Women In Government 2025 Event
Unleash Your Superpower
Presenter Bios

Keynote Speaker

Reverend Anne Derse
The Reverend Anne Elizabeth Derse is a Deacon in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and Minister for Community Engagement at St. John’s Norwood Episcopal Church in Chevy Chase, Maryland, where she has worked since 2014. She promotes St. John’s engagement with the community, government and non-profit sectors and advances advocacy and ministries on justice issues including racial equity, food insecurity, gun violence prevention, support for immigrants, refugees and asylees, interfaith relations, alleviating homelessness, supporting the LGBTQIA + community and promoting peace in the Holy Land.

She attended the Episcopal Diocese of Washington’s Deacon School and Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C. 2015-18. Prior to ordination in 2018, Derse was a career Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State for over thirty years. She served in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. She was the U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania 2009-2012 and to Azerbaijan 2006-2009. Earlier in her career she held senior positions managing economic relations at the U.S. Mission to the European Union and at the U.S. Embassies in Korea, the Philippines and in Belgium, where she also served as the last U.S. Commissioner on the Tripartite Gold Commission.

She was Special Assistant for Asia 1993-95 and Executive Assistant 2003-04 to the Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs. In 2004-05, she assisted in establishing the new U.S. Embassy in Iraq, where she headed the Economic Section. She worked as Director for Bio-defense Policy at the Homeland Security Council at the White House in 2005-06, helping to write the President’s Plan for Fighting Pandemic Influenza. She also served in Singapore and Trinidad and Tobago.

She retired from the Department of State in 2012. Derse holds a Presidential Meritorious Service Award, the State Department’s Herbert Salzman Award for Excellence in International Economic Performance and the Cordell Hull Award for Senior Economic Achievement, and six Department of State Superior Honor Awards. She received the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research Leadership Award, the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture Award of Excellence and was admitted to the American Academy of Diplomacy in 2014. She received the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce Award for Excellence in Individual Leadership in 2020 and was appointed to the Montgomery County, Maryland, County Executive’s Faith Community Advisory Group in 2021. In 2024, she was recognized by Bethesda Magazine as one of the area’s Women Who Inspire.

She serves on the boards of the American Councils for International Education, the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem (AFEDJ), Rozana Health Diplomacy, Nourishing Bethesda and St. John’s Norwood’s Opportunity Shop. Derse received a B.A. in French and Linguistics from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1976 and an M.A. in International Relations from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in 1981. She speaks French, Italian, Lithuanian and Azerbaijani. She is married to former diplomat and current Executive Director of the U.S.-Philippines Society Hank Hendrickson. They have four children.

Bouncing Back Stronger

Rose Scotman, MSW
Department of Health & Human Services 		Rosalia Scotman has joined Montgomery County Government as the Manager III for Trauma Services under the Behavioral Health Crisis Services Department in 2023. She has the privilege in leading and supporting a dedicated and committed group of staff in advocating on the behalf of Montgomery County’s survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and general crimes. Rosalia has over 20 years of experience in the Mental Health and Substance Abuse field in the non-profit sector including 19 years in leadership. She has successfully led programs and multidisciplinary staff in meeting the needs of clients and the communities across the New York City Boroughs and Westchester County. She has earned a B.A. in English from Iona College (New Rochelle, NY) , and a M.S.W. from Fordham University (New York, NY).
Dana Bell, LCSW-C
Department of Health and Human Services
(she/her/hers) 		Dana Bell, LCSW-C, is a graduate of Lincoln University (PA) and Howard University (Washington DC) earning a Bachelor of Human Services and Master’s Degree in Social Work, respectively. With 25 years of experience in the mental health field, she has worked in Washington DC and neighboring Maryland counties. As a licensed clinician, she has worked with children, adolescents, adults, and families by providing individual as well as group therapy. As a supervisor, she has had the honor to support and lead dedicated groups of staff. Dana has worked across multiple settings to include therapeutic residential programs, treatment foster care, clinical private practice, and special education school settings. She currently serves as Supervisory Therapist with Trauma Services under Behavioral Health and Crisis Services. Dana’s professional passion is to build healthy relationships that are essential to help the community feel heard and supported to have a positive outcome along life’s journey

Health & Wellness

Amanda Cohill
LiveWell, Department of Human Resources 		Amanda Cohill is the Wellness Coordinator at Montgomery County Government, working to improve the overall health and wellbeing of county employees. By combining creative strategy and innovative solutions, she believes she can help create a culture of health throughout the organization. Her experience in government, military, railroad, and corporate wellness over the last 15+ years has continued to inspire her strive to help employees live their healthiest life while working to improve organizational culture and healthcare outcomes.

Time Management Mastery

Sogand Seirafi
Department of Transportation 		Sogand Seirafi is the Deputy General Manager of the Division of Transit Services. She is an authentic, creative, result-oriented leader with proven success in leading organizations in the private and public sectors for transportation-related projects used by residents in multiple counties and states. She holds a Master of Science in Engineering and is a registered Professional Engineer in the states of Virginia and Maryland.
Melissa Garner
Office of Procurement 		Melissa Garner is a dedicated mom to a preteen and a seasoned professional overseeing county-wide purchasing as the Division Chief of Operations in the Office of Procurement. With a background as a contract administrator and manager handling routine and emergency response situations, she's no stranger to managing high-pressure situations and putting out proverbial dumpster fires. As a "chaos coordinator," Melissa thrives on organizing the unorganized, navigating complex challenges, and keeping everything running smoothly. Amidst it all, she's committed to staying sane, balancing the demands of work and family life with humor and resilience.

Financial

Top women’s financial topics and our fidelity plans

Meg Yoder, Financial Consultant
Fidelity Investments 		Meg Yoder joined Fidelity as a Financial Consultant in 2020 and has more than eight years in the financial industry. Ms. Yoder promotes financial wellness for plan participants through one-on-one planning and educational events. A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and licensed insurance representative, Meg holds a bachelor’s degree in communications studies from California State University.

Lauren Birkins
Vice President, Branch Leader
Fidelity Investments 		Lauren Birkins, VP, Branch Leader has more than 18 years with Fidelity. She coaches and develops a team of wealth planners who deliver a world class experience that is tailored to our clients' unique financial goals. A registered securities representative, registered securities sales supervisor and licensed insurance representative, Lauren holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental economics from The University of Georgia.

Ron Seegers
Workplace Financial Consultant
Fidelity Investments 		Ronald Seegers joined Fidelity as a Workplace Financial Consultant in 2016 and has more than 20 years in the financial industry. Mr. Seegers promotes financial wellness for plan participants through one-on-one planning and educational events. A Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM, investment advisor representative, registered securities representative and licensed insurance representative, Ron holds a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from the University of Richmond and a master’s degree in business administration from Seton Hall University. Investment advisor representatives are licensed with Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors LLC (FPWA), a registered investment adviser, and registered with Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (FBS), a registered broker-dealer. Whether a Fidelity representative provides advisory services through FPWA for a fee or brokerage services through FBS will depend on the products and services you choose.