The Founders

• Sofia Seitchik
  Global Deaf Women Founder
  

  Sofia Seitchik

  Global Deaf Women Founder

  Global Deaf Women

  sofia@globaldeafwomen.com

  
  

  
  

  Sofia Seitchik’s vision is to give inspiration and support and provide the best resources and opportunities for networking and growth.  Her workshop “How to Design Your Life?“ at the Global Deaf Women Retreat last year was the most popular, receiving rave reviews. 

   

  Sofia grew up in Russia, surviving severe oppression before moving to New York City at age 16. She was told that she would not be able to learn a new language, attain higher education, or get a job without her hearing.  She proved them wrong when she was the first of her family to get a job in America without being able to read or speak either English or ASL, and when she graduated with a BA in Communication Arts at Gallaudet University.  

   

  Her experience is profiled in “Train Go Sorry” by Leah H. Cohen.  She will not let any challenge slow her down and is always striving for the best in life. 

  
  

   

   
• Marina Fanshteyn
  Co-Founder
  

  Marina Fanshteyn

  Co-Founder

  A BraveHeart Woman, Mother, Business Entrepreneur, Marina Fanshteyn was born Deaf in Kiev, Ukraine and imigrated to the United State at age 18. Marina is the American Sign Language Certified Instructor, holds dual MBA Degree in Healtchare Administration and Accounting/Finance, United First Financial Certified Agent, Life/Health/Accident Insurance Licensed Agent.
  
  She is a successful entrepreneuer in her home-based healthcare, financial and consulting business. She is also a motivational speaker, a compassionate inspiring teacher in empowering hearing and Deaf women and men in discovery of inner special self! She is a member of various community organizations and offers various training to American Sign Language interpreters, healthcare professionals and community in area of language, culture, leadership, business and health. She greatly enjoys life ambundance, writing, reading, daily meditations, performing arts, travel, connect with other women who share same passion and love of life. Marina is also involved with TOYS Theater, the internationally renown Deaf Russian Professional Theater from St. Petersburg, Russia. 
  
  Her life purpose is to use enthusiasm and persistence to support and inspire others to live with passion and optimal health, enjoying an ambudance in harmonous and loving way and to be the driving force behind her Entrepreneurial Calling. She is among other Purpose Driven Women who are making a positive difference in the world. 
  
  Businesswoman, Friend, Collaborator, and Team player, Marina fulfills her Entrepreneurial Calling by offering a great financial, healthcare, nutrition consulting services, business and other services that enriches the lives of others.  
  
  She is fluent in Russian Language and American Sign Language, enjoys tarveling all over the world and meet different people. Sheyndel Anna is her 7 years old daughter who is also her inspiration and who also believes in mother’s success. Her family resides in New York City.

   

   

GDW Advisers

• Hilari Scarl
  GDW Advisor

Hilari Scarl
GDW Advisor
Hilari is an award-winning director who was selected out of 12,000 filmmakers to appear on the Steven Spielberg television series ON THE LOT. She received outstanding reviews from judges Garry Marshall, Carrie Fisher, Jon Avnet and Brett Ratner on her short comedy DITTO and for her cinematic vision and overall strength in working with actors.

Hilari has produced TV shows for CBS, The History Channel, TLC and Court TV. She directed/produced over 12 short films in two years, including the short documentary PAVING THE WAY which was a finalist for International Documentary Challenge, played the film festival circuit and was acquired by Current TV. Her narrative short SNIPS & SNAILS is a horror spoof that she directed, co-wrote and co-produced with Gary Anthony Williams. The film won the Audience Award at the Dances With Films festival and became a cult classic at film festivals around the world.

Hilari’s interest in the deaf community began in 1992 when she started working in deaf theatre. She has spent the past 18 years working with the deaf community as a director, performer and educator with the Tony Award winning National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD), the Deaf Arts Council, New York Deaf Theatre and Deaf West. She brings her intimate knowledge of deaf culture, personal friendships within the deaf community and signing skills to this documentary.




 
 
• Jackie Roth
  GDW Advisor

Jackie Roth
GDW Advisor
Real Estate Broker
 
President’s Circle Award 2008
Voted Most Valuable Broker for the Month of August 2007

Buying and selling a home is both a very personal experience and a major business endeavor. While the process can seem difficult and frustrating at times, having the right real estate specialist at your side can make it just as fun and rewarding. Jackie Roth brings personal as well as professional expertise to the table to help buyers find the right home for their budget, needs and lifestyle, and to feature sellers’ properties in the best light to attain the highest price deserved. 

“I can appreciate the various emotional aspects associated with buying and selling property having been through it many times myself,” notes Jackie, who strives to ensure confidence in those she represents by educating them clearly each step of the way. “Using my innate sense for what people want and like, my goals are quite simple: to see that clients’ needs are met, to communicate openly so they know where they stand, to assure an experience that’s satisfactory and rewarding, and to make my clientele happy.” 

A devout New Yorker, Jackie has lived in, worked in, played in and explored all neighborhoods of the city. As such, she has a good sense of the pulse of each area, and is considered a great matchmaker of people with property. Her well-rounded background fuels her interpersonal and creative flair, and includes many wonderful and exciting experiences from teaching theater in Nigeria to being a professional actor, touring with Broadway companies and working in TV/film to producing an Academy Award-nominated documentary, “Sound and Fury” in 2000. Jackie also worked as a consultant to businesses and non-profits in event planning and fundraising, developing strategic marketing plans, and conducting cross-cultural training for professionals. 

Traveling and discovering every little thing about a place and about people are Jackie’s true passions. She also is an avid enthusiast for the visual and performing arts as well as fashion. Jackie further enjoys the outdoors, loves the water, and has an overall zest for life and its wealth of offerings. Favorite hobbies include horseback riding, skiing, dancing, reading and watching good movies. 
 
• Rosa Lee Timm
  GDW Advisor

Rosa Lee Timm
GDW Advisor
 
 
Rosa Lee began her artistic career in 1993 in the prominent “Pah Side Story” (an adaptation of “West Side Story”). In 1997, she co-founded the performance arts group “Dangerous Signs” in Rochester, NY, hosted NTID’s talk show “Chatting About…” and was a dancer for the touring company Deafywood. She narrated “Love Thy Neighbor,” directed by Shanny Mow, and also directed the Northwest Theatre for the Deaf’s play “Death of Silence” in Portland, Oregon.
Rosa Lee prominently appears on various DVDs, CD-ROMs, and VHS tapes. She is a featured poet on “ASL Poetry: Selected Works of Clayton Valli”, a narrator in DeafHope’s, “Till Domestic Violence Do Us Apart”, ASL Rose’s “Have You Ever Seen an ASL Handshape DVD/Book?”, “Do? TELL! Kids Against Child Abuse” and a language model for “American Sign Language Video Dictionary and Inflection Guide CD-ROM”.
 
As a teacher and instructor, Rosa Lee has guided students in the art movement and drama at the Indiana School for the Deaf, for Pah! Deaf Youth Theater Camp, and The Magical Literacy Camp. She also worked as a skit coordinator for the Youth Leadership Retreat 2005 in Peacable Kingdom, Texas.
Currently, she lives in New England with her two cats and her partner in crime; she is also Owner and an Artistic Director of Kiss-Fist Magazine.
 
 
 

GDW Team

• Sheena McFeely
  Retreat Coordinator

Sheena McFeely
The M Projects
Born, but not raised in Hong Kong, Sheena’s parents moved her from Hong Kong to Ireland to America in pursuit of high-quality education. Since high school, people saw that Sheena had a knack for wearing several hats.  Being the photography co-editor of the Yearbook committee, an athlete on waterpolo and swim team, and founder of ASL Club has contributed to the person she is today.
Entering college was a breeze, but choosing a major was another story! Knowing herself, she was juggling hobbies and special interests she could not give up.  Photography, graphic design, and event planning topped them all. Sheena graduated from California State University, Northridge with a BA in Visual Communications.
As an only child, Sheena developed a strong entrepreneurial spirit that led to the creation of The M Projects along with her husband. The M Projects consist of three arms 1)Event Management 2) Print Design/Photography and 3) Sales/Marketing. Since then, she has managed 25 events in the Western Region for ZVRS, presented a fashion show by a deaf designer in Los Angeles, and prepped National Association of the Deaf’s first ever Spring gala in DC. Currently, Sheena is rolling up her sleeves for the first ever private affair called “The Pearls.” The purpose of The Pearls is to honor 20 Deaf Women across America.
 
 
• Irina Normatov
  Project Manager

Irina Normatov
Project Manager
Irina Miriam Normatov, she feels like she is a native New Yorker living here for 21 years, as she migrated to NYC when she was 9 years old from Samarkand, Uzbekistan with 3 older sisters and parents. Irina graduated from Gallaudet University in Bachelors Art Degree of Communication Art at summer 2007 and participated/experienced numerous of endless lists of personal/professional & leadership activities/jobs such as Homecoming Public Relations Chairperson, President/Parliamentarian/Director of Public Relations of Alpha Sigma Theta Sorority & Staff Residential Assistant at Gallaudet University and former Sales District Manager for Purple Communications, Inc, and many more that made who she is. Irina loves gatherings with families/friends, adventures, cultures, cooking, travelling, funny stories, action, drama, comedy and romance movies, and enjoy doing the creative/marketing projects.
 
Her favorite quote is The Only Joy in the World Is To Begin!
 
• Ipek Dedeoglu Mehlum
  International Team Assistant

Ipek Dedeoglu Mehlum
Founder and TV journalist for ZOOM WebTV for Europe
Ipek Dedeoglu Mehlum is from Istanbul, Turkey, but resides in Oslo, Norway. Ever since 1999, she has been working for Teater Manu as one of their ensemble actors. She has a 2-year-acting certificate from Nordic Black Theatre School and 30 credits from Statens teaterhøyskolan (State Theater High school) in Oslo. At Teater Manu, she participated in performances such as Sennep og Champagne, Karius and Baktus, Hans and Gretel and Revue Banana. She worked with director Bentein Baardson in Den Skallete Sangerinnen, Privattimen, Peer Gynt, Menneskets Syv Aldre, whereas Hjelp, Vi Får Gjester, Babse B, Den Forsvunnet Nøkkel, Den Standhaftige Tinnsoldat and Pinocchio were with director Mira Zuckermann. Arven Etter Frankenstein with director Lars Otterstedt. Haugesund Theatre:Over Skyene with director Birgit Amalie Nilssen. Riksteatern/Cirkus Cirkör/Teater Manu: Odysseydirected by Josette Mingo Bushel. Riksteatret/Det Åpne Teater: Gul Måne - balladen om Leila och Leedirected Franzisca Aarflot.
She has also directed shows Ungdomsfesten and Jo, men ... at Teater Manu. Other than theatre, Ipek worked with media, as a TV journalist for ZOOM WebTV and contributed in several films on TV and film: 5 løgner, Jul i Tøyegaten and Pulverheksa. She was a part of a theatre project, collaborated by Riksteatern/Tyst Teater, in Uganda and India.
During spring 2010, Ipek D. Mehlum is one of the actors on the tour with Riksteatern/Teater Manu's production Nattgäster, directed by Josette Mingo-Bushell, Mira Zuckermann, Lars Odderstedt.
 
 
• Irma Azrelyant
  Customer Service/
  Relations Coordinator

Irma Azrelyant
Customer Service/Relations Coordinator
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Interpreting Services
Exclusive Member
Bio Coming Soon
 
• Elise Whitworth
  Business & Website Consultant

Elise Whitworth
elise@satdaya.com
Elise has over ten years experience in managing internet based businesses and has a background in event planning. She has been developing and managing websites for a variety of clients, from artists to international corporations, for over seven years.

In 2004, she established a web development and internet marketing firm, Satdaya Studios (formerly HTMLaddicts).  Her virtual business uses online applications and cloud technology everyday, to manage projects, workflow, support tickets, bookkeeping, and more.
 
On a personal level, Elise is an avid user of online applications and social media, using online tools to keep up with her family, schedule, household, bookkeeping, errands, and more.  
 
 
• Liya Yihedgo
  Team Assistant

Liya Yihedgo
Liya Yihedgo was born in Ethiopia and attended Alpha School for the Deaf, in Bole District in Addis Ababa until 8th grade.  She went to hearing high school until 10th grade without sign language interpreters.

She moved to the United State of America in 1990 for a better education.   Graduated St.Rita High School then continued higher education in Gallaudet University majoring in American Sign Language.  


Gallaudet sponsored her to travel back to her homeland, Ethiopia to provide a Leadership Training Program to the Ethiopian National Association of the Deaf members. During her college years, she trekked around Europe. After graduation, she went back to Ethiopia to volunteer teaching in preschool administrated by Ethiopian National Association of the Deaf
in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Her husband, Rene Visco and she got married in the traditional Ethiopian wedding in Ethiopia on the 8th of June, 2002.

Currently, she lives with her husband, having three children: Azeb, Enza and Luca in Riverside, CA.  She taught ASL at three different community colleges before she decided to become a homemaker.
Her hobbies is running, cooking, eating healthy food, traveling, gardening, creating scrapbooks, making beads jewelry, creating cards, home decorations, and many more.  She focuses on encouragement,
socialization, and spending a quality time with her family.
 

The Vision

The mission of Global Deaf Women is to establish a supportive and enriching environment for talented and creative deaf women professionals to collaborate, grow their career or business, and nourish the empowerment of other deaf women. This is accomplished through

  1. networking event
  2. regional retreats
  3. membership benefits
  4. support & life coaching
  5. job opportunities

and programs designed to provide opportunity, enrichment, support and growth.

GDW’s History

Global Deaf Women (GDW) was founded and established in 2008 by Sofia Seitchik and Marina Fanshteyn. They have strong international background as they originally came from Russia in 1990.   

As time went by, Sofia and Marina became businesswomen, mothers, and wives, they felt a lack of belonging and support in resources.

Where was the community and resources that are available for Deaf women?

The founders met many Deaf women who are talented, certified, licensed, business owners, mothers, professors & homemakers who were also in need of support and access to local/international resources and networking where they finally can enjoy the convenient membership directory.

That is how GDW was born.

Currently, Sofia is the sole owner of Global Deaf Women and with a great team who shares same vision.