“An important key to the success of an international school is the quality and commitment of the Board of Trustees. I could not have been more impressed with the talent, enthusiasm, and dedication of the outstanding individuals on the Board of AIS. I have no doubts but that AIS will be a remarkable international school. And the fact that the school seeks to be accessible to all families makes it almost unique amongst international schools around the world.” Pete Woodward Former Director, Commission on American and International Schools Abroad New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Stephen Johnson Founder, Board President Mr. Johnson is the founder and managing principal of Thames Street Capital, a real-estate development and investment group based in Washington D.C where he transacted more than $100 million in real estate. Mr. Johnson was born in Peru and raised in Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala and the United States. He attended Kent School in Connecticut and then went on to receive his B.A from Colgate University and his MBA from the University of Maryland. His family has long standing ties to Guatemala. His mother Diane assisted in the development of the curriculum for the Universidad del Valle. Mr. Johnson resides in Antigua with his wife Kim and their three young children, all of whom attend AIS.
Christine Keilhauer de Wilson Founder, Board Vice President Mrs. Wilson was born and raised in Guatemala and currently resides in Antigua. After working as a Management Consultant for Anderson Consulting in the United States, Mrs. Wilson moved back to Guatemala and managed an organic coffee farm for ten years. Mrs. Wilson also runs a marketing and communications company providing strategy and materials for a variety of clients. Mrs. Wilson graduated from Miss Porter's School in Connecticut and holds a degree in International Relations from Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. Christine and her husband Philip Wilson, CEO of Ecofiltro, are the parents of four children, two who are currently at AIS.
Pablo Arenales Founder Mr. Arenales is the founder and director RE/MAX Colonial, the leading real estate company in Antigua. After earning a degree in law from the Francisco Marroquin University, Mr. Arenales worked as the Guatemalan representative and first secretary to the U.N. in New York and later as Guatemalan Consul in Paris. Mr. Arenales lives in Antigua with his wife Karen and their three children, two of whom attend AIS.
Terry Atkinson Retired, UBS Bank Mr. Atkinson graduated from San Diego State University, with his B.A. Public Administration and also attended the University of San Francisco. Terry worked at leading Wall Street firms for 40 years and headed the top ranked UBS municipal bonds division in New York for over two decades. Throughout his life, Terry has been an avid philanthropist. He has worked with a number of organizations, founded the Harlem Day School in NYC, and helped raise $400 million for San Diego State University as part of the Campanille Foundation for SDSU. He currently lives in Northern California.
Kristin Ostby de Barillas Mrs. Ostby de Barillas is the President of Boys Hope Girls Hope, an international organization that provides a holistic intervention for vulnerable children and youth who are motivated to pursue their education through university graduation. Mrs. Ostby de Barillas leads the organization with programs in 15 US cities, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru. Prior to moving to Guatemala, Mrs. Barillas earned a B.A. in Political Science from Carleton College, and an M.B.A. from Stanford University. Mrs. Barillas lives in Antigua with her Guatemalan husband, Benito, and two sons who attend AIS.
Hunter Bost Mr. Bost is co-founder of McDuff Capital, where he focuses on small manufacturing, as well as multi-family, residential, and commercial real estate development. Previously, Hunter was a principal with Electra Partners, where he put his fluent Spanish to use managing the firm's Latin American investments. Hunter currently lives with his wife and two sons in Antigua, both of whom attend AIS.
Rafael Coelho Mr. Coehlo is the founder and director of Central BTS, a global marketing firm specializing in branding and online marketing and sales solutions for business. Originally from Argentina, Mr. Coelho holds a B.A from Universidad Católica Argentina and an M.B.A. from Universidad de San Andrés. Mr. Coehlo resides in Antigua with his wife Agustina, a speech and learning disabilities specialist, and their four children.
Katharine Flatley Burns Mrs. Flatley Burns is the founder and director of the Women’s Justice Initiative, an organization that provides legal services, education and gender-based violence prevention programs to women living in rural Guatemala. She originally moved to Guatemala in 2004 to work for a NGO promoting access to education in rural communities. Mrs. Flatley holds a B.A in Anthropology from Yale University and a J.D from the University of Virginia. She is a member of the Virginia State Bar. Mrs. Flately Burns married to Billy Burns, a longtime Antigua resident, and her daughter attends AIS.
Hania Lozano Ms. Lozano has worked in education for over two decades, both as a teacher and in administration. She played a crucial role in the maturation of AIS, serving in numerous roles in the school's earliest years. As a Colombian who attended an international school herself, she brings a unique perspective to the Board. Hania lives in Antigua with her husband Margarito, and her two children are high school students at AIS.
Ronald J. Marino University of Detroit—B.A. Michigan State University—M.A. Michigan State University—Ph.D Ron is a retired state side school Superintendent, who is actively involved with overseas schools, having conducted School Board governance and finance workshops in more than 50 counties. He has assisted schools with Head searches, self-studies and has served on Visiting Committees. Ron has been a consultant to the Dept. of State-Office of Overseas Schools, the Inter Regional Center, the Inter American Development Bank and the Founders of AIS during its early development. He and his wife Mary Beth, with whom he collaborates on many projects, reside in Ft. Myers Beach, Florida.
