The Build and Bridge Team

Joshua Paul, M.D.  Founder

Dr. Paul was born in Port Au Prince, Haiti and moved to South Carolina as a teenager. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Psychology at Southern Wesleyan University, then went on to obtain a Medical Doctor degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

He has travelled extensively throughout South America, Haiti and the Caribbean and is fluent in French, Spanish, and English.

Joshua’s passion for human development is only rivaled by his love for Haitian coffee.

 

Richard Ameris

Richard was born in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti and grew up in Spring Valley, New York.

Richard received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the University of Akron, Ohio. He also earned an MBA from The University of Akron in International Business. He recently retired as Corporate Recruiting Manager for Michelin North America, Inc.

He currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina with his wife Kimberly. They have three children.

Richard is known as “the realist”. He is always the one to bring the clan back down to earth when it is time to talk about how to finance a project.

Ronald Talley

Mr. Talley holds an A.E.T. degree in Electronics Engineering Technology from Tri-County Tech, a B.A. in research in the social sciences from Dartmouth College, a Master's in Administration and Supervision and has completed coursework toward a doctorate in Vocational and Technical Education from Clemson University.

Ron was a NASA Research Fellow from 1988 to 1990 and was later recognized by the American Technical Education Association as one of the ten outstanding technical educators in the nation. He has traveled throughout Africa, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Ron is the minimalist of our group. Despite his extensive knowledge in technology, when considering a new project, he always asks, “what if we were off the grid?”

                                                   

 

Daniel Brillant

Daniel grew up in Montreal Canada. He earned a degree in Mechanical engineering from the University of Ottawa. He started his career in the railroad industry where he received many patents for his inventions.

Daniel has travelled and worked extensively throughout the world, thanks to the fact that his parents were diplomat. He is particularly fond of his memories of living in two different countries in Africa.

Daniel’s dream has always been to contribute to reduce, if not eliminate the world hunger. Out of his concern about population growth and reduction of farm land, Daniel has been closely involved in hydroponics, which is a technology allowing to grow food with much less real estate and less water.

He has an extremely sophisticated palate and is our resident sommelier.

 

                               Reginald Grand' Pierre

Reginald Grand' Pierre is an entrepreneur with a background in community engagement, cultural bridging, and fundraising. He has over 30 years of experience working in the United Sates, Haiti, and Canada. Reginald holds a BSc in Animal Science from McGill University and an Executive Certificate in Project Management from Florida Atlantic University. After working as an Agronomist and farmer in rural Haiti, he transitioned to entrepreneurship, founding Total Maintenance Inc, and leading Itiah Coffee LLC for 12 years, promoting direct trade between Haiti and the diaspora through coffee.

Following the 2010 earthquake, Reginald has made over 20 trips to Haiti, creating direct trade opportunities and fostering change through sustainable business solutions and cultural initiatives. He is also known for his support of the Haiti Naitonal Swim Teams and has played key roles in participation in the Rio and Tokyo Summer Olympic Games.

A proud father of five and married to Clio for 29 years, Reginald had effectively used his social engagement skills to build support for Haitian entrepreneurship devekopment and diaspora involvement, leveraging in-person and virtual events, as well as one-on-one conversations with stakeholders and community leaders.

 

                         Daniel Tillias
Daniel co-founded what would become SAKALA in 2002 with 9 other young people in an effort to promote peace, reconciliation, tolerance and truth for a new Haiti.  The son of a pastor, Daniel grew up in Cite Soleil, the largest underdeveloped area of Port-au-Prince, and of all Haiti.  During his early childhood, he witnessed first-hand the misery often experienced in the neighborhood, and understood the roots of the violence that emerged in the 1990s and that continues today.  After high school, Daniel chose to study law in order to help those who have been marginalized by the Haitian legal system.
Daniel worked as a law trainee in one of the most prominent law firms in Haiti (which represented the victims of the 1991 coup in Haiti) and attended a University of Pittsburgh legal exchange program.  Daniel left law school amid violent uprisings in Cite Soleil, to focus on building his organization.  He created a program to promote peacebuilding and to benefit the less fortunate, especially children and youth. While a director at Pax Christi Ayiti, Daniel introduced sports as a means of peacebuilding, through the SAKALA youth empowerment program, which now incorporates athletics, agronomy, and educational activities for 250 youth from different neighborhoods in Cite Soleil.  Daniel is a well-respected community leader and the recipient of several awards for his peace efforts.