Meet Our Team
Michael Capponi
Michael Capponi is the founder and president of Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), a leading international disaster relief nonprofit dedicated to providing swift, strategic, and sustainable aid to communities in crisis. A visionary humanitarian and entrepreneur, Capponi has leveraged his decades of experience in real estate development, logistics, and philanthropy to transform GEM into one of the most agile and impactful organizations in the global aid sector. Read Full Bio.
Headquarters
Michael Capponi
President-CEO
Erika Ruiz, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Jeff Popovich
Chief Operating Officer
Executive Finance Team
Jessica Olivares
Senior Finance Director
Maria Zuniga
Senior accountant
Cynthia Hernandez
Senior accountant
Lizbeth Iglesias
Senior accountant
Marcela Herran
Finance Manager
Dannelis Silva
Accounting Clerk
Sandra Charolet
Staff Accountant
Operations
Hana El Gamal
Director of Global Transportation
Kimberley Bentley
Director of Emergency Management
Billy Richardson
Director of U.S. Logistics
Johnny Knowles
Assistant Warehouse Manager HQ
Yahya Haroun
Assistant to VP of Global Operations
Richard Roca
Warehouse Supervisor HQ
Kathy Calderon
Missions Manager
Santiago Neira
Community Lead
Ronald Borras
Warehouse Associate
Oswaldo Marrero
Quality Control
Marta Contreras
Maintenance
Luis Ramos Reyes
Maintenance
Donor Department
Mila Gonzalez
Philanthropy Manager
Rene Dago III
Institutional Giving Manager
Alina Capponi
International Affairs Director
Michael Kesti
US Government Affairs Director
Alistair Kiyingi
Corporate Relations Manager
Sue Cushman
Director of Global In-Kind
Debbi Criswell
Director of Donations Management
David Brooks
Strategic Partnerships
Public Relations
Bianca Bucaram
Public Relations
Katazyna Merrett
Europe-Middle East
Marketing Team
Damian Perez
Marketing Coordinator
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 Specialist
US Registered Branches
USA West
Elizabeth Jernberg
Director of Operations, USA West
Jason Jernberg
Warehouse and Inventory Manager, USA West
Jessie Ingalls
Field Missions, USA West
GEM Hawaii-Pacific
Danielle Kawehi Dreis
Executive Director
Kamaka Kan-Hai
Programs Manager
Niki Trivison
Executive Assistant
Yvonne Lang
Program Advocate
Tamra Vasquez
Housing Specialist Supervisor
Keala Vasconcellos
Housing Specialist
Michelle Hillen
Housing Specialist
Michelle Carpenter
Housing Specialist
Tereva Jacobson
Program Advocate
DeAnna Taitua Adams
Housing Specialist
Alexa Arzola
Housing Specialist
Joice Castillo
Housing Specialist
Sara Hambrick
DCMP Program Manager
Tracie Brown
DCMP Data & Compliance Manager
Tessa Hypes
DCMP Data & Admin Coordinator
Haylee Gillmore
Outreach Care Navigator (DCMP)
Angel Kamaka
DCMP Housing Coordinator
Anthony DiPaolo
DCMP Construction Cost Analyst
USA Southwest
Conan Scott
Director of Operations, USA Southwest
Marcus McLemore
Business Case Manager Supervisor
Stephanie Hodges
Volunteer Coordinator, USA Southwest
Dave Parker
Warehouse Supervisor
Aaron Bowman
Warehouse Associate & Driver
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
GEM Ukraine Branch
Alina Capponi
Director of Ukraine Programs
Andriy Negrych
Director of Operations
Mykhailo Kinash
Chief Financial Officer
Tetiana Radchuk
Chief Accountant
Serhii Perminov
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
Samir Majed Al Neirab
Operations Manager
Türkiye Branch
Ayça Aydın
Executive Country Director
Gürhan Çevik
Warehouse and Inventory Manager
Latin America Branch
Luis Velasquez
Executive Director
Eugenia Wallis
Executive Assistant to President, GEM LATAM
Lucia Coll
Mission Lead
Luis Guillermo
Field Missions
Haiti Branch
Claude Forbin
Executive Country Director
Danoushka Capponi
Director Haiti Educational Programs
Yougains Fils
Programs Manager
Kesny Philippe
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?