• Douglas Smith, President of the Board

    Douglas Smith was born in Detroit, MI in 1949 and grew up in the Detroit suburbs. After graduating from the University of Michigan he spent 13 years designing and building custom hardwood furniture. Doug also got his residential builder license and began buying and renovating rundown homes and apartments.
    Doug got his real estate license in 1983, specializing in apartment sales and subdivision development. He has worked with a variety of nonprofits including avalonhousing.org, which has become a national model for the provision of housing and support services for homeless and other underserved individuals. Doug helped Avalon grow from 2 homes to over 300 homes and apartments over 30 years.
    Doug and his wife Olga live in Vieques much of the year and in Ann Arbor, MI the remainder. He is working on his Spanish and learning how to be retired.

  • John Hock, Treasurer

    John was born in the state of Michigan in 1949, where he has lived his entire life. He began working at a public accounting firm in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1983 and has worked as a Public Accountant, Chief Financial Officer, and business owner. He earned his Certified Public Accountant designation in 1987. In his 41st year of working as an accountant, John continues to work full-time with Habitat for Humanity in Monroe, Michigan, a position he has held for 17 years.

    John has also served on numerous Boards of Directors, with an emphasis on nonprofit organizations. In his "retirement," John helps individuals and businesses achieve their goals. He resides in Monroe, Michigan, with his beloved dog Sullivan. He has two daughters and five grandchildren who also live in Michigan.

  • Anna Sherman, Secretary

    Anna Sherman grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, but soon found numerous ways to explore beyond her backyard. She lived in west Texas working with troubled teenagers, spent 30 summers on a remote island in northwest Ontario operating a wilderness fishing camp with her partner, raised two children, and taught elementary classes in social-emotional skills, parenting classes, and university courses in Sociology in the mountains of Colorado. Anna currently resides in Vieques, PR. Her educational pursuits in Social Work (B.S., Purdue University) and Sociology (M.A., University of Colorado) have informed her worldview and inspired her passion for justice. She currently works alongside Viequenses at COREFI and La Colmena Cimarrona, who are creating solutions to ensure food security and food sovereignty.

    Favorite Quote:
    "You should not underestimate the power you have to affirm the humanity and dignity of the people around you. When you do that, they will teach you something about what you need to learn about human dignity, but also what you can do to be a change agent." – Bryan Stevenson

  • Padre Luis Barrios, Board member

    Rev. Dr. Luis Barrios is a professor at San Pedro y San Pablo Seminary. He also serves as prison chaplain. He holds a PhD in Clinical-Community Psychology and has coauthored books on Dominican deportees, street gangs in Ecuador, focusing on sociological and criminological perspectives.
    Padre Luis currently serves at All Saint's Mission Episcopal Church in Vieques where he and his congregation focus on being inclusive of everyone, working for social justice, and engaging in community service with other organizations.

  • Pastora Gladys Romero Figueroa, Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo Día, Vieques, Member

    Gladys Romero Figueroa is a dedicated pastor to her church with a multifaceted background in psychology, occupational therapy, and theology. She earned her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Central University of Bayamon in 1991 and an Associate's degree as an Occupational Therapist Assistant in 2002. Gladys went on to receive her Master's in Theology from Andrews University in 2016 and is currently pursuing further studies.

    From 1995 to 2022, she served as a Spiritual Leader for Grupo Hispano Adventista in Denison-Sherman, Texas, where she was ordained as an Elder. In this capacity, she collaborated with local ministers, provided community outreach, and supported patients in healthcare settings. Her extensive experience in occupational therapy and as a Case Worker demonstrates her commitment to patient care and advocacy.

    Gladys is passionate about preaching, community service, and mission work, she is pastoring the Adventist Church in Vieques and Culebra, continuing her mission to uplift and serve her community.

  • Sue Morris, Board Member

  • Olga Gallego Smith, Director

    I was born in Spain and earned my PhD in Applied Linguistics from Penn State University. After a rewarding career, I retired as a Lecturer Emerita from the University of Michigan. In 2015, my husband Doug and I moved to Vieques Island, where we now live part-time, sharing our time between Michigan and this beautiful island.

    As the manager at Donasol, I handle multiple tasks to keep things running smoothly. I'm also the mother of three, Andres, Cassie, and Kyle, and two furry friends, Pancho and Chancho. I love spending time in nature, which inspires me to make my natural organic soaps and lotions.