OPERATIONAL VOLUNTEERS

LEARN ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE CHANGE FROM DORADO CARES POSSIBLE!

Richard Higgs

Founder & Executive Director

Brian Santiago

Program & Operations Director

Brian Santiago Díaz

Program & Operations Director

My name is Brian Santiago Diaz and I’ve lived in Puerto Rico my entire life. I’m currently pursuing my Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, after having completed my Associate’s Degree in the same field. For the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of volunteering with Dorado Cares, a foundation that has allowed me to serve my community through compassion, teamwork, and meaningful outreach.

My passion for service is deeply rooted in both my professional goals as a nurse and my faith. I am an active member of Arise Church, where I regularly serve and support local initiatives. I’ve also had the opportunity to participate in mission trips, bringing aid and hope to communities beyond Puerto Rico, including international work in the Dominican Republic.

Through my involvement with Dorado Cares and my church, I’ve developed strong skills in leadership, organization, and communication. Whether I’m assisting with health-related services, offering support to families, or simply lending a helping hand wherever it’s needed, I strive to bring kindness, respect, and a spirit of excellence to everything I do.

I believe in the power of community and the importance of using our gifts to uplift those around us. My journey in nursing and service has just begun, but my heart for helping others continues to grow every day.

Josie Yousef

Mission Chairperson - Education

Amelia Sosa Carter

Mission Chairperson - Social Welfare

Preeti Agarwal

Mission Chairperson - Healthcare

David Martinez

Mission Chairperson - Emergency Disaster Relief

Preeti Agarwal

Mission Chairperson — Healthcare

Preeti Agarwal is an accomplished international strategist and entrepreneur with a track record of building transformative organizations across finance, technology, and real estate. She co-launched Celligence LLC, where she serves as Vice President, helping to pioneer the use of AngelAi — an empathetic artificial intelligence tool to reimagine customer engagement in financial services. Earlier in her career, she founded XL Dynamics, a leading provider of IT, audit, and quality control outsourcing solutions for the U.S. mortgage banking industry, where she continues to serve on the Board of Directors.

Beyond fintech and financial services, Preeti has led multimillion-dollar projects in real estate and insurance, while also managing a national rental property portfolio through her family office. Her cross-sector expertise reflects a deep commitment to operational excellence, innovation, and impact at scale.

Passionate about community well-being, Preeti and her husband actively support children’s charities, with a growing focus on health and wellness initiatives. As Mission Chair — Healthcare, she is dedicated to advancing access, equity, and sustainable solutions for her community in Puerto Rico.

Outside of her professional and philanthropic endeavors, Preeti enjoys traveling, cooking, fitness, and spending quality time with her children and their beloved pets, Bailey and Jax.

Juan Bauza

Mission Chairperson - Food Insecurity

Shannon Brooks

Volunteer Coordinator

Shannon Brooks

Volunteer Coordinator

Shannon Brooks moved to Puerto Rico in 2019 with her husband, Steve, and their two children, Peyton (18) and Carson (22) after living in Colorado for over 20 years. Married for 24 years, Shannon holds an Engineering degree from the University of Florida. Her career includes roles at Honeywell, Osmonics, and Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, followed by 12 years at American Express, where she managed merchant partnerships and helped lead local community service initiatives for the company.

In 2015, after the unexpected loss of her sister-in-law, Jamie, at 38 due to a brain aneurysm, Shannon left American Express to help manage the cannabis business she co-owns with Steve. Shannon worked for the business for 5 years as VP of Marketing and Corporate Social Responsibility. In this capacity, Shannon created a robust CSR program that created engagement for their 450 employees to give back to the communities in which they worked. The program focused on issues like homelessness, food insecurity, and veterans' health. The company became a respected community leader and a benchmark in the cannabis sector for their CSR work.

Additionally, Shannon co-founded the Jamie Beck Family Foundation in honor of her sister-in-law. The purpose of the foundation is to create awareness and provide financial support for families affected by brain aneurysms. She is eager to continue her community involvement through Dorado Cares.

Nicole Poland

Office Administrator

TBD

Fundraising

Catherine Catala

Legal Specialist

Kate Parnell

Financial Specialist

Mike Trainor

Emergency Specialist

Karen Carlson Israel

Public Charity Specialist