Staff

Our Mission
Our Clubs
News and Media
Contact Us
Staff
Board
Governance

We are a culturally diverse team who are dedicated to promote 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
Matthew NidekDirector of Finance and Operations
Kaitlyn RanneyDirector of Marketing and Communications
Laura RomeroRegional Support Manager for Latin America and IT Manager
Pallie SavoieAssociate Director of Planning and Development, and Executive Assistant to the CEO
Allison LindseySenior Regional Support Manager - U.S. and Canada, Travel and Liability Insurance
Maryam JordanRegional Support Manager - Asia and the South Pacific
Elena McCartyRegional Support Manager - Eastern Europe, Manager of Open World Program
Noriko KanamotoRegional Support Manager - Japan, Asia (Part Time)
Valerie MalfaraRegional Support Manager - France, UK, Africa (Part Time)
Hemily Balbi NogueiraRegional Support Manager - Brazil (Part Time)
Kerstin HoganRegional Support Manager - Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia (Part Time)
Maggie SmithCommunications Manager/Graphic Designer
Debbie PowellConference and Events Producer (Part Time)
Tracy HarrellController

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. 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. Jeremi holds a Masters in Business Administration from Queens University of Charlotte and resides in Athens, Georgia, with his life-partner Sherry, and their two sons.

Matthew NidekDirector of Finance and Operations

Country of origin:
U.S.A
Education:
Bachelor of Music in Music Education, Syracuse University, U.S.A. Postgraduate Certificate in Public Policy, Victoria University of Wellington, NZ Master of Public Administration, Georgia State University, U.S.A.
Language(s) Spoken:
English
Favorite place you've visited?
My second home, New Zealand!
Top travel item you can't live without?
Earphones
What’s something about you that not many people know?
I love getting lost.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Explore new places, enjoy being outside, cooking

Kaitlyn RanneyDirector of Marketing and Communications

Country of origin:
U.S.A.
Education:
B.A. in Communication from Wake Forest University, U.S.A. M.A. in Communication from Georgia State University, U.S.A.
Language(s) Spoken:
English, written Latin, some Italian
Favorite place you've visited?
Seoul, South Korea
Top travel item you can't live without?
Airborne vitamins
What’s something about you that not many people know?
I own a horse and have been horseback riding since I was six years old.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Movies, yoga, karaoke, dancing

Laura RomeroRegional Support Manager for Latin America and IT Manager

Country of origin:
Colombia
Education:
B.A. in International Economics and Modern Languages, Georgia State University, U.S.A. Study Abroad in Universidad de Granada, Spain
Language(s) Spoken:
Spanish and English
Favorite place you've visited?
Paris, France
Top travel item you can't live without?
Camera and socks
What’s something about you that not many people know?
I was in a synchronized ice skating team
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Travel, yoga

Pallie SavoieAssociate Director of Planning and Development, and Executive Assistant to the CEO

Country of origin:
U.S.A.
Education:
B.A. in Speech Communications from The University of Georgia, U.S.A. M.Ed. in Community Development Action from Vanderbilt University, U.S.A.
Language(s) Spoken:
English
Favorite place you've visited?
Oaxaca, México
Top travel item you can't live without?
My phone. It has everything I need right there including a connection to my kids.
What’s something about you that not many people know?
I was raised on a working farm that has been in my family for over 100 years. My brother runs the farm today and our family is working to make it better than ever.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
My favorite thing in the world is spending time with my husband and kids. Whether we're staying at home or out and about in the beautiful Bluegrass State, I love simply being together and watching my kids grow.

Allison LindseySenior Regional Support Manager - U.S. and Canada, 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

Maryam JordanRegional Support Manager - Asia and the South Pacific

Country of origin:
U.S.A.
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service, Humanities in International Affairs, Georgetown University, U.S.A. Certificate in Arab Studies, Georgetown University, U.S.A.
Language(s) Spoken:
English
Favorite place you've visited?
Petra, Jordan
Top travel item you can't live without?
My iTunes playlist. I love music.
What’s something about you that not many people know?
I have lived in Cairo, Egypt and Osaka, Japan
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Go hiking in the woods ideally in the mountains or near a waterfall

Elena McCartyRegional Support Manager - Eastern Europe, Manager of Open World Program

Country of origin:
Russia
Education:
B.A. in English from The Moscow State Linguistics University, Moscow, Russia MBA in Marketing from The University of St. Thomas, Minnesota, U.S.A.
Language(s) Spoken:
Russian, English
Favorite place you've visited?
India
Top travel item you can't live without?
I can get by with anything- just be creative!
What’s something about you that not many people know?
"I like sci-fi (sci more than fi), and swimming"
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Reading; watching movies; learning about other cultures

Noriko KanamotoRegional Support Manager - Japan, Asia (Part Time)

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

Valerie MalfaraRegional Support Manager - France, UK, Africa (Part Time)

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

Hemily Balbi NogueiraRegional Support Manager - Brazil (Part Time)

Country of origin:
Brazil
Education:
Bachelor of Translation and Interpretation
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 - Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia (Part Time)

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.

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

Debbie PowellConference and Events Producer (Part Time)

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 HarrellController

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