Laura Pincus Hartman
Executive Director, the School of Choice Education Organization (Founder)
Board of Directors & Advisory Council Members
Leah Bryant
Associate Professor, College of Communication, DePaul University (Board Member)
Julie Gedro
Associate Professor of Business, Management and Economics, Empire State College / State University of New York (Advisory Council Member)
Fritz Jean
President, Institut Haitien d’Observatoire de Politiques Publiques (Board Member)
Georgette Jean-Louis
Director General, CEO and Member of the Board of Governors, Bank of the Republic of Haiti (Board Member)
Rob J. Padberg
Founder And General Manager, Bureau de Nutrition et Développement (Board Member)
Toni Sottak
Co-founder and Managing Director of Wired Island (Choix Communication Director) (Board Member, on leave)
Nancy Walton
Director and Associate Professor, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Ryerson University (Board Member)
Leslie West
Senior Vice President, BCD Travel; Board Chair, BCD Travel Foundation (Advisory Council Member)
Samyr Laine
Haitian-American Olympic athlete, entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, attorney, & educator (Advisory Council Member)
Laura Pincus Hartman
Laura Pincus Hartman co-founded and currently serves as Executive Director of the School of Choice Education Organization, which oversees l’Ecole de Choix. Laura’s efforts in Haiti focus on creating access to resources and capital for people living in the most extreme conditions of poverty, while also demonstrating to both for-profits and non-profits the value of partnering with Haitian entrepreneurs. Previously, she co-designed and implemented an online micro-development, finance and education system for Haitians living in poverty, Zafèn (in partnership with Fonkoze). She also served for several years as Director of External Partnerships for Zynga.org, the philanthropic arm of Zynga, Inc.
Between 2015 and 2017, Hartman served as the inaugural Director of the Susilo Institute for Ethics in the Global Economy and Clinical Professor of Business Ethics in the department of Organizational Behavior at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. Hartman currently is on an extended leave from her position at DePaul University where she has been on the faculty since 1990, and has been honored to serve in other roles there, including Associate Vice President of the University, Vincent de Paul Professor of Business Ethics at its Driehaus College of Business, and both director and Senior Wicklander Fellow at its Institute for Business and Professional Ethics.
Hartman graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University and received her law degree from the University of Chicago Law School. She divides her time between Sint Maarten, Haiti and Chicago, and has valued her role as a mother to two daughters.
Ione Cassens
Ione Cassens is Campus Director for l’Ecole de Choix, Haiti’s School of Choice. The elementary school located in Haiti’s countryside provides children living in the most extreme conditions of poverty access to a high quality, trilingual education with a focus on leadership development. Through her direct and personal work with the students on campus, Ione is able to convey to Choix partners and supporters throughout the world the thoughts and emotions of a community, as she shares their voices through images and student correspondence.
Ione studied photography and journalism at Columbia College, as well as English, Sociology and African American Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Though she visits Chicago periodically, Ione lives permanently in Haiti.
Julie Gedro
Dr. Gedro holds a Doctorate of Education in Adult Education and Human Resource Development from the University of Georgia. Prior to becoming an academic, Dr. Gedro served in Human Resource Management and Development positions of increasing responsibility in the finance, technology and telecommunications sectors in Atlanta, GA. She has served in senior leadership roles in regional and national non-profit organizations. She is on the editorial boards of academic journals such as the Human Resource Development Review, and Advances in Developing Human Resources. At Empire State College, her research and scholarship have earned numerous awards, such as the Jane Altes Prize for Community Service, and the Susan H. Turben Award for Excellence in Scholarship. Her research interests include diversity, civility, leadership, and business and sustainability.
Georgette Jean-Louis
Georgette Jean-Louis is a member of the Board of Governors of the Central Bank of Haiti. Previously, Mme. Jean-Louis served as COO of Fonkoze, the largest alternative bank in Haiti serving a population of people in poverty with both traditional loans and microloans, among other financial services. Ms. Jean-Louis played a key role in Fonkoze’s response to the Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake, which included record remittance payouts and the emergency implementation of catastrophe insurance for clients.
Mme. Jean-Louis comes to these positions with over twenty-four (24) years of diversified expertise in various spheres of activities evolving in sectors such as: banking and non-banking financial institutions, public and private institutions, governmental and non-governmental organizations, of national and international scales and areas including: regulation and supervision, auditing and controls, governance and operations.
Leah Bryant
Dr. Bryant has BA degrees in Speech Communication and Psychology and an MA in Speech Communication from Southwest Texas State University. She received her PhD from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Communication Studies. Her research examines communication challenges in relational contexts and her projects include communication in bereaved families, stepfamily communication, sibling communication, privacy and disclosure in close relationships, and instructional communication strategies affecting teacher-student relationships. Bryant is a committed member of the DePaul community and within her academic discipline. Within the community, Leah volunteers her time as an adoption counselor at PAWS Animal Shelter, as a Presidential Leadership Council member of the Field Museum, at the Old Town School of Folk Music, and the Peterson Garden Project.
Malcolm D. Morris
Mr. Morris is an architect with a wide-ranging background in construction and design of commercial and complex residential buildings. Senior roles in large architectural firms, his own firm, his own real-estate development company, and now as an owner’s representative working for a few select clients, reinforce his expertise in architecture, construction management, project management, building systems and details, design and real estate development. Mr. Morris has served as the Director of Design and Development for FATEM, has played a pivotal role in the design and development of L’Ecole de Choix and, along with local architects, engineers and contractors, has served as the owner’s representative for the construction of the school.
Rob J. Padberg
Of Dutch nationality, Mr. Padberg arrived in Haiti in early 1978 after having spent almost ten years in Suriname. Once in Haiti, he became the General Manager of a Dutch international trading company and at the same time the Honorary Consul General of the Netherlands. A continued post, at the termination of his last contract in Haïti, with a challenge of the combination of commercial, development and organizational activities in combination with his Consular responsibilities made it possible for him and his family to remain in Haïti and to endeavor to be of service and give a little back to their adopted “home-country.”
Through BND, Mr. Padberg oversees the provision of hundreds of thousands of school meals and snacks to children throughout all of rural Haiti, often with local ingredients.
Vinny Rama
Vinny Rama is senior project manager at Scholastic, Inc. where manages both individual technology projects and complex, multi-year programs of interrelated projects. His recent projects include cloud transformation strategies, eCommerce business applications and enterprise data warehouse initiatives. Prior to Scholastic, Vinny worked for twenty-five years in the financial district of New York City managing technology projects in the areas of risk management, portfolio management and trade support.
In addition to his day job at Scholastic, Vinny is an adjunct professor in the Philosophy department at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey. In 2015 Vinny was recognized with the Award for Adjunct Excellence for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at William Paterson. The award presentation highlighted Vinny’s development of the Ethics and Community Engagement course in which his students discuss ethical issues in the news, and also participate in a practical project that addresses ethical issues in the community. Since 2012, Vinny’s students have fulfilled their community engagement requirement by supporting L’Ecole de Choix. They have hosted fundraisers on campus, sent medical and dental supplies to Haiti, and sponsored individual students at L’Ecole de Choix.
Vinny has also been active in the management of his local community in Packanack Lake, New Jersey. He has served on the Board of Governors for the Packanack Lake Community Association and has participated for over fifteen years in the Packanack Lake Athletic Association as president, commissioner of adult athletics and coach of youth baseball, football, soccer, softball and basketball. In recognition of his many years of volunteer work in support of the Packanack Lake Community, Vinny was inducted into the Packanack Lake Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2012.
Marly Schott
Marly Schott is Program Associate of Elevated Chicago, a collaboration of public, private and civic organizations promoting racially equitable development in Chicago neighborhoods, with a focus on equitable Transit Oriented Development (eTOD). In this capacity, she supports leadership, communications and project coordination of the initiative, including relationship management with 16 Steering Committee members and 100+ partners, including funders, grantees and government agencies. Under Marly’s supervision, Elevated Chicago has awarded $1M to organizations promoting racial equity, community development, health, arts and culture, and environmental issues in communities of color. Marly began her career in philanthropy in 2015 as a member of the Program Department of The Chicago Community Trust, where she supported grantmaking, project management, and operations. Prior to joining the Trust, Marly worked as Project Manager in market research, and as a teacher in the Chicago Public Schools. Marly received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Loyola University of Chicago and recently completed her Masters of Nonprofit Management from the Spertus Institute. In addition to serving on the Advisory Board for l’Ecole de Choix, Marly is an avid volunteer for local organizations in her hometown of Chicago.
Toni Sottak
Toni Sottak is co-founder of Wired Island International LLC, a full service, independent PR agency that provides strategic marketing-communications services to companies in high-growth segments in the technology and travel sectors. For the past two decades, Toni has worked with entrepreneurs and technology pioneers, developing and implementing product, corporate and investor communications programs for companies such as: Apple Computer, Autodesk, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and the Turks and Caicos Tourism Board. From Silicon Valley to the Caribbean and now Europe, Toni has lived and worked in three different countries gaining invaluable experience in cross-cultural communications, as well as recognition in a book called Life 2.0 by Rich Karlgaard, publisher of Forbes, that highlights how people transform their life by finding the “where” of their happiness.
Toni serves as Choix’s Director of Communication and is the main point of contact for all press or information inquiries related to Choix.
Nancy Walton
In addition to her above positions, Dr. Walton is currently the Chair of the Women’s College Hospital Research Ethics Board and also has served as Chair of the Ryerson University Research Ethics Board (2004-2013), Vice Chair of Senate, as well as an elected member on numerous search committees (President, Provost, VP Research, Chief Librarian), policy review committees and task forces.
Dr. Walton has a PhD in Nursing with completion of the Collaborative Program in Bioethics from the University of Toronto (2003) and an undergraduate degree in nursing science from Ryerson (1992). She has published and presented on priority setting and decision-making, ethical considerations of internet-based research, research ethics board composition, and ethical and legal considerations in other aspects of her research.
Prior to her academic career, her clinical nursing work included roles as a staff nurse, nurse clinician and research associate in cardiology and cardiac surgery. She also worked as a researcher at the Instituto Costarricense de Investigación y Enseñanza en Nutrición y Salud (Costa Rican Institute of Research and Education in Nutrition and Health) in Tres Rios de Cartago, Costa Rica (1995-1996). Dr. Walton was a longstanding member with expertise in ethics on the Research Ethics Board at the Hospital for Sick Children, and has served both community and professional organizations with her medical and ethics expertise. Notably, in 2016, she was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Canadian Association of Research Ethics Boards.
She is the Canadian author of the textbook, “Ethics and Issues in Contemporary Nursing” (3rd edition, Nelson, 2017), among others books and journal publications.
Kyle Vander Meulen
Senior Consultant Kyle Vander Meulen is based out of our Oak Park office. Kyle volunteers with Housing Forward and previously worked as a senior project associate with Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. He has extensive experience with grant writing, event management, donor research, and foundation and corporate strategies. Kyle provides expert knowledge to his clients in major donor clubs; planned giving; board development; strategic planning; annual reports; leadership and personnel searches; and departmental management and coordination.
Kyle studied Religion as an undergraduate at George Washington University and Religious Ethics as a graduate student at the University of Chicago Divinity School. He lives in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park.
Leslie West
Ms. West is a global operations executive who created BCD’s first global organization, consolidating disparate divisions and setting the pace for management of large, multi-country groups. Ms. West has been credited in driving account revenue from an $800K annual loss to more than $4M profit. Her flagship product effort—a multiyear, large business intelligence reporting platform project, represents one of the largest initiatives in BCD’s history. Designed to provide customers with an innovative, web-enabled reporting platform, the project represents a shift to the next generation of business intelligence and has positioned BCD Travel in the forefront of the market.
Ms. West’s previous roles include Vice President Travel, Vice President Corporate Travel & Meeting Operations, Vice President of Back Office and Wholesale Leisure Director Operations Leslie managed a large groups of travel counselors, handled meetings, incentives and event management, call centers, managed large facility build-outs and led financial and data aggregation system operations.
Ms. West studied Agricultural Science at Texas A&M University, and holds a Six Sigma Yellow Belt from Motorola University. She is a USCG Licensed Master Captain and member of the American Professional Captains Association and United States Power Squadron.
David Sherman
David A. Sherman is the Chairman of Benj. E. Sherman & Sons, Inc., a Chicago-based real estate firm focusing on apartment ownership around the country. Mr. Sherman completed his undergraduate work at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and received his MBA from the Harvard Business School.
Mr. Sherman is vice chair of the Board of Trustees of The Jewish Federations of North America, immediate past Board Chair of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, an $80 million social service agency, and previously was the chairman of JUF’s Annual Campaign. Mr. Sherman has received multiple honors and awards for his service and, in 2012, was the youngest person ever to receive the highest honor offered by the Jewish Federation, the Julius Rosenwald Award.
David is married to Susan and they have five children.
Rosellie
Place of birth? Carrefour, Port-au-Prince
Name of the university or other professional school attended and location?
Institut National de Jeunesse et des Sciences des Sport (Port-au-Prince) and Ecole de Droit et des Sciences Economiques des Gonaives (Gonaives)
Subject of specialization?
Diplôme en education physique et sportive, Diplôme en science administrative
Why did you become a teacher?
“I love sports and I have been a practicing athlete since I was 5 years old. While teaching sports and athletics allows me to develop the motor capacities and practical physical capacities of our students, it also allows me to encourage their social values, respect for structure and rules, respect for themselves and for others.”
What do you find to be most inspiring about working at Choix?
“At Choix, students practice athletics through both physical education and also have the chance to participate in team sports. With team sports, I can realize my dream to support students to become true international athletes.”
Georgette
Place of birth? Mirebalais
Name of the university or other professional school attended and location?
Jeanne Mance du Canada (PAP) and Centre Polytechnique Applique de Mirebalais (Mirebalais)
Subject of specialization?
Education
Why did you become a teacher?
“I had the opportunity to work at Choix several years ago and I decided to become a teacher because of that experience, I realized how important it was to educate our children. So I decided to continue my education at CPAM.”
What do you find to be most inspiring about working at Choix?
“Choix inspired me to become a teacher, and now I want to help our students learn at Choix.”
Josue
Place of birth? Port-au-Prince
Name of the university or other professional school attended and location?
America English School (English language study), College Universitaire de Christianville (Licensed in Education Science), Indiana Wesleyan University (Masters in Education)
Subject of specialization?
Masters in Education
Why did you become a teacher?
“Facing the different problems of the education system in Haiti, I became a teacher in order to contribute to the quality of education as much as possible.”
What do you find to be most inspiring about working at Choix?
The program of the school, the promotion of leadership development for the students, and the good relationships among the staff are the most inspiring aspects about working at Choix.”
Lominy
Place of birth? Abricots
Name of the university or other professional school attended and location?
CFEF FDM Université Notre Dame d’Haiti (PAP)
Subject of specialization?
Sciences d’Education
Why did you become a teacher?
“I became a teacher, first, to help students to find a way to participate in changing their country and, second, because teaching helps me to learn subjects better.”
What do you find to be most inspiring about working at Choix?
“For me the most inspiring aspects about working at Choix are the relationships between the employees and the structure of the school.”
Yves
Place of birth? Mirebalais
Name of the university or other professional school attended and location?
Centre Polytechnique Applique de Mirebalais (Mirebalais)
Subject of specialization?
Education
Why did you become a teacher?
“I love teaching! My father and my sister both are teachers. I became a teacher because I know that I can bring something new to the education of my country about the way that we teach people.”
What do you find to be most inspiring about working at Choix?
“A new education is promoted at Choix. The method we use to teach our student, respect is shown to all and by all. This process is very inspiring and it inspires me to work at Choix.”
Glinide
Place of birth? Boucan-Carré
Name of the university or other professional school attended and location?
Ecole Normale d’Instituteurs des Salésiens (PAP)
Subject of specialization?
Education
Why did you become a teacher?
“I choose to become a teacher because I want to reinforce education and because I believe that teaching is a noble task.”
What do you find to be most inspiring about working at Choix?
“What is inspiring to me about working at Choix is the way that teaching is done here as compared to other schools. The students are very happy to learn new things!”
Jonathan
Place of birth? Carrefour, Port-au-Prince
Name of the university or other professional school attended and location?
ICOFA Ecole Normal (PAP)
Subject of specialization?
English
Why did you become a teacher?
“I became a teacher because I believe in the power of education and because I believe that every child in Haiti deserves to be educated.”
What do you find to be most inspiring about working at Choix?
“I see that Choix is a special school for children to learn. It has plenty of open space, enough materials, books, everything that students should have in order to be able to learn, develop physically and intellectually. The teaching methods are very good and those are so important.”
Kenson
Place of birth? Port-au-Prince
Name of the university or other professional school attended and location?
Centre Polytechnique de Mirebalais (Mirebalais)
Subject of specialization?
Math
Why did you become a teacher?
“I decided to become a teacher because I wanted to help children to access a good education and to build the future generation of leaders.”
What do you find to be most inspiring about working at Choix?
“The way that teaching is done at Choix, the method that we use is very inspiring – it is based on respect and leadership.”
Wastoode
Place of birth? Jérémie
Name of the university or other professional school attended and location?
CFEF FDM Université Notre Dame d’Haiti (PAP) and Ecole de Droits et des Sciences Economiques de Gonaives (Gonaives)
Subject of specialization?
Sciences d’Education and Sciences d’Administration
Why did you become a teacher?
“The powerful key to development is education. I became a teacher to contribute to the development of humanity.”
What do you find to be most inspiring about working at Choix?
“At Choix, we do not integrate only the ‘best.’ What inspires me the most is that we take the weakest and we educate to make them better for a new world.”
Nancy
Place of birth? Belladère
Name of the university or other professional school attended and location?
Université Louis Pasteur
Subject of specialization?
Nursing (Registered Nurse)
Why did you become a teacher?
“I have always wanted to care for people who are not well.”
What do you find to be most inspiring about working at Choix?
“Choix is an institution that is helping the community through education. As a nurse, it is important that Choix help in many ways, including through health so as a member of that community, I am proud to be able to offer my services.”
Richardson
Place of birth? Port au Prince
Name of the university or other professional school attended and location?
Collège Universitaire de Christianville (Gressier, Port au Prince)
Subject of specialization?
Licensed in the Sciences of Education (has his bachelors) and currently pursuing a Masters in Education
Why did you become a teacher?
“I decided to become a teacher in order to contribute to effective education in Haiti.”
What do you find to be most inspiring about working at Choix?
“The educational environment that promotes better learning. Also I find the school program very interesting and the treatment toward teachers very satisfactory.”
Samyr Laine
As a track and field athlete representing Haiti in international competitions for nearly a decade, Samyr Laine is not only among the very best athletes that Haiti has ever seen, he is very easily among the best in the world in his discipline: the triple jump. He is Haiti’s national record holder with a jump of 17.39 meters, has won multiple medals for Haiti at various international competitions (one bronze and one gold at the Central American and Caribbean Games, as well as a silver at the Pan American Sports Festival) and has represented Haiti at 3 Pan American Games, 7 different World Indoor and Outdoor Championships and 1 Olympic Games. Many times, Samyr was the lone Haitian athlete to qualify for those global championships but he didn’t just attend, he qualified for the finals at the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2013 World Championships finishing 11th at both global competitions. On several occasions he finished in the top 10 on the world ranking list of top triple jump distances in a particular year, and year in and year out he was a staple on the IAAF Diamond League circuit, which is the top competitive circuit in the sport. Before beginning to represent Haiti, Samyr was an NCAA All-American in college, held the Ivy League conference record for a time, and still holds the Harvard University school record in the triple jump.
Aside from his athletic accomplishments, Samyr has earned degrees from Harvard University, as well as The University of Texas and Georgetown University’s law school; the latter of which he earned while traveling the world, competing as a professional athlete and representing Haiti. He is a member of the New York State Bar and serves as the Director of Player Relations and Competition for Major League Soccer. Before joining MLS, Samyr was the Counsel of Legislative and Government Affairs for Monumental Sports and Entertainment in Washington, DC. He is a published author, has served as an adjunct professor at Marymount University (Arlington, Virginia) and is a sought after speaker, inspiring others by sharing his own personal story as well as his expertise on various sports business and sports law matters.
One of Samyr’s highest priorities is his non-profit organization, Jump for Haiti, which he hopes will make a lasting impact in the lives of children in Haiti through sport and education. Samyr had been working with schools and orphanages in Haiti even before founding his own organization and frequently works with high schools and mentors student-athletes in the U.S. as well.
Richardson
Place of birth? Port au Prince
Name of the university or other professional school attended and location?
Collège Universitaire de Christianville (Gressier, Port au Prince)
Subject of specialization?
Licensed in the Sciences of Education (has his bachelors) and currently pursuing a Masters in Education
Why did you become a teacher?
“I decided to become a teacher in order to contribute to effective education in Haiti.”
What do you find to be most inspiring about working at Choix?
“The educational environment that promotes better learning. Also I find the school program very interesting and the treatment toward teachers very satisfactory.”
Jamcy
Place of birth? Abricots
Name of the university or other professional school attended and location?
CFEF FDM Université Notre Dame d’Haiti (PAP
Subject of specialization?
Sciences d’Education
Why did you become a teacher?
“I became a teacher primarily to educate children who do not have any possibility to attend other schools.”
What do you find to be most inspiring about working at Choix?
“For me the most inspiring part about working at Choix is the structure of the school, the way that we all treat each other and the relationships between the employees.”
Fodner Pierre Louis
Raised in Mirebalais, Fodner Pierre Louis will receive his university degree in December 2019 from the Université Américaine des Sciences Modernes d’Haiti (UNASMOH) with a focus on Information Science, graphics and programming, and received additional credits from the Centre Polytechnique Appliqué de Mirebalais (CEPAM) (École Normale Instituteur / Pédagogique), where he also earned a certificate in classroom management. Prior to joining Choix, Fodner was a professor at Écoles Mixte Pentacostale de Mirebalais, La Voie Lactée de Domond-Péligre, and Institution Mixte Le Paradis de la Croix-des-Bouquets. Fluent in three languages, Fodner engages in a number of volunteer activities, sharing his expertise with organizations in the region. Fodner brings to Choix his valuable knowledge of the intersection of technology, curriculum, innovation and his sheer joy of engaging with information and we are thrilled to include him on our leadership team!
Nina Barreiro
Nina Barreiro is a Business Solutions Analyst in Corporate IT for Illinois Tool Works where she acts as a liaison between IT and various corporate functions ensuring that their technology needs are met. Prior to ITW she worked in Management Consulting for 20+ years with a variety of consulting firms providing similar value for clients. In this capacity she helped client companies to identify their business problems and understand how they could best be addressed via technology.
Nina studied Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and lives in Chicago, IL.
Fritz Jean
Fritz JEAN is a Haitian economist who brings 25 years of experience in Haiti’s public and private sectors while serving in high-level positions with government agencies, educational facilities, and community-based organizations. He has led a number of tangible projects in several sectors, specifically economic and financially-related. He has worked extensively in northern Haiti with the private sector.
Fritz Jean served as Governor of the Banque de la République d’Haïti (BRH), following a term as Deputy Governor. At the end of his term, Mr. Jean became a well-regarded consultant with the LJR Investment Group where he managed several successful projects focused on strengthening financial institutions throughout Haiti’s Northern Corridor, including strategic planning for financial institutions, revising NGO’s credit facilities in the informal sector, and the agricultural sector.
He has held a number of prominent positions, including President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Professions of the Northeast, was the founding member of the Haitian Stock Exchange and also has served as the Dean of the Catholic University “Université Notre Dame d’Haïti,”, where he chaired the Faculty of Economics and was on the Board of Directors for Haitian Project Christian Development. In this role, he encouraged the incubation of several innovative projects.
In February, 2016, he briefly served as an interim Prime Minister of Haiti.
Mr. Jean obtained a BS in math and economics at Fordham University, a masters degree in economics at Long Island University, and completed his Ph.D at the New School for Social Research. Mr. Jean is the author of « Haïti : La Fin d’une Histoire Economique » and « Haiti: Une Economie de Violence ».
He serves now as president of INHOPP (Institut Haitien d’Observatoire de Politiques Publiques).
Fritz Duroseau
Fritz DUROSEAU holds a Master’s degree in Economics. He joined the Central Bank of Haïti in 1995 and, since September 2007, he has been a Member of the Board. From year 2001 to 2007, he was the Head of the International Affairs Department of BRH. He has represented BRH to the National Anti-Money Laundering Committee (CNLBA) and also was part of the National Commission that negotiated the membership of Haiti to the CARICOM Community. Most of his work is related to Public Policy, Macroeconomics, Economic Development and Tourism development.
He also has worked for his university as a teaching fellow for the undergraduate courses of Econometrics and Research. From 1995 to date, he has participated in several short term intensive Executive Education programs in the fields of Macroeconomic Development, Leading Economic Growth, Macroeconomic Policy Management and Financial Policies, Financial Programming, Financial Inclusion, Leadership, Public Policy.
In his own words:
After completing my master’s degree in economics in Montreal and working as a teaching fellow in econometrics for one year, I moved back to Haiti in 1995. I started my career at the BRH at the macroeconomic research department, became a member of the Monetary policy Committee, then the head of the International department, and reached the executive board since September 2007. I’ve also worked as a consultant on macroeconomic and development policy issues. I represented the Bank on several national commissions: Regional Integration to the Caricom Community (common market), Financial Inclusion, Anti-Money Laundering, Trade and migrations with Dominican Republic. I’ve attended several executive trainings courses mostly on Macroeconomic, Monetary and Financial policies, Macro prudential policies and Growth policies.
As an executive board member at BRH, I notably oversee the technical departments dealing with macroeconomic and external sector policies. I’m deeply involved in the monitoring process of the foreign exchange market and work a lot on incentive mechanisms, public policy proposals that could lead to a sustainable long term economic growth.
I deeply believe that Haiti can converge towards the maximization of its full long term economic potential with a valorization of its numerous value chains. This requires that key stakeholders of the Haitian society reach the consensus around a vision of Haiti’s development and of the country’s State and the minimal public policies necessary to reach the path of the objectives associated with the identified vision.