Guatemalan Administrative Committee

UPAVIM Crafts is led by a team of women in La Esperanza, Guatemala, who oversee daily operations, quality control, finances, and product development in collaboration with our U.S.-based designers. Beyond this leadership team, UPAVIM is made up of a much larger community of skilled women—sewers, handcrafters, quality specialists, cleaners, warehouse staff, and support workers—whose talent and dedication bring every product to life. Each role is essential, and together they form the heart of UPAVIM.

Angela - Administrator of Crafts

Angela is a founding member of UPAVIM and has been a central leader of the cooperative since its earliest days. Over the years, she has held nearly every role within the organization, including serving multiple terms as President, giving her a deep and comprehensive understanding of UPAVIM’s mission, operations, and artisan community.

In her current role as Administrator of Crafts, Angela oversees production across UPAVIM’s artisan teams, coordinating pricing, timelines, quality standards, and product development. She works closely with artisans and leadership to ensure that each product reflects the cooperative’s values while supporting stable, dignified work for its members.

Angela’s long-standing commitment, leadership, and care for the women of UPAVIM have been instrumental in shaping the organization into what it is today. Her experience and vision continue to guide UPAVIM’s growth while honoring its roots as a women-led cooperative.

Gloria - Shipment Coordinator

Gloria is UPAVIM’s Export and Warehouse Manager, responsible for final quality control, packing, labeling, and preparing all orders for shipment. Nearly every UPAVIM product passes through her hands before leaving the warehouse, ensuring each order is complete, carefully packaged, and ready to ship. She also manages product tags and tracks warehouse inventory in the U.S.

Gloria has been part of UPAVIM for more than 20 years. She joined when her children were young, and over the years UPAVIM has been a vital source of stability, strength, and economic opportunity in her life. She takes great pride in her work and enjoys staying active—especially when orders are busy.

In addition to her role in crafts and export, Gloria participates in UPAVIM’s community programs, including the scholarship program that supports children in the surrounding neighborhood. For Gloria, UPAVIM is more than a workplace—it is a community that has supported her and her family for decades.

Elsa - Product Quality Control Manager

Elsa began her journey at UPAVIM learning traditional crafts and later developing her sewing skills. In 2020, she stepped into the role of quality control, where she carefully reviews each product made by her coworkers. Through this work, Elsa is constantly learning—observing techniques, sharing knowledge, and striving to improve alongside her fellow artisans.

Elsa is deeply grateful for the support UPAVIM has provided, which has allowed her to support her family and ensure her children receive a strong education. Her oldest daughter, now 30, also works at UPAVIM, continuing a family legacy within the cooperative.

To Elsa, UPAVIM is more than a workplace—it is her second home. It is a place where she can share both joys and struggles with her colleagues and find the encouragement she needs to keep working toward a better life.

“UPAVIM has helped me so much,” Elsa says. “I have many good things to say about UPAVIM.”

U.S. Marketing and Distribution Team

The Guatemalan Administrative Committee is partnered with the U.S. Marketing and Distribution team, a group of three women who manage the e-commerce side of things. The distribution office is located in Timnath, Colorado.

Alisa Woofter - U.S. Director of Sales

Alisa has been deeply engaged in the Fair Trade movement for many years. Her passion for weaving and women’s economic empowerment began while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Bolivia, where she developed lasting relationships with artisan communities.

Since then, Alisa has owned and operated a fair trade retail store, co-founded an ethical fashion line working directly with artisans in Oaxaca, Mexico, and built a career supporting mission-driven businesses rooted in transparency and impact. She now brings this experience to UPAVIM, where she is honored to work alongside the women of the cooperative to grow sustainable markets for their handcrafted work.

Alisa holds a Master’s degree in Latin American Studies and is fluent in Spanish

Jessica McArthur - Finance & Administrative Manager

Jess Bowen, Relations Manager

Jess is thrilled to be back in community with fair trade friends and honored to be joining UPAVIM as a part-time team member. Many in the fair trade world may recognize Jess from previous roles—including time spent with Global Mamas—and from years of hands-on experience supporting values-driven small businesses that put people and planet first.

Jess began their fair trade journey as an Assistant Manager at Ten Thousand Villages in Minneapolis, later serving as Inventory Manager and Buyer at the Austin store. These roles, along with several years working closely with artisan partners, built a deep foundation in buying, budgeting, customer service, and storytelling.

Currently, Jess also works as a Merchandiser at Patagonia in Austin. They’re excited to dedicate part of each week to supporting UPAVIM’s incredible women artisans—whether that’s responding to wholesale messages on Faire, engaging with retailers on Instagram, or pitching in on new product development.