Ruth DeGolia

As Mercado Global's co-founder and executive director, Ruth DeGolia has established Mercado Global's partnerships with cooperatives and local NGOs in Latin America. She works with Mercado Global's regional staff to oversee production and provide member cooperatives with technical support in the areas of financial, business, and program management. DeGolia also builds Mercado's strategic partnerships with organizations and corporations in the U.S. and abroad.

DeGolia has received honors for her academic work on the impact of globalization on political and economic development in Latin America, including the William H. Orrick prize at Yale University. In May 2004, she was named among the ""World's Best Emerging Social Entrepreneurs"" by the Echoing Green Foundation. She also received the ""Award for Social Innovation"" from the Social Enterprise Alliance in April 2005. In July 2006 she was selected as one of the ""15 People Who Make America Great"" by Newsweek Magazine and was featured on the magazine's cover with Brad Pitt and others.

DeGolia graduated with distinction from Yale University with degrees in Ethics, Politics, and Economics and in International Studies.