Kathy Lynch Founder and Executive Director
Kathy works at the intersection of education, international development, and social-entrepreneurship, blending her skills and experience to generate sustainable long-term development outcomes. Kathy's international education experience includes study in Ireland, Germany, and the UK, all of which have informed her work in education abroad management positions at the University of Kentucky and Colorado State University. Her experience with sustainable international development began when she served in the Peace Corps in Mali. For two years, she lived in the village of N’Kourala in southern Mali and worked in the agriculture sector, integrating her support of food production with interventions with water, forestry, and health sector programs to advance community development through Peace Corps’ African Food Systems Initiative (AFSI). Through a World Bank ruralization program, Kathy introduced agricultural and appropriate technology techniques to elementary and high school students which led to a continuing education program that included women and farmers in innovative farming and health programs being offered at the school.
Kathy went on to work on the Cochran Fellowship Program’s Poland and Hungary desk at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. She coordinated in-country training programs and U.S. study-tours targeted to private agribusiness professionals, bankers, farmers, cooperatives, and other clients focused on the business skills necessary to work effectively in the new market economy. Next, she served for four years as Country Director of ACDI/VOCA’s Agribusiness Exchange Program, resident in Warsaw, Poland. As her family began to expand, Kathy shifted gears and earned her certification as a Montessori teacher. She went on to serve in a variety of positions, including teacher, mentor, board member, and eventually Director - with schools in Bulgaria, Kosovo, and the United States.
In 2007, Kathy founded Isla, marrying her interests in education and international development. Over a two-year period, she steered Isla towards a merger with the Foundation for Community Development and Empowerment (FCDE), expanding both the learning and development outcomes. She is delighted to return to return to Isla to provide leadership and growth at an important stage of the organization’s evolution. Kathy holds Bachelors and Masters degrees from Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland and an international teaching diploma from Montessori Center International in London, U.K. Kathy may be reached at kathy@isla-serve.org.
Kathy went on to work on the Cochran Fellowship Program’s Poland and Hungary desk at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. She coordinated in-country training programs and U.S. study-tours targeted to private agribusiness professionals, bankers, farmers, cooperatives, and other clients focused on the business skills necessary to work effectively in the new market economy. Next, she served for four years as Country Director of ACDI/VOCA’s Agribusiness Exchange Program, resident in Warsaw, Poland. As her family began to expand, Kathy shifted gears and earned her certification as a Montessori teacher. She went on to serve in a variety of positions, including teacher, mentor, board member, and eventually Director - with schools in Bulgaria, Kosovo, and the United States.
In 2007, Kathy founded Isla, marrying her interests in education and international development. Over a two-year period, she steered Isla towards a merger with the Foundation for Community Development and Empowerment (FCDE), expanding both the learning and development outcomes. She is delighted to return to return to Isla to provide leadership and growth at an important stage of the organization’s evolution. Kathy holds Bachelors and Masters degrees from Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland and an international teaching diploma from Montessori Center International in London, U.K. Kathy may be reached at kathy@isla-serve.org.
Avenda Rexhaj Program Coordinator
Xhevat "Jack" Kastrati Marketing and Social Media Coordinator
Xhevat, aka Jack, comes to Isla with a background in graphic design, copy writing and editing, social media marketing, and a degree in business and economics. His interest in social activism began at a very young age, which manifested itself in volunteering and work with several non-governmental organizations in Kosovo, including the Red Cross and the Youth Initiative for Human Rights.
Xhevat studied business administration at the South-East European University in Tetovo, Macedonia and was granted the prestigious Basileus Scholarship to finish his studies in economics at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia. This experience abroad provided Xhevat the opportunity to broaden his interests in culture, art, and social dynamics, while also serving as an experience of a lifetime to learn and network with many like-minded people from different countries.
After finishing his studies, his creative search led him to his passion for art through the mediums of photography and drawing and to his interest in pursuing graphic design for which he is self-taught. In addition, Xhevat enjoys project writing to help farmers, women, and youth find ways to meet their financial needs through project development and fundraising. Xhevat has successfully combined his writing skills and visual aesthetics while working with many different local NGO projects and companies. You may contact Xhevat at info@isla-serve.org.
Xhevat studied business administration at the South-East European University in Tetovo, Macedonia and was granted the prestigious Basileus Scholarship to finish his studies in economics at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia. This experience abroad provided Xhevat the opportunity to broaden his interests in culture, art, and social dynamics, while also serving as an experience of a lifetime to learn and network with many like-minded people from different countries.
After finishing his studies, his creative search led him to his passion for art through the mediums of photography and drawing and to his interest in pursuing graphic design for which he is self-taught. In addition, Xhevat enjoys project writing to help farmers, women, and youth find ways to meet their financial needs through project development and fundraising. Xhevat has successfully combined his writing skills and visual aesthetics while working with many different local NGO projects and companies. You may contact Xhevat at info@isla-serve.org.
Carl Hammerdorfer Global Development Advisor
Carl is a valuable advisor to Isla. He discovered his love for international development working as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mali. In the subsequent 25 years, Carl has led USAID-funded programs in Poland, the Baltics, Kenya, and Kosovo. He was also Chief of Party on a USDA-funded SME investment project in Tanzania and served as Peace Corps Country Director in Bulgaria. Carl’s expertise and interests range from higher-education management to entrepreneurship, SME finance, agriculture/agribusiness, cooperatives, and youth development.
Periodic stints in the United States have allowed Carl to pursue other professional interests:
• Seven years building and leading an MBA in global sustainable entrepreneurship at Colorado State University, earning a #2 global ranking for impact.
• Building an incubator for nationwide purchasing cooperatives in the drywall, roofing, tools and fasteners, and leasing industries.
• Entrepreneurial ventures in advertising, charter air, web-based procurement, and digital afterlife.
Periodic stints in the United States have allowed Carl to pursue other professional interests:
• Seven years building and leading an MBA in global sustainable entrepreneurship at Colorado State University, earning a #2 global ranking for impact.
• Building an incubator for nationwide purchasing cooperatives in the drywall, roofing, tools and fasteners, and leasing industries.
• Entrepreneurial ventures in advertising, charter air, web-based procurement, and digital afterlife.
Blerim Prenaj Financial Guru
