Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Sonja Baustista
The current Director and soul of Casa Sonja. She graduated from Santo Dominico and worked in a hotel group. She was promoted to train a team in San Jose Palacio, 22 years ago. Later, she opened a spa in Santa Teresa. Attending church in Cobano, she was moved by the needs of the children and mothers of the area. She relocated to Cobano to dedicate her resources to feeding over 100 children and single mothers in poverty. Strong and resilient, she dreamt of hosting the abused children in a loving and eco-friendly shelter, bringing them protection and hope. She now lives on site with the children and the mothers.
Canel Frichet
A successful tech entrepreneur with a passion for social impact. As Board President, she brought crucial seed funding ($350K) and land for Casa Sonja. With a background in impact investing and building companies, she guides the project’s strategic direction and fundraising efforts and continues to support the project financially until we reach a sustainable balance. She’s also the co-founder of impact companies (incl. La Ecovilla) via her Family office Capital on a Mission she founded along her spouse Sebastian Lombardo.
Marcelo Valansi
Argentinian by birth but Costarican by heart brings a wealth of experience to the Ecovillage project as a successful developer of sustainable communities. As Secretary, he oversees the masterplan of construction and building delivery, while navigating crucial relationships with local institutions.
Cody Dillon
an American journalist turned hotelier, found her paradise in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. She serves on the board as Treasurer & Fundraiser but also brings her 15+ years as General Manager in an eco-resort and try to transfer all her knowledge to bring the best practices and her network to make Casa Sonja an amazing place for the children. Beyond her professional achievements, she leads the fundraising events and growth of donors’ network as well as actively participating in other community initiatives.
Patrick Rey
Renowned French architect, brings the project a unique perspective to design, inspired by his background in automotive engineering. His projects, like the Marseille Aquarium Park and luxurious private residences, blend artistry with a deep appreciation for nature and the human experience.
Paula Coscolìn
Spanish former business analyst who moved to Costa Rica to run the financial team at La Ecovilla. She leads fiscal, legal, and financial reporting and compliance for the board and brings her enthusiasm to push forward the scaling and structuration of Casa Sonja
Mikell Lewis
Vocal, works on operations, especially marketing and fundraising. He is a passionate advocate for the Casa Sonja and brings a wealth of experience to the team. With a background in international business and marketing, she previously worked in tech startups and project management. Deeply inspired by the strength and resilience of the children and mothers at the shelter, she now dedicates her time to supporting their well-being. A lover of travel, nature, and yoga, Mikell has embraced the Santa Teresa lifestyle since 2020 and finds immense fulfillment in serving the community.
Adriana Bajarano Torres
Born and raised in Costa Rica helps with the operations and brings a tremendous knowledge of local community challenges to ground our project in the true reality of the local families without overlooking any difficulties that may occur. She’s a true asset for the board to make sure that we keep in mind all the details and local constraints.