Team & Board 🙌

Founder

Tom founded Outreach360, formerly Orphanage Outreach, in 1994 after a visit to an orphanage in the Dominican Republic on a service trip. He was inspired by the limited educational opportunities he saw there to create an organization dedicated to expanding access to education.

Tom led the organization through many transformations over the years, helping shape it into what it is today. Although no longer involved in the organization's day-to-day operations, his vision continues to shape Outreach360's mission and impact.

Tom holds a degree in industrial engineering from Arizona State University. Before founding Outreach360, he worked for IBM in engineering and sales. He lives with his wife, Paula, in Peoria, Arizona.

President/CEO/Virtual Impact Program Director

+1-480-282-8648

cocobarrett@outreach360.org

Originally from Ontario, Canada, Coco first joined Outreach360 (formerly Orphanage Outreach) as a long-term volunteer in the Dominican Republic in 2004. She later moved to Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic, where she joined the organization full-time as a Team Leader before becoming Country Director. In 2010, Coco relocated to Jinotega, Nicaragua, where she and Alma Fletes established Outreach360's former Learning Center and built the program from the ground up.

Today, Coco serves as President/CEO and Virtual Impact Program Director, leading Outreach360's global team and supporting students, volunteers, and staff across the globe. Before joining Outreach360, she worked as a deaf-blind interpreter and continues to support local programs for children and youth with hearing impairments.

Director of Learning & Leadership

+1-480-885-4280

adiejalfin@outreach360.org

Raised in the Boston area, Adie is a first-generation American from a Uruguayan family of language educators. She joined Outreach360 in 2015, first serving as a long-term volunteer in the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua before assuming her current role. Adie leads Outreach360's educational, leadership, and service programs, overseeing curriculum development, educational standards, instructional quality, and volunteer teacher training. In addition, she works directly with students, equipping older learners to teach younger ones and guiding graduates through higher education and career development.

An experienced English language teacher, Adie also holds a master's degree in social work. Her experience includes working with students from a wide range of backgrounds, including those facing emotional and behavioral challenges, disabilities, and difficult life circumstances.

Director of Student & Family Engagement

Before joining Outreach360, Alma led several preschool centers in Jinotega, Nicaragua. During that time, she met Outreach360 founder Tom Eklund, helping inspire the decision to open the organization's second site in her hometown. Alma joined Outreach360 in 2010, working alongside Country Director Coco Barrett to establish the former Learning Center and build the program from the ground up.

As Director of Student & Family Engagement, Alma recruits, trains, and supports students and their families throughout their Outreach360 journey. A certified English teacher, she also teaches beginning English and Spanish literacy reinforcement classes and mentors volunteers.

Learning Experience & Instructional Designer (Adelante+ Leader)

Belén has more than six years of experience in online education at Outreach360, developing digital learning experiences for English- and Spanish-speaking audiences. A native of Jinotega, Nicaragua, her journey began as a student in our local Learning Center before growing into a leadership role supporting educators and students across the organization.

She is currently completing an M.Ed. in Instructional Technology and Training at Valdosta State University through a full Outreach360 scholarship, building on her fully funded Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and Media Arts from Southern New Hampshire University.

As a TEFL-certified English teacher, Belén teaches students from beginning through advanced academic English, preparing them for standardized tests and university study. Drawing on her background in graphic design, she develops structured lesson plans, interactive LMS content, multimedia learning resources, and educational materials used by educators across Outreach360. She also mentors new instructors, facilitates EdTech workshops, supports instructional coordination, and creates educational video content for Outreach360's social media platforms.

Learning Experience & Instructional Designer (Adelante+ Leader)

For more than five years, Byron has supported Outreach360's online learning programs through instructional design, educational technology, and online instruction in both English and Spanish. He began as a student in our local Learning Center in Nicaragua before earning a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and Media Arts from Southern New Hampshire University through a full Outreach360 scholarship.

As a TEFL-certified teacher, Byron teaches English across multiple program levels while designing interactive learning activities, developing LMS content, leading EdTech workshops, creating content for Outreach360's social media platforms, and mentoring other teachers. Outside Outreach360, he teaches graphic design courses and delivers customized training for private companies.

He plans to pursue graduate studies in instructional design and educational technology.

Learning Facilitator (Adelante+ Leader)

With more than five years of professional experience in Outreach360's Virtual English Academy, Dulce teaches English at multiple levels, with a particular focus on beginning learners and students who benefit from individualized instruction. She also teaches Spanish literacy reinforcement classes, mentors volunteer teachers, and develops lesson plans, educational materials, and engaging digital learning resources.

A graduate of our former Learning Center in Jinotega, Nicaragua, Dulce is TEFL-certified and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Child & Adolescent Development at Southern New Hampshire University through a full Outreach360 scholarship.

Her background in psychology complements her work as an educator, giving her valuable insight into how children learn and develop. She plans to continue her education by pursuing a master's degree in teaching.

Learning Facilitator (Adelante Leader)

A 2025 graduate of Outreach360's Virtual English Academy and a TEFL-certified educator, Keydi joined the team in 2026. She teaches English online, supports the onboarding of new volunteers and students, and facilitates the Leadership Development, Work-Ready Youth, and Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education programs. She delivers the programs in English or Spanish according to students' proficiency levels.

Passionate about leadership and professional growth, Keydi enjoys helping others develop new skills, building meaningful connections across cultures, and creating engaging learning experiences. She is currently exploring business-related degree programs as she prepares to pursue a bachelor's degree through a full Outreach360 university scholarship.

Former Adelante+ Leader

Aidil, a graduate of our former Learning Center in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic, received a full scholarship from Outreach360 to study medicine in Santo Domingo. She served with Outreach360 for over 8 years, both in-person and online, until completing her residency in 2023.

Former Adelante+ Leader

A graduate of our former Learning Center in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic, Caleb began attending English classes in primary school and serving while still in high school. He later received a full scholarship from Outreach360 to study dentistry in Santo Domingo and continued to serve until his graduation in 2023.

Board Chair

During the last decade, J.B. led teams of high-school students from St. Stephen's Episcopal School in Bradenton, Florida to Outreach360 in Jinotega, Nicaragua and Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University and a master's degree in Education from Harvard University. J.B. has worked as a distance-running coach and an English and Spanish teacher for over two decades. He has taught in Massachusetts, New York, and Florida.

Former Board Chair

Laura has been involved with Outreach360 for over 20 years as a volunteer and board member. Laura is an audiologist and was the founder and president of Audiology Associates of Georgia, which she sold in 2014. Laura received her bachelor's and master's degrees in Audiology from East Tennessee State University, and Doctorate degree from A.T. Still University of Health Sciences. Laura has been active in Rotary International, as well as a number of professional associations and boards.

Treasurer

Penelope has been energized about Outreach360 since she first volunteered in Jinotega, Nicaragua in 2018. She is still very involved and volunteers as an English teacher in Outreach360’s Virtual English Academy in addition to her role as treasurer. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Heidelberg University in 2020. She is drawn to opportunities to serve others and bridge gaps between communities. She loves to sew, tend to plants and put on a classic vinyl record.

Secretary

Joyce’s journey with Outreach360 has spanned almost 20 years—from the first trip to an orphanage in the Dominican Republic in 2003, followed by two trips to Monte Cristi in 2012, and now as a board member and a volunteer in Outreach360’s Virtual English Academy. Joyce has a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley, and an M.A. in Elementary Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Joyce taught elementary school for 13 years before transitioning into the private sector.

Board Member

Kathleen taught Spanish for 40 years and was a community service director for 35 years. She led high school service trips to Appalachia, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and Outreach360 in the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua from 2006-2019. She has a BA from Clarke University and an MA from Middlebury College.