M. Charito Kruvant is the Founder and Board Chair of Creative Associates International. Under Charito’s nearly five decades of leadership, Creative has become a leading implementer for international agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. State Department, European governments and the World Bank.

Charito’s vision has led to providing children, youth and adults with accelerated learning and non-formal education; supporting communities and ministries with school reform and development; teacher training, capacity building, school health and nutrition, and enabling equity and access to education in conflict and post-conflict environments. Creative also supports communities transitioning from conflict through participatory programs that help instill democratic values and processes and enable communities to direct their own development.

Charito was inducted into the Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards Hall of Fame by the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Professional Services Council on Nov. 5, 2020. The awards honor the exceptional work of the leaders and businesses in the region’s government contracting sector, with the Hall of Fame as the top honor.

The United Nations Association of the National Capital Area awarded its 2012 Perdita Huston Human Rights Award to Charito for her exemplary role in educational and technical development, especially with women and girls, and for leading a life of public service.

Charito has served on numerous Boards, including: The Donors of Color Network, a philanthropic and political outlet for high-net worth donors committed to building power for people of color; the Acacia Federal Savings Bank; the Calvert Funds for socially responsible investing; the Summit Fund of Washington; and on the executive and grants committees of the Venture Philanthropy Partners, an organization that invests in change-makers to find holistic solutions for the 580,000 vulnerable children and youth in Greater Washington, D.C.

Charito is also a member of the Economic Club of Washington, D.C. and the Executive Committee of the Federal City Council. She is a former chair of the Advisory Council of the U.S. Small Business Administration Washington, D.C. office. She is also a former chair of the Board of Trustees of The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region.

With Leland’s experience in finance, technology, program management and strategic planning, Creative expanded its geographic footprint and increased its technical services.

Leland started his career with Creative in 1992 in program support positions. He left Creative and worked for a number of technology companies in key strategic roles. Returning to Creative in 2003, Leland successfully managed several projects funded by the U.S. State Department and was subsequently promoted to positions of increasing responsibility. Prior to his appointment as President in 2014, Leland was the Vice President of Strategic Planning.

A strong believer in building relationships, Leland travels extensively to visit projects and meet with clients, partners, host governments, field staff and beneficiaries of Creative-implemented programs. He is deeply committed to achieving Creative’s mission to support people around the world to realize the positive change they seek.

Pablo Maldonado is a visionary development professional who leads Creative’s thought leadership and innovation agendas.  

During his 12 years as the Chief Operating Officer, Pablo led Creative through an expansion of its portfolio of programs and countries of operation. Through his leadership, Creative solidified its role in supporting communities as they transitioned from conflict-to-peace.  

Throughout his numerous positions in the company, Pablo has placed Creative at the forefront of the world’s most demanding foreign policy and development challenges, from turmoil in Central America in the 1990s (which led us to the creation of the Communities in Transition Division), to Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen and Syria. He built Creative’s youth practice from scratch and stood up Creative’s recognized education-in-crisis practice. Banking on a workforce development project in Afghanistan, he launched the Economic Growth Division that implemented USAID’s West Africa Trade & Investment Hub, among other programs. 

In 2019, Pablo conceptualized and led the groundbreaking study on the drivers of migration from the Northern Triangle–Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Focusing on 60 high-migration municipalities and based on 2,400 in-person interviews, the study led to the major report Saliendo Adelante, which authoritatively cites economic motivations and lack of opportunity as principal migration drivers. This effort led to the formation of Creative’s Center for Migration & Economic Stabilization.

Since joining in 1983, Pablo has served Creative in various roles, including Senior Vice President of Marketing & Operations, Senior Vice President of Programs, and Acting Director of the Communities in Transition Division, the Education for Development Division and the Economic Growth Division. Pablo sits on Creative’s Board of Directors.

Pablo earned a Master’s degree in Marketing from the Kogod School of Business Administration at the American University in Washington, D.C.,  and a Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from school of Physics, Mathematics & Engineering at the Catholic University in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  In his spare time, he fishes the Chesapeake Bay, rides motorcycles, and is an avid soccer player.