Meet our Dedicated Team

​​Just One Opportunity

Key Nicaraguan Volunteer Team

We are only successful with our full-time and part-time volunteer staff in Nicaragua, each of whom was once a sponsored student of Just One Opportunity. We have loved watching them grow in the Lord and take on new responsibilities. Ana-Julia Orozco started as a promising sponsored student; she is now the in-country Field Director for Just One Opportunity. Jazmina Elizet loves the Lord and grew from volunteering in her free time with Just One Opportunity to working as the Project Coordinator. To learn more about them, read their full bio by clicking above.

​​Just One Opportunity

Board Members

Jim ​retired from Norfolk Southern as a Group Vice President of Domestic Intermodal after 36 years of commitment. During that time he and his wife, Joy, raised their three children Spencer, Mary-Blake, and Avery and their family has grown to include eight grandchildren, with one more on the way. Jim’s devotion to Christ will uplift future generations as a result of his work as a Sunday School Teacher at Christ Community Church in Virginia Beach where he is an active member. His love and commitment to the Lord is carried over to Just One Opportunity and the support he provides to all the students helped through the years.

James Bolander

Advisor to the Director

Joe Clarkson

Mark Coster

Mark brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team. Currently serving as an Operating Executive for Polaris Growth Fund, a distinguished Private Equity firm based in Boston, Mark is dedicated to building and leading the Strategic Acceleration Team. In this capacity, he collaborates with PGF portfolio companies to evaluate and execute strategic acquisitions. Prior to his role at PGF, Mark held the position of Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Development at Trader Interactive, where he also served as the Head of Product for its B2B technology offerings. His background includes valuable contributions to companies such as CarMax and PRA Group, where he played key roles in Corporate Strategy, Corporate Development, and Portfolio Acquisition. Mark commenced his career at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as an Associate in the DC office.

Joe Clarkson grew up in St. Petersburg, FL, and Kingston, Jamaica. While in Jamaica, Joe was inspired by watching his Episcopal priest father serve churches throughout the island that did not have full-time clergy. His father often spent all Sunday on the road, holding services in three or four locations and serving in some impoverished neighborhoods.

Erika Paris

Erika graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a bachelor's degree in communications and a concentration in advertising in 2009. Upon moving to Virginia Beach, Erika worked in the financial sector and has experience with several Fortune 500 companies including Bank of America, Capital One Financial Corporation, and Luxottica of America. In 2017, Erika decided to take on her biggest role yet and become a full-time mother to her two girls, Michele and Sophia.

Erika began volunteering with Just One Opportunity in 2021 and will continue supporting JOO in a part-time capacity by administering the marketing and communications platforms for Just One Opportunity, helping reach supporters, partners, and friends all over the world. When she is not developing logos, writing copy, and managing Just One Opportunity's newsletter, she loves curling up with a great book, learning about history, and spending time gardening with her husband Michael at their home in Virginia Beach.

Mark is an alumnus of the Darden Graduate School of Business, where he earned his MBA, and the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia, where he obtained a BS in Commerce. Residing in Virginia Beach with his wife Courtney and three children, Mark is an active member of Lynnhaven United Methodist Church. In his leisure time, he enjoys coaching, playing, and watching sports. Mark's extensive background and genuine passion for helping others will make him a tremendous asset to Just One Opportunity’s Board of Directors.

Joe served in the U. S. Navy for 30 years and, having been stationed in Virginia Beach twice while on active duty, settled here after retiring in 2011. Joe now works as the VP of Business Development for Xylem Tree Experts, a utility vegetation management company based in Norfolk.

Joe's spiritual journey has been a significant part of his life. He and his wife, Sandee, are active members of the Virginia Beach Community Chapel (VBCC). Joe not only leads their community group once a month but also participates in the Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). In recent months, Joe has felt a more vital calling to serve, and the opportunity to join the board of Just One Opportunity is a part of his response to that call. Joe sees JOO as a perfect platform for service, inspired by Roger's story, his personal connection to the people in the villages of Nicaragua, and the legacy of service instilled in him by his father.