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Meet
the
Team
The people making a difference
The Board of Directors and Officers
Charles Angelo Refuerzo Tenorio
Board Member
Charles is currently a 3rd Year at the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire. He is doing a comprehensive major on Geospatial Analysis and Technology, which is utilized in technology such as Global Positioning Systems (GPS) or remote sensing to create maps. Charles is currently a mentor for the BluGold Beginnings robotics team that helps teach kids the basics of coding and create robots.
Anbel Marie Refuerzo Tenorio
Board Member
Anbel is a nursing undergraduate student at Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is working towards becoming a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She is also a Certified Nursing Assistant at Aurora St. Luke’s Hospital. Anbel is inclined to caring for others and likes being kept on her toes. In the day to day life of being a healthcare professional, Anbel has been able to finesse the skills of organization, prioritization, and the ability to adapt to a given situation. In her spare time, she enjoys working out, spending time with family, traveling, and knitting on the side.
Kevin Angelo Refuerzo Tenorio, MPH, MPA
Founder/ Chair/ Executive Director
Majority of Kevin Angelo was covered in the "My Story" and "About section" but in his spare time, he has a passion for health, wellness, and exercise, dabbles in photography/ video/ video editing, and playing videogames.
Angelito Refuerzo Tenorio
Vice Chair/ Treasurer
Angelito is an accomplished civil and military servant leader with a successful track record of community organizing, higher management, political fundraising, and strategy planning. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Angelito is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces. He is currently a Master of Public Policy candidate at the University of Southern California Price School of Public Policy. Angelito enjoys spending time with his family and exploring new places in his free time.
Ronnel Tenorio Panaligan
Board Member/ Vice Chair
Graduating from Adamson University in Manila, Philippines and successfully passing the Civil Engineering Board Exam by the Professional Regulatory Commission Board of Civil Engineering, Ronnel has been working in the construction industry for 22 years in design and construction management. He has spearheaded many projects in multiple capacities such as primary engineer and consulting engineer on multiple projects. Currently, he is the property director of 3 of the Philippines' premier resorts, the Two Seasons. He will be bringing his expertise in engineering, management, and leadership to advance the vision and mission of the Foundation. In his spare time, Ronnel loves to travel with his family. Recently, they have booked trips across South East Asia.
Joanne Omega Ortiz, MBM
Board Member/ Vice Chair/ Director of Business Operations and Development
A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) by profession, a Certificate Holder of Servesafe Food Management, and a mother of two smart and dynamic kids, Joanne and her husband have successfully run JCO FOODSPOT CORP for 21 years; a fast-food business. In addition to operating 8 branches of their food business, they are venturing into the hotel industry to diversify their business entrepreneurship. Joanne graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master's in Business Management from the University of the Philippines:Tacloban City. Her experience is vast: she has worked with the Department of Trade and Industry, became a financial analyst with NGOs under the program TST-ADB Tulong sa Tao Program, and worked at the Land bank of the Philippines before JCO FOODSPOT CORP.
Aubrey Rodrigo Almeida
Board Member
Aubrey graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Arellano University in Legarda Manila. Currently, she is working at CareHealth Plus Systems Internation, Inc., a health maintenance organization and has worked there for almost 12 years. She plans on bringing the health maintenance expertise she has gained from CareHealth to the Foundation to fulfill its mission. When she is not working, she enjoys family time with her husband, two kids, and her extended family.
Holland Raagas Refuerzo
Board Member
Holland has been a life-long resident of Tacloban City and studied at the Leyte Institute of Technology as a Civil Engineer. After graduation, he served as Councilman for the local government as a Sangguniang Bayan Member. Holland then went into the private sector and joined the family business as a contractor in construction. After years of construction, he then went into the agricultural industry. In his spare time, Holland likes to play basketball and spend time with his family.
Carlo Tenorio Villar
Information Technology Specialist
A graduate from the University of the East in the Philippines, Carlo has always been adept with computers and information technology derivatives. His experience is vast with at least a decade serving as a computer technician involved with the installation and maintenance of computer operating system hardware and software. After 2015, he co-owned and started R&C Laptop and PC Experts, a business specializing in computers and all relevant technology. While juggling his business, he enjoys spending time with his family and traveling around the Philippines.
Ermelinda Refuerzo
Director of Clinic Site Operations
Ermelinda graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education from Divine Word University. After passing the Philippine Board Examination for Teachers, she taught several years at Saint Joseph High School in Dagami, Leyte and later accepted a teaching position at Burauen Comprehensive National High School, an affiliate of the Department of Education. Almost two decades later, Ermelinda retired from teaching with one of the highest positions, Master Teacher. Currently, she serves as a Senior Citizen acting as Secretary. In her spare time, she enjoys reading books, national geographic magazines, and fancies literature on current events.
Elena Refuerzo Gisma
Director of Public Relations
Elena graduated from the University of the Philippines and Leyte Colleges with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Commerce, respectively. After, she has worked for the Local Government Unit in Dagami Leyte. From there she moved on to become Storekeeper for the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, became Barangay Secretary, and became Medical Secretary at the Medical City in Pasig City Manila. Her exposure to the medical field and experience as a secretary have bolstered her interpersonal relations making her a prime candidate as the Foundation's Public Relations Officer. When she is not working, she enjoys being with her family in Leyte.
Kim Chantal Evardone
Secretary
A resident of Tacloban City, Kim is currently studying Business Administration in Saint Paul's School of Professional Studies in the Philippines. She loves cooking but most of all, she really likes helping others. She believes in the saying, "The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
The US Team
Layla Bouzoubaa, MSPH
Florida Team Member
How to make a Layla: mix 1 part foodie with 2 parts data engineer and 1 part book nerd, a dash of wino and a squeeze of low-key plant addiction. Garnish with a ray of sunlight and serve warm. Layla, originally from Atlanta, is a freshly transplanted Miamian - Statistical Programmer at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center by day, skilled Netflixer by night. In addition to being a bomb data scientist, she aspires to one day build her oasis by the sea, which will house an overabundance of animals, fancy wines, and horticulture, and where she will frequently host dinner parties and woo her guests with her exceptional piano playing and culinary skills.
Devina Dave, MSPH
Florida Team Member
Devina is currently working as a Research Analyst for the Public Health Sciences Department at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine (where Kevin also received his MPH from!) Research interests focus on mental health in child and adolescent populations. She loves to eat, read, workout, and dance (especially to Bollywood music).
Cassie Passarella, MA
New Jersey Team Member
Cassie is a social media enthusiast, avid researcher, and health advocate. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University Maryland, an Associate of Science in Biology from Raritan Valley Community College, and a Master of Arts in Emerging Media. She has years of experience in clinical research coordination, specializing in pediatric neurology, pediatric anesthesia, cardiology, and pathology. Currently, she manages over 50 channels of social media communication for a clinical trial company, specializing in patient support communities across a variety of illnesses. In her spare time, Cassie enjoys pilates, horseback riding, reading, writing, playing the guitar and spending time with her family, boyfriend, corgi, and cats.
Sorab works at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center as a Clinical Data Coordinator, at the University of Miami. He is most interested in emergency preparedness but also loves the clinical side of medicine. He enjoys working out and is a huge Star Wars aficionado.
Florida Team Member
Sorab Boga, MPH
Alyssa graduated from the University of Miami with a Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) and now works for the Florida Department of Health as an Injury Epidemiologist. Having previously served as the Executive Intern at a local 501c3 non-profit organization in Northern Florida, Alyssa is eager to use her knowledge and past experiences to bring the Tenorio Foundation and its mission to the forefront of our medical community. In her free time, she loves to eat sushi whenever she can, bake cookies, and play with her black cat - Binx.
Florida Team Member
Alyssa Falise, MSPH
JC is a Research Associate, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, Fl
His research interests include psychosocial determinants of health and mental health outcomes following disasters. Currently his work focuses on the relationship between disaster exposure severity and subsequent psychiatric disorders, primarily depression and PTSD.
Florida Team Member
JC Nobrega, MPH
Saad works at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine as a graduate research assistant. He is most interested in behavioral research and artificial Intelligence. Currently his work focuses on applying natural language processing and machine learning to Psychology, Ophthalmology and Public health.
Florida Team Member