The Seeds for a Future Board Members
Suzanne de Berge, Founder and President:
Suzanne leads Seeds for a Future’s management, financial planning, fundraising, governance, and legal affairs in both the U.S. and Guatemala. A seasoned business manager, she brings decades of experience in fiscal oversight and organizational leadership. Suzanne previously served as president and comptroller of Behavior Research Center, Inc., and managed operations at Stonehoe Farms. Her background also includes curatorial work at the Heard Museum of Primitive Art and board appointments including the Phoenix Arts Commission and the Arizona State Veterinary Board. She holds a B.A. in Fine Arts from Antioch College.
Earl Vincent de Berge, Founder:
Earl is a seasoned professional in market research. As former Research Director at Behavior Research Center, he led one of the most accurate regional political polls in the U.S. and authored public opinion and business research for nearly four decades.
At Seeds for a Future, Earl supports program evaluation, research partnerships with INCAP, board development, and donor engagement in both the U.S. and Guatemala. He also contributes to communications, business strategy, and building alliances with NGOs.
Earl has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Maricopa County Planning Commission (two terms as Chair), the Arizona State Board of Land Appeals, and the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce Board.
He is also a writer, poet, photographer, and sculptor.
Karen Kahn, Founder:
Karen is a trailblazer in aviation, retiring after a 37-year career as a commercial airline captain—one of the first women to enter the field in 1977. She continues to support aspiring pilots through a career counseling service she founded in 1988.
A founding board member of Seeds for a Future, Karen brings a sharp eye for program evaluation and strategic innovation. She has introduced creative, sustainable solutions such as the use of bamboo for low-cost garden infrastructure—an approach still in use across Seeds’ programs today.
Known for her practical insight and outside-the-box thinking, Karen plays a key role in assessing new initiatives and identifying opportunities for growth. She is a graduate of Verde Valley School in Sedona, a longtime partner and supporter of Seeds for a Future.
Benjamin Lee, Member:
Ben is an educator and international school leader with a deep commitment to cross-cultural understanding. He holds a B.A. in English and an M.A. in East Asian Studies from Yale University, and a doctorate in Education from Seton Hall University. Over the past two decades, he has taught in China, Japan, and the U.S., and served as principal of the Shanghai American School in Pudong beginning in 2016.
Ben brings to Seeds for a Future a belief in building unity through shared purpose. “I see my role as a small but steady force for good—helping people get past their differences, identify common goals, and work together to achieve them. The Seeds program does that as well. There is a dynamism and ‘get it done’ spirit in SFAF that I find astonishing.”
A lifelong animal lover, Ben grew up on a farm in New York, was active in 4-H, and continues to share that passion with his wife, Lixue Lin.
Joy Mee, Member:
Joy is a professional land planner, women’s rights advocate, and seasoned public servant with over three decades of experience in municipal government. She served for 31 years in the City of Phoenix Planning Department—many of them as Senior Planner—where she led long-range planning, citizen training, intergovernmental relations, and federal grant applications. She also worked in the city’s Management and Budget Department and served as a legislative lobbyist.
Joy holds a B.A. in Political Science and a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Illinois. She is a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners, the highest distinction in the field, and has received multiple awards from the Arizona Planning Association.
An experienced small business owner and former Chair of the Arizona Women’s Town Hall, Joy brings a strong commitment to policy development, financial management, and community empowerment. Joy has also been an active member of Soroptimist International of Phoenix since 1980, serving as chapter president and chairing numerous grant and award committees.
Mark D. Walker, Member:
He has held senior fundraising roles with nonprofits like CARE, Plan International, and Hagar USA (where he served as CEO), and currently lends his expertise to Seeds for a Future. Mark is a founding board member of Advance Guatemala and past president of the Greater Arizona AFP and Scottsdale North Rotary.
A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, he is a frequent speaker at international conferences. As an accomplished travel writer, his books include Different Latitudes, My Saddest Pleasures, and Guatemala Reader. He has received Rotary’s “Service Above Self” award.
Alfredo Toriello Aranburu, Member:
Alfredo is a Guatemalan entrepreneur with a diverse and accomplished career spanning agriculture, construction, maritime services, and tourism. For the past 18 years, he has specialized in the production and distribution of hydroponic and organic herbs and vegetables, with a focus on bio-sustainable, cold-chain logistics for domestic and international markets.
Earlier in his career, Alfredo led construction projects focused on soil excavation, rural road improvement, and slope stabilization. He also owned and operated a maritime and industrial services company, providing corrosion control for infrastructure and maintenance for small vessels, including ship repair and yacht refurbishing.
Driven by a passion for Guatemala’s natural and cultural heritage, Alfredo also founded a specialized travel company offering archaeological, adventure, and bird-watching tours across the Mundo Maya region.
His hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture and rural infrastructure makes him a valuable contributor to Seeds for a Future’s mission and impact in Guatemala.
James Barlow (Jim) , Member:
Jim is a globally recognized agronomist and master consultant in sustainable agriculture, with over 35 years of experience in crop production, soil ecology, and plantation project planning across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. He holds a B.Sc. in Agronomy from California Polytechnic State University, with specialized training in soil science, microbiology, and tropical agriculture.
He is a leading expert in applied soil ecology, plant nutrition, and biological approaches to pest and disease control. His work has significantly advanced the use of sustainable practices in both food production and biofuel crop systems, including major biodiesel initiatives in Ghana, Nicaragua, Mozambique, and Cambodia.
Jim has served in leadership roles with organizations such as Goldstar Biodiesel and Sequoia Energy, and was twice commissioned by the U.S. Department of Commerce to support agricultural development in the Russian Far East. His background also includes work in chiropractic health and nonprofit development.
A published author and accomplished speaker, Jim has lectured widely in the U.S., Russia, and New Zealand, and appeared on international media in support of sustainable farming practices. He speaks English and Spanish and continues to advise on large-scale plantation design and sustainable land use in emerging markets.
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