Board of Directors

Laura M. Labovich, CEO of The Career Strategy Group, a
boutique outplacement firm based in Washington D.C., collaborates with more than 120 companies, nonprofits, and associations across the nation helping them nurture their workforce through the inclusion of personalized outplacement services, career management services, and resilience and workplace training solutions.

In addition, The Career Strategy Group has helped thousands
of job seekers around the globe manage their careers and land meaningful jobs they love. Before founding The Career Strategy Group, Laura recruited nationwide for Walt Disney World, and developed the first college internship program at America Online. She is currently an adjunct professor at the Smith School of Business at University of Maryland where she teaches Career Search Strategies in Business.

Laura’s advice has been featured broadly in national outlets including The Washington Post, Washingtonian Magazine, U.S. News and World Report, Sirius XM Radio, Chicago Tribune, NBC 6 (Miami), along with dozens of others.

Laura is the co-author of 100 Conversations for Career Success: Learn to Network, Cold-Call, and Tweet Your Way to Your Dream Job, a 2013 top career book selection by FORBES.com.

Laura is so proud to be the President of Women Business Owners of Montgomery County.

Narbeli is an accomplished global marketing, management, business development and finance professional with over 30 years of international business experience. She has developed and implemented successful international and domestic marketing and business expansion strategies and led all facets of the business plan execution process. Her expertise includes strategic market analysis, expansion, and brand awareness.

In 2020, she was the President and founder of her own consulting firm, Global EITrade, working with several companies to lead
them on growth and expansion globally and locally. Additionally, she became Baker University Mealman Chair of Leadership and Innovation task to implement the first ever Entrepreneurship program for the institution developing new
global trade and business courses.

In 2015, she became the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Director of International Affairs and Trade responsible for all global aspects of the Kansas City, MO development appointed by the former City Mayor, Mayor Sly
James. Previously she was the Managing Director of her own importing business, Narbeli’s Imports LLC founded in 2003.
Additionally, she was an UMKC International Business and Finance professor teaching undergraduates and graduates on international Management, Marketing and Finance, directed study abroad programs to Spain, and trained corporations on how to successfully expand their companies’ product and services globally. Narbeli also served as the 2013 Past President of The International Trade Council of KC (ITC) and as a Board of Director member for both the ITC and International Relations Council Kansas City (IRC) and other KC key local organizations.

Narbeli’s business career has been driven by her creative, results-oriented ability to work with people in several industries and from around the world. She has a record of bringing positive changes to the marketplace, which resulted in profits and economic growth for the communities in which she worked. Narbeli has been awarded several global awards in representation of KCMO and the EDCKC. On June 2018, she was awarded the first ever WTCKC Go Global KC
Outstanding Economic Development Agency Award to recognize its work in increasing KCMO’s visibility as an economic
development player on the international stage. Then in Nov. 2018, she was recognized by the IRC as part of the City of KCMO with the Award for the City’s international efforts that have contributed to economic growth in the area and have shown exemplary service to the community. In April 2019, she was awarded the ITCGKC Women in International Business Legacy Award for all the international work she had done for the City and the community, and then in March 2019 she was featured by Ingram’s Magazine as one of the 50 Missourians You Should Know in 2019.

Narbeli is multilingual and has great appreciation for the global marketplace. She has an outstanding cross-cultural
background, strong leadership and management skills. Narbeli’s personal mission is to unite the business world by contributing to business and individual achievement, and to increase corporate profit growth while respecting clients’ individual needs.

Prior to Narbeli’s Imports LLC, Narbeli held various leader positions with Cerner Corporation, Sprint, AT&T and Warner
Lambert Co. as Senior Marketing Strategist, Global Marketing Manager and Global Product Manager, and Financial
Analyst, respectively.

Narbeli has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Finance, Abilene Christian University, and a Master of Business Administration
(MBA) in International Marketing and Management from THUNDERBIRD, School of Global Management. She was
recognized for Entrepreneurial Achievement for successfully completing the Fast Trac New Ventures Program at Kauffman Foundation in KC, KS and obtained a Certificate in Business Professional Executive Training, from Executive Hecht and Assoc. She earned a Certification in Biotechnology from the Johnson County Community College (2014).
She also earned a Leadership certificate by the Southern KC Chamber of Community (2018), and became a FBI Citizens Academy graduate (2017). In 2021 and 2022 she earned 3 Harvard School of Business certificates in Leadership, Global Business and Strategy Execution, and received NCBFAA Export and Import Certificates and is working on a NASBITE
certification for International Trade Professionals recognized nationwide and working on her International Economic
Development Council (IEDC) Credentials as a Business Development professional.

• records minutes of Board and general meetings and distributes them to Board members;
• maintains minutes of past Board meetings on file;
• notifies incoming Board members of the date, time, and location of transitional Board meetings in July and August (which are attended by both incoming and outgoing Board members);
• maintain a central document repository for WBO documents;
• manage all WBO online accounts;
• monitor the general use mailbox (wbo@wbo-mc.com);
• submits a projected budget for Secretary to the Treasurer, annually.

Philippa Channer is a seasoned communications manager with over 14 years of experience. She has recently embarked on a new journey as a marketing business owner, leveraging her expertise to help small business owners take charge of their marketing efforts. Philippa’s approach focuses on creating customized marketing plans with content marketing strategies that deliver measurable results. In addition to her marketing expertise, Philippa is also a passionate advocate for time management and productivity. She has authored a daily planner for women entrepreneurs that provides a holistic approach to managing their busy lives. As a wife and mother of three, Philippa understands the importance of balancing work and family. In her spare time, she enjoys meditating and playing video games with her family. You can often find her sharing her experiences and insights on social media. With her friendly and approachable demeanor, Philippa is committed to helping her clients achieve their marketing goals while also prioritizing their personal lives.

As founder and owner of Kharis Lavender Fields, Claudia Tsas is dedicated to cultivating lavender and building a vibrant community around this unique industry. Her journey began with a passion for mental health, finding balance in life, and fostering meaningful human connections. This led to the creation of her lavender farm, which produces high-quality lavender products, including culinary lavender and essential oils, known for their calming properties and therapeutic benefits.

In addition to her focus on lavender products, Claudia has created a special place for the community with the Lavender Barn, a serene and enchanting venue for events. The Lavender Barn specializes in hosting lavender-themed bridal and baby showers, offering guests an unforgettable experience in a natural, aromatic setting. By blending the beauty of lavender with these celebrations, the venue enhances relaxation and connection, creating a truly unique experience for attendees. Claudia’s vision is to offer more than just a product line—she seeks to create memorable moments centered around lavender, its wellness benefits, and the community it fosters.

As an advocate for innovative and sustainable practices, Claudia continues to promote lavender’s versatility, both as an economic asset and for its mental health benefits. “Lavender is not only the number one aromatherapy essential oil,” she says, “but there is also a growing body of medical research supporting its use for anxiety and stress relief. By promoting these benefits, we can enhance both the economic and emotional well-being of our communities.”

Claudia is also an active member of the United States Lavender Growers Association (USLGA), where she collaborates with fellow growers and participates in industry events and workshops. Her goal is to elevate the lavender industry while encouraging sustainable agricultural practices, ensuring lavender’s place not only in Maryland but beyond. Through the Lavender Barn and her products, Claudia continues to inspire others to incorporate lavender into their daily lives, fostering both community and well-being.

Dr. Lopez began her career as a public-school teacher and then administrator in Texas, her home state. She found her way into correctional education as the Superintendent of Education for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department and was later recruited to initiate education reforms for the students in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice by the Windham School District. In 2016, Obama-era Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates recruited Dr. Lopez to build a school district within the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Dr. Lopez then served as the Deputy Director of College and Career Readiness and Professional Development for the DC Department of Corrections where she designed and implemented innovative academic and workforce development programs for incarcerated students and a post-release employment program for justice-involved individuals returning to the community.

She is currently the CEO of Past the Edges Consulting and the Executive Director of Operations for Hand2Heart DC, a nonprofit serving incarcerated students and returning citizens in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area. Dr. Lopez is also a professorial lecturer at George Washington University.

Heather has lived and worked in Montgomery County, MD for 15 years.  She began working for MedImmune in the Kentlands and then launched her training company, Training de Jour, in 2017. 

Heather presents education workshops all over the US; because of her frequent business travel, her first years with WBO were as a frequent guest but not yet a member. The shift that Covid caused in her business landscape allowed her to finally become a member. Quickly she jumped  into the role of Secretary and then Vice-President.

Now serving as President gives her the opportunity to help rebuild the organization back to its pre-Covid strength.