Zachary Zager, Chair Zachary has been connected with the people of Hagley Gap for over a decade, first visiting in 2003 as one of the founders of the Blue Mountain Project. After completing his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Daniel's College of Business at Denver University, he knew he wanted to use his leadership and management skills not only to make money but to better the world. His brings to the organization his passion for business strategy, strong financial integrity, and understanding complex systems. Zac loves world travel, woodworking, and trains Ving Tsun Kung Fu. Mary Avery, Treasurer Mary is a respected leader and expert in business and non-profit management.She is currently the Entrepreneur in Residence at Marquette College and provides advice and counsel to the Kohler Center for Entrepreneurship and the Social Innovation Initiative, advising student entrepreneurs and area nonprofits and community members.For nearly 20 years prior (1997-2016), she served as the Director of the Business Management Program at Ripon College, while also teaching a variety of business and non-profit courses.It was during this time that she first learned about BMP, facilitated a Ripon College Student Service Learning Program group to Jamaica and even sat on the Board of Directors.
Not only is Mary an accomplished academic, she teaches from a foundation of practical experience.She started her career as a bank teller for US Bank and was eventually promoted into management.From 1986-1997, She was the president and founder of Business Development Services, Inc., a private consulting firm specializing in financial consulting for start-up and emerging companies, as well as financial services for banks.She also Co-founded of commercial financing consulting service that provided commercial loan packaging, market research, feasibility analysis, business planning and strategic planning. Mary is a Certified Management Consultant and received her Bachelors and Master’s degrees from the University of WI.Mary is actively engaged in her community and has received several awards, including those from the US Small Business Administration, Students in Free Enterprise and Ripon College.Mary loves spending time with her grandson and is an avid equestrian.
Trevor Golding, Secretary Trevor was born in Washington, DC and raised between Montgomery County, MD and Kingston, Jamaica. He currently provides strategic consulting services to startups and businesses in transition. His industry experience includes work for clients in the medical, publishing, film, television, and music industries. He previously worked as a Financial Analyst/Client Liaison for a boutique investment advisory firm in New York City, and as a registered representative for T. Rowe Price in Baltimore. His volunteer work has involved, inter alia, providing pro bono legal work in post-Katrina New Orleans over the year-end holidays in 2009 and 2010; working with supervising attorneys to provide basic legal self help and letter writing assistance to laborers in a free walk-in employment law clinic; and providing crowd control and VIP assistance for the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee during a pre-inauguration dinner and the Commander-in-Chief Ball. Trevor has a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the University of Liverpool, UK (Cayman Islands Campus) and a B.B.A. in Finance from the Howard University School of Business. He speaks fluent French and conversational Spanish.
Kadian Edwards
Sheldon Grant With qualifications in Meteorology, Climate Research, Energy and Environmental Physics, Sheldon is extremely passionate about environmental studies. Sheldon believes that "the strength of any organization is built on the shoulders of conscientious, dedicated and service-oriented leaders." In addition to the Blue Mountain Project, he volunteers with the University of West Indies as Treasurer of the Renewable Energy Club and has provided leadership and mentoring within the St. Thomas Baptist Association Youth Group for over twenty years. Sheldon is a Hagley Gap native and currently works in Kingston.
Sam Holmes Originally from Concord, MA, Sam graduated from Gettysburg College in 2013. After school, he joined the Peace Corps and served as an education volunteer at a small, rural primary school in Westmoreland Jamaica for two years. During that time, he developed a love for Jamaica and its people as well as a passion for working in education in developing countries. After returning home from Jamaica in April 2016, Sam worked for a small real estate development company in Boston but quickly realized that was not his calling. In August 2017, he joined Peace Corps Response and went to Liberia for seven months to work with a local NGO doing teacher training in Bomi County. Upon returning home, Sam moved to Monterey, CA to attend the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS). While at MIIS, he spent a summer in Rwanda interning for Catholic Relief Services and in December 2019, Sam graduated with a MPA specializing in Monitoring, Evaluation and Design.
Cheryl Horton Cheryl is from Phoenix, Arizona and recently retired from the healthcare field at the Arizona Department of Corrections. In 2018, she volunteered with the BMP Service Learning Program. She returned in 2019 as a Group Leader to facilitate a medical team and decided she wanted to do even more. “Helping and caring for people has always been a passion of mine. I am glad to have been given this opportunity by Blue Mountain Project to work with and assist the communities of Hagley Gap and Penlyne Castle. I enjoy walking and taking in the atmosphere around me, so you can say I am triple blessed because I am doing it all in Jamaica, my favorite place in the world!”
Stephanie Moxley Stephanie was first introduced to the Blue Mountain Project in Hagley Gap over a decade ago when she traveled there to complete her practicum for graduate school. While it was many years before she reconnected with BMP, the organization and community stayed in her heart and when she got involved with the organization again she became a board member. Stephanie has a Master's in Public Health from Boston University with a focus on social and behavioral sciences and monitoring and evaluation. Stephanie lives in the cool state of Wyoming, has four daughters and enjoys cooking, hospitality, reading, and turning dreams into a reality!
Tameka Samuels-Jones Tameka is a Doctoral Candidate in the department of Sociology and Criminology & Law at the University of Florida, Gainesville FL. Tameka was born in Jamaica, where she worked for 7 years as an Investigator at the Financial Services Commission. She holds a Master of Science in Government with a distinction for her thesis on Participatory Governance in Sustainable development initiatives. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Management (hons.) from the University of the West Indies. In addition to pursuing her PhD, Tameka currently teaches Criminal Investigations at the University of Florida. In her spare time, she volunteers at her Church and enjoys nature trails with her husband and son.