Board of Directors

Mary Ann Burstein, a dedicated real estate agent who has proudly served the Alexandria, VA area. Her expert guidance and knowledge of the housing market are invaluable to her loyal clients, whether they are buying or selling million-dollar estate homes or condos on the square.

A Licensed REALTOR® in Virginia, Mary Ann has proudly lived in the Northern Virginia area for nearly three decades. She is an active member of her Alexandria community.

Mary Ann is a member of NVAR (National Virginia Association of REALTORS®), VR (Virginia REALTORS®), NAR (National Association of REALTORS®) and a Major Investor of RPAC (REALTORS® Political Action Committee).

James lives and works in Alexandria. He moved to the City 10 years ago because it was a diverse, vibrant and dynamic community where neighbors know and care about each other. Alexandria has been an ideal home for James because the City attracts civic-minded people who embrace progressive values and support policies that reflect those ideals.

He graduated from William & Mary and went on to earn a Masters in Strategic Studies at the U.S. Army War College. After college, he worked with underprivileged youth, leading them in conservation projects to improve city parks. He is a former Capitol Hill staffer with experience crafting progressive legislation.  Now, he works in health care advocacy, fighting to reduce the cost of prescription drugs.

James has been active in Democratic politics for years. He’s served as an Alexandria Democratic Committee Precinct Captain for Lyles Crouch (South Old Town) and was President of the Virginia Young Democrats during the 2017 elections. During that cycle, he helped Democrats win all statewide offices and make tremendous gains in the House of Delegates. He’s also been a leader in the national party, managing policy and issue advocacy for the Young Democrats of America.

Marco M. Cooper is a native of Washington D.C. and has over 30 years of federal government experience as a Senior Budget Analyst/Financial Specialist. Marco holds a B.S. degree in business management from Bowie State University.

Marco became an independent business owner in 2012 with ACN Global Essential Services Marketing Company.  ACN serves the nation with residential/business essential services such as: Mobile, Identity Theft Protection, Energy/Gas, 5G Internet, Home Security, Health Share, Merchant Services, ADP Payroll Services, and more.  In addition, he serves as a Business Consultant with FLP Global, a facilities management company.

In addition, Marco is a community leader, having served as a Treasurer with the Board of Directors in Prince George’s County, MD.  He also coached for over 25 years with private Catholic high school football teams.  Marco joined WEBA in 2021 to build strong relationships with the Alexandria community and make long-lasting connections.

Cheyanne Dwyer serves as the Chief Strategy Officer at Building Momentum, where she leverages her expertise as a trained strategist and facilitator to bring people together around innovative ideas. As a Young Leader Delegate for the Australian American Leadership Dialogue, she is recognized for her leadership and global perspective. In 2021, she was named to Alexandria’s 40 Under 40 list for her professional accomplishments.

At Building Momentum, Cheyanne leads corporate team-building initiatives for both government and civilian agencies, helping them enhance communication and collaboration. She also has extensive experience in the classroom, where she trained warfighters in emerging technologies like coding and 3D printing, and served as an adjunct professor at George Washington University.

Paul Friedman is Founder/Executive Director of Safer Country, a gun violence prevention 501(c)(3) organization.

Paul has served six years on Alexandria’s Budget & Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee (BFAAC) and six years on the Board of Agenda: Alexandria.

Prior to Safer Country, Paul served as Executive Director of the Virginia Tech Victims (VTV) Family Outreach Foundation, during which time he worked with the City of Alexandria and Virginia Tech’s local graduate schools to create a tree grove in Chinquapin Park to honor the victims and survivors of the April 16, 2007 massacre.

Paul is a graduate of New York Law School and Brandeis University.

Rob is the founder and lead Digital Strategist of Gazz Digital, a digital marketing agency located in Alexandria VA, serving business and non-profits both in the DMV and nationwide for over 20 years. His diverse experience covers developing and implementing digital marketing campaigns for many small and medium sized businesses throughout the US and Canada, as well as speaking marketing industry events and serving in leadership roles in several Northern Virginia business associations.

Rob is a native of Arlington, VA, having attended Gonzaga College High School, Bucknell University and Thunderbird: The Amercian Graduate School of International Management. When Rob isn’t strategizing with clients, speaking to or volunteering with local groups, you’ll likely find him on the tennis court or coaching soccer for his two children.

After 41 years as a New York Life Insurance agent, using Life Insurance, Investments, Retirement Products, and Long Term Care Insurance, we help provide financial security and peace of mind for individuals, their families, business owners, and their employees.

Mark F. Werblood, is a 40-year resident of the West End of Alexandria and a Law Partner at Tesler and Werblood. Mark concentrates on Wills, Trusts, Taxation, Small Business, and related litigation. A graduate of New York University, JD, and LLM, Mark strongly believes in being engaged in and giving back to the Community.

Mark’s previous nonprofit service includes 10 years on the Board of Directors of the Greater Falls Church Board of Directors and 6 years on the Board of Directors of PRS, Inc., a Northern Virginia-based mental health and suicide prevention and mental health nonprofit. Mark is in the 8th year of service on the Board of Directors of Creative Cauldron, a small musical and learning theater.

Executive Director George Hanson brings many years of experience in the symphonic world to his position with ASO. After several decades of an active conducting career in the U.S. and Europe, George turned his attention to management and administration, completed graduate coursework at the University of Arizona Eller School of Management, and took the administrative helm as Director of the Tucson Desert Song Festival. George grew the festival’s financial support and expanded the collaborative organization’s list of partners, while raising its national profile through the engagement of major artists and composers. His focus at ASO is to create a solid financial and organizational foundation to support the community mission of the orchestra and Maestro Jim Ross’ artistic vision.

Bio coming soon!

Transitioning from a foundation of impeccable customer service in the hospitality sector to catalyzing strategic financial contributions as a Business Development Manager, Indre seamlessly integrates her diverse skill set into the dynamic realm of sustainable energy. Currently serving as a consultant with Sustainable You, Indre passionately channels her diverse experiences, propelling the sustainable energy movement forward and contributing significantly to a brighter, more eco-conscious future.  Collaborating closely with contractors across the DMV, she consistently sources optimal deals for their solar needs.

Indre’s guiding philosophy, encapsulated in Dr. Seuss’s words, “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You,” reflects her authentic approach to life and work.

Beyond her professional journey, she dedicates her time to volunteer work at AFAC, embodying a profound dedication to community well-being.