Current board members

Anthony Tak On Leung

Chairman, 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.

Linda Kristina Chang Quintero

Vice president and legal representative, 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.

Laurie Diane Lemmlie-Leung

Secretary, 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.

Rossana Saccucci Tarantini (Roxx)

Treasurer, editor

Ms. Tarantini currently serves as Treasurer and as a member of the Fundraising Sub committee. She was born in Canada and is of Italian heritage. She has a degree in languages [French, Italian, & Spanish] from York University, Toronto. Additionally, Ms. Tarantini has certifications in Accounting, Facilities Management, and, most recently, Editing. While working freelance for most of her career, this is her first position as a Board Member for a non-profit Foundation.

Chris Arias

Spanish tutor

Ms. Arias currently serves as the Fiscal and 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.

Christine Bardolf Thomas

Librarian, retired

Ms. Thomas is a founding member of the Fundacion Arte y Cultura de Tierras Altas and is currently serving as the First Vocal and 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.

Estela Ritter Pangtay

Third vocal, 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.

Alan John Baumbach

Treasurer, retired

Mr. Baumbach is a founding member of the Fundacion Arte y Cultura de Tierras Altas and currently serves as a Consultant. 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.

Nahomi Soto

Advisor, engineering student

Nahomi Soto is an advisor to the Foundation for Art and Culture of Tierras Altas. She was born and raised in Panama City and is currently a student of Administrative Industrial Engineering. She has participated in different volunteer activities over the years and is passionate about helping the community. At the library, she also supports social media and helps promote community activities and programs.

Former board members

• Cheryl Roe Michel, retired
• Stephanie Llean Charpentier Santamaría, architect
• Miguel Eduardo Samudio Ledezma, civil service
• Ana Iris Tribaldos Jarquin, administration