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CHERYL CHOTRANI
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Cheryl Chotrani is a media and technology professional with experience in strategy, business development, marketing, international development and project management across the US, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DR. BONITA WILSON, MD
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Dr. Bonita Wilson is a Board-certified pediatrician and allergist with more than 40 years of clinical experience. She is currently in practice at Allergy Partners of Fredericksburg, Virginia. She obtained her MD degree from Howard University in 1976 and started her Pediatric Residency at Boston City Hospital. Her residency was interrupted by the birth of premature twins and the subsequent death of one of her twins. She completed her pediatric residency at DC General Hospital and then served as Chief Resident of Pediatrics there, where she spent considerable time in the NICU. After her pediatric residency she completed a two year fellowship in Allergy/Immunology. Dr. Wilson resides in King George, VA with her husband, James M. Newby CPA.

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Wazhma Saidi
cheryl-bio
CHERYL MAJOR
BOARD MEMBER

Cheryl Major has enjoyed a long-standing career as a Board-certified neonatal nurse at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee and currently serves as a Senior Associate at the Department of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. She also serves as an Adjunct Instructor in Nursing at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing.

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ROKAS BERESNIOVAS
BOARD MEMBER

Rokas Beresniovas is a leader in the DC business community. Presently, he works as a Vice President and head of expansion at the State Bank of India in Washington, DC.

Born in Lithuania, Rokas emigrated to the U.S. with a marketing degree from Kaunas College. He began his career in the retail industry as the Southwest Regional Distribution Manager with Whole Foods Market in Dallas before being promoted to Specialty Operations Manager in Washington, DC. At Whole Foods, Rokas received two Regional Awards for Excellence. He also won several awards and boosted revenue working as the head of one of the largest DC stores in the CVS Caremark Corporation chain from 2004 to 2006.

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Wazhma Saidi
cheryl-bio
KATHERINE HARPER
BOARD MEMBER

Katherine Harper is a D.C.-based public health professional with extensive experience in
program development, membership development/marketing, fund development, coalition
building, and governance for non-profit organizations. An MSW, Katherine previously
worked as a psychiatric social worker at a disproportionate share hospital in New York.

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MARK AXMACHER
BOARD MEMBER

Mark Axmacher II is a client-focused wealth manager who brings ten years of experience and sophisticated advisory services to the ultra-affluent, high net-worth and those building wealth through holistic financial planning and investment management.  Mark graduated from Miami University of Ohio with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics.  Mark also attended the Stern Advantage program at the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University.  Mark worked with Northwestern Mutual, Convergent Wealth Advisors and HSBC before founding Capella Wealth Management. 

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Wazhma Saidi
cheryl-bio
JENNE JOHNS
BOARD MEMBER

Jenné Johns, MPH is a first time author of, “Once Upon A Preemie” and Director of Health Disparities at AmeriHealth Caritas. As an advocate for healthy lifestyles, childhood obesity prevention, and reducing healthcare disparities, Jenné found herself advocating for the needs of her son who was born prematurely. Although Jenné had a decade of experience working in the health field, this was not enough to prepare her for the life changing experience of nurturing her micro-preemie son out of the NICU. She wrote “Once Upon a Preemie” to motivate, encourage, and inspire parents whose children land in the NICU.

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ADVISORS
WILLIAM RINEHART
FUNDRAISING ADVISOR

William Rinehart comes to Pebbles of Hope with years of fundraising and political experience. Currently, William is the founder of Blue Rising, a tailored consulting service that navigates candidates, organizations and small business to achieve the most favorable results. William started his career as a political campaign manager and fundraiser.

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Wazhma Saidi
cheryl-bio
DR. BARBARA WESLEY
ADVISOR

Barbara is a physician who is currently a Medical Officer and Senior Regulatory Scientist in the Division of Reproductive and Urologic Drugs at the United States Food and Drug Administration. She is board certified in both obstetrics/gynecology and maternal-fetal medicine. She received her training at Howard University in Washington, DC and Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. She also earned a Master’s in Public Health from the University of California at Berkeley

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Giving the world’s smallest babies a fighting chance.