Dear Bpeacers---

HAVE SKILLS, WILL TRAVEL

The desire to improve and grow is a given among our Central American Fast Runners.  Where to focus and how to prioritize improvements...well, that takes some expert advice delivered face to face.  Enter the Bpeace Traveling Mentors, Bpeace members who are experts in their fields, and who generously make the time to travel to either El Salvador or Guatemala for five to 10 days.   

In the past two months, we've had a whirlwind of eight Traveling Mentors working in El Salvador.  They've tackled a diverse slate of opportunity areas, including improving sanitation at a food-processing plant; strengthening financial systems for a bakery; and improving workflow at a digital agency.  

With nine more Traveling Mentors booked, we will have a total of 17 making an impact through May.  This accelerated export of business skills is made possible by the U.S. State Department and USAID.  Both so believe in what Bpeace is accomplishing that they are funding hotel stays and per diems for all our Traveling Mentors during the first half of 2015.

 
Specialty food expert Janis Grover (above left) enjoyed the aroma of baked goods during her Traveling Mentor gig.  With her is baker Juan Pablo, who sought Janis's insight on new products, the U.S. market, packaging and how to unify all the elements of his brand identity.

Esther Luongo Psarakis (left) is a food industry consultant specializing in sales and marketing.  In El Salvador, she worked with Veronica (right), who processes and retails pork products.  Esther helped Veronica and her team evaluate new product concepts, including the "Tasty Bones" smoked canine treats they are holding.

Isabel Echeverr�a (left) is a lean manufacturing and operations excellence specialist who visited El Salvador to advise Mario (center), a manufacturer of armchairs, sofas and complete living room sets sold through retail chains with 200 in-country outlets.
 
THEY ALSO HAD THEIR PASSPORTS STAMPED

We also want to give a shout-out to our other January and February Traveling Mentors:  Vicky Cox, an operations excellence specialist; Kenneth Watson, a business development and digital media professional; Imre Szenttornyay, a business development executive specializing in global technology services; and Jerrie Gullick, a senior finance executive.  In El Salvador this week is senior HR exec Angela Scalpello.

OPEN CALL!  We have two Traveling Mentor slots still open.  Contact me if you know a shopper-marketer expert or a SCRUM Master. 

NEW YORK-AREA BPEACERS:  Tickets are still available for Thursday's PLAY FOR PEACE CASINO NIGHT!
 
Work hard, play hard, pay it forward.

Marla Gitterman

Bpeace Chief Program Officer