Staff
 | ponheary@theplf.orgPonheary Ly, Founder After surviving the Khmer Rouge regime, Ponheary Ly returned to Siem Reap with what was left of her family. They had lost everything, including her father, an educator. Her family was thrown into a post-genocidal poverty that lasted a decade. During the time of the Vietnamese installed regime, Ponheary became a teacher and in secret learned how to speak French and English. She was sent to Moscow to learn Russian during the occupation. In 1998 when Cambodia once again opened up to Westerners, Ponheary, being by then trilingual, became a much sought-after tour guide. During her rounds at the temples, and as tourism grew, she began seeing more and more children, out working instead of going to school. The teacher in Ponheary forced her to investigate. She began leveraging her relationship with those who toured with her and started a project to support the return of rural children back to school and help them stay there. To do what she could to help the teachers, to provide encouragement and some food here and there. Ponheary was awarded CNN Hero in 2010, which means they recognize her as "everyday people changing the world". Ponheary believes that every day people are the only ones who can. |
 | Lori Carlson, President donate@theplf.org Ponheary’s compelling personal story and her work on behalf of the children in her community inspired Lori greatly when she first met her in 2005 as a tourist to Angkor Wat. Lori founded the Ponheary Ly Foundation upon her return to the US after their time together in Cambodia working in rural schools. In 2007 she moved to Cambodia to live and work full time with Ponheary and her family, helping rural children get an education. Since putting herself in the service of these brave and hopeful students, her days are filled with a new sense of purpose and reward. Lori's CNN interview |
 | Alin Yas, Field Director alin@theplf.org PLF is proud to introduce its newest staff member, Alin Yas, who will serve as assistant to Lori and Ponheary (a big job!) . Approved by the Board on June 15th, Alin will be working on PLF’s finances and marketing as well as managing volunteers and assisting Lori and Ponheary in the field. He recently graduated from Norton University in Phnom Penh where he earned a degree in Marketing. Alin previously was on the Cambodian National Soccer Team. He is married to Lay Safylin and has two daughters, Lin Rosana and Lin Rosmica. |
 | Sotheara (Srei) Ly, IT Instructorsrei@theplf.org Srei Ly joins PLF as the Instructor in the IT lab. Srei is Ponheary's sister and lives together with the family at 7 Candles. She has participated in PLF’s work for several years as “Chief Cook of Many Lunches at School”, and she is now going to be putting her computer skills to use for the Foundation. Srei has been deaf since age 14 but speaks English, Thai, French and her mother tongue fluently although she has never been to school or been taught in formal classes. She has a deep understanding of what it means be denied an education and her work with the students contains interesting perspectives on what it means to be disabled in Cambodia. |
 | Kathy Epstein, Board Memberkathy@theplf.org Kathy Epstein joined the Ponheary Ly Foundation board after returning from a trip to Cambodia and visiting a school there. A return visit provided the opportunity to visit and teach in one of the PLF supported schools. Kathy has been a Career Advisor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC and Bologna, Italy and at Georgetown’s Graduate School of Foreign Service. Kathy has had a career in executive search and earlier was a teacher and school counselor. She received her B.S. degree from Boston University’s School of Communication and earned a Doctorate in Psychology from Boston University. |
 | Karen Plazola-Gutierrez, Board Memberkaren@theplf.org Karen Plazola-Gutierrez was born in Caracas, Venezuela. She has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan and has lived in the United States since 1982. Karen and Carlos, her husband of 24 years, live in Austin, Texas and have 3 children: Sophia (19), Carlos (17) and Eduardo (16). Karen is a full time mom and has always been involved in volunteer opportunities in her community. She visited Cambodia in the Fall of 2007 and fell in love with the children. She experienced first hand the love and the great work of the foundation and its impact on the them, their families and the community. She is honored to be part of such a great organization and is looking forward to serving the students and teachers. |
 | Nina Davis, Board Membernina@theplf.org Nina Davis is an adult and pediatric Craniosacral Therapist and Lymph Drainage Therapist in Austin, Texas where she specializes in work with newborn babies. Nina received her Masters degree from the University of North Texas in 1986. Since Spring of 2006, Nina has served as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Ponheary Ly Foundation. She began traveling to Cambodia in the Fall of 2006 to participate in the uniform and school supply distributions and to cook meals for the 2,000 + students and their family members. |
 | Skip Jones, Board Memberskip@theplf.org Skip Jones, founder of Speed Events, LLC works internationally with the Suzuki MotoGP motorcycle racing team as well as promoting a number of races in the US. Skip has worked for 15 years in and out of the motorcycle sponsorship arena and has been in sponsorship director positions with both NASCAR and Indy racing teams. Skip’s main U.S. work takes place with the Armadillo Supermoto management team based in Texas. Skip has been to Cambodia with Lori to assist in getting clothing and school supplies out to the children and plans on returning. |
 | Sharon Miro, Board Membersharon@theplf.org Newly retired from over 30 years in publishing, marketing and sales, Sharon has held a variety of executive positions in magazines, newspapers and sales organizations. She has a wicked sense of humor and strong sense of marketing and sales for all media. Sharon travels to Seim Reap frequently and was an early advocate for Koh Ker School. |
