Co-Founder and Executive Director

Reyna Isabel Pretzantzin

Reyna is a Kaqchikel Maya woman originally from Santa Cruz Balanyá, Chimaltenango. Thanks to her parents, she understood from a very young age that entrepreneurship and hard work can lead to endless opportunities. She speaks three languages, and her dedication and ambition for a different future led her to win a scholarship from Georgetown University in the United States and pursue a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Universidad Rafael Landívar in Guatemala.She is a co-founder of Multicolores and has served as Director of Operations (2014) and Creative Director (2022). Her entrepreneurial vision, her dream of a different future, and her strong belief in the boundless creative potential of Mayan women have led her to develop artistic training programs with methodology that positioned Multicolores as innovative leaders within the global craft development sector.  Those who have witnessed the results of her visionary practice understand she is breaking new ground within Guatemala’s fine, high-value craft market, a little-explored field. Reyna’s deep commitment to supporting the artists whole being have endeared her to both artists and collectors alike.  Email

Co-Founder & Chief Development Officer

Cheryl Conway-Daly

Cheryl is a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment with over two decades of experience in research, program development, fundraising and nonprofit leadership. In 2009, after nearly two decades in academic research, she made a life-changing move to Guatemala to work with grassroots organizations committed to empowering women through economic opportunity, leadership development, and entrepreneurship. With a background in Economics and a Master’s degree in Macroeconomics, Cheryl brings a unique combination of analytical expertise, cross-cultural collaboration, and deep compassion to her work. Her experience has equipped her to design and lead impactful programs, build strategic partnerships, and drive successful fundraising initiatives. In 2014, Cheryl co-founded Multicolores. She is also the co-author of Rug Money, an award-winning book that tells the story of Multicolores and the transformative power of art, community, and economic opportunity.  Email

Production Coordinator

Lucia Tzunún

Lucia Tzunún is a Quiché Mayan woman, persevering and positive in achieving her dreams and goals. From a very young age, she learned to value family challenges. Being from a family of eight with limited financial resources, she has faced various obstacles in her quest to study. In 2018, she joined the Totonicapán group as an embroidery artist and leader of the same group in the Multicolores association. She saw this opportunity as a space of inspiration to connect her culture with the world through innovation and creativity. Her years participating in Multicolores have provided her with many opportunities, from completing her high school studies to participating in the internship program in 2022, where she gained experience in office work. This program eventually led her to join the Multicolores team in 2024. This opportunity has motivated her to learn English, now with two levels approved, and to currently pursue a bachelor's degree in Business Administration at Mariano Galves University in Guatemala. She is convinced that the studies and opportunities Multicolores offers are a means to achieving her goals.For her, Multicolores is a place filled with art, opportunities for personal growth, and inspiration to pursue her dreams.

Social Media Manager

Andy Castillo

Andy believes in the power of visual storytelling to create and reinforce identity. In her visual pieces, she explores art as a form of personal transformation. She started as a photographer, and with time she fell in love with cinema videography. She uses these two mediums to rediscover social panoramas and illuminate narratives that address women's empowerment, mental health, and conscious cultural exchange. She has collaborated with various associations and brands, creating authentic content that captures the spirit and essence of each initiative. In 2024, she joined Multicolores as Social Media Manager and has since cherished the creative freedom the organization offers, as well as the opportunity to connect with empowered, conscious women.

Assistant Production Coordinator

Petronila Jorge Set

Petronila is a talented rug hooker and emerging leader whose vibrant, intricate designs reflect both her artistic passion and deep cultural roots.  Her work has been exhibited in museums and galleries in the US and Guatemala. In 2022, Petronila completed an internship with Multicolores’ ArtWorks program, where she gained valuable experience in quality control, shipping, and inventory management.  She has been able to put these skills into practice as Assistant Production Coordinator while continuing to grow as a leader. Petronila thrives in collaborative environments and takes pride in supporting and learning from other women artists. While contributing to Multicolores, she is also committed to completing her high school education, continuing to balance her personal growth with her passion for art and women’s empowerment.

Nancy Cochoy Chex

Nancy worked over six years as a teacher for children and adolescents before specializing in clinical psychology. She started collaborating with Multicolores in 2017, leading individual and group therapy sessions, workshops and activities aimed at optimizing the artists’ mental health. Nancy is passionate about the organizations’ programs and is committed to supporting the artists through their self-discovery process, helping them to recognize and strengthen their skills.

President

Kim Scanlan

Kim Scanlan received her BA in Political Science/History from Iowa State University, her MBA from Wichita State University, and her PhD in Organizational Management from Capella University.  During her career Kim worked in leadership roles in, and serve as a consultant for, human resources, finance, communications, shared services, strategic planning and organizational development for both for-profit and non-profit organizations. During her career, Kim worked diligently in support of diversity and equal opportunity and was a tireless supporter of women’s rights in the workplace. Kim was an adjunct professor for 30+ years and taught master’s level courses in Human Resources, Leadership, and Organizational Development and Strategy. She has worked with many professional and communityorganizations serving in leadership roles on many committees and boards.  Kim and her husband have two daughters and 4 grandchildren and currently live in Minnesota but go “up north” in the summers.

“Multicolores is a catalyst for empowering Maya women to build better lives for themselves and their families through their creativity, leadership and relationships.“

VICE PRESIDENT

Mary Anne Wise

Wise is an esteemed American textile artist, curator and visionary advocate for indigenous textile traditions. She is nationally recognized as an accomplished weaver, inspired creator of one-of-a-kind hooked rugs, and, as a rug hooking design teacher. Her work is in numerous corporate and private collections throughout the US. In 2009 she co-founded Cultural Cloth to promote sales that support women textile practitioners from around the world. She co-founded Multicolores and co-authored Rug Money: How A Group of Maya Women Changed Their Lives Through Art and Innovation, an award winning book. Wise lives on a Century Farmstead she shares with her husband in rural Wisconsin.

“When I think of Multicolores, I think of an organization comprised of brave women united in purpose who make the world a better place.”

Treasurer

Jody Slocum

Jody worked as a textile artist for over fifteen years, She co-founded Cultural Cloth with Mary Anne Wise in 2009. Jody has extensive knowledge of the Maya people and their textiles, and traveling in Guatemala. She has led annual tours to Guatemala on behalf of Farmer to Farmer, a non-profit based in Western Wisconsin since 2004, and Multicolores Rug Hooking Tours since 2012. Anyone who meets and travels with Jody appreciates her energy, patience and cultural insights. Jody is one of the four founders of Multicolores.

“Multicolores gives the talented Maya women artists a place to excel in their artistry and in their lives. They are truly models of what happens when women are given access to education and opportunities- they fly!”

Secretary

Beth Charlesworth

Beth first met Multicolores’ artists and founders at the International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe, NM.  She was engaged by the quality and colorful designs of their hooked rugs, and their repeated annual success at the Market.  Beth then joined one of Multicolores’ rug-hooking tours to the communities around Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, and was even more inspired by the Maya artists and their work, and accepted an invitation to join Multicolores’ Board.  Beth has had multiple careers including as an economic consultant for litigation, and before that, in civil rights enforcement.  Beth has an MBA, and lives in Palo Alto, CA.

“When I think of Multicolores, I think of brilliance — of the Maya women artists, of the colors and designs of their work, of their accomplishments in using the proceeds of their work to benefit their families and communities.”

Board President, Guatemala

Ramona Kirschenman

Ramona has extensive experience in organizational development and management of social enterprises, small businesses and nonprofits, both domestically and internationally. She spent a decade in Guatemala, working collaboratively to manage capacity-building programs and develop community-driven initiatives focusing on health and wellness, education, and economic mobility.  Ramona is a founding board member of Multicolores and rejoined the board in May 2024. Since returning to the U.S. in 2015, she has continued to work with nonprofits, focusing her efforts on developing and managing programs for underrepresented populations that promote self-sufficiency.

"When I think of Multicolores, I think of the ultimate dream--economic mobility through creativity and purpose. Multicolores provides a means for Maya women artists to meet their practical needs while showcasing their talents and achieving innovative, quality, creations that honor culture and tradition."

Board Member

Abra Hovgaard

Abra is a proven leader who has a passion for helping others reach their full potential.  For 15 years she has run an award-winning financial planning practice that helps clients achieve their financial hopes and dreams.  She also leads Optimize Your Practice, a coaching program that helps other financial planners across the US and Canada to serve their clients more effectively.  In addition, she serves as the Board President for the Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance, an environmental non-profit working to restore the health of Lake Pepin, a unique section of the Mississippi River.  Abra is known for her ability to think strategically, communicate with impact, and develop others. She found her passion for helping women in the developing world while volunteering as an English teacher in Peru in 2002.  While there she lived in a rural mountain village with an indigenous family of artists.  This allowed her to see first-hand the challenges faced by artists in rural communities with limited resources.

“Multicolores is the spark that enables Mayan women to transform themselves, their families, and their communities through personal empowerment and economic opportunity.“