Volunteers
Sarah Bouwer, ETS Mentor
Sarah Bouwer began volunteering with Empowered Women International in August 2011. In December 2010 she graduated from NOVA Southeastern University with a MA in Cross Disciplinary Studies with a dual concentration: International Development and Conflict and Culture and Society. She has spent the last two summers working in South America with indigenous communities studying community development and creating sustainable income projects. With ten years of experience as an educator, both in the US and in Asia, she enjoys sharing her passion for social issues with her students. As a result, she continuously seeks to provide opportunities for her students to explore and discuss global issues and then create solutions that, as a class, can be implemented. Upon moving to Northern Virginia she discovered EWI and found that its vision was one that she believed in. Having worked with artisans in the past, she was very eager to volunteer with the Entrepreneurship program that EWI offers. During her free time, Sarah enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time on the beach
Deborah Blank, ETS Mentor
Deborah loves starting new businesses! For over 20 years she was a partner with three other women in a computer training business called ELF (Electronic Learning Facilitators) which helped business people learn to use computers. ELF grew two new divisions eventually – one for network engineering services and one for development of on-line training materials. Along with her husband, she developed a dental practice in Rockville, and also founded a senior fitness training company where they actually manufactured and sold an inexpensive product that was sold to assisted living homes. Deborah’s educational background is in education and curriculum development, and she has been instrumental in developing EWI with the entrepreneur’s Train the Trainers course in addition to acting as a mentor.
Brian DuBoff, Computer Technician
Brian DuBoff has a real passion for small business development and has worked for the Maryland SBDC, Detroit Economic Regional Partnership and the Utah SBDC. He has also worked as a private consultant and has a background in education. Additionally, he has a passion for technology and all things digital and has even worked as a computer professional on the Y2K/semester conversion project for the University of Utah. Brian has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Consumer Studies and Small Business Marketing from the University of Vermont and a Master of Science in Administration from St. Michael’s College in Vermont.
Ernesto Rivera, Photographer
Ernesto was born and raised in the southern part of Chile and as a child moved to Santiago, Chile’s capital city, to pursue better education opportunities. As a young adult he immigrated to the United States where he pursued training and education in Information Technology, the results of which provided him with an extensive experience in Information technology infrastructure and management. Throughout Ernesto’s career he worked with international companies managing the deployment of technology and managing customer services. Ernesto has had a life-long passion for photography and in 2011 decided to pursue this passion as a professional and offers his services to non-profit organizations as part of his desire to give back to the community that embraced him as an immigrant and a citizen. He have traveled extensively through the world both for business and for pleasure and combined with his roots in South America, Ernesto has a great understanding and an appreciation for cultural diversity. Ernesto live in Maryland, is married and is a proud father and grandfather.
Learn more about Ernesto and his work at his website.
Liliya Ross, Photographer
Liliya Ross is a Photographer, Linguist, and International Relations specialist with a unique, multi-cultural perspective. Born in Russia, Liliya grew up in Sevastopol, Crimea and has traveled extensively. Fascinated by foreign languages and cultures, she earned an MA in foreign languages (English, French, and German), and has recently completed a second master’s degree in International Relations with special focus on Human Rights and Conflict Resolution. As a photographer who understands the important role images play in engendering action, Liliya is very interested in supporting the mission of EWI as it seeks to transform the lives of low-income, immigrant, and refugee women in her community. Working with EWI provides her with a unique opportunity to tell a meaningful story through images while exploring her strong interests in international women’s issues.She lives and works in Washington, DC.
Jayasree Tadanki, Photographer
Jayasree Tadanki is originally from India. She majored in Public Administration but her interest had always been in computers and photography. Her background has been in Information Technology specializing in computer hardware and software. In the past she has volunteered her IT skills by aiding non-profits as a computer technician. Jayasree’s true passion is photography. She enjoys working on landscape, floral, portraits and food photography. She got her start in photography by photographing her niece’s wedding in India. Currently she is exploring her skills in wedding photography, and in her free time learning more about Photoshop and Dream Weaver. She was interested in sharing her skills and talent and was excited to find Empowered Women International. She has said that it is amazing to meet so many inspiring women entrepreneurs with great ambition and skills. Jayasree is happy to be part of an organization that helps such talented women achieve their goals.
To view her portfolio visit: www.wowpics.co
Alyson Bowden, Photographer
Alyson Bowden was a born photographer who loves to use her photo jedi powers for good. She was born and raised near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and moved to Alexandria, Virginia in April 2011. In 2006 she received her bachelors degree in photography at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. She was inspired and motivated by the women in her family who she considers herself lucky to have. Her personal goal in life is to help change the world one shutter click at a time.
Devin Joyce, Photographer
Devin Joyce is a junior at George Mason University. She looks forward to graduating next spring with a Bachelors Degree in Art and Visual Technology, Photography and a minor in Non-Profit Studies. The last three years have been a journey exploring her many interests, ranging from anthropology to arts management, but photography has been her constant. She is passionate about capturing a moment that can tell a story. Empowered Women International is an organization that blends her love of art and her passion for community involvement. She is excited to learn from these women and hopes to capture, through photography, their creativity, potential, and inner beauty.
To view her portfolio, please visit www.flickr.com/keeleywoweeley