Katie Winterbottom
Interim Executive Director
Katie received her BA in African and African-American Studies from Dartmouth College in 2004. She then enjoyed the honor of serving as a post-graduate fellow in Accra, Ghana in 2005, where she worked to build a computer education program in a government school. Before coming to Grassroots.org, Katie worked as the Marketing Coordinator at the Ohio Community Computing Network as a member of the Americorps Vista program. Starting at Grassroots.org nearly 2 years ago she is now the Interim Executive Director.
Back when she had free time, Katie enjoyed a long weekend hike and a good podcast of This American Life.
Mickey Panayiotakis
IT Lead
Mickey stays awake at night dreaming of a community where non- profits, donors, and volunteers connect. He leads the GR development team with the ultimate goal of realizing this vision. For about a decade erstwhile, Mickey led NTT/Verio in building, operating, and managing their East Coast Network.
When not making the world a better place, he and his dog sail the Chesapeake bay and beyond, or trudge along the Appalachian mountains, or find some other Suitable Adventure.
Mary Galeti
Director of Development and Strategy
Mary Galeti has always wanted to make the world a better place. After graduating from Kent State in 2005, she hit the road, serving a number of political candidates for office. Deciding she would like a job that kept normal hours, she joined the Grassroots.org team as the Program Manager. Now she is excited to be the Director of Development and Strategy.
Mary believes in the great American road trip, and the great European backpack. When she can, she loves to enjoy a nice glass of wine and some snobby cheese. She is also a sucker for getting lost in an art museum, taking a nice nap, or watching a good film.
Sura Hart
Program Manager
Sura is a recent graduate of the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She was born and raised in a suburb of L.A. and is now living in Brooklyn, New York. During her years of higher education she had a couple internships including one for a non-profit finance company and a few others in campaigning. Since all of that ended, life has taken her to New York where she started as the Outreach Coordinator for Grassroots.org. She is still ecstatic to be in the Big Apple and even more to be the Program Manager for Grassroots.org!
When not on the job Sura enjoys a good existential author, French film, or night on the town...not to mention an excellent bike ride or walk through the park. She is still learning what snow is really all about.
Laura Benack
Development and Outreach Coordinator
Laura is the new Development and Outreach Coordinator and will be serving as an Americorps CTC VISTA this year. In May, Laura graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a BA in International Relations and French. Her prior experience working for a non-profit was a positive one that inspired Laura to continue on the path towards a career in the field. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, she is very excited to be working for the Grassroots.org team in New York City!
Laura plays the piano and comes from a family of musicians. She enjoys Japanese food and lives vicariously through Anthony Bourdain's adventures on the Travel channel.
Karl Otto
Web Projects Coordinator
Karl is the new web development VISTA this year. A jack of all trades by nature (especially with regards to computers), he is ready to try his hand at being a part of an online catalyst for social change.
Originally from the outskirts of Pittsburgh, Karl now calls the city of Chicago his home. His interests include kung fu cinema, travel anywhere and everywhere, cycling, cooking, and discovering the nuances of the midwestern jewel known as 'Chicago.'
Vinita Alex
Communications Intern
Vinita Alex is currently serving as a communications intern here at Grassroots.org. Vinita is a masters degree candidate studying Communications at Rutgers University in New Jersey. She completed her undergraduate education at the Indian Institute of Mass Communications in New Dehli and the University of Kerala in Trevandrum. Vinita has worked in various advertising agencies in India and Dubai (UAE) both in the marketing and creative departments.
Vinita’s experience in the Arab-speaking world, the USA, and India have given her a well-rounded perspective on communications, which she believes can go beyond “salesmanship in print.” Vinita’s goal is to bring her past work experience and academic credentials to work for full-time for a nonprofit organization; she believes this will be a far more satisfying than a lucrative career in the corporate world.
During her spare time Vinita volunteers as a communications consultant for other nonprofit organizations in India. She also loves reading (Arundhati Roy and Patricia Cornwell being her favorites) and enjoys watching movies especially thrillers (the murkier, the better). She currently resides in NJ.
