Staff
Our passion to form the cooperative comes from knowing the possibilities that exist in
farming, we’ve bored first hand witnessed to its viability and ability to improve quality of
lives. We knew Haiti when it had a prosperous agricultural infrastructure, when the
country could feed itself, regardless of the politics of the time.
- Patrick Belizaire, Executive Director
Mr. Belizaire has a broad range of development experience with a background in
project management. He has travelled extensively throughout Haiti while working as a
sub-contractor for UNICEF’s food distribution program in Haiti, as well as, doing
volunteer work at a convent school, E’cole Marie Rene, in Jacmel, Haiti, providing
computer training to the resident nuns and teaching introductory computer training
classes to the students. Mr. Belizaire hails from a long line of farmers and spent part of
his life in Haiti where he gained valuable practice and experience in farming. In
addition, he has worked as a logistics officer with Department of Defense’s African civil
sector development project. Mr. Belizaire received his undergraduate degree in
English and History from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and has completed
all course work towards a Masters in Communications from the John Hopkins
University. Mr. Belizaire is fluent in Haitian-Creole and French and intermediate in
Spanish.
- Jean Valerus (CJ), Co-Executive Director
Jean is also CEO of Café-Creole a fair trade coffee company that sells the exclusive
Haitian Blue coffee and Lead Designer for Bain Capitals UGS Group which is a leader
in international branding, printing and sourcing for consumer products. With a
background in engineering and design, Jean has extensive experience in design,
development and international sourcing for major clients in both the U.S. and abroad.
Jean also has countless years of design and building experience as a licensed builder
in the state of Massachusetts. Coupled with process control and improvement
knowledge with metal fabrication, wood and masonry construction and product
development in chemicals, plastics, foams and paper from various organizations like
the EPA, Rice Barton and the like, he brings technical expertise to the Coop.
- Claudy Jean-Louis Valerus (Chanel) is the Manger of Planting and Harvesting.
Chanel brings over thirty years of agronomy experience to CFIH. He has lived in
Haiti most of his life and has farmed extensively growing crops such as
sugarcane, rice and legumes.
- Delinoir Valerus is the Assistant Director of Planting and Harvesting and has over
35 years of agronomy experience. He has run his own farm for over 25 years
and has manufacturing experience in sugarcane and cocoa produce.
