TIDE Staff

Executive Director: Mrs. Celia Mahung

Mrs. Celia Mahung has been an active member of TIDE’s Board of Directors, and extremely instrumental in the growth and success of the organization since its inception in 1997.  She has represented TIDE at international meetings on sustainable development and has participated in fund-raising seminars as well as several leadership training sessions for TIDE’s Board of Directors.  For the past three years, she represented the University of Belize, Toledo Campus on the Port of Honduras Marine Reserve Advisory Committee.

She knows and understands her country, her community, and TIDE, which she has promoted locally and internationally over the last decade.  She is committed to the long-term sustainability of the natural resources of Toledo, and committed to the continued growth of the organization.  Her particular strengths lie in her passion for the development of the Toledo District, leadership experience, capacity building expertise, vast knowledge of local and national people and customs, and her familiarity with TIDE’s conservation efforts.  She is enthusiastic and highly motivated to protect and help develop the Toledo District.

Program Manager: Mr. Joe Villafranco, BA

Joseph Villafranco graduated with honors with a BSc in General Biology from the University of Belize in 2003 and since then has been working at the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment.  He started as the marine biologist for the PHMR but after realizing his true passion is terrestrial ecology he took on the responsibility of successfully coordinating the TIDE Freshwater Program.  In January 2007 Joe began management of TIDE’s Private Land Initiative - some 28,000 acres of pristine forest.   Joe is now the Program Manager for TIDE and oversees all of TIDE’s programs. 

Additional responsibilities consisted of representing TIDE on various committees including NEAC, BACONGO and PEG as well as co-chair of the Bladen Nature Consortium.  He is very creative in desktop publishing, video editing and also a very talented local artist creating cultural music for his band.  The TIDE Jingle was written and composed by Villafranco.

Development Director: Jonathan Labozzetta, BSC
Mr. Labozzetta joined the TIDE team in May 2005 to direct all fundraising activities. Jonathan worked for five years in the development department of the Rainforest Alliance, an international conservation organization with headquarters in New York. He grew up in New York and graduated with honors from New York University where he majored in Creative Writing and English. He is now happy to be out of New York and in Belize.  Jonathan will be leaving TIDE in June 2008 to persue a Masters Degree in the USA.

Development Director: Ruth McLean Dawson, MSc

Ruth Anne joins the TIDE team in June 2008 to assume responsibility for fundraising activities.  She brings an extensive background in non-profit management and has worked at local, regional, national, and international levels in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, SouthEast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Ruth Anne has a Master’s Degree in Risk, Crisis, and Disaster Management.  She is passionate about communicating the work of TIDE and finding ways for people to be involved. She welcomes your emails and calls.

Operations Manager: Stephene Supaul BSc

Stephene Supaul graduated from the University of Belize in 2003 with a B.A. in Science.  Since then she has been working with TIDE.  She started out with TIDE Tours in 2003, where she gained the eco-tourism experience as a Tourism Assistant. In February 2004, she joined the TIDE Administrative staff as Office Manager and was recently promoted to Operations Manager. Her knowledge of business entrepreneurship came about as a direct result of assisting with the family business. She was raised in Punta Gorda Town and still calls this pristine town place home.  She took up the challenge of sharing her knowledge with the students at the University of Belize for a semester and was appreciative of the opportunity.

Her science background coupled with the experience of management and financial activities at TIDE has brought forth a unique combination allowing her to produce valuable results for the organization.  Working hard and completing her tasks is a quality that she values.  Ms Supaul takes to heart the importance of the natural resources and continues to show this in the work that she does at TIDE.

Communications Coordinator: George C. A. Emmanuel, MEng, Dip Ed

George hails from the island of St. Lucia but has made Toledo, Belize his home since 2001.  A former Head of Department, Biology and Integrated Science teacher of the Julian Cho Technical High School he joined the TIDE's team in an effort to continue to place the work of the institution on the local and international scene.  A graduate from the Agrarian University of Havana (UNAH) and a holder of a Diploma in Secondary School Education from the University of the West Indies(UWI) he is known to participate in discussions on issues concerning the town and its environs. He was also the Chairperson of the Tumul Kin Center of Learning Board of Directors in Blue Creek, Toledo District.

Administrator: Mrs. Angelica Williams

Mrs. Angelica Williams, known to everyone as ‘Angie’  has an Associate’s Degree in General Business and ten years working experience - three of them at TIDE - in administration, financial, and secretarial fields.  She runs her own small business providing a service which she enjoys; creating graphic designs for greeting cards, wedding invitations and special event planning.

Since 1st February 2008, she has been promoted to the post of Administrator for TIDE and is responsible for monitoring all of TIDE’s finances.  She is the coordinator for the TIDE Fish Fest.  Angie is a hardworking employee filled with creative ideas as was demonstrated by her initiating the first ever Miss Conservation Competition in Toledo, Belize for our TIDE at Ten Celebration.  The show was a success and got many positive feedbacks and as a result will now be done annually.  Angie enjoys her work and is proud to contribute to environmental awareness through creativity.

Accounts Clerk: Ms. Kimberly Coleman

In March 2008, Ms. Kimberly Coleman from Forest Home Village, Toledo District, joined the TIDE team as the Accounts Clerk.  Ms. Coleman is currently one course away from earning her Associate Degree in Business Administration at the University of Belize – Toledo Campus.  Her responsibilities are mainly to assist the Administrator in preparing payments and other financial related duties as well as assist in other secretarial and related duties as may be requested.

Ms. Coleman is excited to be working at the Rising TIDE and looks forward to learning more about the environment, conservation and what nature has to offer on a whole.  As a new employee at the organization, she is amazed at the work being done and how busy she already is, but according to her – that is the exciting challenge that she welcomes daily.

Senior Marine Biologist: Renata Ferrari Legorreta

Renata Ferrari Legorreta, the Senior Marine Biologist for TIDE, has conducted monitoring and research across the Wider Caribbean and has over three years of experience in Belizean waters.  Coral reef ecological dynamics are the focus of her research interest and she is a PADI Certified Dive Master. She has a biology background and has specialized in tropical marine resource management and sustainable use since she graduated from a dual program between McGill University, Canada, and Universidad de las Americas, Puebla, Mexico, in 2004.

Renata leads TIDE's marine and coastal research and monitoring, which focuses on ecologically and commercially important species within the Maya Mountain Marine Corridor.  During 2008, Renata's research will hub on a fisheries assessment in the PHMR. 

Manager Paynes Creek National Park: Mr. Mario Muschamp
Mario Muschamp started with TIDE in 1999 as one of the organization's first rangers, and is now Manager for PCNP. Mr. Muschamp was previously a fisherman and tour guide and brings many years experience in both marine and terrestrial environments, as well as expertise in bird identification. Mario was most recently trained in fire management, an important skill in the savannah's of Paynes Creek. Mario is from Monkey River Village and still lives there.

Assistant Manager: Mr. Marlon Williams
Marlon Williams joined the team in October 2004. He graduated from the Toledo Community College. He also has excellent boat handling skills. He is a quick learner and also active in monitoring and research and the daily patrol and surveillance within PHMR.

Forest Management Specialist: Mr. Eugenio Ah AA
Mr. Ah, a native of San Antonio village, is a pioneer in the development of management plans for protected areas. With his 15 years of experience in Natural Resources Management, he has worked in various capacities ranging from director to manager. Before joining TIDE, he worked with the Belize Audubon Society in areas such as the Blue Hole National Park, Tapir Mountain, the Guanacaste National Park and in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. At present, he still doles out technical advice to several different protected areas.

Head Ranger: Carlos Ramirez

Carlos Ramirez better known as “Cash” is a local from Head Caye located within the Port Honduras Marine Reserve.  Being a former fisherman, he was employed with TIDE between 2002 up to 2006 as his skills and knowledge of the area were vital to our conservation efforts.   His interest in the marine reserve never faded and in 2008 he resumed his duties with the organization as the Head Ranger for the Port Honduras Marine Reserve. He is very enthusiastic about conservation work and has been instrumental in ensuring that the rules and regulations for the reserve are enforced.  He also places high importance on awareness and educating the public about the reserve because he believes that correct information brings about positive change.

Head Ranger: Mr. Leonard Williams
Leonard Williams joined the TIDE family in January Of 2004. He brings to the PCNP network, knowledge in boat handling and bird Identification. Mr. Williams worked as a smoke fish salesman for one year. Mr. Williams fell in love with Tide and have been volunteering withe organization for over a your. A native of Dangriga, he now resides in Punta Gorda Town.

Ranger: Mr. Wilfred Muschamp

Wilfred Muschamp started at TIDE in June 2005.  He hails from Monkey River Village which buffers the PHMR and PCNP.  He uses his knowledge of the area to help the residents in his community become stewards of the envionment for the future generations.

Ranger: Mr. Carlos Bardalez
Mr. Carlos Bardalez joined TIDE in February 2002 to assist in demarcating the boundary of TIDE's Block 127 lands and is now a Ranger for that area. Before coming to TIDE, Mr. Bardalez worked for three years with the Belize Defense Force. Carlos was born and raised in Cattle Landing, Belize.

Ranger: Louis Ishim

Louis Ishim joined TIDE in August 2007 as a temporary ranger and in October of the same year was given a fulltime ranger position to work at the TIDE Private Lands.  He comes from Midway Village in the Toledo District and before joining TIDE he work with the Sarstoon Temash Indigenous Institute Management (SATIIM) and his main responsibility was to assist the outreach coordination of the Institute.  He assists with day to day management of reforesting the Private Land areas as well as conducts biodiversity monitoring and education awareness to students and visitors to the PLI.

Ranger: Antonio Baki

Antonio Baki has been with TIDE from March 2007.  He is employed as a TIDE ranger at the Private Lands.  He uses his Special Police Constable status to conduct patrols and surveillance along with his colleagues to ensure that illegal activities do not occur within the watersheds of the PLI.  Antonio has spent all his life in Big Falls Village where the Rio Grande flows before entering the Port Honduras Marine Reserve.  He brings many years of experience and comprehensive knowledge of the work area.

IT Officer: Serjio Briceno
Mr. Serjio is a native of Punta Gorda Town. He join Tide staff as a volunteer and assisted in summer camps and the IT Department. In January 2003. Serjio became a permanent staff member and now holds the post of Information Technology Officer.

Ms. Delonie Forman
Ms. Forman is the scholarship coordinator for TIDE. She is currently enrolled at the University of Belize and is working towards an associate degree business administration. She enjoys working with the students that are on the program and holds very good relationships with them.

Driver/Mechanic: Ernest Caliz

Ernesto Caliz stared in March 2002 as the driver and outboard engine mechanic.  He graduated from the Toledo Community College in new millennium and was employed as a machine operator for a logging company before joining TIDE.  His main duties are the regular servicing of the patrol boats and the outboard engines.   

Education Outreach Coordinator: Mr. Norman Budna

Norman Budna boarded the TIDE ship on November 21, 2005 as the Community Liaison/ Environmental Education Outreach Coordinator.  He was born in Big Falls Village, Toledo District.  He is a graduate of St. Peter Claver College and the Belize College of Agriculture, with an Associates Degree in General Agriculture Science. Before coming onboard he worked with a number of local & international NGO’s, government projects and communities throughout Belize doing social and economic development work which focused on the environment and agricultural development.  

He has a wide experience working as Community Project and Field Supervisor and as a public relations person.  At TIDE Norman is responsible to work with the buffer communities of the Protected Areas and provide them with information relating to TIDE and the work we conduct within the Protected Areas.

Receptionist; Ms. Ariene Castillo

Ariene graduated from the Wesley College in Belize City in 2007 with an Associates Degree in Information Technology.  She grew up with her parents in Punta Gorda Town and has returned home after her studies in the City.  She was previously employed with the Community Rehabiltation Department with the Government of Belize and has experience working with people on daily basis.  She has interests working with websites and has demonstrated willingness to learn.  Ariene will be the frist one you meet when you walk into our PG main office.

Part Time Staff/Volunteers