Executive Director

Dana’s interest in nonprofit work was sparked while pursuing her B.A. in International Development at Clark University, where she had the opportunity to intern at various nonprofit organizations including Habitat for Humanity and Lutheran Social Services of New England. She first joined MPI Nicaragua in 2014 as a Program Director after receiving her M.A. in Community Development & Planning. During her first year in Nicaragua, she fell in love with the communities that MPI serves and was impressed by the organization’s holistic and sustainable approach to development. After a year of working in MPI's educational and business development programs, Dana decided to extend her contract to work with MPI as a Senior Program Director for two more years before joining staff as the Assistant Country Director for MPI Nicaragua. After the Nicaragua site unfortunately had to close in 2018, Dana transitioned to a Development Manager role, and then became the Development Director in Fall 2022. In 2023 she started as the Executive Director and is thrilled at the opportunity to continue to be a part of the Manna Project team! She lives in Hawaii with her husband and two children.

Finance and Administration

As one of Manna Project's founders, Lori has been a vital part of the MPI team since graduating from Vanderbilt University in 2004 with degrees in Psychology and Elementary Education. Lori's involvement began when she helped charter the organization in January of 2004. In September 2004, Lori and 9 others journeyed to Nicaragua where they founded MPI's first international site. Lori taught preschool and designed and implemented the first art and literacy programs. Lori acted as the Nicaragua Country Director before creating and stepping into the role of Executive Director. Lori served as the Executive Director until 2016 when she stepped down to focus on her family. She continues to be involved with Manna Project as the Financial Manager and as a board member. She lives in Orlando, Florida with her husband and two sons.

Communications + Institutional Relations Manager

Abby comes to Manna from a background in experiential education focused on meaningful, symbiotic cultural exchange internationally. Most recently, she developed and ran community development projects in rural Costa Rica. Abby is a Linguist by education and is interested in social understanding and biases derived from language. Currently, Abby lives in Costa Rica with her cat.

Country Director

Tony joined Manna’s team in June 2025, bringing over 30 years of leadership in nonprofit management, economic development, and humanitarian work. Born in Honduras, Tony is a bilingual (English/Spanish) executive with extensive experience in Latin America and the U.S., and has led national and international organizations focused on public health, education, child welfare, and immigrant rights. He previously served as CEO of multiple nonprofits, a Program Officer at the Arizona Community Foundation, and as Honorary Consul of Honduras, where he coordinated major humanitarian efforts for migrant families. Most recently, Tony served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Colombia, supporting youth entrepreneurship and women-led businesses. He holds a Master’s in Public Administration and a B.S. in Management from Arizona State University and is trained in Collective Impact, Servant Leadership, and Outcomes Measurement. Passionate about community empowerment, Tony leads Manna’s work in Ecuador with vision, cultural humility, and a deep commitment to justice.

Site Manager

Mirka joined Manna’s team in March 2025 as our Shandia Site Manager. Originally from Quito and now based in Tena, she holds a degree in Ecosystem Engineering from Ikiam University and brings deep experience in cross-cultural program design, environmental education, and community-based tourism. Before joining Manna, she worked as Program Specialist for Amazon Learning, where she developed and managed immersive learning programs for international interns and Amazonian communities, and most recently served as an environmental and experiential educator in the Galápagos Islands. Mirka has also collaborated with the Pacific Whale Foundation, conducted biodiversity research with Ikiam University, and supported sustainable development efforts through both local and international partnerships. She is fluent in Spanish and English (C1), and passionate about empowering communities through conservation, education, and meaningful cultural exchange. She is excited to support both volunteers and local leaders in building a more sustainable future together.

Program Director

Luke comes from Dubuque, Iowa, in the United States. He joined Manna in August 2024. He is a recent graduate from St. Olaf College, where he studied political science, international relations, and race and ethnic studies. While in college, he spent a semester studying abroad in Seville, Spain. In his free time, Luke enjoys running, swimming, watching TV, and doing puzzles. He is excited to teach English to Shandia youth, improve his Spanish, learn some Kichwa, and try new Ecuadorian foods.