Board of Directors
Chair - Philippa Nigg
Philippa was raised in Southern Africa before moving to England to raise her children. She received her masters degree in the USA and after working in a variety of careers became a teacher.
Currently, she is retired and has enjoyed sailing around the world with her husband of more than thirty years. She has visited over thirty countries in her extensive travels and loves her visits to Southeast Asia, especially Cambodia. Now calling America home, Philippa brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to JWOC. Since joining the board Philippa has spent countless hours working of getting the JWOC word out, you can find her selling Cambodian goods at Hot August Nights in Truckee, California each summer where all profits benefit JWOC. A philanthropist through-and-through Philippa has played a huge role in helping JWOC meet its potential.
Vice-Chair - Dawn Johnson
Dawn and her husband of 36 years, Jay, live in the San Francisco Bay Area with Chance The Wonder Dog and an aged horse that just stands around. After earning an M.A. and teaching credential from U.C. Berkeley, Dawn spent 10 years rhapsodizing about pronouns in secondary schools, then enjoyed some time as a freelance writer and principal of a parent education seminar service.
She recently retired after 15 years as Manager of Educational Services and Strategic Projects for a metropolitan newspaper chain. Son Travis works in the Bay Area tech industry and daughter Rebecca is a fund-raising consultant in Chicago, as well as a member of the JWOC Board. Dawn has a long history of volunteerism in schools and community organizations, including service as the principal regional administrator for an international non-profit for youth equestrians. Dawn had the pleasure of watching JWOC’s co-founder, Andrea, grow up and is enthusiastic about supporting this dedicated and talented team in their creative efforts to “see a problem and solve a problem.”
Treasurer - Larry Kurmel
Larry has a career that includes substantial experience in finance, management and public service. Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors of Fremont Bank in Fremont, California, a $1.6 billion asset commercial bank; Coronado First Bank, which he co-founded and as an Advisory Board member of Capital Valley Ventures, a Sacramento Valley regional venture capital firm. In addition, he consults and advises various public and private entities on a part-time basis.
His public service career is represented by various, progressively responsible positions in California state government, culminating in a three year assignment as the Deputy Secretary of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. Early in his career he developed his skills in housing management and finance with the Sacramento Housing Authority and Conifer Developments Inc of Tacoma, Washington.
Cambodia Country Advisor - Phay Narla
Narla was born in Banteay Mean Chey Province, Cambodia, near the Thailand border. As the first son in a farming family Narla had a lot of responsibility to do his parents proud. In his own words, he was a bad farmer, but great at school and his parents realized that they wanted to support him in this. With amazing bravery his parents borrowed money at 100% interest in order to send him to university in Siem Reap.
Narla chose to study Tourism and Hospitality Management, but after two years his parents were asked to repay the loan and Narla had no money to finish his degree. While working at the tourist police office Narla ran into Brandon Ross and learned of the JWOC scholarship program. He immediately applied and was selected. At the same time Narla applied and was hired at Journeys Within Tour Company where he still works as the Cambodia Director.
Narla was the first JWOC scholarship student to graduate and in 2008 had the opportunity to visit America to receive the Conde Nast World Savers Award on behalf of Journeys Within and JWOC. Narla has and continues to work with all of the JWOC projects during his time with the organization and now serves on the board in an advisory role regarding all of JWOC’s projects in Cambodia.
Secretary - Travis Carley
Travis Carley is an Assistant Vice President for CCS Fund Raising and provides fund-raising counsel to a variety of non-profit organizations. In the past five years, he has assisted non-profits in raising more than $200 million to advance their missions, and has had the opportunity to work extensively in international fund raising.
Travis lives in Chicago, IL, USA and earned his B.A. in Economics and German from the University of Michigan.
Founder and Officer - Brandon Ross
Brandon , working with Andrea to get their B&B and tour company established in Siem Reap, was soon aware of the desperate poverty in some of the communities surrounding them. Getting involved soon after his arrival in Cambodia with those in need and listening to the guests of Journeys Within B&B who wished to help he put the two together and founded Journeys Within Our Community as a California registered not-for-profit.
Since its start Brandon has continued to be very involved and the inspiration for many of the programs that we now have running so successfully. He continues to believe in See a Problem, Solve a Problem... and is always ready to have JWOC step in and help when no-one else is there when needed by the poorest of an already poor country. Learning the language and getting to understand the country and its people so well means that when Brandon goes out into the community to assess a need, he is able to talk and listen to the people and hence to come back with a viable solution that JWOC can implement.
Officer - Rebecca Johnson
Rebecca Johnson has a passion for helping others. Rebecca has been involved in many non-profit activities including fundraising for an AIDS charity in San Diego, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, working as a YMCA youth counselor, and interned in the International Department of the US Chamber of Commerce. Rebecca is currently a Program Director for a Capital Fund-raising Consulting firm working to raise money for non-profits.
Officer - Jane Price
Serving on the JWOC board melds Jane’s interests in Asia, philanthropy and organizational development. Her interest in Asia was fueled by the 9 years she lived and worked there. Jane’s Asia leadership positions included Country Manager of sales and marketing for China and stints as Director of Marketing for Japan, Asia and the China region all for the Intel Corporation. Now guided by her 25+ years of business and marketing experience with global technology and consumer goods companies, Jane provides consulting and coaching services to international organizations and individuals. As a certified professional and life coach, Jane recently brought life coaching to Cambodia working with JWOC staff and scholarship students in Siem Reap.
Jane frequently travels to ‘off the beaten path’ places to enjoy the people, cuisine and culture. She is hoping to visit her 50th country soon. Jane is an avid marathoner, aspiring ultra-runner, hiker, and digital photographer.
See what Jane did to raise money for JWOC's scholarship programme by clicking here...
.Toby Ross
Toby brings three decades of experience in local government management to the challenges of Journeys Within Our Community. He combines a career of public service with a keen interest in helping to build the capacity of local communities. His professional interests include planning, community and economic development, and public finance. Toby travelled to Cambodia staying at Journeys Within and so understands the needs of JWOC and was able to help immediately after joining he board by working with Brandon to select the new general manager.
