The Greenheart team is dynamic, mission-driven, and dedicated to expanding worldviews. Get to know our founders and co-leadership team.
Emanuel Kuntzelman (www.emanuelkuntzelman.com) founded Greenheart International in 1985 and served as its President and Chairman until 2020. He is currently Chief Advisor to the organization.
Emanuel is a social entrepreneur, writer, public speaker and environmentalist. He is the co-founder of Fundación por el Futuro in Madrid, Spain, and has served as its president since its inception in 1995. His professional career has primarily focused on developing international exchange programs with an emphasis on promoting cultural understanding, personal development, and social action in pursuit of a world that is environmentally sustainable and peacefully cooperative.
He is a founding co-creator of the Global Purpose Movement, which has recently merged with Unity Earth, and this partnership has now launched the Purpose Earth fund, of which Emanuel is the volunteer Executive Director. In 2020, Purpose Earth sponsored events such as World Unity Week, the Caravan of Unity, International Peace Weekend and the Global Oneness Summit. Emanuel’s most recent project involves the explanation and promotion of the Holomovement—the social movement of organizations worldwide working to unite humanity in coherence for a more promising future.
Over the last 35 years Emanuel has lectured throughout the U.S. and Europe, and has organized numerous retreats and conferences, including three Purpose Summits in San Francisco and Berlin. He currently serves on the boards of Integral Transformative Practice International, the Laszlo Institute for New Paradigm Research, and Unity Earth. Emanuel is a member of the Evolutionary Leaders Circle, a project sponsored by the Source of Synergy Foundation. He is a contributor to the recent book Intelligence of the Cosmos and is co-editor of the publications Purpose Rising and Purpose to the People: a guide to radical transformation.
Laura K. Rose is a passionate youth empowerment specialist who has dedicated her life to the development and support of global leaders through her work in cultural exchange, purpose work, mentoring, public speaking, and philanthropy. In addition to her work as Co-founder and CEO of Greenheart International, she is also Co-Founder of Purpose Earth an organization dedicated to launching, funding and mentoring grassroots projects around the globe that provide creative solutions to some of our 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 the Casita Verde, an educational eco-center in Ibiza which showcases sustainable living and alternative energies and is visited by thousands of students and adults each year.
Laura has served on the executive committee for the Council on Standards for International Education and Travel, and was Vice Chair for the board of the Alliance for International Exchange based in Washington, DC.
She was recently invited to become a member of Evolutionary Leaders, an illustrious group of thought leaders from diverse disciplines who come together in synergy to support a global shift in consciousness, and is a 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 also serves on the board of She is the Universe, a girls empowerment platform giving voice to young women around the globe and on the board of Unity Earth, a global network whose mission is to accelerate the realization of unity and peace on Earth.
As an experienced public speaker, she has facilitated public speaking workshops for youth, done podcasts, and been a panelist and keynote speaker in numerous forums. She’s worked closely with members of the U.S. Department of State, community leaders and international representatives to further the causes of public diplomacy and mutual understanding.
Laura is a recipient of Visioneers Heroes of Humanity Award, and co-recipient of the Unity Earth Keepers of the Flame Award in 2021, and the Barbara Marx Hubbard Award for Innovation with her husband, Emanuel Kuntzelman in 2015.
Daniel Ebert is the President of Greenheart International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting people and planet through the facilitation of cultural exchange programs, support of eco-fair trade, personal development opportunities, volunteer service initiatives, and environmental advocacy projects.
Daniel has been impacted by international cultural exchange programs since childhood. He was able to study abroad both in Brazil and in Spain, making him nearly trilingual. Daniel joined the organization in 1999 and has worked his way up to his current position of President, filling many roles along the way. Under Daniel’s leadership, Greenheart has launched many new programs, including but not limited to J1 Teacher, J1 Intern, J1 Trainee, as well as many of the outbound programs that we promote under the Greenheart Travel branch. He was pivotal in the creation and growth of our Greenheart Odyssey (grant) programming and is passionate about both developing youth to achieve their highest potential and diversifying Greenheart’s program stakeholders and offerings.
Daniel’s strengths include streamlining all functions of the organization as to ensure collaboration and efficiency, while fostering mutual respect and empowerment. He is an eternal optimist; an active communicator and he embraces a mindset of progress and growth. He is passionate about government relations and has served as one of the organization’s key diplomats for many years. Daniel also plays a key role in building and maintaining partner relationships for Greenheart, both within the USA and abroad. Daniel is highly involved with different industry associations, including serving on committees with the Alliance of International Exchange.
Maria Kiosses is the Vice President of Compliance and Program Support with Greenheart International. She oversees the Enrollment, Compliance, and Program Support departments for all inbound programs that Greenheart facilitates, as well as the Grant Programs. Maria started her career with Greenheart in 2011 and during her tenure, Maria has worked with several programs, including Summer Work Travel, Intern, and Trainee. She has played an integral role in developing and revising internal processes, designing new policies, and contributing to the overall strategies for responsible growth.
Versatile professional. Creative at setting big picture strategies. Skilled at efficient project management through diligent resource allocation. Specialize in taking a solution- based approach for meeting project requirements and exceeding customer expectations.
Her educational background includes, Conscious Leadership and Team Management course at The University of Chicago Graham School, MA Political Science: International Relations and Comparative Politics at Northern Illinois University, and Bachelors of Arts in Foreign Languages: Russian & English Translation and Communication at Northern Illinois University.
Marcelle Benedicta started her career as a host organization recruiter with Greenheart in 2010 and eventually became the Program Director for the Work & Travel Department and the Responsible Officer for that designation. In 2018, she was promoted to Vice President of Marketing and Professional Exchanges, overseeing three program departments with the following designations: Summer Work Travel, Intern, Trainee, Teacher. This is in addition to working with the Marketing and Communications department that focuses on marketing initiatives, public relations (including external relations), cultural outreach activities, and program enhancements for our Exchange Visitors.
In her current role as the Vice President of Marketing and Account Management, Marcelle oversees the Marketing and Account Management departments, including working with the field network. She contributes with her experiences in sales, marketing, public relations, accounts, and event planning. She loves looking at processes and figuring out ways to improve them, as well as increasing efficiency and being organized throughout. Externally, she is active in the sponsor community and has been involved in various industry initiatives and committees, including with the Alliance for International Exchange. She also conducts visits to sending partners, hosts, and Exchange Visitors.
Marcelle has a master’s degree in Business Administration from Loyola University Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in Communications/Public Relations from Marquette University. She is originally from Jakarta, Indonesia and has done homestay programs as well as travelled to various countries in Western Europe, Middle East, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. She volunteers as the Co-Chair of the Altar Server Ministry at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago and loves to do karaoke in her spare time.
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 throughout the contract period to ensure successful program implementation. Jason shares the passion of Greenheart’s international partners and is motivated to keep Greenheart as a premier organization in cultural exchange.
Prior to joining Greenheart in 2010, Jason served for two years (2007-2009) as a United States Peace Corps Youth Development Volunteer in Ukraine. As a Peace Corp Volunteer, Jason wrote and administered a PEPFAR grant for a 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. Outside of his primary host organizations, Jason co-organized several youth camps with other Peace Corp 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. In addition to his work, Jason enjoys cooking, gardening, camping, cycling, and traveling with his family.