returned to Bolivia with a volunteer group in 2024.
She is passionate about the community health promoters and women’s sexual health projects. She firmly believes empowered women with choices can change the world. When not working she can be found traveling the globe or spending time outdoors enjoying the beautiful PNW.
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Board Member
Abby Aubert holds a BSN and has worked as a nurse in various clinical settings since 2013. With a nearly-completed Master of Public Health, she has a special interest in disease prevention and health promotion, and is inspired by Etta Project’s commitment to improving health outcomes in Bolivia through sustainable and empowering approaches.
Abby lives in Washington State with her husband and dogs and is currently working at a wound care clinic. She joined the board in June of 2025.
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Board Member
Alan Newberg is a full-time artist based in Kitsap County, Washington, with a distinguished career exhibiting across the U.S. His award-winning work is featured in several prominent public and corporate collections.
Beyond his art, Alan is deeply committed to anti-poverty advocacy through RESULTS, having founded the first chapter in Kitsap County and engaged extensively with policymakers. He and his wife have also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity internationally.
Previously, Alan was a professor and department chair at Montana State University-Billings. He holds advanced degrees in art and has also taught at Olympic College. He lives in Bremerton with his wife, Ellen.
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Board Member
Danielle brings over a decade of experience in finance, accounting, and operations across the nonprofit and fintech sectors. Her work has included building financial infrastructure to support the expansion of residential solar programs, aligning systems and strategy to drive sustainable growth.
Her connection to Latin America began in high school through grassroots public health programs in Nicaragua and Costa Rica, where she lived with local communities and supported community-based initiatives. That early experience shaped her commitment to equity and public health, which she later deepened through extensive travel in the region. Her time included two months in Bolivia, where she gained firsthand insight into the communities Etta Projects serves today.
Danielle is excited to bring her passion for mission-driven work and her belief in community-led solutions to her role on the board.Based in Seattle, she enjoys hiking, live music, practicing Spanish, and exploring the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
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Board Member
Ximena has been supporting Etta Projects since 2022, having come across their amazing work through a casual encounter. She was born and raised in Santa Cruz, Bolivia and grew up visiting Montero, Buena Vista and other rural areas, so Etta’s mission and success is very close to home and her heart.
Professionally, Ximena spent several years working in management consulting at a firm in Washington, DC and went on to complete her MBA at the University of Virginia. She made the move out west to Seattle in 2019 to work for Starbucks. At Starbucks, Ximena has had various roles and is currently a strategy manager within store development. She is excited to bring her strategic background to help support Etta Projects' growth and success.
Ximena lives in the Seattle area with her husband, two young kids and dog. Outside of work you can find her exploring local parks and trails with her family or trying out new recipes in the kitchen.
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Board Member
Carmen recently joined the Board of Etta Projects, bringing decades of experience in international development and a strong commitment to global cooperation.
Born in Bolivia, she began her career advancing women’s empowerment, public health, environmental conservation, and financial inclusion. Since moving to the U.S. in 2007, she has continued this work, collaborating with diverse communities worldwide.
Her leadership roles have included Country Director, Director of Finance, Grants Manager, and Auditor, with organizations such as Ericsson, Coopers & Lybrand, The Nature Conservancy, World Bank, and Women for Women International.
Carmen holds a Bachelor’s in Accounting, a Master’s in Financial Control and Auditing, and completed project management at George Mason University. Since retiring in 2024, she has focused on travel, health, learning, and giving back—now serving on Etta Projects’ Board and as a Financial Advisor on another advisory committee.
She is passionate about conservation, women’s empowerment, and photography. Carmen lives in Northern Virginia with her husband Victor and their sheltie, Charlie, and is a proud mother of two grown sons.