Dear Bpeacers,
 
IN CENTRAL AMERICA, FAST RUNNERS ARE
INSPIRED BY WHAT THEY LEARN WITH BPEACE 
 
At the end of this year, 27 Fast Runners in El Salvador and Guatemala will complete their 18-month Fast Runner program (supported by the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs at the Department of State), which included a 2014 road trip to the U.S. and projects facilitated by both traveling and virtual experts. 
 
Here's how three of them put what they learned right to work:

Diana Figueroa, co-owner of Peludos in El Salvador, came to the U.S with the idea of expanding her veterinary services to include a pet bakery. Host Company and Traveling Mentor Jess Talley of Bubba Rose Biscuit Company in New Jersey helped make that dream come true. Peludos went from baking two cakes a year, to 10 cakes per month and hosting El Salvador's first Dogtoberfest, which included pet rescue and pet-blessing initiatives. Read more about Woofkies in this blog post.  

Motivated by what he observed at AMC Millwork in Pennsylvania, Jose Rodrigo Carvajal returned to Guatemala and created an engineering department at millwork company Manufacturas en Madera, which immediately generated two new jobs and new quality control processes. Bpeace Traveling Mentor Matt Wajda (in photo) traveled to Guatemala two weeks ago to help Rodrigo and team improve their veneering techniques and to recommend improvements in distressing methods and in the drawing and quality control of the firm's newest department.




When Josselyn Coreas, sales manager and co-owner of Pronavid in El Salvador, visited The Vitamin Shoppe in New Jersey, she learned what her company needed to do to create a CRM system. A year and a half later, Pronavid has installed a CRM and call center for its customers in both El Salvador and Honduras. The company also invested in an audiovisual department to create its own TV and radio commercials, thereby creating more jobs.

These inspired innovators exemplify our proven model for helping businesses expand. Bpeace provides access to consulting and resources; the Fast Runners use what they learn to grow their businesses. Check our social media for upcoming volunteer opportunities.
Work hard, play hard, pay it forward.

Marla Gitterman
Bpeace Chief Program Officer