Board of Directors

Patricia Smith Melton
Founder and Chairperson, Peace X Peace

Ms. Smith Melton is a poet, playwright, and photographer with more than 30 years of experience in the arts. Her book Sixty Years, Sixty Women, celebrating the diversity and power of the women of Israel/Palestine, will be published in 2008. She produced and co-directed the award-winning 2003 documentary PEACE BY PEACE: Women on the Frontlines, which highlights the often invisible work of women around the world in building the components of sustainable peace. With her husband, William Melton, she is co-founder of the Melton International Education Foundation.

William J. Bethune, Esq.
Of Counsel, Pepper Hamilton LLP
.1203 – Direct
202.478.2118 – Fax
bethunew@pepperlaw.com

Bill Bethune is of counsel in the Washington, DC office of Pepper Hamilton LLP. He concentrates in commercial litigation and transactions, including entity formation and governance, strategic alliances, intellectual property, business torts and employment. As the pro bono coordinator of Pepper’s DC office, he is actively involved in many nonprofits and public charities.

Angela Fox
President, Crystal City Business Improvement District

Hired as the first President/CEO for the Crystal City Business Improvement District (BID) in November 2006, Angela Fox brought with her more than 15 years of strategic leadership, marketing, and project management expertise. Before joining BID she was Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer for Cultural Tourism DC. She graduated with highest honors in electrical engineering from Georgia Tech, where she is now a Board member, and had a successful corporate career before turning to nonprofits.

Gail Montplaisir
President, Taurus Enterprise Group, Inc.

Ms. Montplaisir is an experienced developer and contractor responsible for developing over 2,000 condominium units in Chicago, Florida, and Washington, DC, where she has revitalized neighborhoods once in decline. She is a published author and speaker on environmental issues related to construction and a member of the Building Code Advisory Committee, a mayoral appointment. Taurus Renovation is a member of the Green Building Council.

Dr. Fatima Nazar
Cultural Attaché, Cultural Office of the Kuwait Embassy

As Cultural Attaché, Dr. Nazar looks out for the well-being of her nation's undergraduate students in the US. Earlier she was an Associate Professor at Kuwait University College of Education, where she was honored for Outstanding Teaching in the academic year 2001-2002. She has served with numerous committees and organizations in Kuwait and internationally, including The Japan - Kuwait Cultural Dialogue, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and the World Organization for Young Children. Her primary interests are the social/cultural aspects of education, early childhood studies, women's studies, and volunteerism. She earned a Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Miami, Florida in 1989.

Dr. Sallama Shaker
Ambassador, Arab Republic of Egypt

Ambassador Sallama Shaker is Egypt's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Cultural, Educational Relations, Technical Cooperation, and Dialogue. Earlier, she was ambassador to Canada and held several positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and numerous other diplomatic and government posts. She holds two Masters Degrees and earned a Ph.D. in International Development from American University in Washington, DC. Dr. Shaker is fluent in Arabic, English, French, Turkish and Maltese.

Trevor Shonfeld
CEO, Roundpoint

Trevor has nearly 30 years of experience in communications, television, and media markets. Before founding Roundpoint, he served as Senior Consultant to Cambridge Consultants Limited, World Color Press (now part of Quebecor, Inc.), and other media companies in the US and the UK. Trevor also held the Chairmanship with Ketchum-Brunning International and the CEO position of Brunning Group PLC. He has led the Roundpoint team over the last 5 years, from conception through today.