Janel Giarratano, Executive Director

Janel is the President, and owner of a US-based forensic engineering company called Forte Consulting and Investigations. A lifelong advocate of equal opportunity, Janel has served on the Board of Directors for ImPAct (Pennsylvania-based education initiative), the National Association of Insurance Women, and she both founded and directed Women in Claims.  As a leader in forensic engineering, Janel has borne witness to the substantial lack of diversity across race, gender, and orientation in the fields of science and engineering.  In the interest of being the change you wish to see, Janel founded STEM Is for Everyone, Inc and holds the volunteer position of Executive Director, reporting to the Board of Directors.

Marguerite Hart, Secretary

Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Marguerite has practiced accounting for over 30 years and is a partner with the global firm, MDD Forensic Accountants.   She holds the volunteer position of Board Secretary.  Marguerite’s first-hand experience in providing education to the underserved began whilst living in Namibia for 6 years.  During this time she helped raise funding and oversaw the logistics of opening and running a school for children in Walvis Bay, Namibia.  Marguerite is also an avid beekeeper and sits on the Board of Directors for Burgh Bees, a Pittsburgh based not-for-profit, whose mission is to promote beekeeping and provide educational bee awareness.

Victor Benjamin, Board Member

Victor is a Director at Williams Pitt International and a leading insurance loss adjuster for Lloyds across the globe, with a special focus on loss occurrences in Africa.  His interest in helping those less fortunate than himself stems from his experiences as a young man, born and raised in Sierra Leone.  Victor studied mechanical engineering and applies his technical knowledge to his work as a loss adjuster.  He has served on the steering committee for the 2023 STEM is for Everyone fundraiser event.  He is an avid photographer and an advocate of equal opportunity for all.

Christi Bechtold, Treasurer

Based in Whitefish, Montana, Christi is an accountant with the global forensic accounting firm, MDD.  Christi serves in the volunteer role as Board Treasurer.  She is an advocate of equal opportunity for children around the world with a specific focus on adolescent girls and young women.  She also serves on the board of directors for MAIA, an all-girls school based in Solola’, Guatemala.  Young female graduates from the MAIA school have gone on to receive scholarships for higher education at colleges and universities, not only in Guatemala, but also in the United States of America.