San Lucas Mission Leadership

Edy Morales Alvarez

Director of Coffee

Bio

Edy is originally from San Lucas and grew up in Colonia Spencer. He is currently the Director of the Coffee Program. Edy became familiar with the Mission and the Coffee Program because his father had directed the program before him.

He started working with the Coffee Program as an accountant. He was appointed Director in 2015 and remains very passionate about coffee and the program’s ability to buy coffee from small local growers at a just price.

Leonel Tun

Executive Director

Bio

Leonel is originally from San Lucas Tolimán and is the Executive Director of the San Lucas Mission. His brother, Dr. Rafael Tun, is the Healthcare Director, and his sister-in-law, Emi Tun, is the Charity Director. Leonel has an Industrial Bachelor’s degree and is a certified construction design expert. In 1994, Leonel worked for the Mission potable drinking water program. He later worked for another potable drinking water company in Guatemala City. He returned to the San Lucas Mission in 1996 to teach Visual Arts, which he did for 18 years.

Starting in 2015, Leonel worked in the Mission’s administrative offices while studying at the State University as a Mathematics and Physics teacher. He is also currently training as a business administrator. Leonel is dedicated to the San Lucas Mission and its purpose.

Myvi Juárez

Director of Charity with Dignity

Bio

As a child, Myvi attended the Mission School. In 2018, she earned a technical degree as an accountant. She worked briefly as a bank teller performing various monetary duties. On July 16, 2019, Myvi started working as the Assistant Director at the Charity with Dignity Program at the San Lucas Mission.

Myvi says that working in the Charity Program completely transformed her life. She is proud of the person she is, her achievements, and her love for humanity. But above all, she is grateful to belong to a program where she can serve her community.

Myvi has been working for 3 years in the Charity Program. She is currently studying for a Bachelor of Social Work. Myvi also participates in groups that defend the rights of youth and work towards non-violence against women.

Dr. Rafael Tun

Director of Healthcare

Bio

Dr. Tun is the Director of the Healthcare Program. He attended medical school in Guatemala City. He graduated as a doctor and surgeon from University of San Carlos de Guatemala, where he conducted studies in epidemiology and ultrasonography.

Dr. Tun has been working with the San Lucas Mission since 1998 and ensures that he and his staff provide the best medical care possible at an affordable rate for the people of San Lucas.

Guicha Ajcibinac

Director of Women’s Center

Bio

Guicha is the Director of the Women’s Center. Before working at the San Lucas Mission, Guicha belonged to an organization called “Ijac’tz” where she worked with a women’s group for 15 years. There she attended trainings and workshops regarding cooking and tourism. She also ran a small food store to generate extra income for her family.

Guicha prioritizes promoting the value and rights of women, and the accessibility to training and workshops for women in the local and rural areas of San Lucas Tolimán.

Patricia Quiacain

Director of Education

Bio

Patricia has worked at the Mission School for eighteen years. She began teaching 4th grade and continued for nine years and then taught 1st grade for five years.

Patricia is now the Director of the Education Program for the Mission School (Colegio Monseñor Gregorio Schaffer). She ensures the Montessori teaching methods are used to the benefit of every student.

Julio César Morales

Director of Construction

Bio

Julio César is an architect, originally from San Lucas. He is the Director of the Construction Program. Julio César previously worked for several planning and construction companies in Guatemala City, Retalhuleu, and Sololá.

Julio César witnessed his father’s work with the Mission, specifically with the parish buildings, as a child. He enjoys directing the Construction team and providing much needed housing to the people of San Lucas.

Ignacio “Nacho” Letona

Director of the Visitor Program

Bio

Nacho was born in San Lucas Tolimán. In 2016, he made the decision to leave his home and set out for the country’s capital with the goal of expanding his professional experience.

After spending several years working for different financial companies and studying administration at university, Nacho decided to return to his hometown with the intention of supporting the community.

That’s when Nacho got to know the San Lucas Mission and worked at the Mission Hospital in the emergency department, assisting doctors and nurses with medications and medical supplies. The experience of helping children, the elderly, and people facing hardships changed his perspective on life.

In 2024, Nacho joined the San Lucas Mission team as the Director of the Visitor Program, welcoming those who want to learn, connect, and experience something new.

In Nacho’s free time, he enjoys hiking in nature, reading, listening to music, playing sports, and traveling to new places.

Friends of San Lucas Staff

Alli Folk

Director of Finance & Administration

Bio

Alli’s introduction to FOSL was in 2018 when she went on a spring break mission trip with the Catholic Mavs of MNSU-Mankato. She fell in love with the people, the Mission, and the genuine joy she felt working alongside the Guatemalans. She became a Long-Term Volunteer in 2019, which further deepened her love for the people of San Lucas. Alli brings a background of banking, accounting, and investment experience to the team. In her free time, she likes finding new walking paths with her husband and pup, reading, and traveling to new places.

Eisa Patino

Visitor Program Manager

Bio

Eisa Patino learned about the San Lucas Mission while working at Cabrini University as an AmeriCorps member. In February/March of 2022, she visited San Lucas through Cabrini’s spring immersion trip. Her visit to San Lucas was beautiful, and she fell in love with the community. At the end of her visit, she was asked by a student if she’d ever return to San Lucas in the future. At that time, Eisa knew she wanted to return to the Mission.

Eisa grew up with her family in a suburb outside of Philadelphia. She graduated from Allegheny College in 2021 with a dual degree in Community & Justice Studies and Spanish. Eisa has had previous experience working as an AmeriCorps volunteer serving the Latino community. She has also spent time in Ecuador working with the elderly living in extreme poverty. Eisa’s upbringing as a first-generation Mexican-American had always impacted her life and led her to pursue her career working with community and service learning-based programs.

In her free time, Eisa enjoys hiking, listening to music, and dabbling in photography.

Britt Kellerman

Executive Director

Bio

Britt is an experienced leader with over 15 years in nonprofit management, including program development and oversight, fundraising, innovation and strategic planning. Britt began her career working on the US/Mexico border advancing affordable housing and financial education in El Paso, Texas. She spent the last 9 years in leadership roles at Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES), including most recently as Vice President of Development, Impact and Innovation. In this role, Britt led efforts to advance organizational growth and innovation, including supporting development of new initiatives, fundraising, integration, and alignment of programming, and organizational infrastructure for strategic advancement. Britt holds a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies and Spanish from Hamline University and a Master in Social Work with a Community Practice concentration from the University of Minnesota. Britt spends most of her free time with her husband, Ricardo, and two children, Nico Azul (1yr) and Luca (7 yrs). She loves to travel, read, garden, and spend time enjoying nature!

Savanna Witte

Administrative Coordinator

Bio

Savanna first traveled to San Lucas Tolimán at age 12 on a mission trip through St. John’s Catholic Church in Mankato, Minnesota. She returned with St. John’s in 2018 and was inspired by the leadership of the local community to pursue a role as a long-term volunteer. While working with the Visitor Program in Guatemala, Savanna witnessed firsthand the meaningful impact of the partnership with Friends of San Lucas. These experiences continue to shape her commitment to supporting mission-driven work with care, intentionality, and purpose.

Savanna graduated from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse in 2023. She has worked as a special education paraprofessional, advocating for high school students navigating academic and behavioral challenges. Currently, she volunteers with Minnesota Doctors for People, helping strengthen their online community and expand opportunities for connection and meaningful engagement.

Outside of her work, Savanna is an avid reader and modest chef. She enjoys yoga, being outside in warm weather, trying new restaurants with friends, and dancing at blues band shows.

Julie Knopp

Director of Communications

Bio

Julie brings experience in education, communications, and non-profit management to Friends of San Lucas. Shortly after graduating from college, Julie founded a non-profit called City Stay to facilitate opportunities for Minnesota high school students of all backgrounds to live with new Minnesota families in the Somali, Hmong, and Latino communities. City Stay’s work to break down barriers and increase equity in Minnesota gained international recognition by the BBC, Huffington Post, NPR, and other media outlets, and earned the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Anti-Racism Initiative Award.

Julie also worked as a kindergarten teacher at a Spanish-English dual language school for several years. Julie holds a Master of Education from Hamline University.

Julie joined Friends of San Lucas in 2019. She continues to be inspired by the San Lucas Mission’s talented in-country leadership and their multi-faceted approach to social justice.

Terri Wong

Director of Coffee

Bio

Terri’s introduction to the Mission began with her first trip to San Lucas in 2001 as a chaperone for a youth trip from St. John Neumann church in Eagan, MN. Meeting Fr. Greg and having the opportunity to work beside him with a small group changed the direction and path of her career. That group began to support him and help him raise funds under the unofficial name: Friends of San Lucas.

After Fr. Greg passed, Terri and a small group of friends continued his work and formalized what is now known as Friends of San Lucas. What started as a volunteer position for many years has become a staff position. Terri has enjoyed seeing the changes and the growth of the Mission programs and the continued miracles that happen every day with the help of the Mission staff. Ultimately her driving force has been to work from her heart and to help those in the San Lucas area.

Terri is a wife, mother of three, and grandmother of five. Her faith, family, friends and work are what bring joy and dimension to her life.

Ellen Mathiowetz

Director of Development & Engagement

Bio

Ellen was born and raised in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota and grew up hearing about the San Lucas Mission from family, church and community members. She made her first visit to San Lucas in 2010 and was inspired by the beauty of the country and its people. Ellen attended the University of St. Thomas and developed a passion for social justice through her social work and Catholic Studies degrees. Since then, she has spent her career in community-focused organizations. Ellen joined the FOSL team in 2022 as the Director of the Visitor Program and moved into her current role in 2025. Ellen loves interacting with the many supporters of FOSL, learning from our colleagues in San Lucas, and planning the details of our awesome fundraising events. Ellen lives in New York City and loves every adventure and experience the city has to offer. She spends much of her free time exploring Central Park, trying out new restaurants or checking out new Broadway shows.

Kathi Vandel
Heather Statz
Rogers Strickland
Anabella Wasserman
Meredith Eichten
Dr. Marco Baisch
Chris Sehring
Mike Greene

Friends of San Lucas Committees

Executive Committee
Arch Mrkvicka (President)
Bridget Hermer (Vice President)
Mike Grosso (Treasurer)
Heather Statz (Secretary)
Rogers Strickland
Britt Kellerman*

Finance Committee
Mike Grosso
Meredith Eichten
Dylan Brown
Paul Leighton
Alli Folk*
Britt Kellerman*

Development Committee
Andy Biebl
Steve Schreiber
Arch Mrkvicka
Rogers Strickland
Chris Sehring
Bob Parker
Britt Kellerman*
Ellen Mathiowetz*

Construction Committee
Julio Cesar Morales† (Director)
Veronica Ajcot† (Assistant Director)
Jereme Abshire (Chair)
Dave Davis
Kathi Vandel
Arch Mrkvicka
Rogers Strickland
Alli Folk*

Education Committee
Patricia Quiacaín† (Director)
Anabella Wasserman (Chair)
Fr. Phil Schotzko
Daryl Parks
Fr. Phil Schotzko
June Bower
Scott Wasserman
Savanna Witte*
Britt Kellerman*
Julie Knopp*

Healthcare Committee
Rafael Tun, M.D.† (Director)
Julio Lopez† (Assistant Director)
Larry Turner (Chair)
Jim Seifert, M.P.H.
Jim Butterworth, M.D.
Sean Duffy, M.D.
Byron McKnight, D.D.S.
Taryn McGinn Valley
Carmen Gramajo-Moser
Paul Wise, M.D
Richard Korentager, M.D.
Tom Garigan, M.D.
Eisa Patino*
Britt Kellerman*

Coffee Committee
Edy Morales† (Director)
Chuck Spaeth (Chair)
Michelle Boris
Kath Burns
Dave Davis
Giovanni Kalel
Krisi Lee
Marie Theis
Rachel Kocourek
Paul Davis
Josiah Mooney
Pam Schultze
Jack Wasserbach
Alli Folk*
Terri Wong*

Visitor Committee
Ignacio Letona† (Director)
Mynor Tax† (Assistant Director)
Eisa Patino* (Visitor Program Manager)

Women’s Center Committee
Guicha Ajcibinac† (Director)
Karina Hernandez† (Assistant Director)
Heather Statz (Chair)
Alex Muff
Kathi Vandel
Vicki Berger
Julie Knopp*

* Friends of San Lucas Staff
† San Lucas Mission Staff