Principals

Chris Meyer, Director of Business Development. Chris worked as an Economic Development Peace Corps Volunteer for two years and followed this with an additional year as the Peace Corps leader for the entire Darien province (where he became very familiar with these communities and local forestry issues). As a normal volunteer, Meyer lived and worked at a subsistence level in a mountain village helping to not only harvest and plant crops such as rice and beans, but also market the production. While in the Darien, he worked extensively with and built relationships with the government ministries with whom PE collaborates and helped coordinate logistics for many of his volunteer’s large projects. Chris worked in business-to-business sales for a year before joining the Peace Corps. Meyer holds a Masters degree in International Relations with a focus in International Development from Johns Hopkins University Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). While at SAIS, Meyer was awarded and recognized for his leadership capabilities and expertise in the field of social ventures and entrepreneurship. Meyer was invited to attend the Skoll World Entrepreneurship forum in 2008.

cwmeyer@plantingempowerment.com

Andrew Parrucci, Director of Operations. Andrew entered the Peace Corps in 2004 after receiving his degree in Industrial Design from Virginia Tech. Interested in putting his creative problem solving skills to work for a good cause, Parrucci oversaw the design of two small aqueducts in his communities, and initiated their respective constructions. He also worked to introduce sustainable technologies such as rainwater collection and solar water purificationat the local level. The persistent deforestation and lack of economic opportunities in the area was an ongoing concern during Parrucci's service, but efforts to combat them had proven ineffective. In response, Parrucci and three other former Peace Corps volunteers founded Planting Empowerment in late 2006. He currently resides in Washington DC.

amparrucci@plantingempowerment.com

Damion Croston, Community Liason. After receiving a degree in business administration from The Ohio State University, Damion Croston joined the Peace Corps in 2003 where he was tasked with developing income generating opportunities for an indigenous community in rural Panama. As a Volunteer he worked on a variety of projects including the development of a regional tourism circuit, the construction and management of a community-run computer center, and the construction and management of a store for a local women’s artisan group. Upon completion of his service in 2006 Damion returned to the U.S. and co-founded Planting Empowerment along with his partners, all former Peace Corps Volunteers. In 2008 he joined the Appalachian Center for Economic Networks (ACEnet) as an intern where he developed grant proposals focused on creating economic opportunities for underserved communities in rural Appalachia. He currently resides in Athens, OH and is a graduate student at Ohio University’s Center for International Studies majoring in international development.
dcroston@plantingempowerment.com

Andrew Wulf, Special Projects Coordinator. Wulf arrived to Panama with the Peace Corps in mid-2003. As an economic development volunteer, he worked in rural Panama with farmers in agricultural business development and computer center construction. After spending two years in agribusiness, Wulf spent an extra year training the new class of volunteers as well as working with a microfinance institution to create their first comprehensive impact assessment. Wulf then returned to the States to attend graduate school at the #1 international business school, Thunderbird School for Global Managment in Phoenix, AZ. There he joined the three other Peace Corps Volunteers to help found Planting Empowerment, S.A., their answer to frustrations they encountered with traditional grassroots environmental and social development practices. Wulf graduated from Thunderbird in May and currently works as the Director of Special Projects for PE, as well as holding-down a day job as Senior Business Analyst for the largest berry company in the world, Driscoll's. He will hopefully be working with farmers in Latin America with both jobs for many years to come.

ajwulf@plantingempowerment.com

Carlos Espinosa, Head Forester. For the last two years, Carlos has worked as an independent consultant to individuals and businesses preparing the necessary environmental studies for large plantations and managing these plantations. Before becoming a consultant, he worked in the Darien for an Interamerican Development Bank development project as the head Environmental Resources Manager. Prior experience working with the environment and timber plantations is extensive. Carlos forms the plantations’ maintenance plans and manages PE’s relationship with the Ministry of Environment (ANAM).

cespinosa@plantingempowerment.com