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We are a culturally diverse team dedicated to promoting citizen diplomacy. The headquarters office of FFI (Friendship Force International) is located in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. The work of the central office staff is supplemented by additional part-time staff in Atlanta and in other locations worldwide. Our team provides support to our global network of volunteers.

Read more about our staff and their journey around the world:

Jeremi SnookCEO and President
Allison LindseyDirector of Program Operations, Travel and Liability Insurance
Debbie PowellDirector of Program Operations - World Conference
Tracy HarrellDirector of Finance
Britton HolmesRegional Support Manager, Open World Programs
Hemily Nogueira dos SantosRegional Support Manager - Latin America
Kerstin HoganRegional Support Manager - Austria, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland
Kimberly FraserRegional Support Manager - Australia and New Zealand
Noriko KanamotoRegional Support Manager - Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand
Oyuna SengeevaRegional Support Manager - Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cyprus, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Moldova, Mongolia, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine
Valerie MalfaraRegional Support Manager - Africa, France, UK
Dana JacksonFinance Department Assistant
Maggie SmithCommunications Manager/Graphic Designer

Jeremi SnookCEO and President

Bio
Jeremi Snook grew up in rural New Hampshire in the extreme northeastern part of the United States. Eager to explore the country, Jeremi broke free from his deep New England roots to attend the University of Florida from which he began his career working in nonprofit organizational development. Prior to joining Friendship Force in November 2015, Jeremi has worked successfully with organizations to enhance their mission through innovation and operational efficiency. Jeremi’s work includes the United Way of Central Carolinas and the Uptown Emergency Shelter in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 2008, he took a short break from the nonprofit sector to help start a medical manufacturing company that earned him and his partner the Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies award. Most recently, Jeremi served as Chief Operating Officer with Spaulding Youth Center, a leading community-based provider of educational services for children with neurological or behavioral challenges in Northfield, New Hampshire, USA. Jeremi also holds a Masters in Business Administration from Queens University of Charlotte. With a love for travel, he enjoys exploring different cultures and has a personal appreciation for the impact these experiences can have on an individual’s view of the world. Jeremi is excited to have found the Friendship Force with a mission to encourage others in these very same experiences.

Allison LindseyDirector of Program Operations, Travel and Liability Insurance

Country of origin:
U.S.A.
Education:
B.A. from Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, U.S.A. Study Abroad Program at Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, England
Language(s) Spoken:
English, German
Favorite place you've visited?
Can't pick just one! Loved England, Germany, Spain and France because of the friends I have in those places.
Top travel item you can't live without?
Packing cubes
What’s something about you that not many people know?
When I graduated from high school I wanted to be a Physical Therapist and started off as a Pre-Physical Therapy major.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Spend time with my husband and two children, spend time with friends, do arts and craft projects

Debbie PowellDirector of Program Operations - World Conference

Country of origin:
England
Education:
University of Cardiff, Wales: Japanese and German languages
Language(s) Spoken:
English, German, Japanese, French, Spanish
Favorite place you've visited?
Tamarindo, Costa Rica or Mae Hong Son, Thailand
Top travel item you can't live without?
Ear plugs
What’s something about you that not many people know?
I secretly fantasize about a nomadic life: getting rid of our apartment and all our stuff and just moving around the world with my family, backpack and laptop.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Reading and doing puzzles with my two boys, aged 2 and 5. Karaoke - usually the shower stall variety these days. I am also addicted to the code-breaking board game "Mastermind".

Tracy HarrellDirector of Finance

Country of origin:
U.S.A.
Education:
BBA, Economics, University of Georgia, U.S.A. MBA, Management, Piedmont College, U.S.A.
Language(s) Spoken:
English
Favorite place you've visited?
Napa Valley, California, U.S.A.
Top travel item you can't live without?
Neck Pillow
What’s something about you that not many people know?
Sometimes I snort when I laugh
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Sleep and drink good beer

Britton HolmesRegional Support Manager, Open World Programs

Country of origin:
U.S.A.
Education:
B.A. in International Studies and Political Science from College of Charleston, SC, U.S.A. Study Abroad Program at Universidad de Habana, La Habana, Cuba
Language(s) Spoken:
English and Spanish
Favorite place you've visited?
Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico
Top travel item you can't live without?
Headphones and a good book
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Gardening, enjoying nature, traveling

Hemily Nogueira dos SantosRegional Support Manager - Latin America

Country of origin:
Brazil
Education:
Bachelor of Translation and Interpretation - Universidade de Ribeirão Preto. MBA in International Business and Exterior Commerce - Fundação Getúlio Vargas
Language(s) Spoken:
Portuguese, English
Favorite place you've visited?
Budapest - Hungary
Top travel item you can't live without?
GPS tracking device
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Watching series and movies

Kerstin HoganRegional Support Manager - Austria, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland

Country of origin:
Germany
Education:
M.A. in Nordic Philology, Intercultural Communication and New German Literature at LMU München
Language(s) Spoken:
German, English, Swedish. Conversational Danish and rusty French. I can understand and read Norwegian.
Favorite place you've visited?
Newfoundland
Top travel item you can't live without?
Warm socks
What’s something about you that not many people know?
I broke my left arm twice in two different places in the space of 5 weeks.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Reading crime novels, hiking in the mountains and playing the piano.

Kimberly FraserRegional Support Manager - Australia and New Zealand

Country of origin:
Australia
Education:
M.A. in the Theory and Practice of Human Rights from the University of Essex, UK. Bachelor's Degree in Social Science (Anthropology) with Honours from James Cook University, Australia.
Language(s) Spoken:
English, some French
Favorite place you've visited?
Trou aux Cerfs, Mauritius
Top travel item you can't live without?
Shower shoes
What’s something about you that not many people know?
I once delivered a stranger's baby
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Reading and writing fiction. I always carry a book with me

Noriko KanamotoRegional Support Manager - Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand

Country of origin:
Japan
Education:
Graduate of Japan Women’s University in Japan School of Humanities
Language(s) Spoken:
Japanese, English
Favorite place you've visited?
Córdoba, Spain
Top travel item you can't live without?
Watch
What’s something about you that not many people know?
Love gardening, architecture
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Walking around my house, imagining the scenery I have never seen before

Oyuna SengeevaRegional Support Manager - Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cyprus, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Moldova, Mongolia, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine

Country of origin:
Russia
Education:
Buryat State University, Teacher of Russian language Moscow State Open University, Lecturer of Psychology.
Language(s) Spoken:
Russian, English
Favorite place you've visited?
New Zealand
Top travel item you can't live without?
A good mood and smiles!
What’s something about you that not many people know?
I lived in China for one year
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I like to spend time with my large family

Valerie MalfaraRegional Support Manager - Africa, France, UK

Country of origin:
France
Education:
Bachelor in Tourism Project Management, Technical University, Colmar, France
Language(s) Spoken:
French, English, German, Spanish
Favorite place you've visited?
India
Top travel item you can't live without?
Camera
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Cook, practice yoga, get out in the nature

Dana JacksonFinance Department Assistant

Country of origin:
United States
Education:
BS in Business Management from Tusculum University
Language(s) Spoken:
English
Favorite place you've visited?
Calvert Cliffs State Park in Lusby, Maryland
Top travel item you can't live without?
My running shoes. I love going on long runs in new places.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
When I am not working I love to spend time with my husband and two little boys, hiking and playing basketball. I can also be found petting my dogs, doing yoga, and laughing with friends.

Maggie SmithCommunications Manager/Graphic Designer

Country of origin:
U.S.A.
Education:
B.A. Visual Communication, Berry College, U.S.A.
Language(s) Spoken:
English
Favorite place you've visited?
Orlando, Florida - (Disneyworld and Universal Studios)
Top travel item you can't live without?
Camera
What’s something about you that not many people know?
Spent a year volunteering at a wild animal rescue center, working with animals like owls, snakes, opossums, and foxes!
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Artistic stuff