Maricarmen Smith-Martinez
Moderator, Chair NPCA
Maricarmen was elected to serve as Chair of the NPCA Board of Directors in 2018. She joined the Board in 2014, initially elected by NPCA affiliate groups to a term as Group Leaders Forum Coordinator and subsequently to a term as Affiliate Group Network Coordinator. She had previously served on the Board of Atlanta Area Returned Peace Corps Volunteers for three years, including two terms as president She was a Rural Community Development volunteer in Costa Rica from 2006-2008, working to strengthen community capacity in organizational leadership, financial management, and youth development projects.
Maricarmen is Director of the International Development Sector at Bixal, an RPCV-owned company, applying strategic vision and leadership to identify opportunities and building teams that ultimately enable Bixal clients to advance their missions. Since joining Bixal in 2013 to design and implement a national digital training and certification program for housing counselors, she has managed or provided corporate oversight for a portfolio of nearly $40 million for clients such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), and international nonprofits.
Originally from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Maricarmen earned a B.A. in Spanish from Emory University in Atlanta, holds a project management professional (PMP) certification, and is an advanced certified Scrum master (A-CSM). Before joining Bixal, Maricarmen worked in the nonprofit sector, supporting homebuyers and their families on the journey to homeownership. She earned her bachelor’s in Spanish and religion from Emory University in Atlanta and currently resides in Washington DC.
Maricarmen is Director of the International Development Sector at Bixal, an RPCV-owned company, applying strategic vision and leadership to identify opportunities and building teams that ultimately enable Bixal clients to advance their missions. Since joining Bixal in 2013 to design and implement a national digital training and certification program for housing counselors, she has managed or provided corporate oversight for a portfolio of nearly $40 million for clients such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), and international nonprofits.
Originally from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Maricarmen earned a B.A. in Spanish from Emory University in Atlanta, holds a project management professional (PMP) certification, and is an advanced certified Scrum master (A-CSM). Before joining Bixal, Maricarmen worked in the nonprofit sector, supporting homebuyers and their families on the journey to homeownership. She earned her bachelor’s in Spanish and religion from Emory University in Atlanta and currently resides in Washington DC.
