Alison Kiehl Friedman
After graduating from Stanford, Alison joined People For the American Way where she defended voting rights, an independent judiciary, and high quality public education. Ms. Friedman founded ASSET, a nonprofit addressing issues of human trafficking in global supply chain. Alison was then recruited by the State Department at the beginning of the Obama Administration, serving as Deputy Director in the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. Alison is a 2018 Democratic candidate seeking election to the U.S. House to represent the 10th Congressional District of Virginia.
Marla Garchik
Co-founder and CEO of Peace Love Solve, a clothing and jewelry company that spreads awareness and advocacy for children and adults on the autism spectrum; board member of the Garchik Family Foundation and Autism Speaks; volunteer leader for numerous charitable organizations.
2017 Women to Watch Honoree
Nicky Goren
President and CEO of the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation, which pursues and invests in solutions that build an equitable Greater Washington community in which economically vulnerable people thrive. Previously, Nicky had senior level positions at the Corporation for National and Community Service. She currently serves on the Raise DC Leadership Council, and was recently appointed to the DC Rising Leadership Committee by Mayor Muriel Bowser.
2016 Women to Watch Honoree
Erica Keswin
Workplace strategist; founder of The Spaghetti Project, a platform for sharing the science and stories of human connections with global brands, communities, teams, and individuals; expert at helping businesses, organizations, and individuals improve performance by making real connections.
2017 Women to Watch Honoree
Anna Isaacson
Senior vice president, social responsibility, National Football League, directing the league’s social, charitable, and philanthropic endeavors, and overseeing education and training around domestic violence, sexual assault, and character education for members of the NFL family and beyond.
2017 Women to Watch Honoree
Mimi Brodsky Kress
COO, Sandy Spring Builders; board president of NAMI-Montgomery County; deeply involved with Habitat for Humanity–Metro MD’s annual Women Build and benefit breakfast; co-chair of the D.C. Council BBYO Adult FAN Board; volunteer leader for numerous other councils and organizations.
2017 Women to Watch Honoree
Sondra D. Bender Community Leadership Award Recipient
Mardene Miller
President of healthcare advertising agency Harrison and Star; 25-year veteran of the pharmaceutical industry, where she has helped create mega-brands in many different disease areas; a passionate champion of workplace equality and ending the HIV epidemic.
2017 Women to Watch Honoree
Jen Maxfield Ostfeld
Reporter and anchor for NBC-4 in New York City; former reporter for ABC-7 in New York, WIXT in Syracuse, NY and WIVT in Binghamton, NY; adjunct professor at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism; board member of the Center for Food Action and the Elisabeth Morrow School.
2017 Women to Watch Honoree
Kim Oster-Holstein
Kim is a motivational business speaker, teacher, writer, and creator of “Pretzel Power” Entrepreneurship Workshops for adults and kids. Kim is the Co-founder, Chief Inspiration Officer of Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels, Co-Founder, CEO of Nourish Foods Group/The Crave Bar, and Advisor, Chief Mocktail Officer, Industry Juice. Kim was a JWI Woman to Watch in 2010 and board member for KIPP Academy Charter School in Chicago. She is Immediate Past Chair, JWI’s Board of Trustees.
2010 Women to Watch Honoree
Kathy Raffa
CPA; president of woman-owned accounting/consulting firm Raffa P.C., where she oversees audits and accounting for nonprofits, as well as business development and internal operations; board member of Trinity Washington University, EagleBank, and more; past board chair of Levine Music.
2017 Women to Watch Honoree
Rabbi Dana Saroken
Congregational rabbi, Beth El Congregation in Baltimore; founder
of the Soul Center, focused on mindfulness, healing, rejuvenation, and growth through a Jewish lens; former member of Up With
People and former director of the Jewish Student Association at Georgetown University.
2017 Women to Watch Honoree
Dominique Schurman
Dominique took over as CEO of PAPYRUS in 1992, and has since increased the number of shops from 37 to over 150 locations in the US and Hong Kong. And, through the acquisition of the Carlton Cards and American Greetings retail stores in 2009, Dominique has built the company into a retail powerhouse with over 400 stores in North America. Dominique places a strong emphasis on building PAPYRUS as well as the family of retail brands owned by Schurman Retail Group through the design and development of their ever-expanding array of distinctive and luxurious merchandise and unique gift items that combine creativity with flair.
2010 Woman to Watch Honoree
Pam Sherman
Attorney, actress, writer, and professor; creator of The EDGE™: Explore, Dream, Grow & Excite Programs, helping communications and business leaders present themselves and their stories with passion; author of the bestselling book, The Suburban Outlaw: Tales from the EDGE.
2017 Women to Watch Honoree
Ellen Stone
Ellen Stone is the executive vice president of marketing at Bravo and Oxygen Media and oversees the development of all brand strategy, consumer, ad sales, license/merchandising, and digital marketing for Bravo, with multi-million dollar campaigns for franchises such as The Real Housewives and Top Chef. Under Stone’s watch, her team earned the 2010 Digital Publishing & Advertising Award for Best Social Engagement Campaign, an IMA Outstanding Achievement Award, a Cablefaxie and three CTAM Mark Awards. Ellen now serves as Vice Chair of JWI’s Board of Trustees.
2011 Woman to Watch Honoree
Susie Turnbull
Susan W. Turnbull, a former Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party and Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee has dedicated close to 40 years to community activism and philanthropic efforts. Her grassroots advocacy work has taken her across the United States and throughout the world. Susan served two terms as Chair of JWI and is the immediate Past Chair of The Jewish Council for Public Affairs. For the last tens, Susan has published a federal grants information newsletter for Members of Congress for distribution to their constituents. A proud mother and grandmother, Susan has always focused on the social justice issues that are of utmost importance to women and working families.