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

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.

Mikayla Schultz - Marketing Mentor

As a feminist, social activist, and avid traveler, Mikayla was quickly drawn into the Fair Trade sphere after graduating college with a BA in Organizational Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. With a passion for story-telling and content creation, Mikayla loves finding creative ways to communicate the impact of UPAVIM. Mikayla aspires to use her strengths to establish avenues to agency for women around the world.

Kae Benton - Office & 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.

Kathryn Kelly- Marketing Coordinator

Kathryn is a seasoned marketing professional with over 7 years of experience in the field. As UPAVIM's Marketing Coordinator, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the organization's marketing efforts. Kathryn's passion for serving others and learning about different communities led her to start a marketing agency that specializes in working with non-profits. She is committed to helping organizations like UPAVIM achieve their goals through effective marketing strategies and campaigns.