Educating and Empowering

Our Team

Cathy Skoula

Cathy Skoula, Executive Director


ed@bluemountainproject.org


Cathy Skoula became Executive Director of the Blue Mountain Project on October 1, 2009. After graduating with a BS in Animal Husbandry from the University of Florida, Cathy Skoula worked with the Peace Corps in D.R. Congo (then Zaire) for four years. Upon returning to the states, she worked in biomedical research managing laboratories at Florida State University, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and Carolinas Medical Center.
While in North Carolina, Cathy returned to school, gaining masters in business administration and health administration from Pfeiffer University. Using her accumulated experience and new knowledge coupled with an ever-present desire to work in the humanitarian field, Cathy worked for Action Against Hunger for six years. She was country director in Myanmar, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo before becoming the Executive Director of Action Against Hunger - USA. After leaving Action Against Hunger, Cathy worked for the International Medical Corps as their Director of International Operations.
Cathy speaks English and French and has the notions of kiKongo, and kiSwahili. She enjoys hiking, photography, and quilting.

Zadie Neufville

Zadie Neufville, Program Manager


pm@bluemountainproject.org


Zadie Neufville is a media and communications consultant specializing in public awareness and community. A freelance journalist, Zadie writes about development issues - environment, health and agriculture. She is a product development specialist with more than 20 years in the media, beginning as a television producer/scriptwriter and moving to radio and print. She has worked as a lecturer and trainer in new media technologies and digital arts. Zadie is also a design engineer, trained in fine arts and visual communications and notes that she employs aspects of each in everyday life. Zadie is a member of the GreenAccord media family. GreenAccord is an Italian-based cultural organization committed to the protection of nature.



Linda Ganister

Linda Ganister, Bookkeeper


act@bluemountainproject.org


Linda Ganister first started working for the BMP in the fall of 2006 through her friendship with Board Members Mary Kohak and Kent Shifferd. She has a B.S. in Outdoor Education from Northland College, and an AAS in Accounting from Vermilion Community College. Originally from Pennsylvania, she has lived in Ely, MN for the last 20 years. She worked for Outward Bound for 12 years as a Secretary and then as a Bookkeeper. She currently does bookkeeping for a variety of small businesses including Raven Productions, a publisher of books for kids and of the outdoors. She is also the sole proprietor for the Ely Candle Company.



Euton Rodney

Euton Rodney, Assistant Program Manager

Euton Rodney is our new Assistant Program Manager who started working with the Blue Mountain Project on December 1, 2009 as an Ambassador. He is married to Hanna Rodney. They have three (3) children, two girls, Sashalese, Sanika and a boy, Tavoy. Euton is a coffee farmer and spends most of his time working with the community.
Carma Messan

Carma Messan (Tia), Clinic Nurse

Tia started with BMP in January 2011 as our Clinic Nurse. She is a Licensed Practical Nurse from Trelawny on the north coast of Jamaica who came to Hagley Gap for personal reasons. She has a 19 year daughter, Sasha-Gay, who works in Montego Bay. Tia became interested in nursing when she took care of her elderly grandmother as a child.
Cori Schimler

Cori Schimler, Intern - Service Learning Program


vol1@bluemountainproject.org


Cori Schimler has joined the Blue Mountain Project as an intern working with Haley. As such she will help plan and coordinate our Service Learning Project volunteers and their activities. Cori is a Ripon College student majoring in psychology and minoring in sociology. She plans to obtain her Master's in school psychology and work with children. She wants to share her story about Hagley Gap with as many people as she can.


Ambassadors

Ambassadors are first-world volunteers that spend one year of their time living and working in Hagley Gap in exchange for modest room and board. Throughout their year, they learn about rural Jamaican life from the l.i.g.h.t.s and teach the l.i.g.h.t.s basic job skills. Ambassadors and l.i.g.h.t.s work together to carry out the daily operations of the Blue Mountain Project.


l.i.g.h.t.s (learning, inspiring, giving, helping, teaching)

l.i.g.h.t.s are local Jamaican volunteers that spend one year of their time working for the Blue Mountain Project in exchange for a small monthly stipend. Upon successful completion of one year of service, l.i.g.h.t.s earn a scholarship to further continue their educational goals. l.i.g.h.t.s and Ambassadors work together to carry out the daily operations of Blue Mountain Project.
D’Angelo Walker

D’Angelo Walker

D'Angelo, also known as “Poppy,” became a l.i.g.h.t. in January 2008. He lives in Ladies View, Hagley Gap. He is 20 years old. He enjoys being around and meeting new people. One day, he hopes to be an engineer. During his time as a l.i.g.h.t. Poppy will work with Gwion learning surveying techniques and working on the Hagley Gap After School Program.

Safia Nelson

Safia Nelson

Safia Nelson who has completed high school with an emphasis on the sciences, would like to be become a midwife or a high school teacher. As a LIGHT, she leads our Penlyne Castle After School program and helps in the Penlyne Castle clinic. In Safia's spare time she likes to write short stories drawing on her imagination.