Leadership - HopesIn

STAFF MEMBERS

Director, Co-Founder

Courtney McGovern

When Courtney McGovern was just 10 years old, she fell in love with service. Courtney’s family built two playgrounds that year in Guatemala. Courtney became passionate about Guatemala and knew she wanted the country and the people she met there to be in her life forever. Though she and her family traveled to other corners of the world building playgrounds, she eventually returned to Guatemala City when she was 14 and has been dedicated to empowering families in the city’s garbage dump communities ever since. At age 16, Courtney and her twin sister, Ashley, co-founded HOPE’S IN.

In January of 2018, Courtney graduated from New York University with a degree in Nonprofit Management. Upon graduation, she became the first full-time employee of HOPE’S IN. Courtney is a storyteller at heart. From a TEDx presentation and public speaking engagements to quiet coffee shops, Courtney eagerly shares all she’s learned from families in Guatemala and helps others discover their service passions.

Throughout her journey with service, Courtney has humbly accepted various awards and recognition for her dedication to HOPE’S IN. Amongst these are a merit based scholarship to New York University through the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship, the Paul Harris Fellowship through Rotary International, and being named one of Chicago Scholar’s 35 Under 35 at the age of twenty-three.

DIRECTOR, CO-FOUNDER

Ashley Steiner

As Co-Founder and Director of HOPE’S IN, Ashley Steiner has dedicated her career to service and her love for Guatemala. Since founding the nonprofit in 2012 with her twin sister, Courtney, Ashley has helped grow the organization’s reach and impact while serving on its Board of Directors as Vice President. She formally stepped into her role as Director in 2021.

Ashley studied International Relations at IE University in Madrid, Spain, where she was awarded the prestigious IE Fellowship and graduated in 2019. Her studies—focused on International Development and Public Policy—shaped her understanding of how small, community-driven organizations can create meaningful change in underserved communities. During her time at IE, she also participated in an exchange program at Sciences Po in Paris, France.

In recognition of her commitment to social impact, Ashley received the EPIC Award for Human Success, a distinction granted to one IE University alumnus among more than 80,000 graduates worldwide. The award honors those who dedicate their lives to advancing altruistic and humanitarian causes, inspiring change beyond personal and professional success.

Before joining HOPE’S IN full-time, Ashley worked in Washington, D.C., with leading nonprofits including the Public International Law and Policy Group and the AlphaMundi Foundation.

FORTALEZA LEADER

Katie Rosales

Katie Rosales serves at Chosen People International as their communications coordinator, and also serves at HOPE’S IN as their program coordinator for Fortaleza in Guatemala City.

Katie has a marketing degree from Harding University, AR. Katie received a full-ride scholarship to attend college in the United States through the prestigious Walton International Scholarship Program. In Guatemala, reports show that .01% of people obtain a college degree. This statistic and others make Katie all the more remarkable.

Katie met Courtney McGovern when she was a student at a local organization’s tutoring program called Potters House Association. The two became friends and shared a passion for serving and even dreamed of working together one day. Katie got fully involved with HOPE’S IN in 2018 when Courtney and she started talking about serving young mothers and at-risk teenagers in Zone 3 of Guatemala City. One idea and dream led to another, and that is how Fortaleza was born. Katie now leads the Fortaleza program which has been serving ten young mothers and at-risk teenagers for almost two years now.

HOPE'S INTERNS YOUNG ADULTS DIRECTOR

Lindsay Huegelmann

Lindsay Huegelmann serves as the Director of the Hope’s In Young Adult Internship Program. This program works with young adults with disabilities in the community with a goal to promote independence, develop professional skills, and be present in our local communities. Huegelmann says, “I am excited to see what the future holds for this program. It is my goal to really build the program to fit the needs of the interns and to best promote their independence and service within the community.”

Lindsay graduated from Illinois State University in May of 2021. She graduated with a degree in special education and currently teaches at Plum Grove Jr. High. In addition to her college education, Lindsay has years of experience working with individuals with disabilities. Her love for this population started at a young age as her cousin has a chromosomal disorder and her best friend since kindergarten has Down syndrome. In addition, she has participated and volunteered in many different programs that work with individuals with disabilities throughout high school.

Lindsay learned about Hope’s In while in high school. She was a part of a club that partnered with the organization throughout the school year. Lindsay also participated in the 2017 Hope’s In Style fashion show as a stylist for a peer with Down syndrome.