Staff

Mike Duthrie, Executive Director

353 Mike Duthrie graduated with a BS and a Master of Accountancy from Brigham Young University. Mike actively consults multiple non-profits on their financial reporting capabilities as well as basic financial operations. He also has had the opportunity to work with and consult teams in several regions in Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya. Mike has also assessed and launched development programs in multiple locations throughout central Africa as well as provided post-project evaluation. His international development pursuits and interests predominately lie in social entrepreneurship and utilizing markets to change the economic circumstances of those suffering from social inequities. His previous work experience includes auditing large financial institutions for McGladrey and Pullen in their Denver and Manhattan offices, as well as running a local Utah business. From Montana, Mike has a natural enthusiasm for all things outdoors, including running, hiking, and fly-fishing, with his biggest temptation being climbing.

Arturo Fuentes, Program Director

Born and raised in Northern Mexico, Arturo migrated to the United States with his family in 1997. After graduating from high school, he enrolled at Brigham Young University, where he graduated with a degree in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic. As an undergraduate, Arturo traveled with the BYU Living Legends, performing as a vocalist and guitarist in such places as Germany, Austria, Canada, Chile, Mexico, and on Indian Reservations throughout the United States. Arturo also traveled to New York to compete with BYU’s national champion Model United Nations team, and served as Vice President of the Mexican Student Association. After being introduced to the concept of NGOs in 2007, Arturo traveled to Mozambique to help establish Massamba Microcredit, an agriculturally based microcredit organization, eventually being asked to serve on the organization’s board. In 2009, Arturo spent four months in Jordan, completing the BYU-Arabic study abroad program. The relative success with which he added Arabic to his language repertoire, resulted in him being offered a position as an instructor in the BYU Arabic department. Soon thereafter, Arturo was awarded the US Department of State Critical Language Scholarship, which landed him back in the Middle East to complete an intensive Arabic language program. During his visits to the Arab world, Arturo spent time in Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine, and made time to volunteer as an English teacher among Iraqi and Palestinian refugee communities. Prior to his current position with HELP, Arturo worked as Country Director in El Salvador. He enjoys playing guitar, and has a love for wildlife and the outdoors.

Elisabeth Jessop, Operations Manager

372 Elisabeth Jessop graduated from the University of Utah with a BS in Political Science and a BS International Studies BA. As an undergraduate student, she completed a 5-month humanitarian internship in New Delhi, India. She just returned from Mali, West Africa where she was working on the 2012 campaign for Yeah Samake, running for President of Mali, and she continues to work on the campaign from Utah. She is the State Representative for the Red Thread Movement, an initiative to combat sex trafficing. She volunteered with an international development program in Costa Rica in 2011. As a student, she also completed internships with Former Senator Bob Bennett, U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch, and the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah. She has volunteered with a number of nonprofit organizations including the International Rescue Committee (IRC), The Road Home, Catholic Community Services, and other local causes. She is passionate about international development and empowerment. She loves the outdoors, running, hiking, music, and reading.

Brady Loveless, Volunteer Coordinator

Brady comes from a home of service and cultural appreciation. In 2006 and 2007, she served and lived among the people of Peru for 18 months in the capitol city of Lima, in the jungle area of La Merced, and in the Andes Mountains. After pursuing a degree in International Cultural Studies (with an emphasis in Humanities) at Brigham Young University-Hawaii, Brady returned to Peru in 2011 as an intern with HELP International. While in Peru, concerned about orphans who have very few skills and education to support themselves into adulthood, she managed a project to reopen an onsite bakery at a local orphanage. This project not only helped the orphanage bring in extra money, but valuable skills and training for the older orphan children to become self-sufficient and successful. She is passionate about development and helping others to become self-reliant. Brady is fluent in Spanish. She loves latin, hip hop, and country dancing, music, and the outdoors.

Rachel Nielson, Program Director of Hogar del Nino

Rachel's involvement at the Hogar began in 2005 when she spent a summer in El Salvador volunteering with HELP International. That summer, she worked with several organizations throughout El Salvador teaching English and organizing activities in orphanages. She was especially drawn to the Hogar due to her experience working with persons with disabilities at an Easter Seals camp in the United States. During the winter of 2006, she and her new husband, Ryan, returned to live and volunteer at the Hogar for three months. After this incredible experience, they wanted to give other young people the same opportunity to serve at the Hogar, so, with the help of friends, they fundraised over $20,000 to start the Hogar del Nino Project.

Rachel now lives in Denver, Colorado, where Ryan is a pediatric dental resident at The Children's Hospital. Rachel taught high school English for five years, but she now enjoys staying home with their son, Noah, whom they adopted in August 2011. As the Hogar Program Director, she helps train volunteers and communicates with them frequently while they are in El Salvador. She also continues to fundraise for the orphanage and visits the Hogar residents, whom she loves, once a year.

Molly Hunter, Program Director of Hogar del Nino

Molly and her husband Andrew volunteered at the Hogar during the summer of 2009, using their specialized educational training from Brigham Young Univeristy to make a lasting difference at the orphanage. Andrew used his skills as a therapeutic recreation major to plan activities to address the Hogar residents' varied physical needs. Molly used her skills as a photography major to capture the residents' spirits and souls through the lens of her camera. Her photography has been used to create recruiting and fundraising materials for both the orphanage and HELP International volunteer programs.

Molly currently lives in Provo, Utah. She is a professional photographer and a stay-at-home mom to her daughter, Reese, who was born in July 2011. As the Hogar Program Assistant Director, she recruits and trains volunteers, as well as focuses on program development.