Monday 3 October 2011

Amy Coughenour Betancourt to Lead NCBA's CLUSA International Development Program


Amy and Victor


WASHINGTON, DC -- (Marketwire) -- 10/03/11 -- The National Cooperative Business Association has selected Amy Coughenour Betancourt as its next Vice President for NCBA's CLUSA International Program. She brings to NCBA a number of strengths to support the growth of the CLUSA program. Along with a track record of proven leadership, Amy Coughenour brings success in securing program funds from various sources, including US government donors, multi-laterals, foundations, corporations and national governments. As Deputy Director of the Pan American Development Foundation, Coughenour led efforts to secure some $58 million per year from these various donor sources.

"Amy's 'out of the box' thinking on how to secure program funds will help NCBA continue its important work in food security, democracy and governance, natural resource management and community based health," said NCBA President and CEO Paul Hazen.

In addition to her leadership, Amy Coughenour's extensive contacts in Latin America will help NCBA re-establish its presence in this region of the world.

"What draws me to NCBA and its international work is its tremendous potential for growth and impact, especially on the eve of the International Year of Cooperatives," said Amy Coughenour. "I am excited to join this outstanding team and look forward to meeting and working with the cooperative community around the world," she continued.

For the last nine years, Amy Coughenour has served as deputy director of the Pan AmericanDevelopment Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering vulnerable populations in Latin America and the Caribbean through a variety of means including training, micro-enterprise, disaster assistance, democracy building and sustainable development. At PADF, Amy was responsible for resource development, communications, private sector support, strategic planning, board development and overall management of the foundation. Her work in Haiti, in response to the earthquake of 2010 and other disasters, demonstrates her ability to creatively approach challenges.

Prior to joining PADF, Amy served as Deputy Director of the Americas Program for the Center for Strategic and International Studies. While with CSIS, among other duties, Amy developed and managed regional programs and budget; oversaw production of Americas policy publications; raised funds; and managed foundation relations, grant deliverables, expenditures and reports.

Amy Coughenour holds an M.A. in International Policy Studies (with a specialization in Latin America) from the Monterey Institute of International Studies and a B.A. in German from Central College in Pella, IA. She received a teaching Fulbright scholarship in Germany and has lived in Mexico, Austria and Central America.

ABOUT NCBA
Founded in 1916, the National Cooperative Business Association is the national voice for cooperative enterprise in the United States and has a mission to develop, advance and protect cooperative business. NCBA provides a strong, unified voice on Capitol Hill and diligently works with lawmakers to enact cooperative friendly legislation. NCBA's comprehensive programs help co-ops strengthen their businesses so they can better serve their members and transform the global economy. NCBA also creates connections across all sectors of the nation's more than 29,000 cooperative businesses, including agriculture, food distribution and retailing, childcare, credit unions, purchasing, worker-owned, housing, healthcare, energy and telecommunications cooperatives. NCBA's CLUSA International Program has helped develop cooperatives and other sustainable businesses in over 100 countries since 1953. CLUSA currently implements 23 projects in 10 countries. In the 2012, cooperatives around the world will celebrate the International Year of Cooperatives. Cooperative enterprises build a better world. To learn more about NCBA, visit www.ncba.coop.

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