About us
Hey, great to meet you!
Our well travelled and highly experienced team make up the fabric of our culture. Find out more about them below
MEET THE TEAM
HEILWIG JONES
Founder & Director
H oversees all of Kaya’s operations and conduct outreach in the U.S. and globally to secure new affiliations, especially with schools and universities. H set up Kaya in 2008 after her own volunteering experiences and many years of involvement with community projects.
During a late 20’s gap year in 2004, she was fortunate enough to make a last-minute change to her itinerary which resulted in her not being on the beaches of Thailand, as planned, for the Christmas holidays – and instead arrived just 2 days after the world’s deadliest tsunami killed 230,000 people.
She worked for 4 months as part of a group of amazing volunteers in a Thai NGO in the town of Khao Lak – one of Thailand’s worst hit regions. These were the most emotional, memorable, impactful and immersive travel experiences of her life. From her experience, she wanted others to have the chance to do the same, and Kaya was born.
EMILY TONG
University Relations and Group Programs Coordinator
Emily comes to us having worked several years in the International Education field. Emily’s goal is to provide guidance and perspective for young professionals engaging with new international communities. Emily is a Bowdoin ‘11 graduate receiving a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Visual Arts. She has spent quite a bit of time overseas, with extended time in Varanasi, India teaching photography; Tasmania, Australia studying abroad; Hefei, China teaching English; and New Zealand working and hiking. When she isn’t traveling, you can find Emily photographing, knitting, doing yoga, or playing with her pup, Teddy.
ELAINA KROPF
Director of Institutional Relations
Elaina’s love of travel began on a high school group trip to Northern France, which inspired her to study abroad in Cannes, France. After receiving her BA in International Relations and French at the College of St. Benedict, she returned to France for an internship with the Cannes Film Festival. Along with extensive travels through Europe, Elaina has also visited New Zealand, Australia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and China, meeting amazing friends along the way. When she’s not traveling, you can find Elaina chasing her two kids or Goldendoodle, Gnarly, or trying to find the best Thai food in Minneapolis.
JAVIER REMACHE
General Advisor
Javier is based in Ecuador and he is part of our Sales and Advisor team. Javier majors in Local Development and has worked for many years within sustainable projects mainly focused on tourism and conservation. He strongly believes that going abroad is more than booking flights or hotels, it is about getting a truly lifetime experience and the best way to open up your mind into a new whole world. He’s had the opportunity to live abroad for several occasions within one of the most outstanding and breathtaker places in the USA, Yosemite National Park. He refers it as one of the most rewarding lifetime experiences he could ever have. After this, traveling became his number one goal and many countries have been crossed off from his bucket list. As he says, “the only risk about going abroad is that you won’t be able to stop doing it. Life is too short, so there’s only one shot!!”
SHEILA MAY BANEZ
Placement Administrator
For the past nine years, Sheila has been an integral part of the Kaya team, where her enthusiasm for all things Korean culture shines through.
As a dedicated mom and wife, she finds joy in venturing to unfamiliar destinations with her family, adding a touch of spontaneity to her family’s life. Fortunate to embark on annual journeys, her family has cultivated a tradition of exploration, using travel as a means to strengthen their bond and create cherished memories. Together, they revel in the excitement of discovering new places and embracing novel experiences, making each trip a unique chapter in their shared adventure.
SULLIVAN OJALA HELMBOLT
Specialized Advisor
Sullivan is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is a member of our program advising team. Between teaching English in Spain as an Auxiliar de Conversación and his work as an opera singer, he has found himself traveling all over the world from the United States and Mexico to Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria. Sullivan loves to share his passion for travel and is eager to help others transform their lives by experiencing more of the world. When you travel, make a plan and trust it, so you don’t spend all your time worrying! One of the best parts of travel is finding joy in the unpredictability. As Ursula K. LeGuin said, “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.
GABRIEL ALVAREZ
Academic Representative
Gabriel is based in Missouri and is a member of our Academic Relations team. Gabriel studied Business Marketing and is eager to share his experiences in Colombia and South Africa.
Gabriel’s travel advice? “Take detours! Sometimes the greatest experiences aren’t at the typical tourist sites. One of my personal favorite things to do is to try to find a soccer game and really connect with the locals!”
TARA WOESSNER
Group Programs Coordinator
Tara is a member of our Group Programs team, specializing in Latin American program development. In high school, after a volunteer experience in Haiti, she learned the importance of immersive travel and studying a second language to connect with people around the world. She earned a BA in Applied Linguistics (TESOL) and Spanish, and studied abroad in Spain and Costa Rica. Along the way, she’s visited Nicaragua, Guatemala and completed an internship in Mexico, where she has now called home for many years. She is passionate about developing the same immersive experiences abroad for students as she once participated in during college. When she isn’t traveling, you can find Tara sipping coffee and enjoying the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean with her dog Maní.
LADY NICOLE RAMOS
Placement Administrator
I am Lady Nicole. Born and raised in the Philippines, I studied Hospitality Management because of my interests in historical places, temples, and their origins, and it has always been my dream to travel and see the beauty of Asia, taste different kinds of authentic cuisine, and visit cultural heritages. I just recently joined Kaya as a Program Support Assistant, providing support services for organizations that offer study, volunteer, and intern abroad placements. In addition to this, I have worked as a Virtual Assistant for over 6 years, mainly handling administrative tasks and customer support. I spend most of my free time watching Korean dramas, wandering around the city, or resting at home. I love learning new things, and I’m always up for new experiences!