PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STEM is for Everyone, Inc
June 2023
STEM is for Everyone, Inc Announces Formation of Board of Directors
MALVERN, Pennsylvania – STEM is for Everyone, Inc., (SFE) is a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit, operated exclusively for educational and charitable purposes. The mission of SFE is to raise awareness and economic support in the form of supplies, scholarships, and funding to STEM schools and programs in underserved regions throughout the world. The 2023-2024 Board of Directors are as follows:
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.
Serges Himbaza, Board Member
Serge is an innovative and dynamic leader who is deeply committed to helping others succeed in the digital landscape. As founder and managing partner of Populus Technology, a top-tier IT consulting firm, his reputation for excellence and innovation is evident. He has an unwavering commitment toward empowering and inspiring the next generation of innovative talent through STEAM (to include the Arts) education. Serges holds a degree in econometrics from Duke University and enjoys cheering on the Blue Devils, hiking, camping, and time with family.
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.
About STEM is for Everyone:
STEM is for Everyone is a power and energy insurance claims industry initiative that is focused on increasing and diversifying technical resources (engineers and scientists) around the world. Our focus on diversity in STEM education (science, technology, engineering, and math) derives from the industry’s persistent need for qualified engineers, technical experts, and scientists in all corners of the world where power and energy insurance claims occur.
Media Contact:
Janel Giarratano
+1 610 213 2635
contact@stemisforeveryone.org
Stemisforeveryone.org