ACCION USA

The ACCION Network is led by a Steering Committee whose responsibility is to support and supervise Network activities. The Committee represents the Network members in all aspects of the Network that require its intervention, according to the specified terms in the Affiliation Agreement. Currently, its main activity is to evaluate the institutions that are candidates for Network membership. It is also responsible for the separation process of the Network’s institutions.

The Steering Committee is composed of five members: the president of ACCION International  and four directors of Network member institutions (two from regulated institutions and two from non-regulated institutions). The Committee is elected each year during the ACCION Network Annual Meeting of Directors.

The current Steering Committee members are:
María Otero, ACCION International (U.S.)
Kurt Koenigsfest, BancoSol (Bolivia)
Martín Burt, Fundación Paraguaya (Paraguay)
Rafael Llosa, MiBanco (Peru)
Victor Tellería, FAMA (Nicaragua)
 

María Otero
President and CEO, ACCION International
María Otero was named president & CEO of ACCION International in January 2000. As ACCION's executive vice president from 1992-2000, Ms. Otero played a key role in long-term strategic planning, policy advocacy, research and dissemination. She joined ACCION in 1986 as director of its microlending program in Honduras. Internationally recognized as a leading voice on microcredit, Ms. Otero serves as chair of the MicroFinance Network, an association of 29 leading microfinance practicioners from around the world, and as co-chair of the Microenterprise Coalition. She has also served in an advisory capacity to the World Bank's Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest (CGAP) and in 1994 was appointed by President Clinton to serve as chair of the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Foundation. She was chair of the board of Bread for the World from 1992-1997 and currently sits on the boards of the Calvert Foundation and the U.S. Institute of Peace.

A native of La Paz, Bolivia, Ms. Otero obtained an M.A. in literature at the University of Maryland and an M.A. in economic development and international studies, with emphasis on Latin America, at the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

Also a native of La Paz, Bolivia, Mr. Koenigsfest was educated at the University of North Texas.

Martín Burt
General Manager, Fundación Paraguaya
Martín Burt is the General Manager of Fundación Paraguaya, the pioneer in technical assistance and credit for microenterprises in Paraguay. Mr. Burt has been recognized for his dedication to the field of microfinance through several awards in recent years. He received a 2005 Social Entrepreneur award from the Schwab Foundation and the 2004 Award of Excellence for Social Enterprise from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). He has also received a number of other distinctions from organizations such as UNESCO and the Junior Chamber of Asunción. Mr. Burt was an Eisenhower Fellow for Paraguay in the United States and Taiwan. He was president of the Paraguayan American Chamber of Commerce on two occasions. He further distinguished himself as Municipal Intendant of Asunción from 1996 to 2001 and served as Vice Minister of Commerce from 1991 to 1993. Mr. Burt participated in the creation of a governmental agency promoting pro-Paraguay investments and exports as well as the nature conservation group Fundación Moisés Bertoni.

Mr. Burt has a master’s degree in Public Sector Science, Technology and Politics from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. as well as a degree in Public Administration and Interamerican Studies from University of the Pacific. He has also completed postgraduate studies in Spain and Costa Rica and published a number of economics books. Mr. Burt has also taught business administration at the Universidad Católica Nuestra Señora de la Asunción.

Rafael Llosa Barrios
General Manager, Mibanco
Rafael Llosa Barrios became General Manager in January 2004. MIBANCO, Banco de la Microempresa began operating in May 1998 as the first private bank in Peru that took on the responsibility of concentrating its efforts on supporting micro and small businesses. MIBANCO has 830 employees, 32 national branches and has given out 887,589 loans since the beginning of its operations.

Mr. Llosa is a member of the Steering Committee of the ACCION Network and of the Committee of General Managers of the Association of Banks of Peru.

Before taking on the position of General Manager at MIBANCO, Mr. Llosa served as manager of the Capital Markets group and before that as Assistant General Manager of Finance of Banco Wiese Sudameris, Peru (Intesa Group). He has also served as Finance Manager of Banco de Lima Sudameris as well as of Banco Santander.

Mr. Llosa’s career in the financial sector spans more than 12 years. Mr. Llosa has a B.A. in Law and Political Science with expertise in Finance, Treasury, and Information and Planning Systems.

Víctor Telleria
General Manager, FAMA
Víctor Telleria has held the position of General Manager of FAMA, the Foundation for the Support of Microenterprise in Nicaragua, since 1992. Under his leadership, the organization gives out over 45,000 loans per year to more than 30,000 urban and rural clients. In recognition of its excellent achievements, FAMA received the 2002 Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Award of Excellence for Microfinance in Latin America for a non-regulated institution. In 2004, FAMA received the First Central American Regional Award for Microfinance Management from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE).

In addition to his Network responsibilities, Mr. Telleria is also Vice-President of ASOMIF, the Nicaraguan Association of Microfinance Institutions, and a member of the Nicaraguan Institute of Development (INDE). He has also been Director of the Central American Microfinance Network (REDCAMIF). He is currently also President of Sin Riesgos, S.A. (Center for Microcredit Risk), and a member of the Strategic Direction Committee of PROMIFIN-COSUDE.

A native of Nicaragua, Mr. Telleria holds an MBA and BA in Business studies from Florida International University.