Empowering Indigenous Communities Through Sustainable, Culturally Grounded Technologies
Leadership
Staff
Our staff includes:
2 full-time and 1 half-time staff members
6 environmental and business professionals who serve on our board
volunteers who provide computer-aided design (CAD) models, webmaster, and marketing service
Our Co-Directors /Co-Founders, and Mexico staff have 24 combined years of international project management experience.
Rick McKenney,
Co-Founder/Co-Director
Prior to obtaining his MBA in Sustainable Business Practices from the Bainbridge Graduate Institute (BGI) in 2007, Rick was a physicist and materials scientist for eighteen years at Boeing, where he gained experience in product research and development, supplier development, one-piece flow operations, and project planning and management.
Rick also successfully owned his own business and now is committed to applying his engineering and business skills to environmental, economic and social justice issues in the rainforest communities of Mexico.
After earning BS degrees in Mathematics and Electrical Engineering and an MS in Computer Science, Stan had a long career as a Systems Engineer with IBM, providing technical design and support services for corporations in many different industries (finance, insurance, state & local government, health, higher education, chemical).
He has since earned his MBA in Sustainable Business Practices from the Presidio Graduate School (PGS) and strives to insure local public control of water resources and the deployment of low cost, sustainable technology for the communities in southern Mexico who lack safe drinking water.
Dr. Bolton has graduate degrees in ecology and civil engineering and is a registered professional engineer. Her PhD work focused on predicting water, sediment and nutrient transport in the Rio Grande River in New Mexico to support a management model for the Department of Game and Fish. Her dissertation won the Dissertation Thesis Award for Outstanding Water Resources Dissertation in the Field of Engineering and Physical Sciences from the University Council on Water Resources. At the University of Washington in Seattle she taught courses on a range of topics (e.g. hydrology, stream ecology, plant identification, global health, floodplain management, snow hydrology, sustainable development) in the College of Environmental and Forest Sciences for 26 years.
Much of her research dealt with land-use effects on surface water quality and quantity as well as the effects on riparian and aquatic ecosystems. From 1997 to 2003, she directed the Center for Streamside Studies at the UW which was an applied research center conducting scientific research to inform policy actions related to watersheds and salmon and co-edited a book on restoration of Puget Sound streams.
She has led and participated in community-driven sustainable development projects in Costa Rica, Peru, Bolivia, Guatemala and Kenya ranging from improved cookstoves, water and irrigation supply, improved agriculture, HIV and the environment, slum improvement and monitoring of past projects. She was the faculty representative on the Engineers without Borders board of directors. Her work in Lima, Peru has won multiple awards for social and ecological design in the public interest.
After receiving his B.A. in the humanities from Stanford University in 1975, Michael worked in a variety of fields, including the real estate industry in the Bay Area, and owned and operated several small businesses; these included a hotel in the Oregon Cascades and a cafe in Tlayacapan, Morelos, a town just south of Mexico City.
Throughout the years, Michael also worked with a number of non-profit organizations, in both paid and volunteer positions, gaining experience in project management as well as fundraising and development. Michael’s connection with Mexico dates back to his earliest years growing up in Southern California. He moved to Mexico City in 1991, where he taught English and worked as a translator. It was in this context that his association with PWS began in 2007, serving as the organization’s “person on the ground” in Mexico City, a role he enjoys to this day.
Fred Nopwaskey is a retired Mechanical Engineer who has helped develop the CAD models and designs for the La Mazateca Cookstoves, along with forms and molds for forming the stove components. He also volunteers: designing and building wheelchair ramps, participates in hiking trail building and maintenance and volunteers as an exhibit interpreter for the Oregon Coast Aquarium. He lives in Corvallis Oregon with his wife.
Rojan Dangol (Website)
Rojan Dangol is a Software Engineer and a 2025 graduate of Whitworth University, where he earned his B.A. in Computer Science. While building his professional career in the tech industry, Rojan is dedicated to using his technical expertise to support community initiatives. He is passionate about bridging the gap between social impact and technology, frequently dedicating his spare time to meaningful volunteer projects.
Neil Penso (SalesForce Developer)
Michael Sterrett (SalesForce Developer)
Michael Sterrett proudly serves as an active duty member of the U.S. Coast Guard, currently holding the role of Director of Aviation Maintenance in Port Angeles, WA. With 25 years of dedicated service in Coast Guard aviation, Michael is now excited to embark on a new chapter, pursuing a career in the dynamic Salesforce ecosystem.
Drawing on over two decades of experience leading teams, managing complex operations, and streamlining maintenance processes, Michael brings a wealth of expertise in discipline, communication, and creative problem-solving. He has earned multiple Salesforce certifications and continues to expand his knowledge through Trailhead and hands-on projects.
Michael is passionate about harnessing technology to simplify workflows, empower teams, and deliver exceptional user experiences. He is deeply grateful for the opportunity to support Planet Wise Solutions in their inspiring mission to uplift indigenous communities, while also honing his Salesforce skills to help organizations thrive and operate more efficiently.
