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Alex E. Khajavi, Executive Director Alex E. Khajavi brings extensive background in international finance, tourism development and ecotourism consulting. His career has included assignments as Investment Advisor with Dean Witter Reynolds and Eastman Dillon Securities from 1965-1971. As a Senior Vice President of the Triad Group of Companies from 1971-1977, he was responsible for project financing and international development, in France, Iran, Egypt, the U.K and the U.S. With Triad, Mr. Khajavi was the Chief Operating Officer whose responsibilities included identifying, financing and developing multi-use projects in East Africa and the Middle East. Mr. Khajavi was instrumental in the creation and funding of 20 million USD for the Sudan Development Bank. Mr. Khajavi founded and operated Western Architectural Systems from 1979 to 1986. The company manufactured architectural shading and passive energy devices. Mr. Khajavi has a Permaculture Certification from the Sonoma Art and Ecology Center. He has lectured on sustainable design for the Ecotourism Society, UNESCO, United Nations and has contributed to several books and papers on sustainability including "The Ecolodge Design and Operations Guidelines" 2000. As Executive Director of Naturegate, Mr. Khajavi has collaborated on several successful projects in the Caribbean and Central and South America. He has worked closely with the Ecotourism Society as a premier supporting member. Mr. Khajavi has encouraged developing countries for many years to adopt ecotourism as a financially and environmentally sustainable tool for development. In the past thirty years, he has worked on sustainable development projects in the Seychelles, Egypt, Fiji, the Bahamas, Costa Rica, France, Belize, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Panama, Sudan, Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala, Tanzania, Kenya, Spain and Morocco. Jeff Oldham, Renewable Resource Director Jeff Oldham has over twenty years of experience in renewable and passive energy, green building techniques, waste and water treatment and site planning. In 1989 Mr. Oldham joined Real Goods Trading Corp., one of the largest retailers of renewable energy products in the world. His responsibilities have been numerous, including; managing a wholesale program for renewable energy dealers around the U.S., managing the renewable energy division, teaching classes in renewable energy, homestead development, sustainable design, indoor air quality, recycled building products, and energy conservation. Mr. Oldham spent more than 2 years as Project Manager for Real Goods' $2.6 mill. Solar Living Center in Hopland, Ca. His duties, beyond project management, were electrical and mechanical design, material selection and environmental tracking and policies. This project has received international recognition and Mr. Oldham received two awards: A.I.A. Client of the Year and Certificate of Appreciation from the Presidents Council On Sustainable Development. Recently the project was selected by the A.I.A. as one of the top 10 environmental projects in America for Earth Day '99. He has contributed to the award winning Harmony and Concordia Resorts on St. John, as well as the recent solarization of Fetzer Vineyards, now considered the largest renewable energy run winery. In 1993 Mr. Oldham was selected as one of the coordinators of the Dream Team for The Greening of The White House project, and was responsible for "Plugloads/Equipment and Renewables". Alexi Huntley, Anthropologist/ Marketing Director Alexi Huntley received his degree in Anthropology and Latin American Studies from the University of California. Mr. Huntley has a wealth of experience in Latin America and the tourism industry. For the last five years he has worked and traveled extensively in Central and South America. In 1996, Mr. Huntley took a job with Global Exchange, a non-profit organization in San Francisco. At Global Exchange he developed media strategies for various campaigns, wrote press releases, pitched stories to the media and found newsworthy angles for greater media exposure. In 1997 Mr. Huntley was hired as a Publicist for Communication Works. At Communication Works, he handled several accounts including: Juvenile Crime Bill, Headwaters Forest Coalition, California Wilderness Coalition and a coalition of environmental advocacy groups. Mr. Huntley generated hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles and arranged appearances on radio and TV shows for clients. In 1998, while still working for Communication Works, Mr. Huntley contributed research, socio-economic reports and community impact studies to Naturegate. His background in anthropology and Latin America provided a natural synergy with Naturegate's efforts in ecotoursim and sustainable development projects in Central and South America. In 1999, he joined Naturegate as a full-time Consultant and Director of Marketing. He is fluent in Spanish and certified in cartography, GPS and GIS and has completed an Ecotourism for Planners and Managers course at George Washington University in conjunction with the Ecotourism Society. Alexi Huntley is responsible for social impact studies, community development, community relations, socio-economic reports, activity conceptualization, marketing and public relations. Susan Klugerman: Hospitality Services and Food and Beverage Susan Klugerman is a professional chef with over twenty years of experience as a consultant, instructor, caterer and director to some of the finest restaurants, hotels and culinary academies throughout the world. Susan has worked with Naturegate for ten years now, she has conceptualized and designed the food and beverage menus and managed the staffing and training for several Naturegate properties including the Tres Rios Group in 1993. In 1995, Susan Klugerman consulted for the Center for Culinary Development in San Francisco. For the CCD she was responsible for the recipe and menu development for an elite group of international clients. Susan also consulted to Neiman Marcus where she was in charge of the merchandizing of specialty and gourmet products in the retail market and strategic planning, marketing and store openings for Neiman Marcus. From 1990 to 1997, Susan was an Instructor at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. While at CCA, Susan was a Featured Chef in the award winning television show, "Cooking at the Academy." Susan is conversant in Spanish and French and has extensive first hand experience with regional and ethnic cuisines of the world.
Dan Arensmeier- Founder and President of Baum Arensmeier Talent. B.A.T. is a strategic marketing, public relations and advertising agency. Mr. Arensmeier handles creative accounts for the resort town of Breckenridge, Colorado and several high technology companies. Mehdi Maghsoudnia- Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Facetime Inc. in Silicon Valley. Mr. Maghsoudnia has over fifteen years of experience in new technology startup and operation. John Reed- General Manager of the world famous Amandari Resort in Bali. John Reed received his BS in Hotel Administration from Cornell University in 1990 and has over fifteen years of experience in the food and hotel industry. |
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