The Cocal Gracias Project

U.S. Team.

Brian Ruark, Project Director
Brian is Cocal's full time Project Director and Founder. His job started in 2006 as a film maker and photographer. His job consisted of traveling from San Diego to Honduras to shoot video and photographs for the documentary. Realizing that the project required a little more than part time attention, Brian relocated to Honduras in 2007 to head the project full time. He now lives in Honduras with his wife, Rina, where his responsibilities range from negotiating city contracts for the school land to hiring La Voz's school teachers.

Joel McGinty, Co-founder
Joel is the Co-founder for The Cocal Gracias Project. His past roles include film maker, director, marketing promotions and web content. He continues to work on the project as the Marketing Director and lives in Chicago with his wife, Elda.

Taylor Tucek, Media Designer/Social Networking Coordinator
Taylor is the Media Designer and Social Networking Coordinator for Cocal Gracias. She was recruited by the project directors in 2007 to build the Cocal brand, create marketing materials and overhaul the existing web site. In 2009, Taylor jumped on board the project full force and is now responsible for Cocal's social networking accounts, print and online media design, production and deployment. Taylor currently resides in the San Francisco Bay area with her partner, Michelle.

Piotr Hordejuk, Web Programmer
Piotr served as the Web Programmer for the project's initial launch in 2006 and was responsible for the initial site build, launch and updates. He continues to play a role in the team as the project's interim web programmer.

Honduras Team.

Benjamin Alvarado, Teacher, Auto Mechanics
Benjamin looks young but he has been working on cars professionally for 10 years, including previous teaching experience at another mechanic school. He runs the hottest workshop in town and is popular for his superior customer service ethics. If you're stranded on a roadway with no solution to your auto problem, Benjamin is the guy you want to call. So, how did we get him? Benjamin is the old neighbor of Brian and happens to love the vision of the school.

Carlos Rivera Paz, Teacher, Auto Electricity
Carlos is in part the reason we were able to start workshop classes this year. He came to us expressing his desire to become a teacher. He has a huge heart and a love for eccentrics. He runs the most successful electricity shop in Puerto Cortes, servicing cars, trucks, semis, boats, and barges. He has a long history of training people in his profession. The owners of other shops in town were all past employees of his. He is with us today for the vision of the school, and because the Project Director married his daughter.

Roberto Ruiz, Teacher, Welding
Roberto is an artist with a stick welder. He alone is responsible for all the window bars, roof trusses, and gates at La Voz school. He runs a fast-paced class that always needs more material because of the number of projects the student's build. His passion for his profession makes him a strong asset to the vision of the school.

Rina Ruark, Head Chef
Rina Ruark is a full time Client Services & Loan Specialist at her local bank during the week and the Head Chef for The Cocal Gracias Project. She spends her Saturday's preparing meals for the students of La Voz. She's got a great menu: tortilla with beans, tortilla with beans and egg, tortilla with beans, egg or ham. The students absoulutely LOVE her food and come to school hungry just to stuff themselves with her tasty delights. She is a great support and help to the project. We certainly could not maintain attendance if it weren't for her marvelous home-made tortillas.

Lourdes, Girl Friday
At nineteen, Lourdes is the leader of the local youth group and our Girl Friday here at The Cocal Gracias Project. No task is too big or too small as she gladly lends her hand and helps us with a variety of odd jobs. From maintaining the school facilities to helping in the kitchen, Lourdes always wears a smile and has a good word to go with it. She is a great asset to our team.

Erasmo, President Elect of Colony La Esperanza
Erasmo is the elected president of the colony in La Esperanza and is the final authority on all public affairs within the colony. He is also a class participant in La Voz's Mechanic's class where he holds the rank of top in the class. Erasmo is our number one spokesperson for the success and benefits of the education we provide. He supports us with the city and within the community. We are honored to have him.