The Rev. Deacon Leroy S. Close
President and Founder
Biography:
Buck Close has been involved in Haiti since he worked in what is now Cite Soleil in 1969 for Father Arthur Volel, a Salesian Priest. Until founding 1000 Jobs/Haiti in late 2008, most of his involvement has been with the Salesian Sisters of Haiti with whom he and his family have a continuous 52-year relationship. Mr. Close is a 1972 graduate of Tulane University with majors in Economics and Latin American Studies. He spent 30 years in the textile industry, the last 18 of which was spent starting up and operating his own textile printing company. He was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate in the Episcopal Diocese of NY in 2000 and currently serves on the staff of St. George’s Church/Iglesia San Jorge in Central Falls, RI. He and his wife Lucy live in Little Compton, RI and have three grown children.

Lucy Hart Close
Biography:
Lucy’s devotion and involvement with Haiti runs parallel that of her husband of 38 years, Buck. Over the years, she has been involved in regular visits and interactions with the Salesian Sisters and will be taking over fully the artisanal endeavors of 1000 Jobs as the industrial side of 1000 Jobs evolves. She makes monthly visits to Haiti to teach in the knitting co-op with the generous aid of volunteers, without whose assistance she would be lost! If you are interested in being a volunteer or have ideas for embroidery or knitting products, please contact her at lucyhclose@gmail.com

Jacky Poteau
Executive Director
Biography:
Jacky is Executive Director of 1000 Jobs/Haiti, and Database Administrator for the JRI Health Assisted Living Program, a Boston-based social service agency which provides housing assistance to individuals infected with HIV. He holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and a Microsoft Certified Professional certificate. His volunteer work experiences include:

Institute of Human and Community Development (IHCD), a non-profit organization with operations both in Boston and in Haiti which offers educational and social services to adolescents, young adults and adults in need. At IHCD, Mr. Poteau served subsequently as the technical coordinator and Program Director. He spent many years serving on the councils of St. Leo and St. Matthew parishes in Dorchester, MA.

President and Co-Founder of FATEM (Foundation for the Technological and Economic Advancement of Mirebalais), a Boston-based nonprofit community organization assisting in Mirebalais (Haiti) in the areas of Education, Information and Communication Technology, Economic Development.  FATEM's mission is to be a catalyst for long-lasting positive change to benefit the residents of Mirebalais in the Central Plateau region.

MACHHA (Massachusetts Coalition of Haitian Hometown Associations), where he is currently filling the role of Interim Coordinator. MACHHA is an alliance of Massachusetts-based Haitian Hometown Associations, nonprofit entities, and individuals, with a commitment to the empowerment of local grassroots movements and rural development as the driving force for attaining self-reliant, sustainable development and social justice in Haiti.

Alan Symonds
Biography:
Alan graduated from Harvard College in 1955. He was involved in the textile industry for 35 years, the last 25 of these as CEO of Quaker Fabric Corporation. He is currently working with his daughter Deborah
Jones on a project to develop employment opportunities for Haitians in the jewelry industry.

Frednel Isma
1000 Jobs/Haiti Country Director
Biography:
Frednel Isma earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Université Adventiste d’Haïti. He also earned a post-graduate degree in Population and Development from Université d’Etat d’Haiti via Faculté des Sciences Humaines (Human Sciences Faculty). He has 12 years of experience working in different institutions and fields. He spent 5 years working as an Accountant, and from 2005 to 2007, worked as a Project Manager and Logistics Assistant in United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Haiti. He also taught Accounting and Accounting software at Université Adventiste in Haiti, as well as courses in Demography at INHSAC prior to his arrival at Ohio University as a Fulbright Scholar in 2007. His thesis, titled “Trends, Composition, and Demographic Structure of Haitian Employment: Census and Policy Analysis from 1971 to 2003”, analyzes Haiti’s development policies and economic constraints and their impact on employment, and is available online through Google Scholar.

Feel free to contact us for more information:
Mailing address: 316 West Main Road Little Compton, RI 02837
Email: info@1000jobshaiti.org
Thank you for visiting us at www.1000jobshaiti.org