Team

Bill Twist

Co-founder & CEO

Bill is one of the Co-founders of Pachamama Alliance and serves as its chief executive officer.

“I am generally referred to as a founder of Pachamama Alliance but more truthfully I am the beneficiary of a process that “founded” me. Since its inception in 1996, Pachamama Alliance has provided a rich and constantly expanding environment for my personal education about the world at large and has provided a powerful opportunity to live a life of service and contribution. It has been a gift.”

Bill has been the president of Pachamama Alliance since 1996. Prior to Pachamama Alliance, Bill had an extensive background in business having worked in the management consulting, equipment leasing and financial services industries since 1970. Bill has an undergraduate degree in engineering and a masters degree in business administration.

Learn more about Bill

Tatiana Tilley

Director of Operations, Corporate Treasurer

Tatiana is accountable for all Operations activities at Pachamama Alliance, including Human Resources, IT and infrastructure, Finance, Volunteers and Interns, and Pachamama Alliance’s internal Social Justice program trainings and management. She is committed to making Pachamama Alliance the best non-profit to work for – ever.

“I have always been someone who’s motivated by worthwhile challenges, and I can’t think anything more purposeful and fulfilling than the creation of a just, sustainable world. The Earth’s natural resources are so precious, and I love spending my work-life doing something to ensure that all cultures and ecosystems are preserved and enriched by our actions. I am honored to be part of a team that takes bold, daily action to do just that.”

Prior to joining the staff in 2004, she had extensive project design, implementation and management experience, as well as grass-roots organizing practice from research projects in Africa, teaching programs in the Far East, and development consulting work in Central Asia. Tatiana has a BA in anthropology and likes to sing.

Eva Angell

Development Director

Eva is accountable for all of Pachamama Alliance's fundraising activities. Eva is working to further deepen Pachamama Alliance’s relationship with our donors, to help make their financial investment more personal, valuable and meaningful experience, while extending that opportunity and relationship to others.

“Coming from a Greek island and growing up in a village has given me an appreciation for natural beauty and the meaning of traditional communities. I am happy and excited to be working next to like-minded people of the Pachamama Alliance family.”

Eva has a degree in Business Administration from the University of Thessaloniki in Greece. Her career in London and Prague was helping clients navigate the complexities of shipping insurance, capital markets and finance as a relationship manager and head of financial institutions at Poseidon Average Adjusters and ING Barings. Eva is also committed to the work of her family’s foundation in Greece.

Sara Vetter

Major Gifts Officer

Sara is responsible for cultivating and stewarding major donors at Pachamama Alliance. Her fundraising responsibilities include leading high level journey’s to the Amazon rainforest, putting on and speaking at events. She works closely with the Development Director and the Founders to make sure our major donors have a deep and meaningful relationship with our work.

“I was born in privilege with a sense of what human rights activist Maude Barlow calls ‘the right not to know’ about environmental degradation or environmental justice. Then I woke up. After spending time in the Amazon rainforest, I had a transformational experience of profound connection to the natural world, which lead to my life’s passion of bringing forth a fulfilling, just and sustainable way of life on our planet for all species and all generations.”

Claudia Sandoval

Development Manager

Claudia manages the Vision Keeper Donor Program at Pachamama Alliance and works to make sure that you feel the love and the impact of your contribution. She enjoys creating meaningful relationships with our donors. In addition, Claudia manages Table Captains for major fundraising events.

“I feel like I’ve been preparing my whole life for the kind of work that I am a part of here at the Pachamama Alliance. It is a place where I am able to show up completely and feel that my personal, professional, and spiritual growth are being nurtured constantly. I am so happy to be a part of this mission and team and am excited to engage further with our Pachamama community and partners in the months to come.”

Claudia received her B.A. in political science from Columbia University and her master’s degree in public policy and international development from American University. Claudia is fluent in English and Spanish and also speaks French and Portuguese. Claudia comes to the Pachamama Alliance after having spent the last five years in Colombia, South America where she worked on various human rights and social justice issues. In her free time she enjoys dancing, traveling and exploring the Bay Area.

Melissa Trimble Luciano

Manager of Sponsorships

Melissa works alongside the fundraising team, accountable for raising sponsorships for our annual luncheons each year, and for increasing and enhancing partnerships with businesses interested in engaging with The Pachamama Alliance. Melissa has a passion for environmental sustainability and social justice, and came to the Pachamama Alliance two years ago to make a difference in the world and create a better future for her two children.

“I am honored to be of service in my role here at Pachamama Alliance, and am passionate about the power to awaken individuals within the business world on how they play a role in their companies and communities to help us create a more just, sustainable and thriving world. As Paul Hawken states so eloquently, “Business is the only mechanism on the planet today powerful enough to produce the changes necessary to reverse global environmental and social degradation.”

Prior to her role at Pachamama Alliance, Melissa worked as a business development consultant with a track record of success in managing client relationships, developing and managing partnerships, and serving as project manager for global accounts in the corporate and non-profit worlds. Melissa graduated from University of the Pacific with a B.A. in music and business, and holds an MBA from Thunderbird School of International Management in international marketing.

Michael DeGroff-Kirchgraber

Development Associate

Michael works with the development team and supports their work through donation and gift processing, reporting, and analysis, database upkeep, and donor correspondence.

“Since making the decision to apply to a public policy graduate program four years ago, I have been looking for an organization that holds the same commitment as me to making an impact in the world through their work. Finding Pachamama Alliance feels like the best possible outcome for me in that regard, as not only is it directly working to make a difference, the work being done to help people understand the role they can play in their communities to support that work is truly inspiring.”

Michael received a BA in math from Earlham College and a Master of Public Policy, with a focus on sustainable transitions, from the Goldman School for Public Policy at Berkeley. Prior to grad school, Michael developed their data and database skills and solidified their interest in public-facing work as a data analyst at Homebridge, a San Francisco home care agency.

Tori Palma

Development Associate

As part of the Development team, Tori primarily focuses on event management and the development of our Global Citizens monthly donor program. She strives to help people understand the impact of our financial choices and how to make more purposeful and valuable investments that can create change. Her previous experience working at The Hunger Project and being a member of Feel Good naturally led her to find a home here at the Pachamama Alliance.

“I am proud to work for an organization that understands that we are all interconnected, one that empowers others to take actions, no matter how big or small, to create positive impact. I am excited to grow the Pachamama Alliance community and face the challenges of our world, while trying to create a better environment that everyone can benefit from.”

Tori earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Global Studies and German from the University of California Santa Barbara, where she competed as a collegiate Track and Field athlete. She is a Bay Area native who loves traveling, listening to live music, enjoying different foods and meeting new people. She always stays active and enjoys spending time in nature, especially the beach.

Mylie Thompson

Writer

Mylie connects people to Pachamama Alliance by writing and editing news, events, email campaigns, and also by coordinating Pachamama Alliance’s blog. After many years of working in Marketing for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), she is happy to now help empower people to create a more sustainable world through Pachamama Alliance.

“To be surrounded by compassionate people who are working together to make the world a more just and sustainable place is a dream job. I am honored to be working toward creating positive change for all with Pachamama Alliance.”

Mylie received a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography from Utah State University and worked for several years in the field of entomology on projects focusing on biological controls as alternatives to pesticides in agriculture. She also holds a Diploma in Massage Therapy from The Cayce/Reilly School of Massotherapy—one of the world’s most renowned schools for holistic health education, focusing on the body/mind/spirit orientation toward health and healing.

She enjoys vegan cooking, gardening, hiking, writing, shopping at international markets, and traveling anywhere—mostly places brimming with geothermal activity, like Yellowstone National Park and Iceland.

Cassie Stiftl

Social Media Coordinator

Cassie is responsible for building and engaging our online communities on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Linked In, creating daily content that inspires and educates. She also writes regularly for the Pachamama Alliance blog.

“It’s fun. I love that I come to work every day and send stories out into the world that inspire people to take action. I get to work with awesome and talented people who believe in the values that the organization embodies. I love that we are doing something that’s never been done before, combining environmental and social justice with spiritual fulfillment. We want to infuse our culture with this new story. Our Indigenous partners in the Amazon have full agency in our collaborations, and that makes me proud to work here.”

Cassie received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology & Social Behavior and Women’s Studies from the University of California, Irvine. There she developed a theoretical understanding of social justice, and how it is deeply interconnected with environmental justice. She has also contributed to a study for the Public Health Institute in Oakland, CA on teen relationship abuse. Cassie enjoys gardening, hiking, doing silly dances, and analyzing popular culture. She began as an intern at Pachamama Alliance, and the rest is history.

Chris Block

Web Developer

Chris is responsible for developing and maintaining the Pachamama Alliance website and online community tools. He brings a specialized perspective, bridging a gap between communications challenges and technological opportunites.

“I'm motivated by a desire to collaborate with folks who care about what matters. Pachamama Alliance are people who've taken a stand for change and are committed to make it happen. That's where I want to be.”

Chris graduated from the University of California San Diego (UCSD) with a degree in Interdisciplinary Computing and the Arts. When he's not working, he's probably cooking, baking bread, gardening, hiking, biking, enjoying art, or some other form of general nerdery.

Ariel Berendt

User Engagement Marketing Specialist

Ariel moved to the Bay Area from Washington State after receiving a BA in Native Studies and Sustainable Development from The Evergreen State College. This background in social and ecological justice, combined with an affinity for technology, led to her current role at Pachamama Alliance assisting with the development and presentation of online courses.

“I feel immensely lucky to have found work where I can fully utilize both my interest in technology and my desire to make the world, in some small capacity, a better place. My interests and passions have taken me from my small island home in Puget Sound, across the world from the Alps to the Andes, and amazingly all the way to the edges of the known universe and back. Now that I’m here at this incredible organization with such impassioned and inspiring people around me, I feel I’ve landed back home.”

Shi Woo Ji

Marketing Associate

Shi Woo supports the Marketing and Communications team with building emails, building news posts, writing blog posts, and creating landing pages. Her previous experience in working with Pachamama Alliance programs has given her valuable insights into how to support and connect with others who share Pachamama Alliance’s vision of a thriving, fulfilling, and just world.

“It is truly a dream come true and immense privilege to be able to work alongside committed team members who share a vision of the world that serves and reveres everyone, all species, and the Earth. Though I have so much to learn, I am eager to continually discover my role in honoring this vision and am excited to grow in my capacity to support Pachamama Alliance’s work.”

After having spent the last five years volunteering at various social justice-oriented initiatives, including consumer health advocacy at the Maryland Office of the Attorney General and the Indigenous peoples’ legal battle against Chevron Corporation, Shi Woo interned with the Programs team at the Pachamama Alliance for a year before transitioning to the Marketing and Communications team full-time. She has a bachelor’s degree in English and Political Science from Boston College, and has also extensively studied social theory.

In her free time, Shi Woo enjoys reading, gardening, listening to music, exploring new places, tasting different foods, and visiting her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.

Mario Trigueros

Program and Public Relations Manager

Mario is responsible for ensuring the mission of Pachamama Alliance is being fulfilled. He is also accountable for establishing strategic partnerships with organizations who share similar values.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of an organization that understands systemic change requires collective action and deep, personal transformation. The depth and courage of the staff at Pachamama Alliance and its astounding cohort of volunteers and partners is an incredible asset in making the Game Changer Intensive not only a life-changing course but a world-changing one!”

Mario brings a diverse background in social justice, youth advocacy, and education to his role, along with a commitment to personal and societal transformation.

Tracy Apple

Director of Curriculum Development

Tracy has been involved since the inception, and was one of the primary people responsible for bringing the Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium into being, as well as for creating and leading the Facilitator training program in the US and abroad. She is overall responsible for the content and message of Pachamama educational programs and for the effectiveness of the training programs. She also participates as a founding member of the Pachamama Board of Directors.

“One of my favorite things is traveling and finding that the message of Awakening the Dreamer totally resonates in people in so many different areas, countries, cultures and languages. People light up no matter where they are—it’s just amazing! It is such a joy to be a carrier of this work.”

Tracy received an MA in Curriculum Development from UC Berkeley School of Education and taught gifted elementary school children in Richmond, CA. She was a founding member of The Hunger Project and a family oral historian for many years. She has been a camp counselor for kids from NYC slums, led youth hostel bicycle trips around Europe, led to donor trips to Africa and Bangladesh, and guided spiritual adventure travels in Tibet, Mongolia, Bhutan, Peru, Ethiopia, Morocco, Cuba. All roads have led to the same place: the majesty of the human heart, spirit and the natural world; an exploration of grace; and a living inquiry into what it means to live life for the benefit of all.

Maisa Arias

Engagement Manager–Global

Born and raised in Lima, Perú, Maisa holds a degree in Journalism and Social Communication.

“I decided to get into action by volunteering at an organization that was directly working towards my goal, the goal of changing the ways we are accustomed to and that take away any opportunity for a brighter future and for a more just world. I knocked on the door of Pachamama Alliance as an intern and simply fell in love with the mission and the people involved. I kept my eyes open for any job opportunity with them and when it did I was so thrilled. I am filled with gratitude for this opportunity.”

Maisa comes from a family dedicated to social change and equality. Influenced by her family’s vision, she came to discover her true passion while working in the nonprofit field and with children for 10 years in San Francisco. During that time, it became evident to her that the younger generation needed and deserved a just world; the world that her own parents envisioned for all.

Jason Bayless

U.S. Community Development Specialist

Jason handles a broad range of functions, ranging from communicating with our volunteers to supporting the educational Programs team. He also develops, supports, and implements core elements of the online interface of Pachamama Alliance’s engagement strategy.

“Social justice is not a single issue, it takes everyone to create a sustainable world. I am drawn to Pachamama Alliance because of its unique position to reach out to other groups and individuals to become the common ground that brings us together for a common goal – a better, sustainable world.”

He is a diverse activist with a wide range of experience. Jason worked at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in a number of positions including Senior Youth Outreach Specialist, Circus Monitor, and Senior Projects Specialist. He has traveled the country documenting and reporting animal abuse and neglect within the entertainment industry, including Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and the NYC horse drawn carriage industry. For over five years Jason toured with two of the largest music events in North America, bringing the animal rights message to over 20,000 people, 13-25 age demographic, on a daily basis. As a member of The International Association of Internet Broadcasters (IAIB), Jason now spends his free time producing, editing and recording videos and podcasts on a variety of topics.

Emily Hittle

Online Learning & Special Programs Coordinator

Emily supports the growth of Pachamama Alliance’s online programs, most specifically the Game Changer Intensive, and the launch of a new in-person pilot program designed to inspire participants to discover an exciting new perspective on Global Warming and to engage in meaningful ways with possible solutions.

“Working with the Pachamama Alliance continues to have a profound influence on my understanding of community engagement and evolution. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be part of a team and global community committed to a sustainable, just and thriving world.”

Emily’s background includes a masters’ degree in public policy, a few years in software development, and a rich history and relationship with Awakening the Dreamer Symposium Facilitators around the world. In her free time, you can find her digging for treasures along the San Francisco coast with her two young sons.

Roger Knoren

U.S. Engagement and Community Development

Roger focuses on expanding the reach and impact of the Up to Us program; in conjunction with the Outreach Director, he is also responsible for developing and managing partnerships.

“As my journey broadens, I realize more and more that we are all connected. To me, nothing is more inspiring than the awareness of this connection. It drives me to live awake, which can in turn inspire others. I volunteered at a Pachamama Alliance luncheon and I couldn’t see myself working anywhere else. I am so happy to be part of Pachamama Alliance, inspired and motivated to contribute in any way I can.”

Roger’s previous activities include his work as a scenic director for some of the world’s leading music festivals. He conceptualized, designed and constructed outdoor stages and special events all across Europe. He studied architecture and photography and started his career as a video jockey. In 2013 Roger moved from The Netherlands to the US and started re-aligning his career with his values.

Josh Wolf

Community Building

Josh supports volunteer efforts expanding the reach and impact of Pachamama Alliance programs. His work takes the form of supporting Awakening the Dreamer Facilitators, local Game Changer Intensive groups, and Pachamama Alliance Communities as part of the Up to Us engagement pathway.

“I came to Pachamama Alliance to help connect like-minded people in pursuit of a new vision for the world that grows out of conscious participation and collaboration by people everywhere. After six years volunteering with political campaigns, I saw a need for responsive structures that empower people to connect in order to create meaningful change in themselves, their relationships, their communities, and the world beyond election cycles. Pachamama Alliance’s commitment to both personal transformation and systemic change resonates with my deepest beliefs and I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to do this work.”

Josh earned a PhD in biology from MIT to advance human understanding in service of society, but came to believe that the problems in society can’t be solved through technological advance. Instead, he became involved in political and community organizing efforts in an effort to help shape the way people see their role in creating collaborative solutions. He ran a campaign office for President Obama’s re-election in 2012 and helped organize a campaign that raised the minimum wage in Mountain View, CA. Before coming to Pachamama Alliance, Josh taught science at Stanford Online High School. Some of Josh’s favorite memories come from seven years of coaching youth soccer.

Mary Chase

Writer and Video Producer

Since 2007, Mary has been a contractor with the Pachamama Alliance working in media production and curriculum development. As part of the team that created the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium, Mary served as a content writer and a producer of the videos. Over the years, she continued to write and produce new Symposium versions, including the new Awakening the Dreamer Online Course launched in 2015. She is also on the team that created the Game Changer Intensive online course, responsible for content and media production. With Neal Rogin, she wrote and produced most of Pachamama Alliance’s other promotional and educational videos.

“It’s been such a privilege for me to work with some of the smartest, most creative, and dedicated people I have ever known on projects that reflect my own commitment to the environment, social justice and spiritual fulfillment. My work with the Pachamama Alliance has given me hope that we can indeed create a world that works for everyone.”

Mary attended Duke University and received a Masters in Teaching from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Mary’s varied career life has shifted back and forth between the realms of personal growth and social transformation. After a stint of teaching and work as a therapist, she joined the staff of The Hunger Project as Director of Communications. She was a freelance writer and media producer for many years on projects that included PBS documentaries and other educational and corporate communications. She returned to working with individuals as a Life Coach for several years before finding her life’s calling with the Pachamama Alliance. She finds her own spiritual fulfillment in nature, dance, yoga, family, friends, and community.

Lynne Twist

Co-founder of Pachamama Alliance, Founder, Soul of Money Institute

Lynne Twist is a Co-founder of Pachamama Alliance, and founder of The Soul of Money Institute. She has dedicated herself to alleviating poverty and hunger, and supporting social justice and environmental sustainability.

Learn more about Lynne

Bill Twist

Co-founder & CEO

Bill Twist is CEO and a Co-founder of Pachamama Alliance. He has dedicated his life to helping change the dream of the modern world to create a thriving, just, and sustainable future for people and all life.

Learn more about Bill

John Perkins

Co-founder

A former chief economist at major international consulting firm, John Perkins is a Co-founder of Pachamama Alliance and New York Times Bestselling author who has received training from master shamans from around the world.

Learn more about John