About MCT
Our TeamFrom our head office in Pohnpei, Micronesia meet our dedicated team.
William Kostka, Executive Director
William 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
Lisa joined MCT in 2004 as the Deputy Executive Director and Grants Program Manager, after nine years at the Pohnpei State Government where she served as an Executive Assistant for the Economic Development Authority and as an 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 Peace Corps service, she taught English as a Second Language and Math at the Our Lady of Mercy Vocational Training School and volunteered part-time at the HP&CA. During her subsequent, formal employment at the HP&CA, she managed projects and led the development and opening of the Nahnsehleng Maritime Center. She returned to the US to complete 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 a 2005 alumna of the University of California, Berkeley’s Beahrs Environmental Leaders program. In addition, she has completed Unitec New Zealand's Pacific Conservation NGO Management and Leadership Training course in 2010, earning a Post-Graduate Certificate. She lives with her family in Wone, Kitti on the island of Pohnpei and enjoys baking and gardening in her spare time.
Meileen Albert, Finance Officer
Meileen 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.
Angie Primo Luther, Accounting Assistant
Angie joined MCT in May 2022 as the Accounting Assistant. Prior to MCT, she worked for the Kolonia Town Government as the Accounting Specialist and Assistant Prosecutor for four years. She also spent one year as the Office Assistant for FSM Social Security in Kolonia. She completed her high school diploma at Seventh Day Adventist School in 2010 and went on to the College of Micronesia-FSM to study Business Administration. Angie loves music and enjoys free time relaxing with her family.
Semleen Jano, Office Manager
Semleen joined MCT in September of 2014. She graduated at the top of her class from the College of Micronesia – FSM in 2006 and served as a classroom teacher at the Pohnpei Seventh Day Adventist School (SDA) from 2001 to 2014. While at SDA she rose from Teacher Assistant to regular Classroom Teacher and participated in governance committees and activities including the review and update of operations manuals. Semleen also participates in community activities including volleyball and choirs, singing and composing songs.
Alpino Kerman Jr., Administrative Assistant
Alpino Kerman Jr. joined the MCT Team in June 2022 as the Administrative Assistant. Born and raised in the small village of Rohi Kitti, in Pohnpei, he earned his high school diploma from PICS High School in 2006. He participated in and was guided by the Upward Bound Program (UB) during his high school years. Mr. Kerman then went on to the College of Micronesia to pursue his AS degree in Business Administration. His first experience of work was as the Treasurer of the Kitti Municipal Government from 2009-2014. Prior to joining MCT family, he served as an Accountant to the Small Business Guarantee program. Alpino is an outgoing young man who loves relaxing with family and friends.
Santiago Joab Jr., Livelihoods Program Manager
A native of Pohnpei, Santiago (Jun) joined MCT in 2018 after two years at the FSM National Government, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Emergency Management (DECEM), where he served as the Hazard Mitigation Program Manager. His work there involved advising the Secretary on hazard mitigation issues and assisting state counter parts on programs or projects addressing hazard mitigation to comply with laws, regulations and policies in place. Prior to that, he worked for several years with the Pohnpei Port Authority (PPA) performing aircraft rescue and fire-fighting (ARFF) functions in the rescue, emergency services and providing aerodrome flight information services (AFIS). He also taught at the elementary school in Awak, U early in his career. He earned his BA in Environmental Studies at the University of the South Pacific in 2012. He also holds an AA in Liberal Arts from the College of Micronesia, FSM. He is an active member of Awak community and supporter of the St. Joseph Youth Program.
Ivenglynn Andon, Livelihoods and Administrative Assistant
Ivenglynn Andon, better known as Ivy, joined MCT as a Livelihoods and Administrative Assistant (LAA) in October of 2020. She completed the Agriculture and Food Technology (AFT) certificate program at COM-FSM in 2012 ,and was studying for her Associate of Science when she was awarded a scholarship from the Pacific Island on the USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture, NIFA Children’s Healthy Living (CHL) program.
Ivy completed her degree in Health Science with a concentration in Exercise Science and Health Promotion, at the University of Guam (UOG) in the fall of 2017. She started working at the University of Guam during her last semester there as a Research Assistant at Sustainable Agriculture in Guam (UOG): A Small-scale integrated farming system in an insular urban environment. After graduating from UOG Ms. Andon returned to Pohnpei and started working for the Pohnpei State Hospital as a Family Planning Health Educator for almost a year. From 2018-2020 she joined COM-FSM Health Science Division as an Administrative Specialist 3. When not working, she enjoys softball and volleyball, having played for the UOG volleyball varsity team. She is also a member of the UOG-Pohnpei Student Organization. Bertha Reyuw, Capacity Building Program Manager
Bertha Mochieg Reyuw who comes from Yap, the Island of Stone Money, joined the Micronesia Conservation Trust (MCT) in March of 2020 as the Capacity Building Program Manager. Ms. Reyuw earned her Associate of Science degree in Business Administration in 2010 and a third-year certificate in General Business in 2011 at the College of Micronesia (COM). After 3 years of studying Business, Ms. Reyuw discovered a new passion in Environmental Studies. In 2012, she was awarded the Australia Aid Scholarship (AusAid) with which she completed her Bachelor of Art degree in Environmental Studies at the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Fiji. After graduating with her Bachelors in 2014, she returned to Yap and began working as the Environmental Program Manager with the Yap Community Action Program (YapCAP) from 2014 to 2017. In September 2017, she was selected as one of the first Association for Promotion of International Cooperation (APIC)-MCT and Bill Raynor Micronesia Challenge (BRMC) scholars to attend Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan where she graduated with her Master’s in Global Environmental Studies in September 2019. Prior to joining MCT, she worked for the FSM Department of Environment, Climate Change and Emergency Management (DECEM) as the Project Manager for the Third National Communication Report project. Bertha is passionate about working with local communities in Micronesia to build their capacities, their resilience and sustaining their natural resources.
Koden Lebehn, Capacity Building Liaison Officer
Koden Lebehn began his position as the Capacity Building Liaison Officer (CBLO) at MCT on September 13, 2021. He completed his Associate of Science degree in Marine Science from the College of Micronesia in 2015. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Marine Science at the University of Hawai’i- Hilo in May 2019. With support from several partners, Mr. Lebehn was able to participate in an internship with the Marshall Islands Conservation Society (MICS) in Majuro where he completed the Marshall Islands Nearshore Training in the summer of 2019. As well as his academic achievements, Mr. Lebehn taught Bible studies to elementary students at the Calvary Christian Academy in Pohnpei for the school year 2019-2020. Prior to joining MCT, Mr. Lebehn served as Pohnpei State’s Technical Officer for the FSM Ridge to Reef Project from 2020 to 2021 where he acquired a keen interest in conservation work to support the local communities in Micronesia.
Tamara Greenstone Alefaio, Conservation Program Manager
Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Tamara joined MCT in 2016. Prior to working at MCT, Tamara lived in the Marshall Islands where she was an elementary school teacher, the director of a volunteer teaching program at the Ministry of Education, an adjunct lecturer in anthropology and psychology at the College of the Marshall Islands and most recently the Manager for Continuing and Community Education at the University of the South Pacific, Marshall Islands Campus. She has also offered high school enrichment programs, spoken on panels and facilitated a number of workshops throughout the Pacific Islands and the mainland. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology and a Master's Degree in Education, Society, Culture and Politics.
Wendolin Roseo Marquez, Micronesia Challenge Terrestrial Champion and Senior Grants Officer
Roseo joined MCT as a Senior Grants Officer in 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, areas of high interest for Roseo, were developed after working with the Conservation Society of Pohnpei from 2003-2008 as the Senior Terrestrial Program Manager. During his tenure with CSP, Roseo attended numerous workshops, trainings, courses and internships in resource management and conservation at institutions including the University of Hawaii, University of the South Pacific and University of Guam. He was also instrumental in the development of many strategic action plans for resource management departments and agencies in Pohnpei State. In 2016, he became the Micronesia Challenge Regional Terrestrial Measures Champion. In addition, he has completed the Unitec New Zealand's Pacific Conservation NGO Management and Leadership Training course in 2013, earning a Post-Graduate Certificate. Before joining the workforce, Roseo studied at the University of Waikato in New Zealand from 1999-2002 where he received a Bachelor 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, he studied at Pohnpei Island Central School. Roseo is also proud to be a graduate of U likin Pein Awak Elementary School in the small village of Awak where he grew up.
Jo Lynne Gallen-Mori, Task Manager, Green Climate Fund SAP Project
Jo Lynne joined MCT in 2014 after 2 years with the GEF Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP) where she served as the Programme Assistant. She was Officer in Charge for GEF-SGP in Micronesia for most of 2012 and received an “exceeded expectations” final rating for her Performance and Results Assessment (PRA) from the Central Program Management Team (CPMT). Prior to taking the post at GEF-SGP, she worked as an Account Specialist with the Arc of Hilo, Hilo, Hawaii from 2006-2011. She earned her Associate Degree at the College of Micronesia-FSM in Liberal Arts in 1996 and a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration,
from the University of Hawaii, Hilo in May of 2005. During her time at MCT, she served as a Grants Officer and then rose to Senior Grants Officer in 2018. While serving full time as Senior Grants Officer, Ms. Mori also pursued and earned a Master's degree in Business Administration from Benedictine University in December of 2019. In her free time, Jo Lynne enjoys spending time with her family and friends, caring for her grandmother, participating in community events and volunteering whenever she can including being a founding member of the newly established KOHWA, a non- government organization in Pohnpei. Shirley Ann Pelep, Senior Grants Officer
Shirley Ann hails from Madolenihmw, Pohnpei and she graduated from the College of Micronesia-FSM in 2012 with an Associate of Science degree in Business Administration. In 2013, she was awarded the Australia Awards Pacific Scholarship, a full scholarship to the University of the South Pacific in Fiji, where she went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies in 2015. During her first year of college, the beauty of her natural surroundings and a realization of her community’s dependence on its natural resources inspired Shirley Ann to change her major from Accounting and Economics to Environmental Studies. She went home that summer to volunteer for the Conservation Society of Pohnpei. While still at the beginning of her career, she joined MCT having already participated in the “Sustainable Sea Transport and Renewable Energy” conference held in Suva in 2014 and with several other volunteer and community service activities under her belt and with considerable passion for her work.
Drinnette James, Grants Officer
Drinnette began her tenure with MCT as a Grants Officer in 2018. Prior to joining MCT, she worked with the Dragados/Flatiron Joint Venture on the California High Speed Rail Project in Selma, California from 2016 to 2018. She served as the Environmental Administrative Assistant then became a Biologist Assistant followed by a Biological Coordinator as of the end of her tenure, tasked with data management and site inspections for environmental compliance amongst other duties. From 2013 to 2016, she was a part-time Student Assistant for the International Programs and Services Office at Fresno Pacific University. She also worked as an intern for the San Joaquin River Parkway Trust in 2015 where she assisted with the natural habitat restoration program. She acquired a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Science with a minor in Political Science from Fresno Pacific University in 2016, which she pursued immediately after graduating from Pohnpei Island Central School in 2012.
Winfred Mudong, Micronesia Challenge Socio-economic Coordinator and Grants Officer
Winfred began his position on January 22, 2018 where he coordinates socioeconomic monitoring (SEM) activities for the Micronesia Challenge and the Pacific Islands Managed and Protected Area Community (PIMPAC). SEM provides insight into human wellbeing and is important to capture alongside biological indicators in order to ensure effective conservation that benefits communities throughout Micronesia.
Winfred was born and raised on the island of Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. After he graduated from Pohnpei Island Central School, he proceeded to College of Micronesia – FSM (COM-FSM) where he successfully completed his course of studies and went on to enlist into the United States Army where he honorably served for 20 consecutive years. He completed his bachelor’s degree a few months after his military service and got his Masters in May of 2018. During his time in the military, Winfred served in numerous positions including Team leader, Squad leader, Instructor, Recruiter, Gunnery Sergeant, Platoon Sergeant, and operations senior staff member. He was assigned to different duty locations throughout the continental United States and overseas. His military education included Warriors Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Senior Leaders Course, Army Recruiter Course, and Army Instructor and Trainer Course. Winfred’s civilian education includes Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts from COM-FSM, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management from the University of Maryland-University College and a Professional Science Master’s in Environmental Management and Sustainability from St. Edwards University. He is very passionate about serving his community and is a member of many local and internationally recognized non-profit organizations where he continues his support through volunteer work and other contributions. Danalynn Worswick, Grants Officer
Danalynn recently joined the MCT family in December 2021 as a Grants Officer. She was born on the island of Yap and raised in Pohnpei, where she resides in the municipality of Madolenihmw. She received her Associate of Arts degree in Marine Science from the College of Micronesia in 2016 and continued her studies at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo where she achieved her Bachelor of Arts degree in Marine Science in 2019. In summer 2019, she interned at the Pohnpei Office of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the College of Micronesia Land Grant Hatchery Facility at Nett Point, Pohnpei. Prior to joining MCT, she worked at the FSM
Development Bank, under the administrative division, from 2020 to 2021. Aside from her work and educational background, Danalynn enjoys playing softball and outdoor activities. Isabelle Frank, Grants Officer
Ms. Isabelle Frank was born and raised in Pohnpei. She received her high school diploma from Xavier High School in Chuuk in 2014 and went on to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science at Beijing Forestry University in 2016. During her summer breaks in China, she had the opportunity to work as an English tutor to little children and intern at the Liancheng Overseas Fishery company in Shenzhen. She was also the secretary/treasurer for the Micronesian Student Organization in Beijing. When she returned to Pohnpei in 2020, she served as a household survey enumerator for the Fish Forever Project conducted by RARE. Prior to joining MCT, she worked as the Outpatient, Receptionist at Genesis Hospital and Pharmacy. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with family and loved ones and doing outdoor activities. Lastly but most certainly not the least, she is currently an active member of the Pingelapese women’s community.
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