Los Amigos de los Niños
Mulegé

Cory Russell is the Owner and Managing Director of Layer 7 Systems, a managed IT and AI solutions firm that he founded in 2007. A graduate of the University of Utah, Cory brings to Los Amigos his decades of leadership experience spanning entrepreneurship, network administration, and senior technical roles with major organizations including Verizon and Coldwater Creek.

Cory and his wife Tracy maintain strong ties to both Naperville, Illinois, and Mulegé, Baja California Sur, and share a deep commitment to expanding educational opportunities. As parents of two sons (one a recent MBA graduate of Southern Methodist University and the other a student at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business), Cory and Tracy have seen the long-term impact that quality education can have on a young person's future. Cory's support of Los Amigos de Los Niños is grounded in the belief that access to a high school education is essential to ensure that students achieve long-term success and greater economic opportunity.

John Rovens leads donor acquisition and management for Los Amigos, along with event planning, which includes the annual Gigantic Garage Sale. In addition, he is our lead in promoting and fostering volunteerism and membership development.

John is a serial entrepreneur in the professional leadership development field. He has consulted with companies and created intellectual property content and programs in the form of classroom and digital training for leaders at all organizational levels. His 30 years of experience as CEO and co-founder of BE GREAT LLC, an Oregon limited liability company (www.begreatllc.com), has honed his business and financial acumen in change management and the application of strategic and critical thinking skills within complex, high-performing organizations.

Sally Thomsen's Los Amigos responsibilities include the leadership of our high school and university scholarship recruitment, selection, and funds distribution. In addition, she manages a team of four outstanding Student Liaisons who work with individual students to guide their academic success. She is also responsible for the generation of ideas and funding for our CECyTE infrastructure and curriculum development projects and is our primary contact with CECyTE high school administration leadership.

Along with her husband, Sally owned and operated San Juan Kayak Expeditions, a more than 40-year-old business in Friday Harbor, Washington, prior to selling it in 2021. From 2000–2015, she was Director of the San Juan Island Parks and Recreation District, answering to the public and the Board of Commissioners. Her responsibilities included program and park development, financial planning and budget oversight, human resources, and strategic planning and partnership building. Life in Mulegé gives her plenty of time to enjoy paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing and swimming.

Terri Wolfe leads and manages a complex set of responsibilities, including our financial systems, banking relationships, funds distribution, and all statutory reporting and compliance.

Terri is passionate about supporting educational opportunities for children and families. A retired CPA with a long career in accounting and financial management, she has dedicated many years to volunteering with education-focused nonprofits. As the mother of three now-grown sons, she believes strongly in the power of learning to transform lives.

Terri and her husband also manage artist studios in San Francisco, where they enjoy supporting local artists and fostering creativity. When she is not volunteering or working with the arts community, Terri can often be found outdoors. She spends her summers biking and hiking in California's beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains and her winters paddle boarding in the warm waters around Mulegé. Terri brings a thoughtful, collaborative spirit and a deep commitment to community to everything she does.

Tracy Russell holds a master's degree in physical therapy and continues to maintain an active professional license through ongoing continuing education. Raised in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, she brings to Los Amigos de Los Niños a strong personal and professional belief in the value of discipline, growth, and lifelong learning.

Tracy and her husband Cory are the parents of two sons whose academic paths, including an MBA from Southern Methodist University and current study at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, have reinforced their family's conviction that educational access creates meaningful opportunity. Tracy's commitment to Los Amigos de Los Niños reflects her belief that students in Mulegé deserve the support and resources necessary to complete high school, pursue their goals, and build strong futures for themselves and their communities.

Kathy Jackson is leading a new initiative at Los Amigos that is focused on establishing a more significant relationship with our Spanish-speaking Mulegé students and citizens. This critical strategy will ultimately enable us to better meet the diverse needs of our community and more fully engage with them in supporting our joint goals.

KJ is a lover of Baja and all its beautiful people and locations. When at home in Montana, she spends her time with her three kids, eight grandkids, and favorite Frenchie canine friend, Poptart.