Leadership
At The Trip Foundation, we are guided by a dedicated and accomplished team of individuals who bring a wealth of experience from diverse professional backgrounds. We are a team of professionals who have excelled in various fields, including technology, education, the chemical industry, journalism, and finance. Together, they form a dynamic ensemble, steering The Trip Foundation towards innovative solutions and sustainable impact.
Lidj Ernest Lewis Founder & CEO
After more than a decade as an educator, Lidj founded The Trip Foundation on the notion that children in underserved, high-need school districts don’t often travel beyond the confines of their community, if not the city in which they live. But just like anyone else, they long to get out of town–to experience something new and have some fun in the process.
Having traveled to Africa, Asia, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, and Europe, Lidj wanted economically disadvantaged students to be able to do the same: to learn about the world around them, to engage people from different cultures, and to realize the breadth of career and entrepreneurial opportunities that abound here in the U.S. and abroad. He believes in equity in all its forms, whether in class or flying first class.
Aside from his educational experience, has served as a producer at CNBC, an editor at Bloomberg Television, and as Vice President of Media Relations at Medialink Worldwide, now Definition Lidj holds a B.A. in Communications from the City College of New York; an M.B.A. in marketing management from Pace University; and an M.A. in Secondary Inclusive Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Minnie Battle Mayes Board Chair
Minnie is President and CEO of International Partnerships and Ventures in Education, LLC (iPAVE)
iPAVE is an international education consulting organization dedicated to promoting global engagement in the areas of international partnerships, campus internationalization, study abroad, and an annual educational travel experience for lifelong learners.
Minnie was the founding Director of the Office of International Affairs at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T) from 2000-2014.
At NC A&T Minnie established academic exchange and study abroad programs and the Global Studies Certificate Program. She also developed and maintained numerous international partnerships, including the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program, the HBCU Brazil Alliance, and the Cooperative Program in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering with Henan Polytechnic University in China.
Minnie began her career in international affairs at the United Nations in New York, followed by positions with CARE in Cameroon; and, the American Council for Nationalities Services/Joint Voluntary Agency in the Vietnamese refugee camps of Singapore and Indonesia. From 1979 – 1999 and again from 2015 to present, Minnie serves the U.S. Department of State as an independent contractor for its educational and cultural exchange programs.
Minnie received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the State University of New York (now Binghamton University) and a Masters Degree in International Administration from the School for International Training in Vermont.
Reuben Gardner, Treasurer
Reuben has been a math educator for nearly a decade serving primarily high-need areas of New York City and starting his teaching career as a NYC Teaching fellow. His educational philosophy is that all students can learn if given enough time, resources, and support. Currently, he is a middle school math teacher and team leader at a Bronx public charter school.
Prior to teaching, Reuben worked in the financial services industry in such areas as business analysis and risk management. He worked at various financial institutions including Barclays, as an Assistant Vice-President, UBS as an Associate Director, and the American Stock Exchange, as a manager. Reuben received a B.A. in economics and an MBA at Lehigh University. Additionally, he has an M.S. in education from St. John’s University and an M.S. in business analytics at Baruch College.
Jazminda Salcedo, Secretary | Senior Account Executive, Google
Jazminda is a seasoned ad sales professional with almost 20 years of TV, Digital, and Social media experience. Throughout her career, she has been fortunate enough to collaborate with some of the most influential brands in the world by helping them achieve their business goals through strategic media partnerships.
Growing up in the diverse borough of Queens, New York, her passion for exploring new places and cultures is fundamental to who she is. This curiosity has led her to embark on countless journeys across the globe, immersing herself in the richness of different traditions, languages, and perspectives. Her experiences have broadened her horizons, helped shape her perspective, and fostered personal and professional relationships.
She believes every child should have the opportunity to explore different countries and cultures, as it is essential for personal growth and cultivating a global mindset. As a graduate of a New York City public school, she has witnessed how travel can break down barriers, challenge preconceptions, and inspire a lifelong love of learning.
Sana Butler, Board Member | Head of Ideas at Preservation Africa Fund
For more than 12 years, the award-winning author and Newsweek UK & Newswek Asia Travel Correspondent crisscrossed the globe as the driving force behind coverage of the world’s most discriminating and recognized five-star brands, including Luxury Hotels of the World and Abrecrombie & Kent.
Sana worked extensively with UNWTO, advising African Ministers on development models of economic retention before quitting the luxury life to lead the charge to restore deteriorating pre-colonial UNESCO World Heritage Sites with the company, Preservation Africa Fund. In a past life, she traveled the U.S. to look for the children of slaves. Her book, Sugar of the Crop, is the first (and only) first-person account of how freed slaves successfully raised their children after 1865.
A Georgetown and Columbia grad, Sana started her career at WSJ.
Advisors
Stacey Cahn Executive Producer, Time in a Bottle Video Productions
Stacey Cahn spent over 20 years in the trenches of broadcast news, first as an anchor on the NBC Radio Networks, then as producer at the CNBC and Fox News Channels when both were first launched before segueing into the corporate video world with “Fortune 500” clients. In 2009, Stacey founded “Time in a Bottle Video Productions” to help others to tell their stories. She pivoted to life story documentary work after finding herself in the middle of a story. She and her husband were trapped in their high-rise apartment as the Twin Towers crumbled on the morning of September 11, 2001. They watched in horror as people jumped out of windows. "What we went through is nothing compared to what we saw.” Stacey sees life through a different lens and brings this perspective and understanding to every project.Capturing and preserving stories has become a mission. She is committed to making a difference while making a living. Stacey and her family now live in Tampa, Florida, and can't believe there are bananas growing in the backyard of the home she and her husband share with three rescue cats.
Stacey has been honored several times for her work but considers winning a track and field relay at Cornell University her “most astounding achievement.” She only takes her work seriously, making her easy to work with on gut-punching projects. She is thrilled to be working with Lidj Lewis, a fellow CNBC alum. "I've always admired Lidj for his creativity and commitment to making this world a better place. "
Susana Duarte Founding Partner & COO, Take On Communications
Improving lives through thoughtful and effective communication has always been a guiding principle in Susana’s career. From education, to leading a NYC-based social networking startup as Chief Operating Officer, to developing corporate and brand communication strategies for global healthcare companies and startups, Susana’s expertise lies in recognizing opportunities, anticipating roadblocks, and devising a way through.
Danielle Espiritu Chief of Learning Success at WeThrive
Danielle Espiritu is the Chief of Learning Success at WeThrive, a nonprofit working toward economic justice by creating pathways for underestimated youth to own their future. She also serves as an Advisor for Narrative 4, an organization creating connections through the power of art, education, and action. She comes with experience teaching civic engagement in Brooklyn schools, working with youth as a teaching artist, and serving as a volunteer, project, and event manager for grassroots organizations in NYC.
With a career trajectory that started out in the fashion industry, after 10 years, Danielle closed that chapter in her life and took a leap into the unknown. She took the time to travel and try different things. Whether it was her time studying yoga in the foothills of the Himalayas, spending weeks traveling by boat in the Philippines, hiking in Ecuador or roaming the streets of Bogota, she revels and carries every community, every connection, every story, every teacher, and every lesson with her. It was a pivotal time in her life that shifted her path and perceptions completely.
Danielle draws from her experiences, locally and abroad, to center youth and community in work and in life. She believes that young people, if given access to necessary resources, tools, and opportunities to explore and connect with the world around them, will unleash their brilliance and create positive change in their communities.
Gregory Nelson, CEO EW Polymer Group
Greg has over 40 years of experience in the chemical and rubber industry. He is currently the CEO of EW Polymer Group, a global rubber company supplying rubber products and sustainable rubber solutions to the rubber market. He was the co-founder and CEO of East West Copolymer, one of two leading merchant synthetic rubber manufacturers in the US, for 3 years.
Greg was also CEO, President and Director of Lion Copolymer, a leading global chemical producer of EPDM and SBR rubber, for 5 years. Prior to joining Lion Copolymer, Greg spent 4 years at Nalco, a global leader in water technology. He served as President of Nalco EMEA and Group President of Nalco’s Equipment and Services Business. Before joining Nalco, Greg was Global Vice President for Purchasing and Supply Chain for Sun Chemical; and before joining Sun Chemical, he was Global Vice President for Purchasing for Dow Chemical.
Greg began his career at Exxon Chemical where he held various management and leadership positions of increasing responsibility for nearly 20 years before leaving to join Union Carbide, which was later acquired by Dow Chemical.
Greg has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University. He also served as President for the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers (IISRP) for the 2015-2016 term.
Helena Nelson, CFO EW Polymer Group
Helena has 25 years of experience within operations, purchasing and competence development; and she has extensive experience in development of new ventures and models, for large corporations and in start-up settings.
She is co-founder of EW Polymer Group, a global trading company; North South Investments, an investment firm; and Enjoin Partners, a niche consultancy company. She was Consultant and Global Knowledge Manager and Expert with McKinsey & Company, based in both the US and European offices.
Helena served as Business Development Manager at PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Sweden, and she was CEO and co-founder of Yourniverse, a Swedish start-up company focused on competence development.
Helena has a Master in Economics and International Economics from the Stockholm School of Economics in Sweden, and is a graduate of Columbia Business School in New York.
Marcie Nelson
Marcie is an experienced digital social media strategist with a demonstrated history of working in the public relations and communications industry on behalf of healthcare, nonprofit, corporate, and consumer clients. She is skilled in content creation, digital strategy, community management, advocacy and association relations, and paid media.
Alexander Petti Founding Partner & CEO, Take On Communications
Alexander’s passion is storytelling with a purpose: to improve lives. Starting his career as a journalist, he has more than 20 years experience developing and executing strategic communications programs for global pharmaceutical companies and startups. Alexander combines his experience at global agencies with a reporter’s know-how of sharing knowledge, to help shape the future of healthcare.