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John is a native New Yorker. He has served in Latin America for 35 years and was first sent as a Jesuit novice to Tijuana, Mexico where he worked in the prison and began a house for Central American refugees. There, he had the honor to work with Sr. Maru Espinoza and Sr. Armida Andrade, Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Peace. He later went to El Salvador to work with the Jesuit Refugee Service. When the war ended in 1992, he began the Tamarindo Community where he has worked as a teacher, community organizer, coach and now as our Foundation's director. 

Executive Director

John Guiliano

Luis has been a Tamarindo from its beginning in 1992. Luis was a child of the war and was forced to flee his community, Arcatao, under carpet bombing at the age of five. He returned to Guarjila when he was 12 years old and began coming to the group in 1992. He has served the Guarjila Community as community president and member of the town council. Luis serves the Tamarindo community as our complete fix it guy (engineer, carpenter, etc.), Jon Cortina Scholarship coordinator, program assistant and over all “consigliere”.

Murphy Field Manager 

Luis Lopez

Nohemí is a native of Chalatenango. She also lived in the refugee camps of Honduras and came to Guarjila as a young girl. She learned to ride a bike with us and has been a member of the community since itʼs inception. Nohemí serves the Tamarindo by working on our school program, youth programs and assists in all our night programs. She is also a member of our Womenʼs Wellness Program.

Nohemí Alfaro

Afterschool Education Program Director

Santos has been with the Tamarindo since its inception in 1992. He has served the Guarjila Community as town president and board member. He studied sports science and management in Cuba. He is a coach/teacher for the National Institute of Sport. He serves the Tamarindo community as sports instructor, founder of the Soccer School, commissioner/founder of the Soccer Super League (Chalatenango Province), program director and manager for fitness and wellness.

President of the
Tamarindo Community Association

Santos Alfaro

Gio also has been a Tamarindo his entire life. He really is the kidʼs kid. He brings to our community his love and laughter. He is our bridge to troubled youth (gang/drug/alcohol issues). He also assists in plant maintenance and is in charge of inspiration.

Community
Facilitator

Giovanni Dubon (Gio)

Marilú is currently studying Systems Engineering at the Dr. Andrés Bello University in Chalatenango after two years in Jacksonville, Florida studying Business Administration. She has four siblings and is part of the Tamarindo team, managing our social media presence and supporting Education and Physical Education programs.

Ana Marilú Chavarria

Community
Facilitator

Jon Cortina
Scholarship Director

Fanny
Orellana

Cobra has been a Tamarindo his entire life. He currently serves the Tamarindo Community as the plant manager taking care of the Tamarindo stadium, facilty and park. He is known for his tough love around the community and he has also serves on the Tamarindo Council.

Miguel Dubon (Cobra)

Maintenance &
Facilities Director

Saira is a Guarjila native who joined the Jon Cortina Scholarship Program in 2014 and recently graduated as a Social Worker. In 2019, she joined the Tamarindo team to co-lead the Community Education Program and assist with communications. 

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Saira Carabantes

Community Education Facilitator

As a Guarjila native, Delmy became a Jon Cortina scholar and graduated in Social Work in 2019. That same year, she joined the team to co-lead the Community Education program and assist with communications.

Community Education Facilitator

Rosa Delmy Chavarría

Steve is a native Californian. He attended Catholic schools through college, receiving his B.S. in Business Administration from University of San Diego (USD) and his MBA from the American Graduate School of International Management. He has worked in the Banking industry for 45 years, predominately with a large multinational Bank, and currently does consulting work with an emphasis on credit & lending for small banks and credit unions. He travels, serves on the Alumni Board for the University of San Diego, and heads up the Baptism Ministry together with Vicki at their local Church.

Steve Nasman

Treasurer

Margaret is a retired high school administrator and Spanish teacher in California who has been in Catholic education for over 40 years. She is currently involved in the education programs of the foundation. She first came to the Tamarindo with a school delegation in 2005. Margaret has been passionate about the work of the foundation and the Tamarindo community, returning to Guarjila every year since often accompanied by those wanting to know more about the work of the foundation. 

Vice-President

Margaret Miller

Chuck is a sales and marketing executive within the medical device and diagnostics industry. He has a bachelors degree in management and finance from Ball State University.  Chuck is married to Pat and has two daughters – Catherine and Elizabeth.  Chuck has been involved with the foundation since May 2014 and has since had the opportunity to visit Guarjila with his family.

Treasurer

Chuck Wyman

Vicki graduated from the University of San Diego with a Business Degree and began her career in State Civil Service in California that lasted for 32 years.  Once retired, she began working with her husband Steve’s consulting company.  Her passion is for her four grandchildren and she also fills her time by serving in various ministries at their local parish.  Vicki joined the Tamarindo Board in 2019 and currently serves as the Board Secretary.  

Secretary

Vicki Nasman

Joe is the Principal at Cristo Rey San José in San Jose, California. He is the founder and director of the Jon Cortina Scholarship Program and has been involved with the Tamarindo Community since 2000.

Joe Albers

Director

Nick practices family medicine at his practice, Family Practice Medicine, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He and his wife Lisa have been involved with the Tamarindo for countless years. Nick has been involved with the foundation since its inception in 1992 and first went to Guarjila in 1998.

Nicholas E. Fohl

Director

Kate is a Family Practice Physician out of Haddonfield, New Jersey. She first came to the Tamarindo between her junior and senior year at Boston College on an immersion trip, and has since been involved with the Tamarindo in multiple capacities for the past 15 years.

Director

Kate Murray

Juan Carlos, a native Salvadoran who migrated to California as a child, is an accomplished senior leader with over 15 years of experience leading global teams in the Automotive, Aerospace, and In-flight connectivity industries. Juan Carlos holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the UCI, a Master of Science degree from the UofSC, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the UCLA. Away from work, Juan Carlos enjoys participating in team sports, traveling to new places, and being the proud Dad of Jesse and Ella.

Juan Carlos
Galdamez

Director

Born in Los Angeles and daughter of Salvadoran immigrants, Michelle is an educational professional, who has also served as a family mentor supporting refugees, low-income immigrants and displaced Americans. Michelle is a fierce advocate of sustainable development, equity, access to education and generational change.

Michelle Sandoval-Truong

John is the founder of Arcadia Energy Group, based in Phoenix, Arizona. The company is primarily involved in the design and installation of rooftop solar systems. John attended Catholic schools throughout his life and met Tamarindo Executive Director John Guiliano while attending Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix. John is the proud father of six grown children and grandfather to twelve young ones. He joined the Board in January of 2018.

John Murphy

Director

Bill is a senior executive with 30 years of leadership experience in financial services. He has specific expertise in strategic planning, new business development, process improvement, risk management and governance. Additionally, he has core competencies in change management, crises management, team building, staff development, and project management. Bill spends the majority of his time centered around charitable activities concerning the education, health and welfare of children.

Director

William O'Brien

Sofía Antonieta Blanc is Language teacher from Sunnyvale, California. She was born in Chile and has now lived in US for 26 years. She is a proud mother of one daughter and has been connected to the Tamarindo Foundation since her first trip in 2008. She loves learning and connecting with different cultures. Sofía strongly believe in investing time and resources to allow communities to improve their lives.

Director

Sofía Blanc

Debbie is a stay at home Grandmother while volunteering on the Loans and Grants Committee of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, the None One Dies Alone Program (NODA) at Saint Francis Hospital, Right To Life of Indianapolis, supports and mentors young adult Catholic women. She has been involved with the Tamarindo Community since 1997 in many varied ways, but most importantly, helped begin and develop the student delegation visits from local Indianapolis High Schools. She believes strongly in, and has witnessed first hand, the transformation power of love, mercy and care in the Tamarindo Community.

Debbie Sahm

Director &
Spiritual Advisor

Tim is President and CEO of Performance Services with corporate headquarters in Indianapolis, IN.  He has been supporting John and the Tamarindos for over 20 years, well before the Tamarindo Foundation was even established.  He has witnessed the tremendous life giving support and strong leadership that John Guiliano has provided the Tamarindos over the years, and has found it impossible to “out give” or “out sacrifice” him.

Tim Thoman

Board Member
Emeritus