Educating and Empowering

Our Team

Cathy Skoula

Cathy Skoula, Executive Director


ed@bluemountainproject.org


Cathy Skoula became Executive Director of the Blue Mountain Project on October 1, 2009. After graduating with a BS in Animal Husbandry from the University of Florida, Cathy Skoula worked with the Peace Corps in D.R. Congo (then Zaire) for four years. Upon returning to the states, she worked in biomedical research managing laboratories at Florida State University, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and Carolinas Medical Center.
While in North Carolina, Cathy returned to school, gaining masters in business administration and health administration from Pfeiffer University. Using her accumulated experience and new knowledge coupled with an ever-present desire to work in the humanitarian field, Cathy worked for Action Against Hunger for six years. She was country director in Myanmar, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo before becoming the Executive Director of Action Against Hunger - USA. After leaving Action Against Hunger, Cathy worked for the International Medical Corps as their Director of International Operations.
Cathy speaks English and French and has the notions of kiKongo, and kiSwahili. She enjoys hiking, photography, and quilting.

Zadie Neufville

Zadie Neufville, Program Manager


pm@bluemountainproject.org


Zadie Neufville is a media and communications consultant specializing in public awareness and community. A freelance journalist, Zadie writes about development issues - environment, health and agriculture. She is a product development specialist with more than 20 years in the media, beginning as a television producer/scriptwriter and moving to radio and print. She has worked as a lecturer and trainer in new media technologies and digital arts. Zadie is also a design engineer, trained in fine arts and visual communications and notes that she employs aspects of each in everyday life. Zadie is a member of the GreenAccord media family. GreenAccord is an Italian-based cultural organization committed to the protection of nature.



Linda Ganister

Linda Ganister, Bookkeeper


act@bluemountainproject.org


Linda Ganister first started working for the BMP in the fall of 2006 through her friendship with Board Members Mary Kohak and Kent Shifferd. She has a B.S. in Outdoor Education from Northland College, and an AAS in Accounting from Vermilion Community College. Originally from Pennsylvania, she has lived in Ely, MN for the last 20 years. She worked for Outward Bound for 12 years as a Secretary and then as a Bookkeeper. She currently does bookkeeping for a variety of small businesses including Raven Productions, a publisher of books for kids and of the outdoors. She is also the sole proprietor for the Ely Candle Company.



Euton Rodney

Euton Rodney, Assistant Program Manager

Euton Rodney is our new Assistant Program Manager who started working with the Blue Mountain Project on December 1, 2009 as an Ambassador. He is married to Hanna Rodney. They have three (3) children, two girls, Sashalese, Sanika and a boy, Tavoy. Euton is a coffee farmer and spends most of his time working with the community.
Carma Messan

Carma Messan (Tia), Clinic Nurse

Tia started with BMP in January 2011 as our Clinic Nurse. She is a Licensed Practical Nurse from Trelawny on the north coast of Jamaica who came to Hagley Gap for personal reasons. She has a 19 year daughter, Sasha-Gay, who works in Montego Bay. Tia became interested in nursing when she took care of her elderly grandmother as a child.
Taylor Lubich

Taylor Lubich, Intern - Marketing and Service Learning


Taylor is a student at University of Wisconsin La Crosse majoring in Communication Studies with an emphasis in advocacy and communication criticism with a minor in Sociology. She aspires to work for a non-profit organization that sends volunteers abroad. Taylor has traveled to Jamaica once before and discovered a passion for helping the people of Jamaica and cannot wait to explore new ways to help through Blue Mountain Project.
Veronnica Thompson

Veronnica Thompson, Intern - Marketing and Service Learning


Veronnica is a student of the University of Wisconsin-Madison majoring in French and geography with an emphasis on global systems. She plans to continue her education, and hopefully, work with NGOs in the future. In addition, Veronnica is an avid yogi and loves to read. She is incredibly excited to be apart of the BMP team.
Laura Courbois

Laura Courbois, Intern - Social Network Marketing


Laura is an undergrad student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in Marketing/Public Relations and International Studies. She grew up in the south of France for the first 10 years of her life, and returns every summer. When she is not at school in Wisconsin, she is at her family's home in Minneapolis enjoying all the beautiful lakes in the summer and the snow in the winter. She loves to travel and has been lucky to have visited over 25 different countries. She has been on several mission trips over the years, which helped her realize that she wants to devote her life to humanitarian aid/relief work as well as traveling.


Ambassadors

Ambassadors are first-world volunteers that spend one year of their time living and working in Hagley Gap in exchange for modest room and board. Throughout their year, they learn about rural Jamaican life from the l.i.g.h.t.s and teach the l.i.g.h.t.s basic job skills. Ambassadors and l.i.g.h.t.s work together to carry out the daily operations of the Blue Mountain Project.
Helena Edmonds

Helena Edmonds

Helena Edmonds is our 2012 Ambassador. She will work with our economic development groups, the Service Learning Volunteers, and liaise with the Community Water Committee. In 2011 she graduated from the University of Exeter (UK) with an honours degree in International Relations with Economics. She plans on completing her Masters in International Relations, or a related field, after having served with the BMP. Furthermore, Helena is an avid basketball player and captained her University team for two years. For this she was nominated for Club Captain of the Year and Team Captain of the Year by the University. In addition, she also enjoys travelling, learning new cultures and being with friends and family.


l.i.g.h.t.s (learning, inspiring, giving, helping, teaching)

l.i.g.h.t.s are local Jamaican volunteers that spend one year of their time working for the Blue Mountain Project in exchange for a small monthly stipend. Upon successful completion of one year of service, l.i.g.h.t.s earn a scholarship to further continue their educational goals. l.i.g.h.t.s and Ambassadors work together to carry out the daily operations of Blue Mountain Project.
D’Angelo Walker

D’Angelo Walker

D'Angelo, also known as “Poppy,” became a l.i.g.h.t. in January 2008. He lives in Ladies View, Hagley Gap. He is 20 years old. He enjoys being around and meeting new people. One day, he hopes to be an engineer. During his time as a l.i.g.h.t. Poppy will work with Gwion learning surveying techniques and working on the Hagley Gap After School Program.
Edith Carson

Edith Carson (Pauline)

Edith earned her Licensed Practical Nurse certification in Kingston. She grew up with a passion for nursing especially caring for the elderly. She has three children and lives in Ness Castle. As a BMP l.i.g.h.t. she will work on our two health clinics and perform home visits.

Safia Nelson

Safia Nelson

Safia Nelson who has completed high school with an emphasis on the sciences, would like to be become a midwife or a high school teacher. As a LIGHT, she leads our Penlyne Castle After School program and helps in the Penlyne Castle clinic. In Safia's spare time she likes to write short stories drawing on her imagination.