Paul S. Trupo - 1986-88 VOCATIONAL WORKSHOP DIRECTOR Peace Corps/Costa Rica

RESUME

Paul S. Trupo

Professional Experience:

1997-present RESEARCH ASSOCIATE Virginia Tech Institute & State University

Currently serving as primary researcher on study designed to measure the economic impact of migrant farmworkers on the Virginia economy. The study's objectives include quantifying the economic contribution of foreign-born farm workers, and to make recommendations on how best to strengthen agricultural labor services while simultaneously improving the living conditions of migrant farm workers. Methodology includes surveying and interviewing migrant farm workers, agricultural producers, federal and state agencies, extension agents, and labor experts.

1995-1997 RESEARCH ASSISTANT Virginia Tech University

Served as principal researcher of five member team carrying out feasibility study and project design for implementing non-traditional crop production in Southwestern Virginia. Work consisted of cooperative organizational strengthening, agribusiness project evaluations, economic survey of rural Virginia region, cost-benefit analysis, and development of workplans and job descriptions. See Published Study.

1992-1995 PROJECT COORDINATOR USAID/Peace Corps-Bolivia

Managed Peace Corps/Bolivia Youth Program that consisted of micro-project development, implementation and evaluation. Assisted NGOs in design and implementation of agribusiness and small enterprise income generating vocational workshops aimed at institutional self-sufficiency. Supervised 34 small business projects and vocational workshops, and administrated $500,000 budget.

1991-2 ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Peace Corps/Bolivia

Served as Peace Corps Regional Director which consisted of supervising and supporting 38 Volunteers in large geographic area. Opened and established Regional Office. Initiated and maintained relations with NGOs and managed regional budget. Provided guidance to Volunteers and NGOs in the following programs: Micro-enterprise, Agricultural Extension, Environmental Conservation, Rural Sanitation, and Youth Development.

1991 PROJECT MANAGER USAID/Bolivia

Established USAID/Bolivia's first ever program designed to assist rural and urban NGOs that work with displaced children. Carried out analysis of project feasibility, program design, proposal evaluation, and institutional assessment. Worked with local agencies in project design and development while managing a $210,000 budget.

1990 AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST Peace Corps/Bolivia

Served as Volunteer, assigned to National NGO in charge of economic evaluation of crop production alternatives and new technologies. Managed non-traditional crop trials and market development project. Carried out cost-benefit analysis of different agricultural and agribusiness alternatives.

1988-90 AGRIBUSINESS PROJECT MANAGER Peace Corps/Dominican Republic

Served as Peace Corps Volunteer, assigned to NGO that operated a rural orphanage, school, and vocational center. Acted as agricultural project director. Designed accounting system, developed and managed agricultural and micro-enterprise workshops. Responsible for primary education program for 150 children and financial responsibilities for foreign child sponsorship program.

1986-88 VOCATIONAL WORKSHOP DIRECTOR Peace Corps/Costa Rica

Served as Peace Corps Volunteer assigned to an NGO that operated a vocational farm for handicapped adolescents where he served as project director. Administrated numerous agricultural and micro-enterprise projects designed for training and employing 25 disabled children. Carried out all recruitment, project design, accounting, educational activities, monitoring and implementation of micro-enterprise and agricultural projects.

Education:

1995-96 M.S. Agricultural Economics, specialization-International Economic Development Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, VA. Merit-earned assistantship; 3.92 GPA Thesis: "Agricultural Cooperation and Non-traditional Crop Marketing"

1985 B.A. Finance: University of Akron, Ohio

Additional:

Languages: Fluency in Spanish, FSI 4+ Portuguese, 4 month intensive course, no practical experience speaking

Computers: - IBM-Compatible-Windows, Word Processing, Spreadsheets, etc. - Macintosh- WORD, EXCEL, PageMaker, Others - Several linear Programming and Statistical Packages - Data base and Web publishing experience