Rural Community Finance. Global Interconnectedness. Investing in a Prosperous Future for Guatemala.
Fueling the Entrepreneurial Spirit in the Developing World
Pajebal, Inc. is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit organization
Home | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Contact Us
After serving for two years as a Peace Corps Small Business
Development Volunteer in the rural western highlands of
Guatemala, Rob founded Pajebal for what he saw was a
necessity—to continue to provide potential-infused local
small businesses and driven entrepreneurs with access to
low-interest capital, along with the guidance and know-how to
allow them to prosper. During Rob’s Peace Corps service he
Development Volunteer in the rural western highlands of
Guatemala, Rob founded Pajebal for what he saw was a
necessity—to continue to provide potential-infused local
small businesses and driven entrepreneurs with access to
low-interest capital, along with the guidance and know-how to
allow them to prosper. During Rob’s Peace Corps service he
Rob Krieger
President & Founder (Chair)
President & Founder (Chair)
developed and managed the local Guatemalan savings and loan cooperative, CODICAP, R.L.
Rob’s work with the cooperative received significant accolades, which included site visits from
the Peace Corps’ Regional Director for the Inter-American and Pacific Region, as well as from
the U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala.
Prior to Peace Corps service, Rob completed the twelve-month Corporate Management
Training Program at North Fork Bank, a 400-branch New York-based bancorporation currently
owned by Capital One Financial.
Rob holds a B.A. in Economics from Duke University, and was born and raised in New York
City. He is currently a Peace Corps Fellow studying towards an MBA at Duke's Fuqua School
of Business.
Rob’s work with the cooperative received significant accolades, which included site visits from
the Peace Corps’ Regional Director for the Inter-American and Pacific Region, as well as from
the U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala.
Prior to Peace Corps service, Rob completed the twelve-month Corporate Management
Training Program at North Fork Bank, a 400-branch New York-based bancorporation currently
owned by Capital One Financial.
Rob holds a B.A. in Economics from Duke University, and was born and raised in New York
City. He is currently a Peace Corps Fellow studying towards an MBA at Duke's Fuqua School
of Business.
James is currently a Director at Menlo Capital Group, a
private investment firm based in San Francisco, where he
focuses on investments in healthcare and alternative energy.
Prior to joining Menlo, he was a pre-MBA associate at DLJ
Merchant Banking Partners, the leveraged corporate private
equity firm within Credit Suisse's $108 billion Alternative
Investments businesses. At DLJ, James focused on a variety
private investment firm based in San Francisco, where he
focuses on investments in healthcare and alternative energy.
Prior to joining Menlo, he was a pre-MBA associate at DLJ
Merchant Banking Partners, the leveraged corporate private
equity firm within Credit Suisse's $108 billion Alternative
Investments businesses. At DLJ, James focused on a variety
James Park
Director
Director
of industries, including financial institutions, media, business services, healthcare, and
general industrials. Previous to that, James worked as an analyst in the Mergers &
Acquisitions advisory group at UBS Investment Bank.
James holds a B.S. in Economics and a B.A. in Mathematics from Duke University and
completed the General Course program in Mathematics at the London School of Economics.
He currently resides in New York City.
general industrials. Previous to that, James worked as an analyst in the Mergers &
Acquisitions advisory group at UBS Investment Bank.
James holds a B.S. in Economics and a B.A. in Mathematics from Duke University and
completed the General Course program in Mathematics at the London School of Economics.
He currently resides in New York City.
Craig Badger
Strategic Advisor
Strategic Advisor
Craig is Deputy Country Director of Peace Corps Guatemala.
From 1997 to 2011 Craig served as the Training Director first
for Peace Corps El Salvador and next for Peace Corps
Guatemala. Originally from Rochester, MN he has a B.A. in
Biology from the University of Minnesota - Duluth and directed
a zoo, nature center, and park for 10 years after graduating.
From 1997 to 2011 Craig served as the Training Director first
for Peace Corps El Salvador and next for Peace Corps
Guatemala. Originally from Rochester, MN he has a B.A. in
Biology from the University of Minnesota - Duluth and directed
a zoo, nature center, and park for 10 years after graduating.
Craig served as a Peace Corps Volunteer for the Environmental Management program in
Guatemala. His wife of 15 years is Guatemalan and he has a daughter, two step sons, and
currently is caring for a foster boy. They make their home in Santa Lucia Milpas Altas,
Sacatepequez, Guatemala.
Guatemala. His wife of 15 years is Guatemalan and he has a daughter, two step sons, and
currently is caring for a foster boy. They make their home in Santa Lucia Milpas Altas,
Sacatepequez, Guatemala.
Marco Tulio Lopez
Director
Director
Marco is Regional Director of the department of
Totonicapán for the Guatemalan National Cooperative
Oversight Organization, INACOP.
During his adolescence, Marco received a scholarship
to study in El Salvador at the Instituto Salesiano Rinaldi
de San Salvador, and he continued his studies in
Totonicapán for the Guatemalan National Cooperative
Oversight Organization, INACOP.
During his adolescence, Marco received a scholarship
to study in El Salvador at the Instituto Salesiano Rinaldi
de San Salvador, and he continued his studies in
About
Lending
Donations
Board of Directors
Katie Bovitz
Director
Director
Katie graduated from Miami University (OH) in 2002 with a B.A.
in International Studies. She spent three years in the Peace
Corps in Guatemala, arriving in the same group with Pajebal’s
founder, Rob Krieger. Katie worked in Peace Corps’
Appropriate Technology Project, and her time in Guatemala
was spent mostly in the departments of Chimaltenango and
Quiche working on infrastructure projects (schools, bridges,
in International Studies. She spent three years in the Peace
Corps in Guatemala, arriving in the same group with Pajebal’s
founder, Rob Krieger. Katie worked in Peace Corps’
Appropriate Technology Project, and her time in Guatemala
was spent mostly in the departments of Chimaltenango and
Quiche working on infrastructure projects (schools, bridges,
potable water systems) with a local non-profit organization, as well as with Engineers Without
Borders. In 2009 she returned to the United States to begin a M.S. program in Development
Economics at Ohio State University, where she has researched and taken a great interest in
microfinance.
Borders. In 2009 she returned to the United States to begin a M.S. program in Development
Economics at Ohio State University, where she has researched and taken a great interest in
microfinance.
Kate Cleary
Director
Director
Kate completed her M.Sc. in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation
Biology at Colorado State University in May of 2010. She
participated in the Peace Corps Masters International
program, in which students enroll simultaneously in a Master’s
program and the Peace Corps. After two years of course work
at CSU, Kate traveled to Totonicapán, Guatemala to complete
her Peace Corps assignment. During her time in Guatemala,
Biology at Colorado State University in May of 2010. She
participated in the Peace Corps Masters International
program, in which students enroll simultaneously in a Master’s
program and the Peace Corps. After two years of course work
at CSU, Kate traveled to Totonicapán, Guatemala to complete
her Peace Corps assignment. During her time in Guatemala,
she conducted research on the birds of the little-known forests of Los Altos de Totonicapán,
and served as an environmental educator at a regional protected area, Sendero Ecologico El
Aprisco.
Kate continues her conservation work in Latin America, as she begins a Ph.D. program
working on connectivity of biological corridors in San Juan la Selva, Costa Rica.
and served as an environmental educator at a regional protected area, Sendero Ecologico El
Aprisco.
Kate continues her conservation work in Latin America, as she begins a Ph.D. program
working on connectivity of biological corridors in San Juan la Selva, Costa Rica.
Guatemala concentrating on law and education at the Universidad de San Carlos in
Xela.
Marco has worked with cooperatives and Peace Corps Volunteers in the western
highlands of Guatemala for over 15 years. He resides with his wife and children in the
city of Quetzaltenango (Xela).
Xela.
Marco has worked with cooperatives and Peace Corps Volunteers in the western
highlands of Guatemala for over 15 years. He resides with his wife and children in the
city of Quetzaltenango (Xela).
Strategic Advisor (non-voting)