Leadership

Gail Smith Peay, Executive Director

Gail Smith Peay, Executive Director of Dining for Women, is a professional Fund Developer with more than twelve years experience working for non-profit organizations. She served as Executive Director of Crisis Ministries, the largest barrier free homeless shelter in South Carolina and most recently held the position of Director of Development and Membership for the Urban League of the Upstate; an affiliate of the National Urban League located in Greenville, South Carolina. She served on SC Governor Mark Sanford’ s 2003 Health Care Task Force, is former president of the South Carolina Homeless Coalition, and past chairperson of the Mayor’ s Council on Homelessness and Affordable Housing (Charleston, SC).

 Gail is a member of the 2007 South Carolina Diversity Leadership Academy – Upstate Class VI. She served on the Boards of the Fuller Normal Charter School and the Boys and Girls Club. Previous Board Memberships include the American Red Cross and the National Council of Negro Woman.-Dorchester Section.

A former corporate executive, Gail spent over twenty-one years employed with Exxon Chemical Company, beginning her career as a Staff Accountant. She later became the Human Resources Manager for an Exxon subsidiary. A graduate of Talladega College, she earned degrees in both business and psychology. She is married, with one daughter and one grandson.

Executive Committee

Patricia Andersson

Patricia has been a chapter leader since 2006, first in Corvallis, Oregon, and now in Portland. She mentored new chapters for 3 years, helping to launch over 25 chapters in the Pacific Northwest. Patricia is also the head of the Travel Program, taking DFW groups to Kenya and Uganda in 2010, Nepal in 2011, and to Nicaragua in May of 2012. She has been involved with the Leadership Summit since its inception, serving on the content and other committees. She volunteers her skill as a graphic designer for DFW, bringing along 30 years of experience running her own design business. Patricia is also a certified Life Coach, with a background in leading women's groups and other workshops. "Being involved in Dining for Women is by far the most meaningful and fulfilling thing I've ever done. I truly feel that we are making a positive difference in the lives of women around the world."

Susan Baer

Susan co-founded a DFW chapter with three other women in July, 2009 after attending her first chapter meeting in May the same year.  She is a member of the program selection committee and also served as the chairperson for the 2011 DFW National Summit "Catalysts for Change" in San Jose.  Her newest role for DFW is Volunteer Coordinator. She spent almost 30 years in the corporate world of healthcare managing supply chain planning groups, as well as working as a project planner and leader.  "I strongly believe in DFW and am proud of what we are accomplishing in the world.  Unfortunately, there is a real need for the kind of work we do."

Laurie Flesher
Laurie has been a member of DFW since 2008. She accepted a volunteer position as website coordinator with DFW in 2009. With her background in software product management, computer instruction and software design, as well as years of computer volunteer work creating websites, managing email list servers, and database management, she has contributed significantly to the creation of a modern, informative, and easy to use web site for Dining for Women. In the fall of 2010, she started a "couples" chapter with two co-leaders, the second co-ed chapter in Dining for Women.  “I am so glad to be involved with  DFW - the positive change DFW makes in the lives of thousands of women and girls each year is inspiring and motivates me to want do even more. It is amazing to be a part of this organization dedicated to improving the lives of so many- truly changing the world.”

Karen Frederick
Karen has been involved in DFW since 2008 as a chapter co-leader in San Jose and serves on the Program Selection, Program Content and Finance Committees. She has a background in corporate project management, financial reporting and integration, and many years of volunteer leadership positions. "My life has been enriched by serving DFW and seeing the organization grow and change the lives of so many impoverished women and girls globally while educating our own members.  It's exciting to see that DFW is changing the world!"

Jennifer Moyen-Logan
Jennifer started a chapter in 2008 with a friend and since then has been excited to be part of DFW’s growth. She is the Vice President of the Board and is current chair of the Program Selection Committee.  She spent 17 years in corporate management, project and supply chain management, business systems development and recruiting, followed by ten years of volunteer work in leadership positions. "DFW’s mission to educate women and dramatically alter the condition of desperate poverty for women and girls is a daily inspiration to me."

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