Maria is in the final stages of completing a doctorate of education with a concentration in health policy. Her research work has involved both local and global educational policy issues. Her dissertation work is an analysis of the law governing the child protective system within Monroe County.

Currently, Maria is also developing a collaborative exchange program in order to bring teachers from Afghanistan to universities in New York State and is in the process of having her work surrounding this project published in international education journals.

During her masters degree in public administration, Maria interned with the United Nations Association-UK in London, England performing research and event coordination activities. Maria's research work involving the AIDS epidemic in Botswana continues to be utilized by the United Nations Association and its affiliate agencies.

Maria also volunteers for numerous agencies wipthin the area including: the Red Cross "meals on wheels" program, Southeast Ecumenical Ministries food cupboard, and Camp Good Days & Special Times.

E-mail Maria here.

Having lived in Rochester nearly all of his life, Christopher is a 1997 graduate of the University of Rochester, majoring in Philosophy and Political Science. Christopher also completed his MBA at the Simon School of Business in 1999, concentrating in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. From 2000 to 2007, Christopher served as the Marketing, Communications & Programs Manager for High Tech Rochester, a local economic development firm serving the needs of start-up and early-stage technology firms. Christopher helped start-up entrepreneurs develop business and marketing plans, as well as attract media attention to their accomplishments. In 2007, Christopher went on to become an independent Marketing Strategy Consultant, working with a handful of early- and growth-stage companies to improve their market share & communications.

In 2008, Christopher joined ITT Corporation's Rochester-based Space Systems Division (now Geospatial Systems) as Marketing Manager for the exciting Airborne Natural Gas Emissions Lidar (ANGEL) Services business, a technology services play serving the oil & gas industry and leveraging leading-edge remote-sensing technology developed right here in Rochester. In the fall of 2009, Christopher was invited to act as Community Relations Manager for the Division, building community and media partnerships in each of the communities where ITT-SSD operated. Following a corporate restructuring and reduction in headcount at ITT at the end of 2009, Christopher returned to his independent marketing, communications & business strategy consultancy. For more details or contact information, please see Christopher's LinkedIn profile.