Villa Esperanza is made 100% by volunteers, who contribute their time and talents in the pursue of a better world.  Our focus is  in Austin and Ecuador, with the hope of achieving a global reach through our work.

Gustavo Hernandez – President, Founder

gustavo@villa-esperanza.org

Gustavo was born and raised in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and now lives in Austin, Texas with his wife and daughter. Gustavo has a Bachelors and Masters in Electrical Engineering and a Masters in Business Administration.

Russ Bixby – Treasurer

russ@villa-esperanza.org

Russ is originally from the Chicago area. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics. He worked for a major oil company in their Controller’s Organization for 30+ years in various assignments. His last assignment before retiremnet was Manager of Administrative Services for the Pipeline division. Russ and his wife Carol recently relocated to the Austin area and has become involved with Villa Esperanza to help with educating the underprivledged.

Anil Prabhakar - Secretary

anil@villa-esperanza.org

Anil Prabhakar is the secretary of Villa Esperanza. Having earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, he is currently working at a semiconductor company called SMSC in Austin, TX. Anil’s strong interest in development work led him to join the Peace Corps as a Secondary Education Volunteer in the West African country of Burkina Faso. Once he returned to the States from his two years abroad as a Peace Corps Volunteer, he wanted to join a group that promoted development in South America. Why South America? Well, though his name doesn’t indicate it, he was born in South America and spent the first 10 years of his life there. Anil joined Villa Esperanza because their vision of development in Ecuador through supporting early childhood education matches his personal vision of development in South America.

Gina de Guzman- Fundraising Director

gina@villa-esperanza.org

Gina is originally from Central Virginia. She received a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from James Madison University, where she was a member of Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed community service fraternity. She has a passion for marketing and fundraising for non-profit, visual arts, and performing arts organizations. Gina joined Villa Esperanza to support early childhood education and the fight against poverty for children in Ecuador