
Michael Capponi
Michael Capponi is known as one of the key pioneers instrumental in shaping the image, popularity, and growth of Miami Beach. Over the past 30 years, Michael has been a leading force in the hospitality and entertainment industries and one of the most accomplished residential real estate developers in South Florida. Michael’s humanitarian and philanthropic missions started in 1999. He is now fully retired from the private sector and focuses 100% of his time and efforts on GEM. He now brings the skills of his prior endeavors to his philanthropic work with GEM.
He has built an international organization that’s disrupting the disaster sector through its innovative, efficient and modernized systems. Unlike many non profit executives, Michael is hands on, boots on the ground, on the field and the offices. He oversees the management of 6 international branches on multiple continents. Read More.
Headquarters
Michael Capponi
President-CEO
Erika Ruiz
Chief Financial Officer
Raul Celaya
Vice President of US Operations
Jeff Popovich
Director of Global Operations
Executive Finance Team
Jessica Olivares
Senior Finance Director
Omar Elshabrawy
Finance Director
Maria Zuniga
Senior accountant
Sergio Flores
Senior accountant
Cynthia Hernandez
Senior accountant
Operations
Hana El Gamal
Director of Global Logistics
Kimberley Bentley
US Director of Field Missions
Billy Richardson
Warehouse Manager HQ
Johnny Knowles
Assistant Warehouse Manager HQ
Ricardo Roca
Warehouse Supervisor HQ
Kathy Calderon
Missions Manager
Hope Westling
Operations Manager
Santiago Neira
Community Projects Lead
Emily Garland
US Program Lead
Donor Department
Mila Gonzalez
Development Operations Manager
Rene Dago III
Institutional Giving Manager
Alina Kurska
International Affairs Director
Michael Kesti
US Government Affairs Director
Alistair Kiyingi
Community Engagement Manager
[email protected]
Sue Cushman
Director of Global In-Kind
David Brooks
Strategic Partnerships
Public Relations
Bianca Bucaram
Public Relations
[email protected]
Alexandra Lansky
[email protected]
Katazyna Merrett
Europe-Middle East
[email protected]
Marketing Team
Clif Loftin
Marketing Director
Spencer Taylor
Director of Video and Imaging
Taylor Jenisch
Video Manager
Robin Watson
Video Manager
HR & Legal
Peter Homer
Head Council
Gregory Homer
Employment Council
Jennifer Fredricksen
Human Resources manager
US Registered Branches
USA West Coast (NW California & Los Angeles)
Elizabeth Jernberg
Director of Operations, USA West
Jason Jernberg
Warehouse and Inventory Manager, USA West
Joe Alvino Castro
Warehouse Associate
Jessie Ingalls
Field Missions, USA West
GEM Hawai’i-Pacific
Danielle Kawehi Dreis
Executive Director
Christy Mendoza
Finance Manager
Kamaka Kan-Hai
Manager of DCMP & RAP
Niki Trivison
Executive Assistant
Jacek Zylak
Construction Supervisor
GEM Caribbean
Deika Morrison
Executive Country Director
GEM Europe
Majel Wilson
Executive Director
Wiktor Nguyen Van
Chief Financial Officer
Wiktoria Maciejewicz
Director of Field Missions
Filip Skrzypczak
Field Missions
Grezgorz Swiatek
Warehouse Manager
Roman Andriychuk
Director of Road Transport
Katazyna Merrett
Public Relations, Europe
[email protected]
GEM Ukraine Branch
Alina Kurska
Director of Ukraine Programs
Andriy Negrych
Director of Operations
Mykhailo Kinash
Chief Financial Officer
Tetiana Radchuk
Chief Accountant
Serhii Perminow
Legal Council
Volodymyr Kuriennoi
Warehouse Manager
Vira Negrych
Inventory Director
Antonina Kinash
Inventory Manager
Mariana Yavorska
Reporting Manager
GEM Middle East
Cairo- Palestine Branches
Nuha Bashir
Executive Country Director, MENA Palestine
Ahmed Qandeel
Operations Director, MENA North Africa
Joudy Habash
Mission Lead
Türkiye Branch
Ayça Aydın
Executive Country Director
Gürhan Çevik
Warehouse and Inventory Manager
Latin America Branch
Luis Velasquez
Executive Director
Luis Guillermo
Field Missions
Haiti Branch
Claude Forbin
Executive Country Director
Danoushka Capponi
Director of Haiti Programs, Director of Educational Programs
Yougains Fils
Programs Manager
Kesny Phillipe
Community Center Administrator
Our Board

BASH KAZI
Bash Kazi is a seasoned executive with a proven track record in leadership, management, and entrepreneurship, showcasing expertise across various industries. Currently, he serves on the executive board of Global Empowerment Mission, leveraging his extensive network and expertise to foster high-level government partnerships and execute impactful programs globally. His dedication to making a positive impact is evident in his work with GEM, where he has contributed to several on-ground missions and programs in countries like Turkey, Morocco, and Israel. Read More
Junior Committee
GEM encourages the youth to get involved in humanitarian initiatives.
Join our Team
GEM is on a mission to deliver the most amount of aid, to the most amount of people in need, in the shortest amount of time and with the least amount of costs to our donors. We are a fast-paced team passionate about disrupting disaster relief with a complete 360-degree response. Ready to get started?