XIMENA QUEROL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Ximena is the President and Founder of Sector3 Social Venture Group and Executive Director of the ESCALA Business School. She began her professional career as a consultant with PwC and later McKinsey & Co. before transitioning to promote women's economic empowerment and entrepreneurship. In this field, Ximena has over fifteen years of experience leading large-scale projects with major multilateral organizations and global corporations, including Goldman Sachs' 10,000 Women initiative and USAID. As an impact investor, Ximena is also involved with a Peruvian fintech and several startups. She holds an MBA and an MA from UT Austin and a BA from Southwestern University.
LARRY COBEN, CO-CHAIR
Larry is an archaeologist affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania and Chairman of the Fortune 150 NRG Energy. He was motivated to start ESCALA after witnessing first-hand the power of community and economic-based solutions to heritage preservation. Larry co-directs Proyecto Cañete in Peru, was the director of Proyecto Inkallakta, focusing on a monumental Inka site in Bolivia, and co-editor of 'Archaeology of Performance: Theater, Power and Community'. He is the founder of Tremisis Energy and has held various positions in the energy and environmental sectors. Coben has a BA in Economics from Yale, a JD from Harvard Law School, and an MA and PhD in Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania.
MERA GRANBERG, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Mera was the Founding Executive Director of the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation, bringing philanthropic support to public health. She went on to lead a national sales program for Endymion Systems, Inc., a technology integration and IT outsourcing company (sold to Soluziona USA, 2004). A native of San Francisco, Mera lives in her hometown where she sings in a 70s and 80s rock and punk cover band.
Paul Burtenshaw, Research Associate
Paul was the Sustainable Preservation Initiative’s Project Director from 2014 to 2019. Paul contributed strategic and financial planning for community-led cultural heritage businesses, application of cultural economics to archaeology, and insight on heritage tourism. Paul continues to work as an independent specialist and research associate specializing in cultural heritage and sustainable development opportunities. He now lives in Los Angeles with his wife, dog, and growing vinyl collection.
Our Partners
ELGIDIUS B. ICHUMBAKI, TANZANIA PARTNER
Elgidius is a heritage scholar and educator based at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Elgidius directs the Urithi Wetu research group, establishing strong, community-based programs to preserve archaeological and other heritage sites by drawing on local knowledge, customs, and use. Elgidius worked closely on SPI’s Kaole and Kilwa Kisiwani initiatives. He is assisting ESCALA in identifying appropriate local partners for bring the Business School to Tanzania.