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Meet the Team

Meet the Team

The Greenheart team is dynamic, mission-driven, and dedicated to expanding worldviews. Get to know our founders and co-leadership team.

Over the past several years, our industry has navigated a dynamic and often unpredictable environment. Through it all, Greenheart has remained resilient and steadfast in its commitment to connecting people and planet through meaningful exchange. That commitment continues to guide our work. We are proud to say that we’ve facilitated life-changing exchange experiences for more than 185,000 participants from 100+ countries.

None of this work would be possible without the dedication of Greenheart’s leadership team and staff, the trust of our partners and hosts, and the curiosity and openness of our program participants. I am deeply grateful for their continued commitment.

I am optimistic about what lies ahead.  After seeing firsthand the impact of Greenheart’s programs and the passion of the people who make them possible, I am more convinced than ever that this work matters. Together, we will continue expanding opportunities for cultural exchange and strengthening the global connections that make our communities—and our world—stronger.

Thank you,

Matt Smith
Chief Executive Officer, Greenheart International

Leadership

Matt Smith Profile Image

Matt Smith

Chief Executive Officer

Matt Smith developed a passion for cultural exchange by living, studying, and working abroad at a young age. An interest in facilitating immersive, international academic and professional programs, akin to what he experienced, led him to this industry.

Matt joined Greenheart’s Board in 2023 and most recently served as Greenheart’s Board Chair. In March 2026, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer. He brings 30 years of industry experience, along with a deep understanding of the Greenheart’s mission, programs, and people.

Matt’s career includes executive leadership roles at two of the world’s largest international exchange organizations. At EF Education, he led teams domestically and internationally across Cultural Exchange, Language Learning, and Educational Tours. As Executive Vice President at CIEE, the largest U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor of the BridgeUSA program, he led the team responsible for bringing more than 30,000 J-1 visa exchange visitors annually to the United States.

A graduate with honors from Connecticut College, Smith has served on the Greenheart Board of Directors and on several leading industry associations, including the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) and the Alliance for International Exchange.
Matt Smith
Matt Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Matt Smith developed a passion for cultural exchange by living, studying, and working abroad at a young age. An interest in facilitating immersive, international academic and professional programs, akin to what he experienced, led him to this industry.

Matt joined Greenheart’s Board in 2023 and most recently served as Greenheart’s Board Chair. In March 2026, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer. He brings 30 years of industry experience, along with a deep understanding of the Greenheart’s mission, programs, and people.

Matt’s career includes executive leadership roles at two of the world’s largest international exchange organizations. At EF Education, he led teams domestically and internationally across Cultural Exchange, Language Learning, and Educational Tours. As Executive Vice President at CIEE, the largest U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor of the BridgeUSA program, he led the team responsible for bringing more than 30,000 J-1 visa exchange visitors annually to the United States.

A graduate with honors from Connecticut College, Smith has served on the Greenheart Board of Directors and on several leading industry associations, including the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) and the Alliance for International Exchange.
Marcelle Benedicta
Marcelle Benedicta
Vice President, Marketing and External Relations
Marcelle Benedicta advances the educational value of international exchanges through her experience as a former exchange student, combined with her 20 years of professional and non-profit experience. Some of her strengths include marketing & communications, event planning, strategic development, program management, training and onboarding, and industry collaboration.

Marcelle started at Greenheart International as a host organization recruiter in 2010 and became Program Director for the Work & Travel Department and the Responsible Officer for the Department of State’s BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel designation. In 2018, she was promoted to Vice President, overseeing the Summer Work Travel, Intern, Trainee, and Teacher programs. Marcelle rotated through the organization, including leading Greenheart’s High School Programs, the Department of State’s FLEX, YES, and Ambassador Scholarship Fund grant programs, and non-DOS Short-Term Programs. In addition, she works with the Marketing and Outreach team focusing on marketing initiatives, public relations, and events.

She is active in the sponsor community and has been involved in the Alliance for International Exchange and Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET).

Originally from Indonesia, Marcelle is passionate about travel and cultural exchange, having done two back-to-back homestay programs in Australia and New Zealand. She has a master’s in business administration from Loyola University Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Public Relations from Marquette University.
Maria Kiosses
Maria Kiosses
Vice President, Compliance and Youth Programs
Maria Kiosses oversees the Compliance and Youth Programs, which includes the YES and FLEX grants. She started her career with Greenheart in 2011 and has worked on all of Greenheart’s BridgeUSA designations before taking on Youth Programs.

She is passionate about creating big picture strategies and finding efficiencies through diligent resource allocation. As a result, Maria has played an integral role in developing and revising internal processes, designing new policies, and contributing to the overall strategies for responsible growth.

Maria’s educational background includes the Conscious Leadership and Team Management course at The University of Chicago Graham School, Master of Arts in Political Science: International Relations and Comparative Politics at Northern Illinois University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages: Russian & English Translation and Communication at Northern Illinois University.
Jason Nusser
Jason Nusser
Jason Nusser – Vice President, International Business Development & Operations
In his capacity as Vice President of International Business Development & Operations, Jason and his team are responsible for implementing business development strategies to maintain and grow Greenheart’s cultural exchange business in countries around the world. His main duties include identifying suitable business partners, strengthening relationships with existing customers, executing operating agreements, and providing overarching support on a variety of matters to ensure successful program implementation.

Prior to joining Greenheart in 2010, Jason served for two years as a United States Peace Corps Youth Development Volunteer in Ukraine. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, Jason wrote and administered a PEPFAR grant for an Ukrainian organization providing education on HIV/AIDS.

Additionally, he taught English and computer literacy courses at a college where he wrote and administered grant-funded projects. Jason co-organized several youth camps with other Peace Corps volunteers on topics of environmentalism, leadership, and democracy.

Jason completed his undergraduate studies in Developmental Psychology and Anthropology at the University of Minnesota and his graduate studies in Intercultural Service, Leadership and Management at the School for International Training in Vermont. During his undergraduate coursework, Jason studied for one semester at James Cook University in Queensland, Australia.

Since his first international travel experience as a college student, Jason has been fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to many countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America for both business and pleasure.
Jess Kissell
Jess Kissell
Vice President, Professional Exchange Programs
Jess Kissell leads the BridgeUSA J-1 Intern/Trainee, Teacher, and Summer Work Travel programs at Greenheart. Her mission-driven approach combines strategic non-profit management with a focus on program and people management, relationship building with diverse stakeholders, and expertise in compliance, risk mitigation, and budgetary planning. With extensive experience in cultural exchange and a background that includes living abroad and volunteering in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, she views facilitating these programs as a privilege that fosters global understanding and peace.

Jess holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and is also an artist who leverages creativity to support local non-profits in Maine as well as international organizations. Deeply committed to girls’ education, she dedicates time to volunteering in Tanzania, where she supports education and health initiatives aimed at empowering youth.

Throughout her career, Jess has worked on initiatives to support youth in underserved regions, mentored emerging professionals, and witnessed the growth and development of her team. Her dedication to cultural exchange and volunteerism is driven by a deep belief in their transformative power to address global inequalities and enrich lives. She is profoundly honored to engage in work that aligns with her passions and values, contributes to meaningful change, and fosters a more connected and equitable world.

Founders

Laura K. Rose Profile Image

Laura K. Rose

Co-Founder

Laura K. Rose is a passionate youth empowerment specialist who has dedicated her life to supporting budding global leaders through her work in cultural exchange, purpose work, mentoring, public speaking, and philanthropy. She is Co-founder and former CEO of Greenheart International and is Co-Founder of Purpose Earth, an organization dedicated to launching, funding and mentoring grassroots projects around the globe that provide creative solutions to their communities’ greatest challenges. In 1995 she co-founded Fundacion por el Futuro in Spain devoted to the creation of environmental and educational programs for American and Spanish youth, and has been a key supporter of the growth and mission of Casita Verde, an educational eco-center in Ibiza which showcases sustainable living and alternative energies and has been visited by thousands of students and adults from dozens of countries worldwide. She is a member of Evolutionary Leaders, a group of thought leaders from diverse disciplines who come together to support a global shift in consciousness, and a strong supporter and former board member of Empowerment Collective dedicated to the eradication of modern-day slavery by giving marginalized women in Nepal & India the skills they deserve to ensure self-sufficiency and dignity. Laura serves on the boards of She is the Universe, a girls empowerment platform, of Choose Love Movement promoting hope, healing and connection, and of Unity Earth, a global network whose mission is to accelerate the realization of unity and peace.

Laura mentors several women in Brazil, Ghana, Lebanon, the Dominican Republic, the U.S., and Afghanistan and believes they are her greatest teachers. As an experienced public speaker, she has facilitated public speaking workshops for youth, appeared on numerous podcasts, and been a panelist and keynote speaker in numerous forums. She served as Vice Chair and on the Executive Committee to the Alliance for International Exchange in Washington, DC. and the Council on Standards for International Education.

Laura received the Visioneers Heroine of Humanity Award in 2023 and is co-recipient of the Unity Earth Keepers of the Flame Award and the Barbara Marx Hubbard Award for Innovation with her husband, Emanuel Kuntzelman.
Laura K. Rose
Laura K. Rose
Co-Founder
Laura K. Rose is a passionate youth empowerment specialist who has dedicated her life to supporting budding global leaders through her work in cultural exchange, purpose work, mentoring, public speaking, and philanthropy. She is Co-founder and former CEO of Greenheart International and is Co-Founder of Purpose Earth, an organization dedicated to launching, funding and mentoring grassroots projects around the globe that provide creative solutions to their communities’ greatest challenges. In 1995 she co-founded Fundacion por el Futuro in Spain devoted to the creation of environmental and educational programs for American and Spanish youth, and has been a key supporter of the growth and mission of Casita Verde, an educational eco-center in Ibiza which showcases sustainable living and alternative energies and has been visited by thousands of students and adults from dozens of countries worldwide. She is a member of Evolutionary Leaders, a group of thought leaders from diverse disciplines who come together to support a global shift in consciousness, and a strong supporter and former board member of Empowerment Collective dedicated to the eradication of modern-day slavery by giving marginalized women in Nepal & India the skills they deserve to ensure self-sufficiency and dignity. Laura serves on the boards of She is the Universe, a girls empowerment platform, of Choose Love Movement promoting hope, healing and connection, and of Unity Earth, a global network whose mission is to accelerate the realization of unity and peace.

Laura mentors several women in Brazil, Ghana, Lebanon, the Dominican Republic, the U.S., and Afghanistan and believes they are her greatest teachers. As an experienced public speaker, she has facilitated public speaking workshops for youth, appeared on numerous podcasts, and been a panelist and keynote speaker in numerous forums. She served as Vice Chair and on the Executive Committee to the Alliance for International Exchange in Washington, DC. and the Council on Standards for International Education.

Laura received the Visioneers Heroine of Humanity Award in 2023 and is co-recipient of the Unity Earth Keepers of the Flame Award and the Barbara Marx Hubbard Award for Innovation with her husband, Emanuel Kuntzelman.
Emanuel Kuntzelman
Emanuel Kuntzelman
Founder
Emanuel Kuntzelman is an entrepreneur, writer, philosopher, philanthropist and activist for social transformation. He began his adult life by traveling the world on a decade-long quest for his spiritual purpose before beginning his professional career as an editor/writer for Readers’ Digest, where he authored dozens of articles for international editions.

Upon discovering his right livelihood in the realm of cultural exchange, he founded and managed numerous exchange organizations in Spain, the U.S. and the U.K. Having created Greenheart International in 1985, he still serves as Senior Advisor to the organization. He is also the co-founder of Fundación por el Futuro in Madrid, Spain, and has been its President since 1995. His work in consciousness movements includes being a founding co-creator of the Global Purpose Movement and Purpose Earth, as well as his collaboration as a member of the Evolutionary Leaders Circle.

Emanuel is a board member and/or advisor to numerous organizations in the conscious community. He is co-editor of the anthology Purpose Rising (2017) and has contributed articles to a wide variety of publications. He is also co-editor of the The Holomovement: Embracing Our Collective Purpose to Unite Humanity (2023). His vision of the Holomovement is a project he has been working on for over fifty years and is now the primary initiative of his work. More information can be found at www.emanuelkuntzelman.com and www.holomovement.net