The Project Amigo board

Project Amigo is a non-profit corporation incorporated in the State of California. It is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of the talents of:

Sarah Ferris

President of the Board. Retired from Chevron Oil after a 30-year career, Sarah started as a chemist in the Perth Amboy, New Jersey Refinery and held jobs of increasing responsibility, traveling extensively and living abroad. She retired as Vice President of Marketing for Fuel and Marine Marketing, a division of Chevron. While with Chevron, she participated in Junior Achievement and local school activities. She joined the Project Amigo Board in 2006 and became President in 2010. She sees education as a priority to the alleviation of poverty, and serving on Project Amigo's Board gives her the opportunity to be part of an organization that is dedicated to making a difference through education.

Melissa Prandi

Secretary. Melissa Prandi is the owner of PRANDI Property Management, Inc. , CRMC—a Certified Residential Management Company in San Rafael, CA. She is an entrepreneur,  national speaker, and author of books on successful property management. She’s a recognized community leader and advocate for fair housing. She devotes time to Hospice, and was elected to the Board of Directors of Project Amigo in 2010.

Jessie Boucher

Treasurer. Jessie Boucher serves as the Board's Treasurer. She is proud to be of service and deeply believes in the value of Project Amigo's mission. Jessie brings her 30 years of business experience as the founder and president of her own food business in the San Francisco Bay Area, "Jessie et Laurent". She is an artist and actively seeks ways to inspire others to develop their own expressions of creativity in their lives. Jessie spends as much time as possible in nature, where she finds the antidote to city life and regains balance and perspective. Having raised her own child, she appreciates the gentle care and attention that is needed to foster individuality, strength of body and spirit and knowledge. Jessie hopes that her contribution to Project Amigo will allow more children to have the chance to develop their highest potential.

Catherine Munson

Director. Lives in Lucas Valley, California. She has owned her real estate company, LVP MARIN REALTORS in Novato, CA for 40 years. She has served on the PA board since it was formally established in 1996. Catherine joined Rotary at the Ignacio Rotary Club in 1987 and has been an enthusiastic member, especially in the international area. Her other activities include the following board memberships: The Buck Institute for Age Research, Marin Symphony Association, Atlantic Pacific Bank and Frank Lloyd Wright Civic Center Conservancy. She is also manager of the McInnis Park Golf Center and The Club Restaurant.

Will Haymaker

Director. He is a real estate broker for Will Haymaker & Associates, Brokers/Consultants in Santa Rosa. Will is Past-President of the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa, and is Chairman of the Endowment Committee of St. Patrick's Episcopal Church. Before his retirement he was President of Dataguard, Inc. , a marketing consulting company.

Joyce Palmer

Director. Since retiring as a teacher of Math, Joyce has continued to be active in community activities in Novato, CA. She is Program Chairman for the local association of American University Women. Joyce has spent 40 years singing and touring with the Winifred Baker/San Francisco Chorale (including several concerts at Carnegie Hall). She enjoys the game of bridge, plays at tournament level, and currently is a bronze life master. After the death of her husband Clark in 2005, Joyce has carried on his work on the Endowment and World Service committees of the Novato Rotary Club. Her late husband was charter president of the Novato Rotary Club and was also a charter member of the Board of Directors of Project Amigo. Joyce served as Secretary of the Board for many years.

Bruce Powell

Director. Sold his contracting business in 2002 in order to dedicate more time to international service. Since then he has traveled extensively throughout Central and South America with various Rotary or Rotary-related projects. In addition to serving as a Director for Project Amigo, he serves on the Executive Board for YouthLINC and is the Chairman of the Board for the Hope Alliance. He has twice been president of the Centerville-Farmington Rotary Club, was Group Study Exchange leader for District 5420 (to Mexico). He has been Chairman of the matching grants committee for the same District since 2004. Additionally, he has served his community as a planning commissioner for three terms and served as a Bishop in the LDS Church.

Dennis Hagerty

Director. Dennis Hagerty recently joined the board of Project Amigo. Dennis has been a State Farm Insurance agent in Novato, California since 1982 and has been a member of the Rotary Club of Novato since 1990. He served as district coordinator for Rotary's Group Study Exchange program for 10 years and recently served as club president (2009-2010). He has taken part in five Project Amigo work weeks since 2002. He is currently working on improving his Spanish and attended Project Amigo's Spanish Immersion class in July, 2010. His avocation is singing and playing his guitar.

Elly Contreras

Elly Contreras is a retired graphic designer with more than 25 years’ experience in marketing and promotions.  She’s a Past (Rotary) District Governor and Past President of her Rotary Club of Stony Plain in Rotary District 5370.  She’s been involved in several international Rotary Projects that have taken her to Siberia and to Malawi.  She and her husband, Ramiro, have made several visits to Project Amigo and their commitment to the Project has lead them to take on a six-month volunteer assignment as Volunteer Coordinator to help with Project Amigo’s winter work weeks.  Elly and Ramiro will serve in that role again for the 2011-12 work week season.  Elly is also President of the newly formed non-profit in Canada, Project Amigo Canada Society.