hdi is led by Haitians who have devoted their careers to working with community leaders in rural Haiti.
Our staff are experts in economic and social development and organizational strengthening. They have deep understanding of community organizations, civil society leaders and the challenges they face. Our all-Haitian staff in country works with community leaders with respect, commitment, and cultural competency.
Pierre Noel
Executive Director
Pierre has led the Haiti Development Institute for 12 years, guiding it from its origins as the Haiti Fund at The Boston Foundation through its transition into a registered nonprofit organization in Haiti. Based in Boston but spending significant time on the ground in Haiti, he focuses on institutionalizing HDI, building out its programs, governance, staff, and financial sustainability.
Pierre has extensive experience in nonprofit management and community development. Before joining the Haiti Fund, he served as Country Director of FAMILY, Inc. in Haiti, where he led rural grassroots efforts in education, youth, and economic development. He has also served as Project Director for the Worldwide Vincentian Family on a program to support small and medium-sized enterprise development in Haiti. Before devoting his career to development and philanthropy in Haiti, Pierre practiced law in Boston.
Born in Verrette, Haiti, Pierre emigrated to the U.S. as a teen and earned a BA in Political Science from Boston University and a law degree from the University of the District of Columbia School of Law. Pierre is a graduate of the Monterrey School of International Studies Development Project Management Institute and of the Nonprofit Management and Leadership program at Boston University School of Management. Pierre is fluent in Haitian Creole, French and English.
Reginald Cean
Program Director
Based in Haiti, Reginald is responsible for HDI's organizational capacity building programs. He also oversees HDI's grant making and grant administration.
Reginald has also served as Executive Director of Zanmi Agrikol, where he led a team of 85 people in designing and delivering community economic development, vocational education, and agricultural programs. Prior to this, he served as the National Coordinator for MGP, a project aimed at re-establishing agriculture production capacities funded by the USAID Haiti Mission through the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Grain Legumes (Legume Innovation Lab [LIL]), managed by Michigan State University (MSU).
Reginald holds a BA in agricultural sciences and natural resources from EARTH University in Costa Rica and an MBA in non-profit management at Brandeis University with a concentration on social entrepreneurship and impact management.
Liz Fischelis
Director of Philanthropy and Intermediary Programs
Liz supports HDI's work aimed at increasing the amount and effectiveness of philanthropy in Haiti, including organizing platforms for knowledge sharing among funders and development practitioners like the Haiti Development Forum and supporting HDI's philanthropic advising and grant intermediary services. Based in Boston, Liz also supports Board operation and leads HDI's fundraising and communications efforts.
Prior to joining HDI, Liz managed governance and public management initiatives at the Asian Development Bank in Manila, Philippines, and also served as in-house counsel. She has also worked as proposal development manager for CARE in La Paz, Bolivia. In her early career, Liz practiced law as an associate at firms in Seattle and Cleveland.
Liz holds a law degree from Northwestern University and a BA in history and economics from Boston College.
Jacky Poteau
Partnerships and Engagement Manager
Dividing his time between Boston and Haiti, Jacky oversees the development of HDI's civic leadership portfolio. Previously, he was Program Coordinator of HDI, where he helped conceive and design components of HDI’s capacity building program for community-based organizations.
Before joining HDI, Jacky served as President and Executive Director of FATEM (Foundation for the Technological and Economic Advancement of Mirebalais), a Boston-based nonprofit working to improve education and economic opportunities in Mirebalais, Haiti. He has also served as Executive Director of 1000 Jobs/Haiti, a Rhode Island-based 501(c)(3) organization with the mission of creating sustainable and decent jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities in Haiti's Central Plateau region.
Jacky holds a Master’s Degree in Health and Medical Informatics from Brandeis University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Boston University.
Jean Rubens Talleyrand
Accountant
Rubens manages financial accounting and reporting for HDI. Prior to coming to HDI, Rubens worked as an Accountant at FINCA S.A, and as an Accountant and Financial Assessor at SOS Children's Village in Turgeau. He also worked at Cabinet Nerette & Associates, an accounting firm, as a junior auditor. Additionally, Rubens worked at Public Company of Promotion and Social Housing (EPPLS) as Assistant Chief Controller and then as Treasurer, and at CA17 International, as Accountant.
Rubens graduated from André Laroche Business School and the University of Port-au-Prince (IGC) with degrees in Accounting. He also obtained a Certificate of Management in Project Development from IDBx. He has a background in taxation and in the development of a new concept called Farmer Field School (CEP).
Dr. Riché C. Zamor, Sr.
Operations Manager (Interim)
Based in Haiti, Riché serves as HDI’s interim Operations Manager, overseeing office operations, finance and administration. After a 30 year career in the US in management and consulting for public sector systems of health care and human services, he continues to give back in Haiti.
Riché has worked as Executive Director of Healing Hands for Haiti; President/CEO of Fondwa University (UNIF) in Haiti; Community Center Director at Catholic Charities, Executive Director, Professional Resources Division at the Latin American Health Institute, Project Officer at Brandeis University Access project, Program Manager at the Medical Foundation and Community Advocate at the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. He was also an adjunct professor at Tufts University School of Medicine Department of Public Health and Family Medicine and Suffolk University, Sawyer School, Center for Public Management.
LAURIE BENNETT
Program Director, Kolektif Arcadins
Laurie supports HDI’s work on Kolektif Arcadins, an integrated community development initiative designed to promote transformational change in Arcahaie and other communities along the Arcadins Coast. Based in Boston, Laurie also supports Kolektif programs for young people.
Laurie has extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, strategic planning, program management, and community engagement. Prior to joining HDI, Laurie served as Vice President for International Operations for YouthBuild International. In partnership with young people, community leaders, NGOs, and public/private stakeholders, she co-developed the first YouthBuild programs in The Bahamas, Brazil, Guyana, Haiti, and Iraq. In Haiti, she collaborated with a Haitian NGO on a five-year initiative that served over 9,500 youth through a leadership and livelihoods program.
Laurie holds an MBA from Simmons University and an MA in international relations from Yale University.
Jemima Cean
Program Officer
Jemima manages HDI’s capacity building programs supporting organizations to improve their efficiency and effectiveness through training and coaching in governance and leadership, administration, human resources and strategic planning. She also manages HDI’s human resources.
Jemima earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Universidad Tecnológica de Santiago in the Dominican Republic and completed an online certificate from IESE Business School- University of Navarra in Human Resource Management and Team Leadership.
Prior to HDI, Jemima was a translator for the Famvin Homeless Alliance (FHA), a Vincentian Family Project administered by DePaul. She has volunteered at Beyond Borders as part of the project Tèt Ansanm Kont Lamizè (TAKL), where she transcribed recorded interviews conducted with Haitians about their perspectives on economic and social inclusion.
Junior Altidort
Program Officer
Junior manages HDI’s grantmaking and grant administration programs, including data collection for monitoring and evaluating. He is also in charge of planning events under HDI grants and capacity building programs as well as training organized for community members.
Before joining HDI, Junior was an Information Assistant at Cement National (CINA), where he managed information and reporting regarding production. He also worked at Lafortune Holdings, Inc. as a project evaluator. Before this Junior worked for FAMILY Inc., where he managed logistics for projects, supervising a team of 12. He also developed and executed the maintenance and services plan for the organization.
Junior has a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Universidad Tecnológica de Santiago in the Dominican Republic. He also has earned certificates in Planning, Elaboration of Project Management / Application MS Project 2007, Technical and Professional Training Center (HAITI TEC) and Management of Development Projects. (United Nations Development Program, www.edx.org)
Additional Staff
Jean Ronald Chéry, Operations Associate
Moise Joseph, Driver
Sandra Dorceus, Housekeeper (office)
Robengel Dorléan, Caretaker (guesthouse)
Aliette Fleuradin, Housekeeper (guesthouse)
Frantz Charles, Messenger - Logistics Assistant