Leadership

Curtis Schaeffer worked for more than 35 years as a humanitarian and development specialist and executive with focus on food security, livelihood support and nutrition programs worldwide. His many jobs and assignments over the years included executive positions with CARE USA as the Regional Manager for Latin American Programs (11 countries) and Chief of Staff to the President and CEO; disaster assessment team leader in Central America and Cuba; developed post conflict programs in Uganda and Zimbabwe; led a team of 10 monitors in North Korea to ensure the receipt and distribution of U.S. donated commodities to address famine conditions. 

Schaeffer’s final two jobs before retiring in 2015 were in the role of Chief of Party for USAID financed projects-democracy building based in La Paz, Bolivia and famine early warning systems (food security monitoring and reporting) in 22 African countries, Haiti and Afghanistan based in Washington, DC. 

Since 2015, Schaeffer has been a volunteer for APROQUEN, INC. He continues in the role of Chairperson for the APROQUEN, INC Global Advisory Council. His support to the Development Director has been in fundraising in the United States to drive resources to Nicaragua and in communications. 

In 1989, Schaeffer survived a plane crash in Honduras that took 131 lives.  Among the 14 other survivors were Vivian and Carlos Pellas who subsequently established APROQUEN. The experiences of surviving a plane crash and dealing with the trauma are chronicled in his book-Escape with One’s Life, Learning to Live with Survival.  

Upon retirement, Schaeffer committed to support the good work of Vivian Pellas and her team at APROQUEN. In previous visits to Nicaragua, Schaeffer had observed first hand and was impressed by the essential treatment services provided by Asociación Pro-Niños Quemados de Nicaragua to Nicaraguan children both burn survivors and those born with cleft lip and palate. Surviving a plane crash with another person creates a bond for life. 

Schaeffer has been married for 39 years to Magaly Quintero and has one child. He currently resides in McLean, Virginia. In addition to his volunteer work with APROQUEN, he has written and published three family legacy books in recent years.