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Maryse Pénette-Kedar, is the Founder and Board President of the Progress through Development through Education Foundation (PRODEV), where she oversees the foundation’s efforts to manage three schools in different parts of Haiti and offers access to quality education to more than 1000 students. Pénette-Kedar is also co-chairs of the Haitian Center for Leadership and Excellence (CLE). She started her public career in the early 1980’s, when she successively served as a commercial attaché at the Embassy of Haiti in Washington, D.C. and later as a Minister Counsellor and Chargé d’Affaires at the Haitian Embassy in Belgium. She played a critical role in negotiating Haiti’s entry in the Lomé Convention IV, in trade and aid agreement between the European Economic Community (EEC) and 71 African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries. She was Haiti’s Tourism Secretary of State in the 90’s, undertook a critically needed inventory of Haiti’s natural assets, and gave Haiti its first Tourism Masterplan. She currently serves as the Senior Consultant to Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and the President of SOLANO, Royal Caribbean’s affiliate in Haiti. Pénette-Kedar’s civic mindedness has been recognized throughout the years, most notably with the Grand Croix, the highest honor and recognition bestowed by the Government of Haiti, for her accomplishments.

Dr. Ludovic Comeau Jr. is a tenured professor teaching economics at DePaul University (Chicago), where he also serves as Faculty Ambassador for DePaul and his college’s Chair of the Curriculum and Assessment Committee. Dr. Comeau holds Business and Law degrees from the State University of Haiti. The recipient of a Fulbright scholarship in 1991, he earned a Ph.D. in economics, an MBA in finance and an MA in economics from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Following graduate school, Dr. Comeau joined Haiti’s central bank where he served as director of Money and Economic Analysis (chief economist) until 2001. Among other many things, Dr. Comeau is a founding member and a vice-president at Haiti’s first international think-tank—GRAHN-Monde, which is a Group for Reflection and Action for a New Haiti. He is also the President of GRAHN-USA. A founding member of DuSable Heritage Association, Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti, and United Front of the Haitian Diaspora. He has published a novel, Bâtisseurs du lendemain (Builders of the tomorrow), and is working on other literary works, including a second novel. He has been the recipient of several awards and recognition.

Père Jean-Miguel Auguste vient de Petit-Goâve. Prêtre du Diocèse de Brooklyn et de Queens, il détient une maîtrise en Théologie, en Psychologie, en Droit Canon et en Histoire de l'Eglise.

Passionné d'Haïti où il maintient une résidence secondaire, il exprime depuis un certain temps ses pensées, sa vision, ses rêves pour son Pays à travers "Mes Réflexions sur l'Avenir d'Haïti". Là on retrouve un Père Miguel patriotique, combattant, Haïtien, visionnaire avec son Organisation ARC-EN-CIEL l'Harmonie dans la diversité pour une Haïti prospère et moderne. Son engagement restera-t-il seulement épistolaire, ou verrons-nous bientôt un Père Miguel rentrer en Politique? 

Nesmy Manigat est détenteur d’une licence en Gestion de l’Institut National d’Administration de Gestion et des Hautes Études Internationales (INAGHEI) Haïti et d’une maîtrise ès science en Entrepreneurship de l’Université du Québec (UQAC), au Canada. Il débuta sa carrière comme cadre au ministère de la Planification et de la coopération externe d’Haïti et ensuite à la Banque de la République d’Haïti (Banque Centrale). Nesmy Manigat fut pendant 10 ans chef du département de Petites et Moyennes Entreprises et professeur d’entrepreneurship de l’Université Quisqueya, Haïti. Il fut aussi professeur d’entrepreneurship à l’Université Gamal Abdel Nasser de Conakry et à l’Ecole Nationale des Arts et Métiers de la Guinée. Monsieur Manigat fut assistant technique international, pour le Fond Européen de développement (FED), en appui à la formation et management des systèmes éducatifs en Haïti et en Afrique de l’Ouest. A ce titre, il fut expert en gouvernance et formation au Programme d’Appui à la Gouvernance du Secteur de l’Education en Haïti (PARGSEH) et ensuite régisseur du Programme d’Appui au Renforcement de la Qualité de l’Education (PARQE) de 1999 à 2003. Auteur de plusieurs articles sur la formation et l’emploi, l’innovation et la compétitivité, Nesmy Manigat fut élu vice-président de la chambre de Commerce, d’Industrie et des Professions du Nord’Est d’Haïti. Il occupa la fonction ministre de l’Education nationale et de la Formation Professionnelle d’avril 2014 à mars 2016. Il siège actuellement au Conseil d’Administration du Partenariat Mondial pour l’Education où en 2016 il occupe la fonction de président du Comité de Gouvernance et d’Éthique.

Leonie M. Hermantin is the Founder of Hermantin Consulting, LLC & Director of Development, Communications & Strategic Planning, Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center. Ms. Hermantin holds a Juris Doctorate from University of California at Berkeley as well as a master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Planning. From 1996 until 2008, Leonie worked in Miami, first as a Visiting Professor at FIU’s School of Architecture. She subsequently served as Executive Director of the Haitian-American Foundation (HAFI) a community agency, providing services addressing the growing needs of Haitians and Haitian Americans living in Miami-Dade County. She went on the become Director of Research and Strategic Planning at the Haitian Neighborhood Center, Sant La. In 2008, Leonie’s sights turned to Haiti’s rural communities and from 2018-2011, she served as the Deputy Director of the Lambi Fund of Haiti, a Haitian-led community foundation, focusing on the needs of Haiti’s rural population. In 2011 Leonie launched her own consulting firm, Hermantin Consulting LLC, offering her the opportunity to work both in Haiti and in the US. One of her most profoundly rewarding experiences has been to work with PRODEV, a Haitian-led Foundation whose mission is to provide poor children access to quality education.. She currently sits on the Center for Haitian Studies’ Board of Directors. 

Dr. Andrise Bass, BSCJ, MBA, Ph.D. is President-Founder of Humanitarian Focus Foundation, Vice President of ASPAFrique and a Climate Reality Project Mentor/Leader. She is on the Global Board of Advisors for the SDG Impact Awards. Dr. Bass is a Transformational Strategist Coach, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist with over 28 years of experience. Her passion is helping men and women becoming leaders in their communities. Over the past 11 years, she has trained and mentored thousands of corporate professionals and entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds and industries across the globe. Working with Vice President Al Gore, she is a Mentor/Leader at Climate Reality Project. As President and Founder of Humanitarian Focus Foundation, she is continuously working to support education, poverty alleviation and climate action in Haiti.