Desiré Rodriguez Lazarini
Founder
Born in Mexico, lives in Vancouver, Canada. Mother, entrepreneur, business owner, masters in International Relations & dreamer of a better world. Her soul searching journey took her to ashrams in India, Nepal, Thailand. 23 countries in 10 years taught her invaluable lessons about the world, cultures, beauty .. humanity. Yoga, Reiki, Akashic Records, Breathwork, Plant Medicine Ceremonies & Women’s groups are part of her experience in this lifetime. ZaNa Hai is the next big project, a project that will touch many lives and will heal a land that is hurting. A true legacy for those involved is emerging.
Ben Zion Ptashnik
Founder & President of Tikkun Eco-Centre, San Miguel de Allende
Born in Israel, the son of Holocaust survivors, Ben-Zion is a lifelong human rights and environmental activist, but also an entrepreneur and philanthropist. He served two terms as Vermont State Senator and he founded the successful fair- trade enterprise Via Vermont Ltd, which worked with over 500 artisan families in Mexico. After selling Via Vermont to Fortune 500 Stanley Home Products, Ben-Zion then established a fund within the Vermont Community Foundation which initiated or supported numerous environmental and social justice projects, including Tikkun. Ben also served as the first Executive Director of NOFA, the NE Organic Farmers Association, now over 5,000 organic growers. He pioneered solar energy in Mexico as founder of Solar San Miguel International. In the Vermont Senate he served on the Government Operations Committee where he sponsored and passed legislation limiting the influence of Money in Politics. In the Senate Health & Welfare Committee Ben co-sponsored and spearheaded Vermont’s successful lawsuit against the tobacco industry.
Eduardo Terrazas
Architect
Eduardo continues to challenge the limits of natural and sustainable architecture. His work not only contributes to the preservation of the environment, but also inspires others to think about more sustainable and conscious ways of building through the delivery of bioconstruction courses and workshops.
Rodrigo Contreras
Glamping Developer
Rodrigo’s love for Mother Earth & sustainable construction made him start Makex, an Eco tourism construction company that focuses on the implementation of sustainable practices. He has designed and developed glamping projects in Tulum, Oaxaca, Puerto Vallarta & other cities in Central Mexico.
