HDI Senior Staff

HDI — NYC (HQ)

Joseph Merante, Executive Director

Mr. Merante is responsible for managing the Institute's strategic relations with the U.S. Government, including the U.S. Congress, the United Nations and its affiliated agencies, and the Institute's broad network of supporters and partners. Prior to joining HDI, Mr. Merante, a career U.S. Foreign Service Officer, served in Europe, Africa, and Asia, and his last overseas post was Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy to the Vatican. His domestic assignments included both European Affairs and Public Diplomacy. He also served at U.S. Mission to the United Nations from 1986 to 1989, and from 2004 to 2006. Mr. Merante holds a B.A. in Political Science from Fordham University, a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University, and a M.S. in Resources Management from the National Defense University.

Steve Ginther, Program Manager, Mine Action

Steve Ginther joined the Humpty Dumpty Institute as the Program Manager for Mine Action in February 2008. As a Program Manager, Steve provides overall programmatic, operational and logistic support to HDI’s programs in Sri Lanka, Laos and Vietnam.  He is also responsible for research and development of new grant opportunities in mine action and food security.  He joined HDI after working in international development program management with various NGO’s such as the Global Fund for Children, International Rescue Committee, CARE, and Partners of the Americas, in Latin America and Central Asia.  He served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala and received an MSc. from the London School of Economics and Political Science in Social Policy and Planning in Developing Countries, in 1993 and a BA in International Relations from the University of Colorado in 1989. 

Alma Manzo, Program Manager, U.S.-U.N. Relations

Alma Manzo joined HDI in January 2008 working on the US/UN programs of the Institute. Prior to joining HDI, has worked for years in Europe and in the United States. She started as Press Officer and Executive Assistant to the Italian Ambassador in Albania. Was also responsible to organize Italian Government and Parliament Representatives' visits to Albania. In the United States, Ms. Manzo worked at the Voice of America Albanian service as producer and anchor. In Italy in 2002 she served at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome as member of the Task Force for the Italian Presidency of the European Union. Ms. Manzo has a degree from University of Tirana the School of Philology in Italian literature. She still follows her old passion by teaching Italian at Georgetown University while in Washington DC and now at the 92 Street Y Cultural Center.

Daniel A. Mencher , Program Manager, Mine Action

Daniel A. Mencher joined HDI in February 2008 as Program Manager – Mine Action.  In this role, Daniel oversees all financial, budgetary, compliance and administrative aspects of HDI’s grants portfolio pertaining to mine action and food security.  Prior to joining HDI, Daniel handled corporate relations and strategic partnerships for a major New York City nonprofit organization.  He has also served as a policy analyst in the New York City Mayor’s Office of the Criminal Justice Coordinator under the Bloomberg administration.  While in graduate school Daniel was awarded the prestigious Kauffman Fellowship and wrote “Identifying Empire Zone Best Business Practices," a first of its kind report that examined tax-credit use, including optimal management practices, by hundreds of local companies and businesses.  He graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst with a BA in Economics.  He holds a Master's in Public Administration (MPA), with a concentration in Policy Analysis and Evaluation, from the School of Public Affairs at Baruch College, City University of New York (CUNY) and a certificate in middle management from the Institute for Not-For-Profit Management at Columbia University Graduate School of Business.

 

Jonathan Landesman, Washington DC, U.S.-U.N. Relations

Jonathan Landesman joined HDI in June 2007 as the Program Manager for U.S. – U.N. Programs. Jonathan is responsible for identifying areas of common interest between the United States and the United Nations and developing creative forums for facilitating dialogue between the two bodies. Prior to joining HDI, Jonathan worked for an international consulting firm managing due diligence and antifraud investigations in emerging markets. Jonathan has also held other positions in the nonprofit and legal fields including at the Global Security Institute and the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies.

 

Rose Servedio, Senior Administrator

Rose Servedio is the Senior Administrative Officer at HDI. She has been with HDI since its inception in 1998. Ms. Servedio handles bookkeeping, administers benefits and coordinates travel for all HDI employees. Previously, Ms. Servedio worked at Estee Lauder, Inc.

HDI — Colombo, Sri Lanka

Jeanne Samuel, Country Director for Sri Lanka

Jeanne Samuel joined HDI as Country Director for Sri Lanka on January 2007. Jeanne is responsible for overseeing the execution of HDI's USDA-funded Food for Progress landmine removal and dairy development project in Jaffna. In addition to monitoring and evaluating the activities of HDI's implementing partners (HALO Trust and Land O' Lakes), Jeanne also serves as HDI's field representative and primary point of contact with the Government of Sri Lanka, the U.S. Government in Sri Lanka, and the Sri Lankan media.

Jeanne is a Sri Lankan national and has significant experience working with international NGOs on projects in her home country. Prior to joining HDI, Jeanne served as Community Services Officer with United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Colombo. Jeanne has also worked with the Danish Development Cooperation Office (DANIDA) and Save the Children. Jeanne has a Post-Graduate Diploma in Conflict Resolution and Security Studies from the University of Bradford, UK. Jeanne lives in Colombo.

Namal Jayaweera, Assistant Country Director for Sri Lanka

Namal Jayaweera joined HDI in November 2006 as Assistant Country Director for Sri Lanka. Namal provides administrative, logistical, and programmatic support to Jeanne Samuel. Namal also serves as the office manager for the Colombo office.

Namal has over 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector in Sri Lanka. Prior to joining HDI, Namal was an Administrator at the Danish Development Cooperation Office (DANIDA). Namal has a degree in Human Resources from the Institute of Personnel Management of Sri Lanka. Namal is a Sri Lankan national and resides in a suburb of Colombo.

HDI — Vientiane, Laos

Robert (Bob) Keeley, Country Manager for Laos

Robert (Bob) Keeley joined HDI November 2006 as Country Manager for Laos with the specific task of managing the implementation of HDI's USDA-funded Food for Education project in Laos. Bob is charged with monitoring and evaluating the UXO clearance and school feeding activities of HDI's implementing partners (MAG and IRD). In addition, Bob serves as HDI's field representative in Laos, and he is the primary point of contact with the Government of Lao PDR, U.S. Government agencies in Laos, the media, and all other relevant parties.

Bob served in the British Army for 14 years as an Engineer Officer and Bomb Disposal Officer. Bob is a NATO qualified Bomb Disposal Officer, and he has served as a Technical Advisor and Project Manager for numerous landmine/UXO clearance projects worldwide. Bob recently earned his Doctorate from is one of the few people in the world with a PhD in Applied Environmental Economics with a focus on landmine/UXO issues. Bob is a British national, and he lives in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Channaly Manichanh, Project Coordinator for Laos

Channaly Manichanh joined HDI in February 2007 as Project Coordinator for Laos. Channaly has over seven years of experience administering education and rural development projects in Laos. Prior to joining HDI, Channaly worked on a joint WFP/UNDP project to improve access to primary education in Phongsaly province. Channaly has a B.A. in Education from the National University of Laos - Vientiane. Channally is originally from Phongsaly province in northern Laos, and she currently lives in Vientiane.