Staff

Guatemalan Administrative Committee

UPAVIM Crafts is run by six women in La Esperanza, Guatemala. They oversee every-day operations, maintain quality control, manage finances, and collaborate with our U.S. designers to create new, contemporary products.

Angela - Administrator of Crafts

Sonia - Production Director

Gloria - Shipment Coordinator

Elsa - Product Quality Control Manager

She began her journey learning to do crafts, and eventually sewing. In 2020, Elsa started working in quality control, where she reviews every product from each co-worker, looking for ways to continue learning as much as she can from them. She is grateful for UPAVIM's support, which has allowed her to provide for her family and ensure that her children receive a good education. Her oldest daughter, who is now 30, also works at UPAVIM. Elsa sees UPAVIM as her second home, a place where she can share her joys and sorrows with her colleagues and find the support she needs to keep fighting for a better life. "Upavim has helped me a lot," Elsa says. "I have a lot of good things to say about UPAVIM."

Cristina - Product Designer

Lolita - Accountant

U.S. Marketing and Distribution Team

The Guatemalan Administrative Committee is partnered with the U.S. Marketing and Distribution team, a group of three women who manage the e-commerce side of things. The distribution office is located in Timnath, Colorado.

Alisa Woofter - U.S. Director of Sales

Alisa has been deeply involved in Fair Trade for many years. She gained a passion for weaving and women's empowerment while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Bolivia. She owned and operated a fair trade retail store, co-founded an ethical fashion line working directly with artisans in Oaxaca, Mexico, and now really enjoys working with the UPAVIM cooperative. She has a Master's degree in Latin American studies and is fluent in Spanish.

Kae Benton - Office, Marketing, & Fulfillment Manager

Kae (they/them) is a non-binary queer Jew who hails from the Southwestern US. They hold bachelors degrees in Music and English with concentration in Creative Writing from Colorado State University. They believe deeply in the value and worth of every human being; and as a white and cis-passing individual, they feel it is their responsibility to use their privilege to help those whose voices are unfairly and systemically silenced. Working with UPAVIM, and Fair Trade in general, has been an incredible experience toward opening the eyes and hearts of the world. At the office, you’d likely hear Kae singing while fulfilling orders and taking care of customer needs. Kae is also a cat fanatic, cherishing their three fur-children at home.

Jessica McArthur - Finance & Administrative Manager

A lifelong Colorado resident, Jessica has been involved in different facets of finance and accounting throughout her career. After graduating from the University of Denver she was involved with a firm specializing in boutique institutional finance. She then moved into accounting with a firm that specialized in agricultural operations. After moving to the Front Range she has been working with various small businesses assisting with their financial affairs. Her family keeps her busy, she enjoys baking and staying active.