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, board development, and donor engagement in both the U.S. and Guatemala. He also contributes to communications, 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.
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.
Allan Abbott, Member:
Allan graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1964. Over the next 36 years in Silicon Valley, he worked in several different technical disciplines, including laboratory test standards, computer mass storage devices and interfaces, LCD panels and projection equipment, and microdisplays for virtual viewing of computer images. He held positions ranging from Sales Engineer to President & CEO of technology companies utilizing both OEM and end-user technologies.
While he spent time with publicly traded companies, Mr. Abbott’s primary interest is in start-ups and small ventures, where his participation and leadership have a greater impact on company performance and management-team development.
In 1979, he secured venture capital financing from two of Silicon Valley's premier firms (Institutional Venture Associates and Asset Management) and founded Spectra Logic Corporation. After building the company into the second largest U.S. manufacturer of computer disk and tape interfaces, he negotiated the merger of the company into Cipher Data Products of San Diego, CA.
After the sale of Spectra Logic, Mr. Abbott engaged in successful turnaround efforts at two Bay Area companies. In restructuring the two companies, he developed relationships with Matsushita in Japan and Hansol in Korea and traveled to both countries on numerous occasions. Financing for the turnaround companies was secured from corporate international investors, and considerable operational and personnel changes were implemented.
Mr. Abbott has served on several Boards of Directors, including chairing two Boards. He has also been a visiting lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and at the University of Phoenix.
Since 2000, Mr. Abbott has consulted for several former associates and has investigated diverse areas such as precious metal recovery, nanotechnology, golf club design, renewable alternative fuels, and food production, including a successful rice-growing project in Panama.
In addition to his technical skills, Mr. Abbott is well-versed in all corporate business matters ranging from design and manufacturing to finance and marketing. He has dealt effectively with lawyers, contract administrators, purchasing agents, and many other diverse corporate entities. His skill set, experience, professionalism, and determination will serve any management team well.
James Barlow (Jim) , Board Advisor:
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.
