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Candidates for ACAP 2009 Board of Directors
Elections at General Meeting at American Embassy Residence, January 14

 
 
This month's Newsletter

January/February's Newsletter

Volume 4, Issue 1

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President: Thomas J. Findley

Tom is President & CEO of Rio Cristal Resources, a Canadian junior exploration company listed on the TSXV. The company has zinc, gold and copper projects in Peru. He is also co-founder and President of Global Vista S.A., a financial consulting and investor relations company in Lima.

Tom previously had a 27 year career with ASARCO Inc. in New York where he held various positions including Treasurer and Managing Director of Project Development. In 1999 he moved to Peru to become CFO & VP of Southern Peru Copper Corp., Peru's largest mining company. From 2003 through 2006 he was CFO at Peru Copper Corp. which explored the Toromocho copper deposit and sold it to one of China's largest mining company, Chinalco, for over $800 million.

Tom and his wife Lucia co-founded TIKA DESIGNS which teaches disadvantaged women in San Martin de Porres to knit womens apparel, most of which is exported to Australia. They also co-produce The Guide to Fine Dining in Peru (previously the Silver Llama Guide) and live in Lima with their children Diego and Daniella.

Vice President: Kobi Zalait

Kobi Zalait is a 34 year old American with an entrepreneurial spirit. He is married to Sandra Bettocchi who is Peruvian and holds U. S. citizenship. They have been married for over four years and recently became proud parents of twin boys. Before moving to Lima in December 2007 they had been living in California for eight years.

Kobi is a graduate of Monclair State University in New Jersey, obtaining his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1997. He also holds a California DRE Broker's license. Kobi has focused his career as a sales and management executive for the past ten years. He has worked in both recruiting and real estate. Before moving to Lima, Kobi worked as Operations Manager for Great Find Development in Burbank, CA. He currently runs a loss mitigation company dealing with the US foreclosure industry. Sandra, a lawyer, currently assisting Kobi in the business.

Treasurer: Marina Hirschfield

Marina Hirschfield was born in Lima and raised in Venezuela and the USA. She moved to Lima with her husband of 21 years, Allan in 2004.

She has a degree in Hotel Management and Tourism from Universidad de Oriente in Venezuela. A degree in Business Administration from the University of Miami and a Masters in Business from the Wharton School of Business.

She has worked as a Property Manager for the Arvida Corporation and as a Senior VP, Financial Advisor for Morgan Stanley.

Marina is a member of the American Women's Literary Club, Floralies, Campo Abierto and ACAP.Marina Hirschfield was born in Lima and raised in Venezuela and the USA. She moved to Lima with her husband of 21 years, Allan in 2004.

She has a degree in Hotel Management and Tourism from Universidad de Oriente in Venezuela. A degree in Business Administration from the University of Miami and a Masters in Business from the Wharton School of Business.

She has worked as a Property Manager for the Arvida Corporation and as a Senior VP, Financial Advisor for Morgan Stanley.

Marina is a member of the American Women's Literary Club, Floralies, Campo Abierto and ACAP.

Director: Diana Bowie

Diana was raised in Naples, Florida but she has lived in Miraflores for 6 ½ years. While she was raising five children (and has 6 grandchildren), she worked her way up through the medical field. She is a registered nurse, a certified emergency room nurse and holds an MBA from Tusculum College. She is also a Past Vice President of Parkwest Hospital and of Ft. Sander Hospital in Tennessee. She spent 20 years in hospital administration as Senior Nurse Executive in addition to teaching research at the College of St Francis.

When she first visited Peru in 2001 in January and again in May she knew she wanted to stay and help with the health care needs of the people in the jungle. After working in public and private clinics for the next year she established the goals and actions for what became DB Peru, a not for profit charitable organization that was started in 2002 and continues to grow.

She also fills her days as co-owner of a travel company in Lima – Peru Well Traveled Tour Co. a member of the Lima Women's Chorale, a member of ACAP and is President of the American Women's Literary Club.

Director: Wendy Alperstein

Wendy Alperstein is the founder of Magical Cusco Tours, a travel company specializing in creative and unique travel experiences in Peru. Her family has been in the Peruvian tourism industry for over 15 years.

One of her special tours is the Taste of Peru, a culinary tour of Peru, which has been featured in many U.S. magazines. Because of her business, Wendy provides consulting and advice to tourists, businesses, writers, magazines and governments alike.

Wendy is a foodie and loves to cook and invent new dishes. She divides her time between Peru and Washington, D.C. She is married and has a daughter. She and her husband (name?) have been members of ACAP since 2002. She has also been a generous supporter of ACAP over the years.

Director: Bruce Sloan

Bruce is the Pastor of the Union Church of Lima which serves the English speaking international and interdenominational congregation of Lima. Prior to coming to Lima in July 2008 Bruce and his wife Angela lived in Japan where he was the Senior Pastor of the Tokyo Union Church. While in Japan, Bruce was a member of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the American Chamber of Commerce and served on the Board of Directors of the Ecumenical Council of Japan and as President of the International Ecumenical Council of Tokyo. He was a frequent speaker at the Asian Pastor's Conference and conducted seminars on Cross Culture Business.

Bruce is a graduate of Samford University in Philosophy and History. He received his master's in theology from the SBTS and earned a doctoral degree from the School of Theology of the University of the South, Sewanee, where his major was spiritual direction.

Since his arrival in Lima he has been active in ACAP and the Sunrise Rotary.

Director: Connie Estrada

A native of Binghamton, New York, Connie Estrada is a thirty-nine year resident of Peru. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Connie began her career as a staff nurse at the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and worked in many areas of the nursing profession including supervisory duties in Public Health Nursing. She retired as the Embassy Nurse at the American Embassy after 31 years and currently acts as the Quality Manager at the Clinical San Borja.

Connie is married to Julio Estrada. They have three sons, Erick, Daniel and Conrad, all living in the U.S. Her personal interests include cooking, gardening and people. She has served on the ACAP Board from 2004 – 2007.

Director: Carlos Bustamante Camacho

Carlos is a gemologist with thirty plus years of major petroleum experience, primarily international. He was involved in exploration projects in Indonesia and in most of the Latin American countries. He also started two new international offices for Phillips Petroleum in Venezuela and Brazil. He spent 27 years with Phillips, rising to Country Manager of Brazil.

Carlos was born in Peru and holds U.S. and Peruvian Citizenship. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Geology at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcus, Peru and did post graduate studies at the University of Sheffield, UK.

Carlos has been active in various professional organizations including the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the College of Engineers of Peru. He is married and has three grown children residing in the United States.

Director: Anne Bertsch Tirado

As a child in upstate New York, Anne always knew she wanted to be either a journalist or in the fashion business. But the nuns wanted women to be nurses or teachers. Ignoring Sister Mary Gonzaga, she majored in English at Wilkes University and went on to NYC to the Tobe Coburn School for Fashion Careers.

She began her career at the trendy Bloomingdale's Dept Store, rising to home furnishings fashion director, a job that took her around the world analyzing markets, sourcing, product design and much more. She was recognized by Time Magazine and TV's 60 Minutes for her part in the store's annual International Promotions. After 17 years she took these skills to Macy's where she remained until forming Anne Bertsch Associates, a consulting firm servicing home furnishings mfgs.

Since moving to Lima 3 years ago with her Peruvian husband, Manuel, she has been as active in organizations as she was in New York. She is a member of the Canadian Women's Club's Board, the American Women's Literary Club and ACAP's BOD. She also serves as editor of the ACAP Magazine.