About Mesoamerican Development Institute
MDI’s mission is the design and implementation of sustainable technologies and biodiversity-friendly production methods for rural productive applications.
Mesoamerican Development Institute (MDI) is a nongovernmental organization with offices in Lowell and Honduras. MDI specializes in technology transfer and market development; we introduce renewable energy innovations for agro-productive industry to reduce costs and restore environments in rural Mesoamerica.
MDI has introduced sustainable technologies for rural productive industry, including the high-efficiency drying chamber used in Solar/Biofuel drying systems, hermetic storage systems for coffee, and Integrated Open Canopy™ production (IOC).
Technology transfer and sustainable market development in Mesoamerica entails creating the conditions in which new tools can be adopted by rural enterprises that allow them to participate in agro-industrial processing and the export of value-added products.
Meet The MDI Team
Richard Trubey
Richard Trubey is a co-founder of MDI and has, under contract through MDI, developed technology transfer programs for the World Bank, Inter-American Foundation, AVINA Foundation and others. Richard’s academic background is in environmental science.
Raul Raudales
Raul Raudales has experience in both the private and public sector, he has managed international projects for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Global Environment Facility, and Conservation International. Raul with co-founder Richard Trubey and Stanley Hawthorne are the developers of MDI’s patented solar/biofuel drying systems.
Arley Morales
Arley Morales is an expert in efficient use and management of patios as well as the use of industrial solar/biofuel drying systems. He has trained cooperatives in coffee drying, milling and hermetic storage sytems throughout Central America.
Reyes Picado
Reyes Picado is the system installation and maintenance specialist involved in technology transfer; he provides training of installation teams and the formation of local expertise in the operation and maintenance of solar/biofuel drying systems.
Sixto Aguero
Sixto Aguero is an energy efficiency specialist and program advisor.
Victor Arce
Vicor Arcehas served on the Boards of the Costa Rican Coffee Institute (ICAFE) and the Fair Trade Consortium, COOCAFE. He is a former manager of the ISO14001-certified coffee cooperative Montes de Oro. Victor is an agronomist with a Masters in Business Administration and originator of the Integrated Open Canopy coffee production.
Spencer Jourdain
Spencer Jourdain is a marketing and business development consultant for small enterprises and major corporations and specializes in cause related marketing and promotion. He is also the founder of 1420 Foundation, the Learning for a Sustainable World Network (L4SW), and a concept developer for integral models for sustainable development utilizing multidisciplinary nonprofit and for-profit organizational systems.
Luisa Rodríguez
Luisa Rodríguez is an industrial engineer with a Masters in business administration and former CEO of the Honduran pharmaceutical company, Industria Farmaceutica, S.A. (INFARMA). Luisa is developing distribution models to promote products from the developing Yoro Biological Corridor.
Luis Raudales
Luis Rodríguez is an industrial engineer with a Masters in business administration. Luisa is developing distribution models to promote products from the developing Yoro Biological Corridor.
David Murillo
David Murillo conducts field research in support of the Yoro Model and the development of the Yoro Biological Corridor.
Farlem España
Farlem España conducts field research in support of the Yoro Model and the development of the Yoro Biological Corridor.
Denis Velasquez
Farlem España conducts field research in support of the Yoro Model and the development of the Yoro Biological Corridor.
Kelly Diaz
Kelly Diaz conducts field research in support of the Yoro Model and the development of the Yoro Biological Corridor.
Dario Alvarado
Dario Alvorado conducts field research in support of the Yoro Model and the development of the Yoro Biological Corridor.
Martin Murillo
Martin Murillo conducts field research in support of the Yoro Model and the development of the Yoro Biological Corridor.
Nancy Cross
Nancy Cross develops multidisciplinary seminars to advance collaborative research and program implementation.
Mirna Andrade
Mirna Andrade, San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Gill Roderick
Gill Roderick works with MDI in the design of custom tooling and welding procedures for the drying tower and other related components.
Karen E. Roehr
Karen Roehr works to develop branding and graphic design for MDI’s sustainable coffee initiative implementing MDI’s clean technology and forest-friendly coffee production in a program to protect cloud forests and Pico Pijol National Park.
ADVISORS and INVESTIGATORS BIODIVERSITY STUDIES
Dr. David King Research Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Forest Service Northeast Research Station, UMass Amherst
Fabiola Rodriquez, Doctoral Candidate, Tulane University
Dr. Richard Chandler Assistant Professor, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia
Carlin Chandler Department of Natural Resources, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA.
Environmental Partners and Supporters
