The BYTE Team
BYTE Staff
Charlie Cutler
Founder & Executive Director
Charlie comes to BYTE with a Masters degree from the University of San Francisco in International Studies and Human Rights. Charlie taught BYTE’s first tennis classes in 2015 while conducting masters research in detention centers that hold refugee asylum applicants. Prior to moving to San Francisco, Charlie competed professionally, achieving an ATP world singles ranking of #1420.
Charlie has coached all levels professionally during his 10-yr career and is dedicated to using his passions for sports and advocacy to provide opportunities to kids. Most recently Charlie taught as an associate tennis pro at the California tennis club, as assistant coach for the University of San Francisco Men’s Tennis program, and as a regional coach for the Northern California section.
In 2017 Charlie and BYTE were selected by the USTA Foundation for a 3-yr capacity building initiative within its National Junior Tennis & Learning network. Additionally, in 2019 Charlie completed the Sports Impact Leadership Certificate program through Johns Hopkins University.
Jacksubeli Gonzalez
Mexican Operations Director
A native of Nogales, Sonora (MX), Jacksubeli has a broad range of experience working with non-governmental organizations that promote the arts, culture and education in her community. She is a graduate of the National Pedagogical University with a Bachelor of Educational Intervention in the intercultural education specialty. Jacksubeli helped facilitate the creation of the Municipal System to Prevent, Attend, Punish and Eradicate Violence Against Women and has been active in many municipal initiatives to empower women in Northern Mexico.
Jacksubeli is also an artist workshop teacher for the Ministry of Culture of the federal government in Mexico. Her extensive experience has led her to be part of the council for municipal cultural development, where she has been recognized for her leadership in arts and culture.
In 2019 Jacksubeli completed the Sports Impact Leadership Certificate program through Johns Hopkins University. She is trained as an intercultural educator and her personal mission is to design and propose strategies that help to improve her community.
Carolina Iniguez
Academic Program Director
Carolina Iniquez is a psychologist from the University of Sonora (UNISON), where she has also taught classes in guitar, photography, and created a cinematography & culture club. In addition to being the Academic Program Director at BYTE, she is a cello player in the Nogales Chamber Orchestra and is part of the Hands in Action Collective Group (COLMENA), where she is responsible for creating community programs for social justice, sustainability, art and culture.
Outside of her teaching career, Carolina is a community activist and volunteer with humanitarian organizations that focus on border issues. She has worked extensively with Kino Border Initiative, No More Deaths, and the Network for Victims of Border Patrol. Much of her work has focused on documenting human rights violations against migrant communities, for which she received a 2016 Municipal Youth Award in the category of Human Rights. Her art has also been featured in the Casona Spencer in Cuernavaca and the Nogales Art Museum.
Carolina is currently studying a master's degree focused on the biological study of behavior at the Center for Studies in Neurosciences and Psychology of the State of Chiapas
Hugo González Platt
Director of Sports Development
Hugo is a psychologist from the University of Sonora. He has a Master's degree in Educational Innovation from CEUNO University, and has received diplomas in educational psychology in Nogales and at the Higher Institute of Psychological Studies in Spain. Besides his work with BYTE he currently teaches at the Universidad de Sonora and at the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional.
The philosophy he brings to his work is that he "believe[s] that education is fundamental for human development and a commitment that concerns the entire community".
Carmen Lorena Villa
Arizona Programs Coordinator
Carmen Lorena is a kindergarten educator at Mountain View Elementary School, in Rio Rico, Arizona. She received the recognition of Teacher of the Month in February 2020, as she is passionate about improving communication with students/staff, is always willing to help others, and advocates for her teammates to grow within the education field.
She is a graduate from the Early Childhood Education program at the University of Arizona, and is the coordinator of BYTE program in Nogales, Arizona.
Carmen Lorena has successfully completed the USTA Net generation youth tennis coach certificate, and she is now using those skills to teach girls and boys in the community. She hopes to continue her education at the University of Arizona by obtaining her Master’s in Education.
Aissa Huerta
Art Director
Artist Aissa Huerta was born and raised in Nogales, AZ. She is the Executive Director of La Línea Art Studio on Morley- a cooperative art and event space that aims to enrich the cultural environment of Ambos Nogales by connecting artists with their community.
At BYTE Aissa is responsible for Art Programming and curriculum development. She currently offers inclusive instructional Art workshops for adults at the Santa Cruz Day Training Center, a Sensory Art Therapy Program for youth with developmental disabilities in collaboration with the Southern Arizona Autism Association, as well Art Smarts- a survey in art history and technique designed to provide participants with cultural capital and the tools to refine their personal styles.
While studying developmental and abnormal psychology at Vassar College, Huerta dedicated her time to the development and maintenance of R.E.A.L. Skills Network, Inc. and has since spent several years acting as an early childhood and arts educator. In observing the organic nature of children, Huerta witnessed the innate need for acceptance, communication and understanding- and realized full self-expression is compulsory for integration and feelings of wholeness.
Acting creatively has an undeniable impact on the brain and Aissa asserts that art is an amazing avenue to change the way we experience the world and the ways in which the world experiences us. She is passionate about finding community-based solutions to localized issues and is an advocate for public art and creative placemaking as a way to re-write the narrative of Ambos Nogales.
Zeena Khazendar
AmeriCorps VISTA Fellow
A Palestinian student who grew up in Jordan, surrounded by refugee camps, Zeena was exposed to the failures of low-resource healthcare at a young age. With much of her family becoming double refugees—from Palestine, then Syria—she developed a fierce passion for serving vulnerable populations. As a varsity beach volleyball player and human biology major at Stanford, she became a director of Student Clinical Opportunities for Premedical Experience (SCOPE), an organization of diverse premedical students providing Spanish and Vietnamese interpretation and volunteer services at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. She also joined the Biobehavioral Pediatric Pain Lab, leading research on the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences and pediatric chronic pain outcomes.
Although clinically pursuing pediatric emergency medicine, Zeena’s focus is on global health. Working with Stanford Medicine's MENA Health Program to respond systematically to health needs in the Middle East/North Africa, she founded Palestine P.A.Ls (Pediatric Research, Alliance, Leadership) to improve pediatric health research infrastructure in Palestine through mentorship and empowerment of Palestinian youth, providing them with the necessary tools to conduct academic research. Zeena continues to support underserved populations within her community and others, working towards the goal of implementing a centralized, collaborative network of replicable and sustainable refugee and migrant healthcare models.
Adrian Laudani
AmeriCorps VISTA Fellow
As a first generation American born and raised in New York, Adrian has always been passionate about immigration. After completing a Bachelors in Counseling and Human Services at The University of Scranton, Adrian went on to work in social services with refugees and foster care youth. Adrian has assisted newly resettled refugees as a caseworker at Catholic Charities in Atlanta, GA. She has also worked in higher education coordinating international immersions and study abroad programming in both Bologna, Italy and San Francisco, CA. At present, Adrian is pursuing a Masters in International Studies at the University of San Francisco. Through her research, Adrian focuses on how the quality of reception services can be improved to better assist newly arrived refugees and migrants in the United States.
In working as an AmeriCorps VISTA with BYTE, Adrian values the opportunity to provide youth with extracurricular and educational programming. Adrian believes that opportunities such as these assist youth development in ways that only hands on learning and activities can foster. Adrian is grateful to be serving with BYTE this year, and excited to get to know the communities in Nogales through this energizing and enriching work.
Alexander Almogabar
Program Evaluator
Alexander is a lecturer in institutional and religious anthropology at multiple Universities in Nogales Sonora and Hermosillo Sonora. He currently teaches at the National Pedagogical University, where he lectures on Research Theory and Culture Theory. Alexander earned a Bachelors in social anthropology at the University of Guanajuato, where his thesis, “God in the psychiatric. A study of religious influence in the San Pedro del Monte psychiatric hospital,” earned distinguished honors. Alexander attained a Masters in Regional Studies at the José María Luis Mora Research Institute. His research focused on indigenous Sonoran populations and his thesis was “Contemporary Opateria’s Struggle for Ethnic Recognition.” In addition to his Mexican academic path, Alexander has also studied at Columbia University and is currently pursuing a specialization in Methods and Statistics for Social Sciences at the University of Amsterdam.
Alexander’s passion is to promote inclusive, culturally relevant improvements in educational spaces, particularly in the border region.
Laura Susana Pérez
Site Director and Principal Instructor
Laura is from Tamaulipas (MX), and received a degree in education from la Escuela Normal Superior in Tamaulipas . She has done education work for children, adolescents, and adults, and is passionate about supporting academic learning and strengthening socio-personal values.
Laura is also a dance teacher, beginning her training in Latin rhythms 7 years ago in Tamaulipas. She is a certified dance instructor for various states around Mexico, including Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca, Nuevo León and Sonora. She has participated in different dance shows and competitions, and has won various awards for her talent. She currently promotes the diversity of Latin dance in Nogales, Sonora, through teaching adult dance classes.
Her mission is to encourage children and adults to use dance as a way to better connect with their culture, and is passionate about promoting dance diversity at the border.
Nancy Perez Araujo
Administrative and Instructor Assistant
Originally from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Nancy graduated from the University of Sonora with a degree in communication with an emphasis on public relations. She is currently BYTEs administrative assistant and works as one of our dance instructors as well. In addition to her tasks in BYTE, Nancy is the co-founder of “El Cactus Café” located in Nogales Sonora. She is highly passionate about interpersonal relationships, graphic design, and communication, all of which she employs in her work with BYTE and personally.
Nancy also has experience working in her university’s radio called “UNIONIZATE” where she had the role of radio announcer. She also has experience public speaking as a presenter in various distinct events within the University of Sonora. In addition, Nancy participated as a volunteer in the group “Cochitos” led by Lic. Diana Chavez.
Roberto Preciado
Videographer
Roberto Preciado is an independent filmmaker living in Hermosillo, Sonora. In the early 2000’s he finished an intensive filmmaking workshop at The Canadian Screen Center in Ottawa, Canada. This led him to experiment with different formats and film genres. Roberto has collaborated and developed short stories and campaigns with International brands supporting diverse social causes, such as "One World Football" from Chevrolet. Roberto’s work with Fairtrade promoted fair working conditions and bringing theatre and arts to field workers in Northern Mexico. Roberto brings these experiences and his passion for social justic to his work with BYTE, where he is proud to support peaceful messages through sports, education and art.
Juan Manuel Cornejo
Tennis Instructor
Originally from Tijuana, North Baja California, Juan Manuel is a graduate from the Sonora State University (UES) with a degree in sports training with an emphasis on high endurance. He has a vast degree of experience as an athlete, specifically in track and field, and works as a physical education teacher and sports trainer to help others achieve health and endurance. His goal is to motivate youth, children, and teenagers in different areas of Nogales to reach their potential and enjoy physical exercise.
Juan Manuel has also been a sports trainer since 2008 and his vast experience has led him to form a part of governmental organizations such as the institute of sport and the commission of sports in Sonora (CODESON). He is currently the lead tennis and sports instructor in BYTE Mexico operations.
Diego Armando Alvarez
Tennis Instructor
Diego is originally from Nogales Sonora and is a graduate from the Technological Institute of Sonora with a degree in the sciences of physical exercise and an emphasis in weightlifting and spots. Since a young age, Diego has been passionate about physical activity and has trained in a variety of sports (track and field, cycling, judo, CrossFit, weightlifting). He has also participated in a variety of private and governmental organizations related to sports training to gain more experience and share his love of exercise with children, teenagers, youth, and adults throughout his community. He is currently in charge of the pickleball program in BYTE and has been a member of this organization since 2019. His passion and experience have led him to work with a variety of people, especially children. Diego loves to motivate his participants to try new things and creates a safe, fun, sports-based atmosphere while doing so.
Andrea A Gomez Mach
Yoga Instructor
Andrea is a certified yoga and areal yoga instructor from Nogales Sonora. She is renowned for her passion for yoga along with over ten years of experience employing restorative yoga. Andrea began studying yoga professionally in 2012 and received instructor certification by the International Association of Yoga Yoghismo. She also received the instructor of the year award from this same organization in 2015 due to her work in leading international congresses in different parts of Mexico such as: Sonora, Mexico City, Morelia, San Luis Potosi, and Aguascalientes in addition to personal experiences to amplify her knowledge. These included trips to Madrid in 2013 and Cambodia in 2016, where she was inspired to continue her journey after visiting the Angkor Watts areological center.
Andrea currently leads workshops as a therapist and masseuse in the Mexican College of Massages located in Nogales, and also leads yoga specific groups online.
Board of Directors
Erik Lee
Board President
As Executive Director of the non-profit North American Research Partnership, Erik Lee’s work focuses on assisting U.S.-Mexico border region communitieswith programs and projects that enhance environmental sustainability, economic development and crossborder trade.
His work and commentary on U.S.-Mexico relations and the U.S.-Mexico border region specifically has been featured by media outlets around the US and Mexico. Lee is a member of the Good Neighbor Environment Board, a frequent speaker at the Arizona Civic Leadership Academy, and a member of the George W. Bush Institute’s North American Working Group. He has served on advisory boards for the journal Latin American Policy and the International Metropolis Project.
Christopher Teal
Christopher is a career diplomat with the U.S. State Department. Recently serving as the Consul General at the U.S. Consulate in Nogales, Mexico, he oversaw programs on bilateral security, economic and trade promotion and cross-border exchanges between the United States and Mexico in the Sonora-Arizona region.
Christopher is currently on a faculty assignment at the Inter-American Defense College at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. He teaches graduate level classes to senior level Latin American officials on diplomacy, military/civilian relations; and defense/security policy development.
Melody Buckner, Ph.D
Melody is the Interim Dean of the University of Arizona South. She is also the Director of Digital Learning and Online Education at the University of Arizona. In this role she oversees instructional design, graphic design, video production and quality assurance for the UA Online Campus. She came to UA eight years ago as an Instructional Designer to help faculty create online courses that reach out and engage students in an online UA experience. Before coming to the University, she served as an Instructional Designer in Professional Development and as an adjunct faculty for Pima Community College.
Mary Darling
Mary has over thirty years of hospitality, organizing, and leadership expertise. She currently works as the Director of Party Affairs and Chair of the Council of Chairs for the Arizona Democratic Party. She represents grassroots strength and field expertise. Her passion is training and neighborhood organizing in both rural and urban areas, particularly in underrepresented communities in southern Arizona, where she resides. Mary currently lives in Nogales Arizona with her husband, mother, and two dogs. She previously lived in Bali, Indonesia and spent time sailing the Pacific Ocean from LA to Mexico and from New Zealand to Fiji.
Lauren Barnikow
Lauren worked at Google from 2006-18 as both an Account Executive and, later, a Brand Marketing Manager. She has served two terms on the USTA Board of Directors, in the roles of Director at Large, Elite Athlete, and board liaison to the Player Development Council. In her second term, Lauren served on the Strategic and Creative Planning Committees.
Lauren has competed professionally on the Women’s Tennis Association tour. During her competitive career she won one singles title and four doubles titles on the USTA Pro Circuit and at ITF Circuit events. She reached a career-high doubles ranking of No. 200 during her final year on the WTA tour. At Stanford University, Lauren won three National championships, also earning ITA All-American honors in both singles and doubles. She graduated from Stanford in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations.
Advisory Board
Alma Cota De Yanez
Alma is the Executive Director of Fundacion del Empresariado Sonorense (FESAC). A graduate of the Global Women’s Leadership Network program in 2005, she leads a Mexican community foundation that provides critical social services for poor families living in the border towns of Nogales, Mexico and Nogales, Arizona. Since 2006, she and a team of community leaders have provided training programs, nutritional services, self-employment guidance and support for people with disabilities, often working with migrant workers and their families. These experiences and the management skills she acquired enabled Alma to develop a strong collaborative network that includes academic, business and government partnerships. Under her leadership, FESAC also formed an endowment fund to support dozens of local non-profit organizations.
Orlando Bravo
Advisory Board Member
Orlando is a Managing Partner of Thoma Bravo and is responsible for the firm’s investments, operations and strategy. He has been with Thoma Bravo since 1998. Over the past 15 years, Orlando has overseen approximately 145 software and technology-enabled services acquisitions completed by the firm representing about $35 billion in enterprise value. Under his leadership, Thoma Bravo has consistently produced strong returns for the hundreds of limited partners in its funds, and it has grown to become one of the leading private equity firms in the technology sector.
Orlando received an MBA degree from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, a law degree from Stanford Law School and undergraduate degrees in Economics and Political Science from Brown University.
Stefanie Tanenhaus
Stefanie Tanenhaus is co-founder of Border Youth Tennis Exchange as well as an experienced energy professional, currently working at E3: Energy and Environmental Economics in San Francisco, CA. She has extensive technical and policy knowledge of the clean energy sector and a Masters in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Stanford University. Prior to E3 Stefanie worked as a Renewable Energy Analyst at Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), one of the largest combination natural gas and electric utilities in the United States.
Tony Sedgwick
Advisory Board Member
Tony is the President of the Board of the Santa Fe Ranch Foundation, which supports over twenty non-profit organizations and projects that operate locally in Santa Cruz County, AZ. Although his efforts are diverse, they concentrate on youth development and are committed to preserving and conserving the natural beauty and life of southern Arizona. Prior to his work with the Santa Fe Ranch Foundation, Tony received a JD from the University of Arizona and had an illustrious career in both criminal and international business law.
Gail Emrick
Gail is the Executive Director of the Southeast Arizona Area Health Education Center (SEAHEC), a health workforce development agency serving rural and underserved communities and health service agencies in three border counties of Arizona. She also serves as Adjunct Faculty of the University of Arizona, College of Public Health.
Gail has dedicated her professional life to promote the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities in Central America and the U.S.-Mexico border regions.
Jerry Haas
Advisory Board Member
Jerry is the current Executive Director and Board Chair of the Border Community Alliance. After ordination in the United Methodist Church, Jerry served as pastor of congregations in California and Arizona for twenty-five years.
Megan Pickett
Megan is a freelance writer based in San Francisco. After graduating with dual degrees in English Literature and French from Mount Holyoke College, She spent 10 years as a magazine editor for a variety of lifestyle publications including Hong Kong Tatler, CS, Angeleno, and Bel-Air Magazine.
In 2008, she chose to focus on non-profit organizations, and developed a passion for childhood literacy. While she was Chair of the Board at Montessori Children's House, she established a writing workshop for elementary-age children, and partnered with local schools to improve policies for children with food allergies.
Partners & Sponsors
We could not do what we do without the help of our partner organizations we work closely with, and our major sponsors and corporate donors. These are a few of our favorite organizations we rely on for support. Muchas gracias!