Members of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee

Linda Kristina Chang Quintero, Attorney:

Ms. Chang is a founding member of the Fundacion Arte y Cultura de Tierras Altas. Ms. Chang currently serves as the Vice President and Legal Representative. She was born in Panama City and received her law degree from Metropolitan University of Panama and obtained the license of conciliator and mediator in the Latin University of Panama with specialization in commercial and immigration law. Ms. Chang is part of the National Union of Lawyers of Panama and is currently partner of the law firm Magallan y Chang, practicing in the provinces of Chiriqui and Panama. Ms. Chang is also active as a Legal Adviser of the Chamber of Tourism, Commerce and Industry in Tierras Altas.

Anthony Tak On Leung, retired;

Mr. Leung is the current Chairman of the Fundacion Arte y Cultura de Tierras Altas. He was born and raised in Hong Kong and received his BA from the University of Wisconsin. He is a former business owner and is now retired. Previously he worked for the International Organization for Migration as the Administration and Finance Officer in Manila, Philippines. He has also volunteered with several NGOs in Hong Kong including Refugee Concern, the Hong Chi Association, the Pam Baker Foundation, and was Chairman of The Leprosy Project, serving people affected by Leprosy in the Sichuan Province of China. Tony was an active Rotarian for over 30 years.

Chris Arias, Spanish Tutor:

Ms. Arias currently serves on the Fundraising Sub committee and is a founding member of Fundacion Arte y Cultura de Tierras Altas. She was born in Honduras from Spanish parents. She is completely bilingual English/Spanish. She obtained her degree in Food Technology from the Universidad Autonoma de Hondura. Ms. Arias also has a degree in Senior Management in Banking from the Tecnologico de Monterrey/Anden Escuela de Negocios Mexico/Honduras. Currently, she is studying at UDEMY to obtain her teaching degree in Spanish as a Foreign language. Ms. Arias served as President of the Honduras Banking Association (AHIBA)/North Coast Chapter, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of Atlantida, (Honduras) from 2008 until her retirement in 2015. During this period, she held positions as Fiscal and later Vice President. Ms. Arias has been very active on several boards of directors for charitable and non government organizations including: Adelante Foundation, providing microfinance for rural women in Honduras; RBC, a Roatan, Honduras; a social foundation for children with health problems. She also worked with HALA, a branch of Abundant Life Foundation Org, which creates opportunities for the very poor people of Roatan, Honduras through community development, education and conservation.

Alan John Baumbach, retired:

Mr. Baumbach is a founding member of the Fundacion Arte y Cultura de Tierras Altas and currently serves as the Treasurer. He was born and raised in Colorado and received his BSBA degree from the University of Denver and his CPA certification from the State of Alaska while working at Arthur Young and Company. He is a former business owner and is now retired. Mr. Baumbach was also active in several low income housing and medical projects in Central America. He was active in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Denver. OLLI at DU is an adult learning membership program designed for adults who wish to pursue lifelong learning.

Laurie Diane Lemmlie-Leung, retired:

Ms. Lemmlie-Leung is a founding member of the Fundación Arte y Cultura de Tierras Altas and is currently serving as Secretary and working with the fundraising committee. She was born and raised in the United States and received her bachelor’s degree from Cornell College. She is a former business owner and is now retired. She previously served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines, worked for the U.S. Refugee Program in Manila, Philippines, and KPMG in Hong Kong. She has also volunteered with several NGOs in Hong Kong including Refugee Concern, the Pam Baker Foundation, the Women Business Owners Club and Scouts Canada (HK). In Volcan she volunteers with Tierras Altas Recicla.

Cher Roe Michel, retired:

Ms. Michel is a founding member of the Fundacion Arte y Cultura de Tierras Altas and currently serves as the Fiscal. Ms. Michel was born and raised in the United States and is the bilingual daughter of a Dominican mother and U.S. father. Ms. Michel received her degree in English Literature / Journalism from Pearl River, Mississippi. Ms. Michel has owned her own businesses and has several years’ experience as a legal secretary, legal assistant, and office manager for an energy efficient, custom-luxury home building company, and has provided executive support in the marketing, engineering, and pharmaceutical industries. Ms. Michel was active as Volunteer for the Equine Handicapped Riding Program of Boulder, Colorado and was a trained advocate and volunteer for Agape Hospice of Denver, Colorado. In 1990, she wrote and self-published a children’s book called Tym the Turtle Boy along with her friend and illustrator, Peg Hilliard.

Stephanie Llean Charpentier Santamaria, Architect:

Ms. Charpentier is a founding member of The Fundacion Arte y Cultura de Tierras Altas and currently serves as the First Vocal. Ms. Charpentier was born in Panama City and received her university degree from the National University of Panama. Ms. Charpentier is an Interior Designer Architect and Landscape Designer. After graduation she worked for Mallol & Mallol Architects, and was later recruited by CGO Design & Architecture. She later started Charp Int Design to provide architecture, interior design and landscaping with the mission of creating environments with empathy to inspire and motivate others in a positive way. In Chiriqui, Ms. Charpentier also founded Espacios Compartidos, a co working space located in David.

Estela Ritter Pangtay: retired

Ms. Ritter currently serves as Third Vocal. She was born and raised in Panama, degree in architecture at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. She worked as an architect urbanist and regional development planner for the government of Panama and as CAD (Computer-Aided Design) operator in the field of pulp and paper industry engineering for the companies: H.A. Simons (Amec) and KSH Solutions, in Canada. Ms. Ritter is also an active member of the Foundation Tierras Altas Recicla.

Ana Iris Tribaldos Jarquin, Management:

Ms. Tribaldos currently serves as an Advisor. Ms. Tribaldos was born in Puerto Armuelles and received her Marketing and Public Relations degree from Universidad Americana, MBA from Universidad Latina, Master Degree in Education and Schools Administration from Universidad Del Istmo. Ms. Tribaldos is Manager at Alanna Group and Legal Representative at Tierras Altas Academy. Ms. Tribaldos is also active in Fundación Pro Desarollo de Tierras Altas, and also worked as Secretary for Bio Turismo Tierras Altas OBC (Organización de Bases Comunitarias).

Miguel Eduardo Samudio Ledezma, Civil Service:

Miguel currently serves as an advisor of the Tierras Altas Art and Culture Foundation. He was born in David, Chiriqui and received his B.S degree from University of North Texas. His work experience includes economic development consulting and commercial real estate brokerage. As of today Miguel serves as the Vice Mayor of Tierras Altas municipality and oversee as well the business development departments of two family owned companies. Miguel´s service to the Tierras Altas community includes being advisor to the Tierras Altas Farmers Association where he is an active member and has overseen on previous years the Farmers Association imports of Californian seed products. Currently Miguel is also an active member of the Chamber of Tourism and Commerce where he serves on the events committee and part of the board as Treasurer. Miguel has participated in serving as a translator on medical missions in Guna-Yala and the province of Darien, and fund raising activities for local food programs.

Christine Bardolf Thomas, retired:

Ms. Thomas is a founding member of the Fundacion Arte y Cultura de Tierras Altas and is currently serving as the Librarian. She was born and raised in the United States and received her Bachelor’s degree from Clemson University, and a Master's Degree in Education from Framingham University. She taught ESL at the Japanese School in Costa Rica, and Science and Biology at a private school. She was the Elementary Librarian at an American International School for 23 years in Costa Rica. She has worked for over 20 years with the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation working with indigenous groups, as well as other marginalized groups of Nicaraguan migrants and street kids. She is a reviewer for the Wells Mountain Foundation, which gives scholarships to promising students with financial needs in developing countries. She is also in a consulting group for the Tropical Forest Management Foundation. Chris has lived between Panama and Costa Rica for the past 42 years.

Juan Gregorio David Fillis Romero, Administrator & Farmer

Mr. Fillis currently serves as Second Vocal. Mr. Fillis was born in David, Chiriqui and received his Bachelor in Animal Science from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Mr. Fillis is the administrator of Colegio San Benito, he is also a Coffee, Dairy and Cattlle Farmer . Mr. Fillis is also active in Cooperativa de Servicios Multiples de Productores de Leche, R.L (Board of Directors), Asociación de Productores de Renacimiento (Board of Directors), Asociación Nacional de Beneficiadores y Exportadores de Café (Board of Directors), Specialty Coffee Association of Panama and Cadena Agro-alimentaria del Café (President).