Cam Crowther

President

Cam was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, and prior to joining the Academy was a founding partner of Creosote Group, specializing in guiding not-for-profit and educational organizations toward sustainable growth. He brings a wealth of experience from his time as president of WERC Institute and as a vice president and dean at Southern Virginia University. While in law school at Washington, Cam was distinguished as the H. Crim Peck Scholar, served as the article and submissions editor of the German Law Journal, and received a Transnational Law Institute scholarship. He was also honored as a Sloan Fellow and recipient of the Sloan Masters Award at London Business School, where he earned a master’s degree focused on strategy and leadership.

As an adjunct professor at the BYU Marriott School of Business’s Ballard Center, Cam teaches aspiring leaders about strategic growth and management in a social enterprise. He also volunteers as a member of the President’s Leadership Council at Ensign College.

Cam loves to travel and has lived, worked, studied, or served as a missionary in eight countries. He and his wife, Marissa, are the parents of four children.

Robert Heyn

Executive Director

Robert Heyn was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia. He has a degree in computer systems administration from Politécnico Gran-Colombiano University, a bachelor’s degree in management information systems, and a master of business administration (MBA) from Brigham Young University.

After several years of successfully managing his own businesses, Robert became the executive director of the Pete Suazo Business Center (PSBC). Robert contributed his experience to help existing and potential minority entrepreneurs build wealth through training, mentoring, and assistance with developing their business plans and loan packages. Robert was recognized by receiving the 2008 Region VII Minority Small Business Champion of the Year award, a top honor from the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Robert has served the community and his church in many capacities. From 2008 to 2011, Robert served as the mission president of the Mexico Tijuana Mission. He has also been a bishop, stake counselor, and member of the Young Men General Board. Robert currently helps low-income families in the Salt Lake City Inner City Mission.

In the community he has served on several boards and committees, including United Way of Salt Lake, the University of Utah Minority and Diversity Committee, the Salt Lake Community College School Management Advisory Committee, the Utah Micro-Enterprise Loan Fund Marketing Committee, the executive committee of the BSA Great Salt Lake Council, and the Esperanza Dual Immersion Charter School board of directors.

Robert has been married to Yolanda for 40 years. They have two children and four grandchildren.

Alex Cavalcante

Brazil

Alex earned a bachelor of science in accounting from State University of Ceara in Brazil. He then went on to receive a master of public administration from the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University in April 2008.

He has worked as Controller, on several projects in different companies for more than 15 years. He started his role as the Brazil country manager of the Academy for Creating Enterprise in 2018. He was introduced to the Academy shortly before starting his master’s degree at BYU. He was delighted with the program and its methodology, principles, and values. He always thought that this program would be a blessing for the Brazilian people. More than 10 years later, he saw the Academy beginning to take off in Brazil. He was the first chapter president in Brazil. Now, he can share several success stories of Academy students in Brazil using this program. He can testify how wonderful this program is!

James Fantone

Philippines

James Fantone is a graduate of Business Management from Rizal Technological University in Manila, Philippines, and a certified business consultant through Michael E. Gerber’s E-Myth Revisited program. He is the owner of NXT Level Training and Consulting, where he is dedicated to helping businesses grow and achieve their full potential. James and his wife, Cynthia, are proud parents of four children who inspire him to continually strive for excellence.

Luis Arzubiaga

South America Northwest | South America South | Caribbean

Luis Enrique was Born in Lima, Peru. He studied accounting and finance, certified as a coach at MEJOR-ARTE (a coaching school) in Peru, and a master’s degree in business management for entrepreneurs at IEBS (the Business School of Innovation and Entrepreneurs Spain). Luis Enrique managed his own business for several years, achieving great things in his business objectives and goals. He has served his community in the development of urban projects and his church in different responsibilities. He served as a missionary from 1992 to 1994 in Peru. He also served as bishop, stake counselor, member of the high council, auditor, and secretary for 10 years of a coordination council in Lima Peru, in addition to other callings.

Luis Enrique learned about The Academy for Creating Enterprise in 2013 when a pilot program was started in Lima. He was part of the graduates of that first group, thus starting the first chapter of the academy in Peru. He was chapter president and coordinator of chapters and is now the current director of The Academy for the South America Northwest, South America South, and Caribbean areas. Luis Enrique has contributed significantly to the growth and development of the Academy in these areas. Luis Enrique is passionate about the Academy, greatly enjoys helping people start and improve their businesses to achieve self-reliance, and brings a lot of experience, knowledge, and leadership. Luis Enrique married Paula Hidalgo in 1995, and they have six children together.

Frank Anno

Africa West

Frank Anno Ekwam was born in Ghana and is the regional director of the Academy for Africa West.

Frank became involved with the academy first as a chapter president, where he earnestly worked with a team to help in businesses creation.

He served a full-time mission in Nigeria Enugu and is married with three children.

Having earned his mechanical engineering degree from KNUST, Frank’s entrepreneurial journey began as he assumed the role of CEO at E.F. Anno Engineering & Plumbing Services. Here, his passion for addressing environmental challenges led him to cocreate the groundbreaking Rain Forest Treatment System—an independent on-site water filtration solution for households and commercial use.

Frank has an ardent desire to help individuals develop their entrepreneurial skills and nurture their business ideas. He finds immense joy in engaging with business owners, uncovering solutions to intricate challenges, and propelling ventures to success. He has conducted transformative trainings for artisans under UNICEF and contributed to the Start My Business self-reliance program for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Frank embraces his creative spirit by indulging in innovative movies and programs. Yet, amidst his dedication to entrepreneurship, he cherishes nothing more than spending precious moments with his loving family.

Adrian Vargas

Mexico | Central America

Adrian is a certified trainer by the public educational system in Mexico and holds a degree in business administration. Adrian previously served as the chapter area manager in Mexico and has been with the Academy for 11 years. Adrian has worked as a regional and residential teacher, a regional coordinator, and a chapter area manager with the Academy.

Adrian has been a young men’s president, stake Sunday school president, and a counselor in the bishopric. He served a full-time mission in Oaxaca, Mexico. Adrian is married and is the father to four children. He loves mountain biking, hiking, and climbing mountains.

Lanae Hooper

Accountant

Lanae received a MS in accounting at BYU and worked in public accounting at Deloitte & Touche in her early career. She has always enjoyed serving nonprofit clients in the community and is thrilled to be using her accounting expertise as well as her Spanish skills to help manage resources at the Academy.

Lanae has been married 30 years to her husband, Steve, and they have five children. They raised their children in Mesa, Arizona, but moved to Utah in recent years. In her spare time, Lanae likes to ski or hike, read historical novels, volunteer with Stitching Hearts Worldwide, and play the piano, especially when her daughters sing.

Jacob Smyth

Development Manager

Jacob grew up in Danville, California, as the oldest of six children. His interests took him to Brigham Young University, where he received a degree in sociology and worked in the BYU Ballard Center for Economic Self-Reliance. While directing student internships between business and nonprofit partners, Jacob honed in his desire to help individuals become self-reliant and receive meaningful opportunities.

Jacob served a mission in Wichita, Kansas, and Fortaleza, Brazil. In addition to his time at the Ballard Center, Jacob has worked as a swim team head coach and as an EFY counselor. Jacob enjoys music, the outdoors, and time well spent with friends and family.

Jen Gallacher

Stage Marketing Director

Jen Gallacher has a strong passion for sharing organizations’ vision and mission through marketing. For over a decade, she has helped businesses improve brand awareness, grow their pipeline, and achieve growth. She currently works with Stage Marketing as the manager of the PR/content team.

Jen manages marketing initiatives for brands in a variety of industries, including nonprofit, SaaS, health, food, and athletics. Some of her clients have included Community Action Services, GuideCX, Echo Park Paper Co., Salsa Queen, Amor Vines, ComTec Solutions, Skyline Technology Solutions, and The Cash Flow Academy.

Jen has a bachelor of science in digital marketing and a minor in business management from UVU and holds certificates in social media marketing, CRM management, and more.

Jen lives at the foot of the most beautiful mountain in Salem, Utah. She has been married to Brett for 31 years and has three amazing children.

Drew Perkins

Curriculum and Impact Analyst

Drew Perkins grew up in Lehi, Utah, and never flew on a plane until his mission to Madagascar. While there, he gained a love for the people and looked for ways to give back. He loves the opportunity to help members lift themselves from poverty through the Academy.

Drew studied psychology, business, and social impact at BYU. He has also prepared an impact evaluation with Coafrica, managed the Social Impact Projects internship program at the Ballard Center for Social Impact. and taught Malagasy to missionaries in the MTC. He lives with his wife and his 1-year-old daughter, and he enjoys a good football game, distance running, and writing piano music.

Andres R. Ramos

Strategic Advisor for Growth

Bio coming soon.

Daniel Salazar

Product Owner

Daniel Salazar Castillo, from Peru, has worked with the Academy since 2017. Daniel majored in foreign trade at ADEX, Peru, and has a background in electronics with a focus in digital security systems. Daniel owns a company in the field of telecommunications.

He is married to Jennifer Valdivia and has four children. His motivation has always been “one more entrepreneur, one less poor person in the world.” Because of his Academy training, he has been able to help hundreds of people improve their self-esteem and skills by starting or growing their own businesses.

Travis Howell

Director of Impact and Measurement

Travis was raised in Orem, UT, and graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelors and Masters in accounting. He later earned a PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is now a professor of Management and Entrepreneurship at Arizona State University. His research focuses on entrepreneurship.

As part of his research, Travis has managed several large-scale data collection efforts. He has worked with various nonprofits and entrepreneurial support organizations (accelerators, incubators, coworking spaces) to collect data and assess the impact of their grants and programs. His research has been cited in various news outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Bloomberg, The Economist, Fortune Magazine, the Financial Times, Forbes, CNN, CNBC, BBC, and others.

Travis has also received several awards for teaching entrepreneurship, both at Arizona State University (his current institution) and the University of California, Irvine (his former employer).

Travis and his wife, Noralin, are the parents of four children.

Suellen Durães

Marketing Content Coordinator

Suellen has been with The Academy for almost four years, serving as Marketing Content Coordinator while also supporting LMS curriculum development and Portuguese translation services. In these roles, she creates content and communication strategies that strengthen the Academy’s global presence and ensure resources are accessible across cultures.

Before joining the Academy, Suellen gained over a decade of experience in English education as a teacher, coordinator, and translator, where she led teams, developed programs, and supported cross-cultural communication. She is also pursuing a degree in Advertising and Media Production, reflecting her passion for learning and growth in communication and marketing.

Suellen lives in Brazil with her husband and young daughter. She is passionate about writing, reading, and living her values of faith and service, which align closely with the Academy’s mission. She finds joy in balancing her work with her most important roles—being a wife and a mother—and in helping others find hope and opportunity as they build brighter futures.

Drei Loudon

Social Media Coordinator

Drei Loudon is studying at Brigham Young University Hawaii, majoring in marketing. Her time at BYU-Hawaii inspired her interest for other cultures and building self-reliance in developing countries through education. She served as a full-time missionary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she helped manage social media for the missionary efforts on the east coast. This led her to be passionate about public relations and marketing, especially in the non-profit sector.

Drei is passionate about the Academy Mission and is grateful for the opportunity to make a difference. She has previously volunteered for several non-profit organizations that supported self-reliance and business education including SwitchPoint in St. George, Utah and the Great Ideas Small Business Competition at BYU-Hawaii. Drei enjoys surfing, cooking new foods, and spending time outdoors with family and friends.

Academy Executives