Our Leaders
Executive Director
Lauren joined the Olancho Aid team in March 2021. She brings over 10 years experience in grassroots leadership, strategic partnership management, and international development along with a strong background working with NGOs that serve the people of Central America and the Caribbean. She completed a Masters in International Management and Policy from New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service. Lauren resides near Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Development Director
Jessica first connected with Olancho Aid in 2007 as a volunteer teacher in Honduras. In 2016 she rejoined the organization and has served as Director of Advancement and Director of U.S. Operations. Her efforts have supported the volunteer program, fundraising, strategy development and stabilization of operations in the U.S. Jessica resides near Pittsburgh, PA.
Board of Directors
Olancho Aid Foundation is led by a board of directors composed of laity from 5 different states. Ex officio members and a group of advisers provide guidance and support to the Board and the Executive Director.
Meagan serves as a Senior ESG Analyst on Ariel Investments’ domestic equity research team, overseeing the entire ESG process, including portfolio engagement, data analysis, research, and strategic projects. Before joining Ariel, she co-founded Nasdaq’s ESG Advisory practice. Previously, Meagan worked in international development, specializing in labor and climate risk mitigation in global supply chains. She holds a BS in finance and international relations from Lehigh University and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame. Meagan has been involved in OAF since 2009 and has served in many capacities including volunteer, supporter and board member.
Jacqueline is a Honduran and French citizen with a 35-year history of working internationally in key strategic roles across cultures and industries facilitating alliances in public and private sectors. She is passionate about leading change and challenging the “status quo”. Jacqueline’s mantras are: be creative, be thought provoking, be forward-looking, have common sense, and be sustainable. This is her DNA.
Aside her business career Jacqueline was Secretary of the Board of Directors of Honduran Red Cross during five years and is an active equestrian (Dressage) in Honduras and Wellington (FL).
She resides between Tegucigalpa, Roatan and Wellington (FL).
Jacqueline joined the Olancho Aid Foundation board of directors in 2021.
Jim Flanagan is the Director of Youth Ministry for Holy Name Parish in West Roxbury, MA. He is the husband to Paula of over 17 years and the father to Liam (12 years old – 7th grade).
Jim boasts having the best vocation ever and consideres it an honor and a blessing to serve junior high, high school and college age youth and young adults through the Catholic Church for almost 30 years.
A highlight of Jim’s ministry has been leading and participating in mission trip service, his first experience was in 1995. Since then he has coordinated trips in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, West Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, the Virgin Islands, Bolivia and Honduras.
Jim’s first trip to Juticalpa was in 2006 with a wonderful group of college young people and Olancho Aid Foundation quickly secured a special place in his heart. His love for the organization comes from his love for the people, the communities that he and his groups have worked with over the years, supporting the funding of five water filtration systems, and the mission of the Foundation. All of these things and more have helped him commit to and have a passion for Christian service and Catholic Social Teaching.
Jim enjoys sharing his expertise and experiences with others who are interested in leading youth or young adults to Honduras. He joins the Olancho Aid board of directors in 2022.
Colleen Scopano is an educator with over 15 years of experience in corporate learning and development, K-12 teacher training, instructional coaching, and face-to-face & virtual classroom teaching. She is currently a learning and development consultant, partnering with corporate clients to develop impactful and engaging adult learning experiences.
Colleen was a volunteer teacher with Olancho Aid from 2007-2008. She is passionate about helping people and teams learn, grow and reach their full potential. Colleen resides in Marietta, Georgia with her husband and children.
Colleen joins the Olancho Aid Foundation board of directors in 2022.
Kerry is a 3rd grade English Language Arts teacher at Fairview Elementary in Dayton, OH. Over the past 8 years, she has taught Kindergarten-5th grade students in the general education and English Language Learner settings at Warner Arts Magnet School in Nashville, TN and now in Dayton, OH.
At Warner, she led the school leadership team for two years and served as the Title I grant coordinator during the 2018-2019 school year. For Dayton Public Schools, she has been a member of the school leader ship team for three years, as well as a Lead Teacher during virtual learning for the 2020-2021 school year. She attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, graduating with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Additionally she received her master’s in Reading Specialty & Administration from Lipscomb University.
Kerry’s first experience with Olancho Aid was with a mission team from Holy Family Catholic Church of Brentwood, Tennessee, in the summer of 2012. She has returned on several trips with the team. In 2014, she moved to Juticalpa, Honduras, to work for the Olancho Aid Foundation, volunteering as a 4th-6th grade teacher.
Kerry joined the Olancho Aid Foundation board of directors in 2019.
Advisors to the Board of Directors
Bishop of
Juticalpa
As a leader of the Church in Olancho who sees the impact of our work directly, Bishop Bonello provides counsel to our local leadership team and the international board of directors. He also offers his time to visit US parish partners in support of Olancho Aid’s work.
Diocesan
Liaison
Carlos devoted over 20 years to working with Olancho Aid. Early on he managed everything from volunteers and mission teams to fundraising and strategy development. He worked closely with Olancho Aid’s founder to manage operations and grow the organization. Today he coordinates the partnership between Olancho Aid and the Diocese of Juticalpa. Carlos and his wife Reina live in Juticalpa with their 4 children.