About MCT: Our Staff
Willy Kostka, Executive Director
Mr. Kostka has served as the Executive Director of MCT since 2006. Prior to joining MCT Management he served as one of the founding members of the MCT Board of Directors, holding the offices of Chairman and Vice-Chairman. During that time, he served as the founding Executive Director of the Conservation Society of Pohnpei, building the organization from the ground in 1998 into the leading conservation NGO in the FSM at the time of his departure. He earned an A.A. from Santa Rosa Junior College in 1990 and has attended numerous training courses and professional enhancement programs. Notably, he was named a fellow by the Pew Foundation for Ocean Science in 2005 and has been active in the development and promotion of the Micronesia Challenge. He is active in community organizations and Boards including the Micronesians in Conservation, President's Council on Sustainable Development, Pohnpei Resource Management Committee, Pohnpei Utilities Corporation, and the Xavier High School Board. Mr. Kostka completed a training course on "Economic Tools for Conservation" at the Conservation Strategy Fund at Stanford University in August, 2010.
Lisa Ranahan Andon, Deputy Executive Director/Grants Program Manager
Ms. Andon joined MCT in 2004 after nine years at the Pohnpei State Government serving as an Executive Assistant for the Economic Development Authority and as a Historic Preservationist for the Division of Historic Preservation and Cultural Affairs (HP&CA). She earned her B.A. in American Studies from Grinnell College in 1992 and came to Pohnpei as a Peace Corps Volunteer the same year. During her service, she taught English as a Second Langue and Math at the Our Lady of Mercy Vocational Training School and worked part-time at the HP&CA. She completed an M.A. in American Studies with a Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation and concentrations in Pacific Islands Studies and Cultural Resource Management at the University of Hawaii, Manoa in 1999. She is also an alumna of the University of Berkeley's Beahrs Environmental Leaders program (2005) and is currently attending Unitec New Zealand's Pacific Conservation NGO Management and Leadership Training course.
Meileen Albert, Finance Officer
Ms. Albert joined MCT in May 2008, coming to us after eight years as the Office Manager for the Conservation Society of Pohnpei (CSP). She earned an A.S. in Accounting from the College of Micronesia in 2000. During her tenure at CSP she received formal training in the areas of Financial Management, Computer Operations, advanced training on Microsoft QuickBooks, Customer Service & Time Management as well as Supervisory Skills Training.
Elizabeth Terk, Conservation Program Manager
Elizabeth joins MCT after serving as the Deputy Executive Director of the Conservation Society of Pohnpei (CSP) until 2009 and then serving as a consultant to CSP this year. While at CSP she participated in any number of exciting projects, including concept development and script-writing for a short film on Pohnpei's coral reef fisheries and the development of a draft management plan for the Ant Atoll Biosphere Reserve. She brings with her management and program development experience from her time as the Deputy Director of CSP as well as fundraising and communications skills. Liz has also been a teacher, first coming to Micronesia as a World Teach Volunteer, teaching algebra and language arts and then for the state department of education as a biology and language arts instructor. She holds a Masters of Advanced Studies in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Occidental College. Her Master's capstone project examined sustainable funding for Marine Protected Areas and her Senior project at Occidental focused on the effects of global warming on coral bleaching. Liz is also a PADI certified dive master and has coached high school basketball and captained her rugby team at Occidental College.
Isao Frank, Capacity Building Program Manager
Mr. Frank joined MCT in August of 2009 after spending fifteen years at the FSM/Palau program of the United States Peace Corps. There he served in various capacities, eventually holding the position of Language and Cross Culture Coordinator. During his tenure at Peace Corps, he served as the Training Director for five years. He also worked as a paralegal investigator for the Law Office of John Brackett. He is a graduate of Xavier High School in Weno, Chuuk and attended Seattle University and Washington State University as a Political Science major. Mr. Frank currently serves as the Chairman of the Pohnpei Catholic School Board of Directors.
Wendoline Roseo Marquez, Senior Grants Officer
Joined MCT as the Senior Grants Officeron February, 02 2011. Prior to coming to MCT, he spent a year at the Department of Transportation, Communication & Infrastructure at the FSM National Government where he managed the FSM Integrated Water Resource Management project, a project that aimed at protecting water quality and quantity in the FSM. Resource management and conservation are areas of high interest for Mr. Marquez developed after working with the Conservation Society of Pohnpei from 2003-2008 as the Senior Terrestrial Program Manager. During his tenure with CSP Mr. Marquez attended numerous workshops, trainings, courses and internships in resource management and conservation at institutions like the University of Hawaii, University of the South Pacific and University of Guam. Mr. Marquez was also instrumental in the development of numerous strategic action plans for resource management departments and agencies in Pohnpei State. Before joining the workforce, Mr. Marquez studied at the University of Waikato in New Zealand from 1999-2002 where he received a Bachelors of Social Science. From 1996-1999, he studied at the College of Micronesia in Pohnpei FSM where he received an AA degree. Prior to college, Mr. Marquez studied at Pohnpei Island Central School. Mr. Marquez is also proud to be a graduate of U likin Pein Awak Elementary School a school in the small village of Awak where he grew up.
Douglas (Carlos) Kusto, Grants Officer
Douglas (Carlos) Kusto, Grants Officer: Mr Kusto joined the MCT staff in June 2008. After graduating from Pohnpei Island Central School, he attended Chaminade University of Honolulu for one year. After returning from Chaminade, he worked for the Kaselehlia Press as a staff reporter for one year. While working with the Press, he attended several workshops, trainings and conferences with the Conservation Society of Pohnpei and became interested in protecting Micronesia's natural resources and decided to learn more about the media and how to use it to spread the word about conservation. Carlos enrolled in the College of Micronesia as a Media Studies major and is the process of completing his degree, there. He represented the FSM in the Micronesia Challenge Internship Program, working to increase awareness of this important conservation initiative among his peers and with local communities. He has recently been appointed to serve on the Technical Assessment Team for the CEPF.
Cerissa Jane Nanpei, Administrative Assistant
Ms. Nanpei joined MCT in October of 2009. Previously she worked as the accounting assistant for Yoshie Enterprises and as clerk and office assistant for the Admissions and Records and Financial Aid Center at the College of Micronesia. She received an A.S. degree in Business Administration form the College of Micronesia.
