BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Albana Orgocka Co-Chair
Albana is a social worker and a philosopher by training, currently working for Loring, Wolcott & Coolidge Office as an estate administrator. Prior to this position Albana worked for the law office of M. Virginia McDermott, and for the International Social Services, American Branch in NY, where she provided professional casework services and consultation to over 30 international Social Service branches and correspondents worldwide as well as served as liaison between domestic and foreign social service systems in cases of international child welfare, custody matters, parental child abduction and family reunification.
Albana has also volunteered as a social worker at the International Institute of Boston for over a year and a half during which time she provided support and services for Kosovo individuals and families as well as counseling and advocacy for them on a daily basis.
Currently she co-chairs the Massachusetts Albanian-American Society founded to provide a wide array of social services for the Albanian-American community in Massachusetts. Albana was honored in 2006 with the Woman of the Year award by the Albanian-American Women’s Organization Motrat Qiriazi for her work in the Albanian American community in Massachusetts.
Albana is a Fulbright Scholarship recipient and holds a Master of Science degree in Social Work from Columbia University.

Mark Kosmo Co-Chair
Mark is currently a co-chair of MAAS/BESA, and the Chief Financial Officer of the Mentor Group -- a Boston-based Research Institute.
He lived in Albania from 1996-1999 working as an independent consultant. Prior to moving to Albania, Mark worked for nine years for the World Bank in Washington D.C. as an economist focusing on energy, environmental, and natural resource management issues all over the world, including in Albania. He was a Professor of Economics at Dartmouth College from 1983-1985. Earlier in his career, Mark worked at several Washingtonbased economic policy institutes such as the Brookings Institution, Urban Institute, and World Resources Institute.
Mark is a past member of the Board of Trustees of the National Albanian-American Council, and continues to serve on its Advisory Board. Mark was honored in 2006 as the recipient of the Individual Achievement Award from the Boston Mayor’s Office of New Bostonians, for his contribution to the Albanian American community in Boston.
Mark holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin, and did his undergraduate degree in Economics and Mathematics at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

Vera Gjata Treasurer
Vera has been a small business owner since 2001, and previously worked for Massachusetts Mental Health as a computer programmer, and as a financial specialist for Proctor & Gamble Company.
Vera has been an active member of the Chameria Association in Albania since it’s beginnings 1991 until 1999 when she came to the United States. During this time she was in charge of the Art and Culture Committee and also a dancer of the cham-dancing group. In 2002 together, with a other activists, Vera founded the Chameria Human Rights Association -- a not-forprofit organization, whose main goal is the recognition and implementation of the rights of Cham people to return to their homes in Greece.
Currently, Vera is the Vice President of the Chameria Human Rights Association. Vera has also been a member of the Bashkimi Dancing Group where she performed as a dancer and later as the business manager for the group working on the conservation and propagation of the rich culture, language, traditions, customs, folklore, and other cultural aspects of the Cham people. Vera considers this cultural heritage as a valuable asset for the world.
Vera studied economics and finance at the University of Tirana, and law at the Alexander Xhuvani University of Elbasan. After arriving in Boston, Vera also attended Clark University and received a masters certificate in Advanced Enterprise Web Development.

Katherine Vlladesi Secretary
Katherine currently works as a Paralegal for the law firm of Barron & Stadfeld, P.C. dealing with Real Estate Law.
She was an officer of Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) at Suffolk University, the largest fraternity for Beta Alpha Psi in Massachusetts, and provided community services in Boston, California and Connecticut. As a member of the organization she also worked within the organization to ensure and assist the members of Beta Alpha Psi to find jobs when they graduated.
Katherine holds a Bachelor’s degree from Suffolk University Business School of Management, and is currently a second year law student at Suffolk Law School.

Anila Radovani
Anila is a piano performer and teacher by training and has many years of performing and teaching experience. She is a US Certified Global Business Professional and currently works as a project manager at a high tech company in the Boston area. She has been involved in various musical projects and shows both in Albania and United States. After 1990, Anila has worked in various public administration and business settings.
Anila has been actively involved with the efforts to provide books for the Albanian Language and Heritage School ever since its inception and with efforts to bring music and cultural performances to the Albanian audiences in the Boston area.
She has been an active member of the MAAS/BESA Advisory Board for the last year.

Artan Simeqi
Artan is a software developer and physicist by training. He currently works as a senior software developer for Parametric Technology Corporation. Prior to that, he has worked as a software developer for Paytronix Systems, a research assistant at the computer science department at Northeastern University and as a teaching assistant at the physics department at Northeastern University. Earlier in his career, Artan worked as head of the Physics Department and lecturer at University of Shkodra.
He has been an active member of MAAS/BESA since its inception and serves actively in its Board of Directors.
Artan holds both a Master of Science degree in Computer Science and a Master of Science in Physics from Northeastern University, Boston.

Elaine Ropi
Elaine was born and raised in Boston in a warm Albanian home with lots of love, good food and strong Albanian sensibilities. She has been actively involved with the Albanian Community from a young age. As a young teenager she became organist at Holy Trinity Albanian Orthodox Church and later Choir Director where she served for 13 years.
In a more secular way she has been an active member of the Albanian American National Organization (AANO) in Boston, where she also directed the Boston Chapter Albanian Folk Chorus. She became interested in the MAAS/BESA from the beginning and was one of the first students of the Albanian Language and Heritage School adult class. She currently serves as national officer of the AANO, and in the Board of Directors of MAAS/BESA.
Elaine holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Performance and a Masters in Education and has been teaching instrumental and vocal music in the Newton Public Schools for several years.

Fatmir Beja
Fatmir is an economist by training with extensive experience in accounting. He has held a number of accounting positions with Kelly Services, Omega Mortgage Company, Acme Wholesale, Inc & Royal Food Import Company.
Aside from being a distinguished accountant, Fatmir has been and continues to be a tireless community activist. He was a member of the Steering Committee of the Albanian Language and Heritage School where he undertook several challenging initiatives that helped open the school. He has served in the Albanian School Board and has been an active member of the MAAS/BESA Board of Directors for the last year.
Fatmir holds a BA in Economics from the University of Tirana


ADVISORY BOARD