Chairman

Anthony Rossi is one of the original co-founders of the HOLA Foundation and served as its first Chairman.  He earned his BA in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and his MBA and MS in Health Administration from the University of Colorado Denver. Anthony is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and has served in various healthcare leadership roles from health plans to hospitals. Anthony has over 15 years of nonprofit executive and board director experience, has founded three 501c3 organizations, and is an active member of the charitable community in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. He currently serves as the Corporate Director, Integration and Business Transformation for LifeBridge Health system in Baltimore, MD.

Vice Chair

Sezen brings over 10 years of nonprofit and government experience to the HOLA Foundation and currently serves in the US General Services Administration where she supports financial oversight and strategic planning across national programs. She previously served as Executive Director of the Nicaragua Nonprofit Network, fostering collaboration among organizations serving Nicaraguan communities. A former Peace Corps Volunteer in Panama, she is passionate about community development and cross-cultural engagement. Sezen has been involved with the HOLA Foundation since her first trip with the organization in 2011 and joined the board in 2023.

Board Member

David Baulesh DO attended medical school at Rocky Vista University in Parker CO. He then completed a 4 year residency in Emergency Medicine, and served as Chief Resident, at Beaumont Farmington Hills Hospital in Detroit, MI. Currently he resides and works in the Denver metro area. He co-founded HOLA in 2008, and historically has served as Executive Director and Vice-Chairman.  

Board Member / Founder

Nic is one of the original board members of the HOLA Foundation and has been involved with the organization since its earliest days, joining medical missions to Nicaragua as far back as 2005 while still an undergraduate at the University of Colorado Boulder. He went on to earn his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Rocky Vista University's inaugural class in 2012 through the U.S. Air Force Health Professions Scholarship Program.

Dr. Garcia served as a Major and Special Operations Flight Surgeon in the United States Air Force, where he was Medical Director of the 320th Special Tactics Squadron in Okinawa, Japan, supporting missions across the South Pacific region. He is dual board-certified in Family Medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) and the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians (AOBFP).

After six years owning and operating a private practice in Englewood, Florida, Dr. Garcia relocated to Gillette, Wyoming, where he currently serves as a staff physician at Campbell County Hospital's Walk-In Clinic. He remains active in HOLA's mission work and, during a 2023 trip, adopted a Nicaraguan stray beach dog--a daily reminder of his enduring connection to the people of Central America. 

Board Member

Laura has been involved with the HOLA foundation since the organization was founded. She graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor’s Degree in molecular, cellular, developmental biology. Subsequently she graduated with a Master’s in Public Health Degree at the University of Arizona, and worked with the Border Infectious Disease Surveillance Program, Arizona Department of Health Services, CDC partners, and Mexican State Health representatives to monitor infectious disease in the U.S.- Mexico border region. She worked as a physician assistant in a busy emergency department in Michigan for several years. Currently, she is working with an orthopedic group with the physical medicine and rehabilitation team.

Board Memeber

John Renda is an owner and operator of a Long Island based wholesale distributor of plumbing and heating supplies, servicing the Metro NY area. He is a 2005 graduate of Johnson & Wales University in Denver, CO, graduating with an Associates in Culinary arts and a Bachelor in Food Service management.His connection to HOLA comes from his lifelong friendship with the family of our dear, late co-founder, Jamie Byers. He brings business background and acumen to the organization with a desire to help drive the vision of Jamie’s main passion, veterinary work. John is a 2021 graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and also serves on the board of a Long Island based non-profit JRSailing program.

Board Member

Sara attended medical school at the University of Washington, Seattle. She subsequently completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Colorado in Denver, after which she completed a Masters in Public Health also in Colorado.

Sara has always practiced in academic safety-net settings with time spent in Denver, Alabama and Seattle. Currently, she lives in Seattle where she is busy raising two sons.

While living in Denver, Sara co-founded MotherWise – a program providing healthy relationship education to pregnant and parenting women. Via MotherWise, Sara connected with HOLA in 2021. In that time, Sara has been involved with a variety of research projects that have continued to help shape HOLA’s mission and work.

Sara joined the HOLA board in 2025 after traveling to Peru to build pathways for University of Washington residents to practice in that country and assist HOLA’s expansion into South America.

Board Member

Meet Jason Schmierer! Jason joined the HOLA Board in early 2025.

As a Staff Accountant for Messari Group, Jason brings professional expertise in accounting, tax strategy, and financial advisory services, with a focus on real estate and small business clients. His experience in ensuring accurate financial management, compliance, and strategic planning is invaluable to HOLA's mission of delivering sustainable impact through efficient operations and resource stewardship in challenging environments.

Outside of his professional and board commitments, Jason has been with his wife, Lauren, for nearly four years and embraces her two boys as his own. He enjoys quality time with family and friends, while staying active through pickleball, airsoft games, workouts, skiing, and running!