the team
Runa’s 40 person team is often referred to as “La Familia Runa”because of the positive, supportive, and fun atmosphere we create around our work. We appreciate our diversity between ages, nationalities, genders, and races, and our love of guayusa tea brings us together every day.
Founders
Tyler Gage
Co-founder & Co-CEO
Tyler was born and raised just outside of Berkeley, CA. After his freshman year at Brown University, Tyler was given the unique opportunity to study Amazonian plants and languages in South America, and he soon became fascinated by the richness of the natuve culture and their relationship with the rainforest. He spent thebetter part of three years living throughout the upper Amazon and during that time, Tyler developed a passion for working with the indigenous communities, striving to find new, sustainable ways for them to earn a living while preserving their culture. While in Ecuador, Typer discovered guayusa, a local plant brewed like tea that has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years throughout the Ecuadorian communities. This little plant became Tyler’s opportunity to help these communities thrive in the modern world. Tyler loves sharing guayusa and believes deeply in the transformative power of Runa’s work. For his work, Tyler was named a Forbes “30 Under 30″ in the January 2013 issue. In his free time, Tyler enjoys playing soccer, frisbee, practicing yoga, traveling, and eating good food. He currently lives in Brooklyn, NY near the Gowanus Canal, which will never be mistaken for the Amazon River.
Dan MacCombie
Co-founder & Co-CEO
Dan grew up mostly in the woods outside Cleveland Ohio and his time spent there gave him a deep, unabiding love for ecosystems and all of the unique ways that humans are intimately tied to them. Studying conservation and marine biology at Brown University, Dan took a life-changing three-month trip to Latin America where he connected with the rich cultures and landscapes and ultimately dedicated himself to supporting forests and the need to preserve and enhance the livelihoods of those who lived there. After graduating, he acted on this passion by developing Runa, a company whose commitment to the indigenous farmer and their forests aligns with Dan’s devotion to sustainability and cultural conservation. For his work, Dan was named a Forbes “30 under 30″ in the January 2013 issue. Dan lives in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn and enjoys music in all forms, hiking, scuba diving and exploring all corners of Brooklyn and NYC, often on a stereotypically single-speed bike that he’s finally admitted to owning.
USA Team
Anna Premo
Marketing Manager
Hometown: Washington, Illinois, USA
Naturally social and charismatic, Anna fits perfectly into Team Runa and her role as marketing manager. Anna began as Runa’s all-things-online manager while living in the Amazon alongside our Ecuadorian team. During her 10 months in South America, Anna was able to learn about the inner workings of the company and gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between the market in the US and its impact on the daily lives of indigenous farmers. Anna has since joined the team in Brooklyn and is excited to use strategic marketing to propel Runa forward.
Caroline Turnbull
Sales and Operation Manager
Contact info: [email protected]
Caroline found Runa through her interest and research experience in developing small social enterprises. Her background in international relations and cross-cultural engagement brings an interdisciplinary sensibility to her work with the Runa Team. She has been managing sales accounts and zig-zagging the East Coast running demos since November 2010, when she joined the team. She now lives in Brooklyn in a lovely little loft and avidly seeks fresh air on bicycle when she isn’t in the office or sharing tea.
Dave Clark
Territory Manager New England Region
In the last ten years David co-founded an independent cafe management company, designed and taught an entrepreneurship class in an inner-city afterschool program, worked on a cattle ranch in South America, and helped kick-start a socially driven media company. Travels have taken him throughout Europe and Latin America and into Indonesia. David’s affection for start-ups and socially driven for-profit businesses has led him to Runa, where he hopes to build strong regional bases and ambitious sales teams.
Marc Tangvik
Meet Marc, our New England Territory Sales Rep. Marc studied Spanish and Economics at Union College, and has a background in finance and cheese-making. His hobbies include basketball and the performing arts. He currently lives in Boston, the same town he grew up in. When asked why he’s still living there, Marc says “Like guayusa, I just can’t get enough”.
Mike Murray
Mike is Runa’s California Sales Rep and is excited to help spread the word about guayusa on the West Coast. Prior to Runa, Mike worked in the wholesale seafood industry for 5 years in the Bay Area, selling high quality and environmentally responsible seafood to some of the best restaurants in North America. To help him through the early morning hours, Mike developed a crippling addiction to coffee that would literally leave him sick to his stomach in the afternoon due to the high levels of caffeine and acidic tannin. Mike has since switched to traditional guayusa which he brews every morning for the focused energy he needs to wake up and get to work. Outside of work, Mike can often be found surfing at Ocean Beach, hiking in Marin, or riding his bike around his adopted home of San Francisco. He also loves a good book.
Dan Gold
Dan supports Runa’s growth in the Pacific Northwest. He lives in Portland, Oregon and can likely be found getting dirty in his edible garden, getting wet on local whitewater and cooking elaborate meals with his beautiful wife Elise and their pooch Mr. Tetley Teabagger who cleans the dishes among other things.
Nick Olson
Regional Manager
Hometown: Durango, Colorado, USA
A former volunteer returned from an epic mototaxi race down the length of South America, Nick now assumes the position of regional coordinator at Runa’s Archidona headquarters. Aside from solving day-to-day problems using his Birmingham-Southern College training in economics and Spanish, he enjoys taking runs and swimming in rivers outside the city. He often remarks that the imminent wilderness surrounding Archidona reminds him of his hometown, Durango, CO. Here for the next year, Nick brings an indomitable enthusiasm for the jungle, its people, and Runa’s projects.
Emilia Mendieta
Graphic Designer in Brooklyn
Filmmaker. Foodie. Traveler. Musician. Emilia was born in Wichita, Kansas but grew up in Quito, Ecuador. After graduating from Vassar College in 2010 with a double degree in Film Production and Chinese Language & Culture, she traveled the world through her own Film Production & Distribution company, produced a “first look” trailer for a feature film, and worked as an Assistant Director at Ecuador’s top Ad Production firm. In hot pursuit of the filmmaking dream, she packed her bags and moved to Brooklyn in search of more adventures. An initially low-key part-time Administrative Assistant gig became a full-time job as a Graphic Designer when Runa discovered she was a digital graphic, photo, and film wizard. When she’s not creating designs for Runa, she spends her days scouring the five boroughs in search of the perfect Chinese dumpling, playing Metallica on her cello, and planning her short film directorial debut.
Nick McCormick
Sales Representative
Angela Mohamed
Sales Representative
Alex Evans
Sales Representative
Chris Kajander
Sales Representative
Sean Makau
Sales Representative
Hometown: Chico, CA
Sean came to Denver by way of a road trip, liked it, and began envisioning a market for Guayusa and Runa in the Rockies. Since graduating from Humboldt State, in Small Business Management, he has worked for several tea companies and began a Blog. He began blogging about Guayusa in 2009, and got hooked on Runa’s vision and values. He enjoys biking, travel, Lacrosse, and he recently discovered the ski slopes of the Rockies. Favorite quote: “If you don’t have dreams, you have nightmares.” –Unknown
Ecuador Team
Alex Hermosa
Field Technician
Hometown: Archidona, Napo Province, Ecuador
Born and raised in Archidona, Alex developed a love for kayaking early on in his life. After graduating from high school and then the Escuela Politécnica Amazónica, he even worked as a white-water kayak guide out of Tena. Now working for Runa, he finds satisfaction in his daily work developing farmers’ ability to earn evermore needed money while preserving the cultural heritage that is guayusa.
Alexandra Humanante
Technical Director of Projects
Hometown: Riobamba, Chimborazo Province, Ecuador
After graduating from the Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo in Ecuador’s Sierra, Alexandra moved down into the Ecuadorian Amazon to study at the Docente Universidad Estatal Amazónica. There, she strengthened her background in agriculture and botany, two knowledge sets she now uses to direct the technical side of Runa’s Ecuadorian field operations. She sees Runa as an opportunity for Amazonian inhabitants to share guayusa with the world while bettering their own lives. Through Runa, Amazonians, Highlanders, and Westerners alike have the chance to form one cohesive group and do just that.
Alexis Agreda
Head of Accounting
Hometown: Quito, Ecuador
Alexis studied at the Universidad Andina de Colombia and has a degree in Business Administration. Before Runa he worked for the EmpresaInduvallas, a company which rents fences and public spaces at the national level. He came to Runa because he is enthusiastic for the chance to work together with the communities and share the knowledge he has had the opportunity to learn, as well as to use his professional experienceto help Runa, an Ecuadorian company that is quickly becoming a top competitor.
Angel Tapuy Shiguangoector Vargas
Field Technician
Hometown: Las Maravillas (Archidona), Napo Province, Ecuador
Angel is easily the friendliest and kindest man you will find in Archidona. His smile could melt an iron heart. While guayusa harvesting is in full swing, you will find him operating the guayusa-processing machinery. In between harvests, he helps out in the 70,000 plant nursery near his home. There in Las Maravillas (‘Wonderland’), he lives with his big happy family on the outskirts of Archidona.
in the office
Angel Yumbo
Field Technician
Hometown: San Luis, Napo Province, Ecuador
Angel graduated from high school with a degree in Agronomy. He brings to Runa knowledge gained from working in community development and agriculture at the FundaciónDyA, the ministry of agriculture, livestock, and fishing, and a Napo-based chocolate cooperative called Kallari. Angel feels his cultural roots strongly and when he is not in the field working for Runa he is at home working on his farm and “following in his parents’ footsteps.” Guayusa is a part of his cultural heritage and he is excited for the opportunity to share his culture with a world in a way that also increases the incomes of his fellow Kichwa.
Bayardo Andi
Field Technician
Hometown: Atacapi, Napo Province, Ecuador
After graduating from high school with a degree in agroforestry, Bayardo worked for years in cacao production in the Napo province. He came to Runa for the chance to help the people of the Napo region but is particularly excited for the agroforestry potential provided by guayusa. He loves the idea of integrated farms growing both cacao and guayusa and brings his extensive knowledge in both industries to the task. When he is not working Bayardo enjoys spending time with his family.
Edgar Aguinda
Factory Worker
Hometown: Archidona, Napo Province, Ecuador
Edgar is a dynamic Kichwa man who is quite serious in the best meaning of the word. He is incredibly intelligent, a fact that is evident after mere minutes of conversation. When asked what he enjoys doing outside of work he responded that he wants to learn in any way possible and when he is not fulfilling his family responsibilities he likes to take personal time to think. He graduated from high school with a degree in Accounting and before Runa he worked for his family’s bicycle business. He loves guayusa and wanted the chance to work with the plant; when he found there was a guayusa project he jumped on the opportunity to be involved. He expresses his enthusiasm for the word Runa and the guayusa plant, both of which “encompass the identity of the Amazonian Kichwa and are indispensable for the people of the area.”
Elias Alvarado
Field Technician
Hometown: Tena and San Chambira, Napo Province, Ecuador
Elias was born in the community of San Chambira and spends his free time back at home working on his family farm. He graduated from the Tecnica Ambato with a degree in Agronomy and Production and worked for seven years at Kallari, a Napo-based cacao cooperative, in a variety of positions including field technician, assistant manager, and manager of production. After Kallari he had a brief stint in the agricultural quality control division of the Ecuadorian government before leaving to come work for Runa. He is most enthusiastic for the opportunity to work with Kichwa communities and provide them with support as they continue to develop.
Elisa Shiguango
Nursery Assistant
Hometown: Ruckullakta, Napo Province, Ecuador
Elisa is a fun-loving girl who works in Runa’sguayusa nurseries. She came to Runa right out of high school where she graduated with a degree in Agronomy. She loves to dance but has a phobia of rivers and hates swimming. She came to Runa because she loves working with plants and making things grow.
Fernando Grefa
Field Technician
Hometown: Tena, Napo Province, Ecuador
As one of the oldest (and wisest) técnicos, Fernando brings an unmatched sense of calm and poise to the offices of Runa. After graduating from high school, he somehow ended up in the forests of Colombia developing cacao and coffee projects with Fundación Al Tropic. Now back in his hometown, Fernando contributes to what is Team Runa. He sees guayusa as a both a cultural custom and a practical solution to the physical demands of life in the jungle. More importantly, he sees his work as an opportunity to build upon ancient Kichwa knowledge through shared experiences and experimentation with the local guayusa farmers.
Francisco Mantilla
General Manager
Hometown: Quito, Pichincha Province, Ecuador
Francisco is our General Manager in Ecuador. He brings to Runa both his knowledge of project management in the public sector as well as a strong entrepreneurial spirit cultivated in the private sector. After living in the US for two years, he returned convinced of the need to bring Ecuador’s rich and diverse products to the world market. He studied international business focused on coordinating and overseeing the entire import and export processes. He developed great negotiation skills working with the American, Asian, and European markets. He then entered the public sector working for the Ministry of Environment on development projects throughout Latin America. He is starting a part-time MBA program at the Universidad San Francisco in Quito while he works with Runa.
Lucio Yumbo
Harvest Technician
Hometown: Tena, Napo Province, Ecuador
Lucio loves to laugh and enjoys making fun of his co-workers as much as he loves being made fun of himself. He was born in the neighboring province of Orellana and spent time there in construction after graduating from high school with a degree in agriculture and livestock. He came to the Napo region to work for Kallari, an indigenously-governed cacao cooperative, where he worked for two and a half years. During this time he got to know the indigenous people of the area and became invested in tackling the problems present there. This interest led him to Runa. He is excited to bring a new market to the indigenous people which, because guayusa is grown alongside other plants, will generate new income without reducing the farmer’s current production of subsistence or cash crops; he has been known to talk at length about his excitement.
Marina Alvarado
Field Technician
Hometown: Lucianta, Napo Province, Ecuador
Marina began her working career as a viverista, or nursery technician, in Runa’sguayusa nurseries. Impressed by her passion and skill, Runa promoted her to field technician. Having recently taken a hiatus from both school and work to have her first child, Marina is back in force at both. During weekdays she works for Runa and during the weekends she is hard at work finishing her high school degree in agriculture and livestock. Why work at Runa? For “el amor de guayusa” of course!
Patricio Andy
Field Technician
Hometown: San Pablo, Napo Province, Ecuador
Hailing from a long line of shamans, Patricio tells stories of Kichwa ancestry with unmatched ease and fervor. His laugh is infectious, his love for life…palpable. After graduating from high school, he attended university in Cuenca and went on to work on cacao-agroforestry projects with Proyecto Productivo Fonakin, a local project involving the Kichwa community Pueblo Kichwa; and Kallari, a Napo-based indigenously-governed cacao cooperative. While deeply connected to the history of guayusa and its importance to Kichwas, he also promotes its commercialization and the reasoning behind it: its ability to provide additional income to local families and communities at a time when Western values and markets are eroding ancient Kichwa traditions (e.g. rituals surrounding guayusa).
Pedro Grefa
Field Technician
Hometown: Tena, Napo Province, Ecuador
Although originally a “city boy” (a relative term here in the Amazon), Pedro first began working after high school as a member of an oil exploration team deep in the jungles of Ecuador’s Oriente. He is always happy to share his crazy tales of the long, trail-blazing days and ant-ridden, bamboo-bed nights over the course of his expeditions. Stick around long enough and he may slip into accounts of more hilarious happenings from his life. Working along the Napo River from Puerto Napo down to Misahualli, Pedro shares with the rest of the team a deep commitment to his farmers and their progress. He also loves to share ancestral Kichwa knowledge with outsiders and vivid Kichwa jokes with his friends, often the same farmers he works with everyday.
Rodrigo Tapuy
Factory Worker
Hometown: Tena, Napo Province, Ecuador
Rodrigo graduated from high school in Tena with a degree in Accounting and is currently pursuing a second degree in Public Administration. Before Runa he workedas a security guard and, later, at the Transit Commision. He enjoys his job at Runa because he appreciates the opportunity to help his fellow Kichwa by providing them with the income they need to improve their standard of living in a manner thatalso respects the environment.
Sandra Cando
Accounting Assistant
Hometown: Tena, Napo Province, Ecuador
Sandra came to Runa fresh out of the ESPOCH Riobamba University where she graduated with a degree in accounting and auditing. She loves to sew and while she was in university helped sew uniforms for a local high school. She came to Runa to learn more about the business and for the work experience but is particularly excited by the opportunity to support people in the rural sector and to introduce a taste of the Amazon to people around the world.
Silverio Mamallacta
Field Technician
Hometown: Santo Domingo, Napo Province, Ecuador
At one point the Dirigente (director) of Pueblo Kichwa, the largest organized community of Kichwas in the area, Silverio stands out as one of the most well known faces at Runa. Under the auspices of his father Don Vincente, the regional Kichwa spiritual leader, Silverio grew up in the realm of old Kichwa culture and its shamanic traditions. Ask him to tell you a little about it, and he may recount stories, often hysterical, for hours. He was also a promising boxer in his youth. Faced with the opportunity to fight in a Junior International Boxing circuit, he instead chose to stay and finish high school. Before Runa, Silverio worked as a field technician for both Proyecto Productivo Fonakin, a local cacao agroforestry development project; and Kallari, a Napo-based indigenously governed cacao cooperative.
Sofia Pazmiño
Administrative Director
Hometown: Quito, Pichincha Province, Ecuador
After high school in Quito, Sofia moved down into the Amazon to attend the Escuela Superior Politécnica Ecológica Amazónica where she studied accounting and finance. Since then, she has worked in the financial sections of a Tena-based loan and credit cooperative and the local chapter of the Red Cross. To her, Runa is the opportunity to improve Amazonian farmers’ quality of life while sharing guayusa, its ancestral culture and its life-changing properties with the world.
Tania Iglesias
Administrative Director
Hometown: Quito, Ecuador
Tania has a degree in Foreign Trade and Integration from the Universidad TecnológicaEquinoccial. She brings to Runa extensive knowledge gained from working as a specialist in administration and foreign trade for EmpresaBigbamboo, a Quito-based company that works primarily in the agricultural production and exportation of bamboo. She chose Runa because it “is a business that demonstrates ability in management and team coordination, as well as high levels of responsibility, ethics, and honesty” and because it “is committed to its goals, objectives, and politics.”
Victor Grefa
Factory Worker
Hometown:Archidona, Napo Province, Ecuador
Victor was born in San Pablo, a community near the Runa offices in Archidona, and when he is not at work he returns home to work on his farm. He is a talented orator in both Spanish and Kichwaand never fails to leave his audience spellbound, whether it is an assembly of Runa farmers or a solitary volunteer. He attended the local high school in Archidona and graduated with a degree in Accounting. Before Runa he worked at a Chinese oil company. He is excited to work for a guayusa company because, in his words, “guayusa is central in the culture of my grandparents.”
Board of Advisers
Richard Kirshenbaum
Board of Advisor
- co-founded Kirshenbaum Bond + Partners advertising agency. Agency for Snapple, Hennessey, etc.
- pioneered integrated marketing concepts such as the pop-up store, sidewalk advertising and other forms of high-visibility guerrilla marketing.
Tim Sullivan
Board of Advisor
- PepsiCoSenior Group Manager Supply Chain Planning Systems, 2005-2010
- PepsiCo UK General Manager Logistics 2001-2005
- Expert in Logistics & Supply Chain
Bob Burke
Board of Advisor
- Natural Products Consulting, Principal: 1999-2010
- Stonyfied VP of Sales and Corporate Development: 1986-1998
Bill Stone
Board of Advisor
- Outside GC, Principal: 2002-2010
- Expert in start-up growth, business law, and investment negotiations
Neil Kimberly
Board of Advisor
- Director of Innovation, Hershey
- Former Brand Manager, Snapple
- Former VP Strategy, Cadbury Schweppes North America Beverages
Margaret Bradley
Board of Advisor
- Director, Marketing Communications
- Consumer Brands and Director, Public
- Relations Safeway Inc. 1998 – 2008
- Launched O Organics and Eating Right brands
for Safeway
Danny Warshay
Board of Advisor
- CEO of G Form & DEW Ventures Principal
- Former Director at Health Business Partners, Principal at Cullinova and Brand Manager at Duncan Hines
Matt Palevsky
Board of Advisor
- Movement Strategist, Purpose
- Former editor, Huffington Post, Bureau Chief, Real News
Charlie Harding
Board of Advisor
Charlie is a partner manager at Google.org, which focuses on technology driven solutions to global problems. He works with NGOs, foundations and technology providers, primarily focused on solving internet access challenges in developing countries. Before Google, Charlie co-founded Runa, creating guayusa blends and launching the brand. He continues to advise Runa on general business and leadership.
Board of Directors
Bill Harrington
Co-founder & Co-CEO
Bill is a consultant, investment advisor and investor in social enterprises. He is a principal in Vista Ventures LLC in Philadelphia, a small firm that provides advice to social entrepreneurs, socially motivated investors, NGOs and businesses, often located in developing countries. Mr. Harrington has twenty-five years of business experience including about eight years consulting with microfinance institutions and small-and-medium-size enterprises in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, usually on behalf of MEDA, an international NGO. He is a principal in Vista Ventures, LLC, a small firm that provides advice to social entrepreneurs, socially motivated investors, NGOs and businesses, often located in developing countries. You can check out the website he edits, MoneySpentWell.org, a website for impact investors in social enterprises in developing
Brian Goldberg
Board of Advisor+
Brian grew Sweet Leaf Tea as their CFO and COO from their early days in Austin, Texas into a nationally successful brand that was ultimately acquired by Nestle. Brian now works with Runa to strengthen strategic financial management and help scale operational capacity.
Luke Weil
Board of Director
Luke is Vice President of International Business Development, Latin America for Scientific Games Corporation. His family’s investments office was the lead investor in our Series A round. Luke has become very passionate about Runa’s mission in Ecuador and is providing major support weaving Runa into high profile events and networks in New York. His additional business ventures include Andina Acquisition Corp. (Co-Founder and Financial Sponsor), lead investor at technology company SkuRun, and contributing partner at LW Air. Luke also serves on the Board of Directors of the Fortune Society. He was an analyst at Bear, Stearns and Co. from 2002 to 2004 and an Associate at Business Strategies & Insight, Inc. from 2004 to 2006. Luke earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics at Brown University in 2002 and received a Masters of Business from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business in 2008.
