Richard Higgs

Founder & Executive Director

Richard Higgs

Founder & Executive Director

Richard A. Higgs has woven a diverse tapestry of professional success and philanthropic endeavors throughout his life. His career began in the global financial markets, where he held senior executive positions across Sydney, London, New York, and São Paulo, specializing in Foreign Exchange, Money Markets, and Energy & Commodities.

In 2011, Richard acquired an innovative patent that would later become the foundational technology behind water-soluble PVA film pods. This breakthrough technology is now used by major household brands such as Procter & Gamble’s Tide Pods for Laundry and Cascade for Dishwashing. Richard licensed the technology to other consumer product companies, helping pioneer an entirely new market segment within the cleaning industry. Alongside this, he built a U.S. manufacturing facility to launch his own consumer and commercial brands while also offering private-label contract manufacturing for well-known brands.

This entrepreneurial journey ultimately led Richard to Puerto Rico, where in 2016 he helped establish Great Bay Global Fund. In 2020, he further expanded his footprint on the island by founding HAS Global Ventures LLC, exporting managerial services to the United States and deepening his long-term commitment to Puerto Rico’s economic growth through multiple real estate and business ventures.

Richard’s impact extends well beyond business. As the Founder and Chairman of Dorado Cares Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) and 1101.01 foundation fully certified for child welfare under CECFL, he has played a critical role in addressing urgent community needs. Dorado Cares supports emergency response efforts, ongoing community relief, municipal infrastructure initiatives, and comprehensive child welfare programs focused on social integration and long-term opportunity.

Richard and his wife, Josie Yousef, are deeply integrated into the Puerto Rican community. Together, they have enrolled their three children—Hunter, Sebastian, and Amaya—in local schools and actively engage them in sports and community activities. Their family’s involvement reflects a strong commitment not only to living in Puerto Rico, but to becoming an active and contributing part of Dorado’s future.

Dorado Cares was founded in the wake of Hurricane Fiona, driven by a profound sense of responsibility and compassion to address disaster relief and support the children of Puerto Rico. Looking ahead, Richard has set ambitious goals for the organization, including the creation of a K–12 scholarship fund designed to provide underserved children with access to quality education. Serving as Board Chair, Richard exemplifies the Board’s hands-on leadership and unwavering dedication to creating lasting, meaningful impact through education, community support, and opportunity.

Brian Santiago

Program & Operations Director

Brian Santiago Díaz

Program & Operations Director

My name is Brian Santiago Diaz and I’ve lived in Puerto Rico my entire life. I’m currently pursuing my Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, after having completed my Associate’s Degree in the same field. For the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of volunteering with Dorado Cares, a foundation that has allowed me to serve my community through compassion, teamwork, and meaningful outreach.

My passion for service is deeply rooted in both my professional goals as a nurse and my faith. I am an active member of Arise Church, where I regularly serve and support local initiatives. I’ve also had the opportunity to participate in mission trips, bringing aid and hope to communities beyond Puerto Rico, including international work in the Dominican Republic.

Through my involvement with Dorado Cares and my church, I’ve developed strong skills in leadership, organization, and communication. Whether I’m assisting with health-related services, offering support to families, or simply lending a helping hand wherever it’s needed, I strive to bring kindness, respect, and a spirit of excellence to everything I do.

I believe in the power of community and the importance of using our gifts to uplift those around us. My journey in nursing and service has just begun, but my heart for helping others continues to grow every day.

Josie Yousef

Mission Chairperson - Education

Josie Yousef

Mission Chairperson – Education

Josellyn “Josie” Gonzalez Yousef is an accomplished public finance analyst with extensive experience in municipal credit markets. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President – Municipal Credit Analyst at Lazard Asset Management in New York City, where she advised on tax-exempt investments across a broad range of municipal sectors including local school districts, utility services, transportation systems, healthcare, and public-private partnership (P3) projects.

Prior to Lazard, Josie spent a significant portion of her career at Moody’s Investors Service, holding the role of Vice President – Senior Analyst within the Public Finance Group. In this position, she played a key role in analyzing and rating speculative-grade U.S. government issuers and authored thought-leading research that supported investor decision-making across complex public finance markets.

Josie holds a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Public Finance from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, as well as a Bachelor of Administration in Political Science and International Studies (Magna Cum Laude) from Loyola University Chicago. She is fluent in Spanish and has a working knowledge of Arabic.

Born in Puerto Rico and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Josie maintains a deep personal connection to the island. As a child, she spent her summers in Corozal with her grandparents and extended family, experiences that shaped her lifelong commitment to Puerto Rico and its communities.

In the wake of Hurricane Fiona in 2022, Josie and her husband co-founded Dorado Cares, driven by a strong sense of responsibility to respond to urgent disaster relief needs and to support underage children across the island. Looking ahead, Dorado Cares is focused on structurally improving equitable access to quality K–12 education, reinforcing Josie’s mission-driven leadership and long-term vision for community impact.

Juan Bauza

Mission Chairperson - Emergency Disaster Relief

Juan Bauza

Mission Chairperson – Emergency Disaster Relief

Juan Bauza is a senior leader in recovery, resilience, and community transformation whose work reflects a deep commitment to service, preparedness, and lasting impact. With a distinguished military background in Joint Special Operations and the 2nd Airborne Division — including leadership across multiple combat missions — he brings discipline, strategic vision, and mission-driven purpose to every initiative he serves.

Following Hurricane Maria, Juan served as the Federal Economic Recovery Support Function Field Coordinator for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he helped shape recovery strategy, co-authored the economic recovery courses of action in Puerto Rico's economic recovery plan, and led initiatives that strengthened nonprofit capacity, community resilience, and long-term recovery systems. He led the creation of Puerto Rico's first Economic Development District and helped advance foundational efforts that positioned both Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands within the emerging global blue economy landscape.

His work in sustainable development and resilient food systems has earned international recognition, including selection as keynote speaker at the inaugural Blue Economy and Aquaculture Forum in Abu Dhabi. As Founder of PSB Global, he continues to support mission-aligned initiatives through program management and strategic consulting.

Juan holds a B.Sc. in Biology, an MBA, a Master of Nonprofit Administration, and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Rhode Island — an academic foundation that deepens his work in public leadership, governance, and institutional strategy.

At Dorado Cares, Juan previously led the Food Insecurity Mission and now serves as Mission Chair for Disaster Relief, bringing seasoned leadership and an unwavering commitment to helping communities prepare, respond, recover, and rebuild with resilience and dignity.

Chef Cordero

Mission Chairperson
Food Insecurity

Chef Cordero

Mission Chairperson – Food Insecurity

Pablo L. Cordero Huertas, known as Chef Cordero, was born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. From an early age, he demonstrated resilience, discipline, and a deep curiosity for both culture and food — qualities that would come to define his personal and professional journey.

In his early twenties, Pablo joined the United States Army, serving for ten years with the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas. During his military career, he participated in three major campaigns — Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn — all while earning his Bachelor of Science degree, balancing duty with personal growth.

After retiring from the military, he returned to Puerto Rico and redirected his focus to gastronomy. He studied Agrotechnology at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico and earned his degree in Culinary Arts from ICPR Bayamón, followed by a certification in Medicinal Cannabis Gastronomy from Pharmacology University. His academic journey then expanded internationally: he studied Nordic Diet and Food Sustainability at the University of Copenhagen, completed a European Pastry Certification at Escuela Hotelera de San Juan, earned a Master's degree in Culinary Arts from Mare Nostrum Business School in Spain, and later achieved a PhD in Culinary Arts. He is also a Certified Sustainable Gastronomy Consultant through Collège de Paris and DoinGlobal.

His professional credentials are equally extensive. Pablo is an accredited Private Chef and Cannabis Culinary Medicine expert through the American Culinary Federation (ACF), a member of the World Master Chef Society (WMCS) in England, and an active contributor to the Farmer Veteran Coalition, where he works to integrate veterans into agricultural and culinary industries.

As an entrepreneur, he is the founder of Cordixa LLC — a multi-faceted culinary ecosystem that includes Hacienda Kikiwaka, an agro-gastronomic sustainability project in Bayamón; Chef Cordero, his personal brand for private dining and consulting; High Cloud Bakery, a CBD-infused bakery concept; La Chiva Parrandera, a mobile cultural and gastronomic experience; and Kikiwaka Store, a platform for artisanal and agricultural products.

Beyond business, Pablo is deeply committed to community impact. Through his PTSD Farming & Workshop initiative, developed in collaboration with RollOut PTSD, he has created programs that blend agriculture, gastronomy, and recreation as tools for healing — particularly for veterans and their families. He also facilitates transformation and empowerment workshops centered on purpose, resilience, and well-being.

Chef Cordero's guiding philosophy — "Quality First," "One table, one family," "From the earth to the table, with purpose," and "Cooking is healing" — reflects his mission to position Puerto Rico as a global reference in sustainable and medicinal gastronomy, bridging tradition, innovation, and social transformation while inspiring future generations to embrace discipline, sustainability, and community.

Amelia Sosa Carter

Mission Chairperson - Social Welfare

Amelia Sosa Carter

Mission Chairperson – Social Welfare

Amelia Sosa Carter is a Venezuelan-born designer based in Puerto Rico, with a multidisciplinary background shaped by studies in Graphic Design in San Francisco, CA, and Silversmithing in Mexico. She has worked as an Art Director, Editorial Designer, and design consultant, bringing a thoughtful and refined approach to each collaboration.

Beyond her creative work, Amelia is deeply committed to community impact. As Chair of Welfare at Dorado Cares, she plays an active role in supporting initiatives that uplift and serve vulnerable populations across Puerto Rico. Her connection to these communities is both personal and cultural — being Latina has shaped her understanding of the challenges many families face and fuels her desire to contribute with purpose.

Amelia brings sensitivity and a naturally warm, optimistic approach to her work in philanthropy, using her ability — and passion — to connect with people to support and uplift others. She is especially passionate about supporting youth and children, and creating opportunities that nurture growth, stability, and a stronger sense of community.

Preeti Agarwal

Mission Chairperson - Healthcare

Preeti Agarwal

Mission Chairperson — Healthcare

Preeti Agarwal is an accomplished international strategist and entrepreneur with a track record of building transformative organizations across finance, technology, and real estate. She co-launched Celligence LLC, where she serves as Vice President, helping to pioneer the use of AngelAi — an empathetic artificial intelligence tool to reimagine customer engagement in financial services. Earlier in her career, she founded XL Dynamics, a leading provider of IT, audit, and quality control outsourcing solutions for the U.S. mortgage banking industry, where she continues to serve on the Board of Directors.

Beyond fintech and financial services, Preeti has led multimillion-dollar projects in real estate and insurance, while also managing a national rental property portfolio through her family office. Her cross-sector expertise reflects a deep commitment to operational excellence, innovation, and impact at scale.

Passionate about community well-being, Preeti and her husband actively support children’s charities, with a growing focus on health and wellness initiatives. As Mission Chair — Healthcare, she is dedicated to advancing access, equity, and sustainable solutions for her community in Puerto Rico.

Outside of her professional and philanthropic endeavors, Preeti enjoys traveling, cooking, fitness, and spending quality time with her children and their beloved pets, Bailey and Jax.

Georganna Hildebrand

Director of Philanthropy
and Engagement

Georganna Hildebrand

Mission Chairperson – Director of Philanthropy and Engagement

Georganna "Georgie" Hildebrand brings expertise in both corporate development and community service, with an emphasis on fundraising and grant writing. Over a 20-year career in the office products industry, she advanced from sales to managing manufacturing and distribution companies, specializing in organizational development to transform underperforming divisions into profitable operations. As VP of Sales and Marketing, she held profit and loss responsibility for a $30 million furniture manufacturing company. In her last turnaround project, as General Manager, she took a Southern California office products distributor from a $35,900 loss in 1993 to a $500,000 profit in 1994.

After earning her law degree in 1999, Georgie joined a law firm as a litigator specializing in lender defense and Appellate Review cases. In 2004, she began running her own business, Antares Audio Technologies, applying her organizational and management skills to lead the company to profitability.

Georgie has been deeply involved in grant writing since 2004, when she joined the Scotts Valley Rotary Club in California. She served as District Grants Subcommittee Chair from 2012 to 2016 for District 5170, overseeing grant writing across 63 Rotary Clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area from Oakland to Palo Alto. She personally wrote and administered grants in Guatemala, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos.

After retiring and relocating to Puerto Rico in 2016, Georgie continued her grant work as District Grants Subcommittee Chair for the island. In the wake of Hurricane Maria, she led the effort to secure over $3 million in grants for Puerto Rico's recovery — funding initiatives that supported small farmers, improved public schools, provided vocational carpentry training for the unemployed, rebuilt community centers, offered theater training for students in public housing, restored clean water wells in rural areas, and trained teachers to address violence in public schools.

Georgie holds a B.S. in Economics and an MBA from Portland State University, and a Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, from Western State School of Law.

Contact: georganna57@gmail.com

Shannon Brooks

Volunteer Coordinator

Shannon Brooks

Volunteer Coordinator

Shannon Brooks moved to Puerto Rico in 2019 with her husband, Steve, and their two children, Peyton (18) and Carson (22) after living in Colorado for over 20 years. Married for 24 years, Shannon holds an Engineering degree from the University of Florida. Her career includes roles at Honeywell, Osmonics, and Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, followed by 12 years at American Express, where she managed merchant partnerships and helped lead local community service initiatives for the company.

In 2015, after the unexpected loss of her sister-in-law, Jamie, at 38 due to a brain aneurysm, Shannon left American Express to help manage the cannabis business she co-owns with Steve. Shannon worked for the business for 5 years as VP of Marketing and Corporate Social Responsibility. In this capacity, Shannon created a robust CSR program that created engagement for their 450 employees to give back to the communities in which they worked. The program focused on issues like homelessness, food insecurity, and veterans' health. The company became a respected community leader and a benchmark in the cannabis sector for their CSR work.

Additionally, Shannon co-founded the Jamie Beck Family Foundation in honor of her sister-in-law. The purpose of the foundation is to create awareness and provide financial support for families affected by brain aneurysms. She is eager to continue her community involvement through Dorado Cares.

Peter Hull

Legal & Compliance Officer

Peter Hull

Legal & Compliance Officer

Peter Hull is a senior attorney with a deep passion and enduring commitment to Puerto Rico spanning over a decade. His career has been anchored in discovery solutions consultation for AmLaw 50 firms and Fortune 500 corporate legal departments. Though primarily based in Washington, D.C., his work has taken him to Brussels, Toronto, Seattle, and San Antonio in service of his most significant clients.

Pete's driving focus areas are corporate governance, compliance, and the welfare of orphaned children. Fueled by his own experience as an adoptee, his goal at Dorado Cares is to build a network connecting the island's orphanages — ensuring their needs and long-term goals are heard, supported, and met through the organization's mission.

Contact: peter@doradocares.org Cell phone: 703-593-8200

TBD

Office Administrator

TBD

Financial Specialist

Mike Trainor

Emergency Specialist

TBD

Treasurer

Karen Carlson Israel

Public Charity Specialist

OPERATIONAL VOLUNTEERS

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