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Our Team
- We're a small group of people with deep experience in software development, entrepreneurship and nonprofit management. Above all, we're committed to the MissionFish vision.
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Sean Milliken
Executive Director - Sean leads MissionFish. Sean started MissionFish in 1999 after working as Associate Vice President of Marketing & Development for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. It was during his time with Boys & Girls Clubs that Sean saw first-hand the endless availability of donated goods and services and the ability of auctions to turn previously unusable resources into unrestricted funding.
- Sean developed a passion for using entrepreneurial initiatives for social good while helping teens start successful businesses. He led a collaboration with the University of Southern California Entrepreneur Program that created the Center for Entrepreneurship at Manual Arts High School, a business incubator and micro-loan program for young people in South Central Los Angeles. Sean went on to co-found Universal Extremes, a California snow- surf- and skateboards manufacturer and marketer.
- Sean began his career at Communities In Schools, the nation's leading community-based organization devoted to helping young people succeed in school and prepare for life and has traveled the Southeast United States building houses for Habitat for Humanity. He frequently speaks at technology and nonprofit conferences about the importance of building nonprofit capacity, the power of the Internet in creating new forms of philanthropy, and the role of unrestricted funding in organizational effectiveness. A big college football fan, Sean has a deep somewhat unnerving loyalty for his alma mater, Virginia Tech. He's equally enthusiastic about his wife and two kids. Sean and his family live in Alexandria, Virginia.
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Clam Lorenz
Director of Operations - Clam heads up our daily operations and marketing. His last position was at Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, where he was responsible for a wide range of projects in communication and resource development. His previous experience also includes stints as freelance writer and researcher, and five years working directly with kids for Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Georgia.
- Clam (yes, like the shellfish) is an avid outdoorsman who loves water sports--whitewater rafting and kayaking in particular. "Clam" is not his real name, but he swears it's a nickname from childhood and not just an over-eager marketing ploy (sure, and the fish theme is just a coincidence).
- Clam has a bachelor's degree in Communication from Mercer University and a Masters in Public Relations from the University of Georgia. He lives further away from the water than he'd like in Washington, D.C.
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Oktay Dogramaci
Chief Technology Officer - Oktay leads our technology team. He joined MissionFish from PriceWaterhouseCoopers, where he was a consultant specializing in e-business services. He developed imaginative, Internet-based solutions for clients ranging from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Internal Revenue Service, and Social Security Administration, to America's Promise and KPN.
- In addition to his professional experience, Oktay is co-author of a book on e-business, Electronic Commerce: Technical, Business, and Legal Issues (available at better bookstores everywhere), and has spoken at numerous conferences and universities. Oktay has also worked as an information technology analyst with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, and a visiting research associate at the University of Maryland.
- Although he was once an avid rugby player, years of profuse bleeding and occasional amnesia have led Oktay to limit his field time to the annual Johns Hopkins Alumni Rugby Scrum. He vaguely remembers something about receiving a degree in Political Science.
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Nancy Chen
Director of Product Development - Nancy is the brains behind our code. She has been a heavy lifter on the MissionFish IT team since before we launched our first site back in 2000. Nancy developed her programming skills in positions with Synapsys, UUNET, and the U.S. Department of Labor, becoming an expert in an array of programming languages, as well as database design and administration. Nancy has a Masters in Computer Science from Bowie State University and a bachelor's degree from Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China.
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Arvind Bhat
Quality Assurance Coordinator - Arvind keeps the MissionFish site in ship-shape by checking that all of the web pages are functioning properly and the information presented is up-to-date.
- Arvind holds a M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana State University.
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Kristina Borkowski
Data Analyst - Kristina is our number-cruncher extraordinaire. An invaluable support to the daily business operations of MissionFish, she helps with all manners of data tracking.
- The East-Coast native was born and raised in Erie, PA, and spent four years living in Boston before moving to her current digs in Alexandria, VA.
- When not comparing spreadsheets and designing graphs, this athlete can be found playing volleyball or softball.
- Kristina holds a B.S. in Management Information Systems from Gannon University. She currently attends George Washington University and is working towards a Masters of Forensic Science: High Tech Crime.
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Susan Chen
Junior Front-End Developer - Susan is the master of our US and UK websites. Her days are spent implementing and updating web content, creating new web pages, and making sure everything is in fine, working order.
- Prior to joining MissionFish, Susan managed computer hardware for Ajilon Consulting.
- When not overseeing MissionFish’s web needs, Susan can be found unwinding with a good novel, baking pastries (mmmm…we all wish she’d bring some of these into the office soon), or fishing.
- Susan has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a Masters in Information Systems from George Mason University.
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Opal Hawkins
Director of Accounting - Opal manages the finance and accounting processes to ensure nonprofits receive their donations. A seasoned professional, she has over 13 years of experience working in non-profit accounting and finance.
- Prior to joining the MissionFish team, Opal handled all things financial for The American Society of Associated Executives, Online Computer Learning Center, and The American Association for Retired Persons.
- When the weather is cooperating, the Virginia-native can be found working busy as a bee in her garden. Her favorite things to grow are roses and perennials.
- She has a BS in Business Administration and is currently pursuing an MBA from the University of Maryland University College.
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Merove Heifetz
International Business Analyst - Merove coordinates MissionFish’s international expansion, enabling nonprofits worldwide to benefit from the MissionFish model.
- Prior to MissionFish, Merove worked at Earthwatch Institute for 5 years in marketing and ICT. She also worked with Geekcorps recruiting consultants to participate on technology-related projects in developing countries, interned at USAID, volunteered with an NGO in Ghana teaching women entrepreneurs business & computer skills, and worked on a short-term consulting project in Montenegro to help expand the country's nature-based tourism.
- In her spare time Merove enjoys hiking, cooking, and traveling. Originally from Chicago, she has a BA in Biology from Boston University and an MBA in International Business & Sustainable Development from George Washington University.
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Hsiu-Mei Lin
Quality Assurance Coordinator - Hsiu-Mei’s keen eye for detail means she does a bang-up job as our QA lady in residence. She makes sure all the site content is in ship-shape before it goes live.
- Before coming to MissionFish, Hsiu-Mei worked in IT consulting at Accenture for a year and half. Next, she flexed her QA muscle at Retek Inc. for nearly five years.
- After living in St. Paul and Minneapolis for a decade, she and her husband decided it was time to thaw out. They moved to Washington, DC where they can enjoy the roasting humidity in the summer.
- Hsiu-Mei’s interests include watching movies, reading, and spending time with family.
- She received a BA in Economics from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN.
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Lisa Marvin
Marketing Coordinator - Lisa develops and implements marketing and communication initiatives to spread the word about all things MissionFish.
- Raised in an Army family, Lisa grew up all over the place but considers Virginia home. Her experience prior to coming to MissionFish includes work with digital marketing and advertising agencies as well as a stint overseas. After spending her final semester of college in Australia, she couldn’t shake the wanderlust and decided to move to London for six months where she subsidized additional travel by working with a creative marketing and branding agency. When she’s not waiting in airport security, Lisa enjoys reading, going to concerts, and taking advantage of all the free goods Washington, D.C. has to offer.
- Lisa received a BS in Marketing with a concentration in International Business from Penn State University. We Are!
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Sara Orrick
Community Care Coordinator - Sara ensures that users get their questions answered and any issues resolved.
- She hails from Vermont where she perfected the art of ice cream scooping for Ben & Jerry’s throughout high school and college and even got the coveted position of Tour Guide at their psychedelic factory. Besides developing an affinity for Chubby Hubby, Sara gained an appreciation for Corporate Philanthropy and her career goals were redefined.
- Leaving the cows behind, Sara moved to DC for Undergrad, participated in a political campaign, studied abroad in Madrid, and then decided to head across the pond to earn her Masters in London, where she indulged in a different sort of pint. Now, back in the nation’s capital, she is eager to satiate her appetite for social good.
- Sara’s interests include exercising skills she gained while taking cooking classes, brushing up on her Spanish, and personal organizing.
- Sara earned her BA in International Affairs at George Washington University and an MA in Television Journalism from University of London, Goldsmiths College.
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Ethan Owen
Director of User Experience and Design - Ethan is MissionFish’s Director of User Experience and Design and works to make our site as usable as possible for visitors. He keeps busy by updating content on the site, designing new pages, uploading articles, and maintaining the overall look and feel of MissionFish.org.
- Previously, Ethan worked as a web designer/developer for a wide range of clients, including: Cornell University, Greece101, and the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Proving that he has both a formidable left brain and right brain, Ethan also worked as a consultant for the World Bank and as a researcher for the United Nations Development Program in Serbia and Montenegro.
- When not working on websites, Ethan indulges in photography and globe-trekking.
- Ethan has a BA in cultural anthropology from Cornell University and a Masters in International Relations from the Monterey Institute of International Studies.
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Jyoti Sauna
User Experience Coordinator - Jyoti is our resident designer extraordinaire. She keeps our site and communications looking spiffy.
- Pre-MissionFish, Jyoti worked for three years as Web and Graphic Designer at The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit investigative journalism organization in Washington, D.C. For five years prior, she was part of the IT and marketing departments at Startec Global Communications.
- Originally from India, she has a BA in English from Poona University and an Associate Degree in Web Design from Montgomery College, Rockville, MD.
- In her free time, Jyoti likes traveling, reading, watching movies and living it up.
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Ying Zhang
Production Support Manager - Ying makes sure the MissionFish site runs as smoothly as possible. Her duties include researching, debugging and finding solutions to any technical issues the site may be having.
- She also prepares data for our business and accounting reports so that all of the numbers are ship-shape and ready for analysis.
- Ying enjoys globetrotting and has traveled extensively across Asia including Japan, India, Thailand, Tibet and Hong Kong. For future voyages, her sights are set on Europe.
- She has a Master’s degree in Computer Science from George Mason University.
