OpenWorld Relief
About Us
Who We Are
We were brought together by tragedy but kept together by compassion and an intense motivation to empower communities affected by natural disasters. We are entrepreneurs, business owners, veterans, educators, medical professionals, and emergency responders who harness the power of our diverse backgrounds to make disaster relief happen in new and innovative ways.
We first came together just prior to Hurricane Maria making landfall in Puerto Rico, with the goal of getting ourselves and volunteers down to the island immediately following the storm. During this initial push, we built strong relationships with local government, local leaders, business owners, large response organizations such as the Army, National Guard, FEMA, and Red Cross. These connections helped us to determine the most impactful missions on a daily basis and gather information that would shape our long-term mission on the island.
OpenWorld Relief is a 501(c)3 that has developed a broad-spectrum approach to disaster relief, encompassing everything from search and rescue through long-term recovery. We continually identify other groups that have been operating successfully and form partnerships with them to streamline the efforts for all aspects of disaster relief and recovery.
Board of Directors
Ben Watsky
Executive Director
Organizational management, board management, organizational strategy, partnerships, project management, risk management, board member.
- Officer and aviator—U.S. Air Force/Air National Guard, Operating LC-130 aircraft in the polar regions
- Interim COO and consultant for over 25 companies
- Certifications: MBA, Risk Manager, FAA–ATP, CFI, CFII, MEI, Safety Analyst
Jana Stone
Project Director
Project management, volunteer management, local networking, relationship management, board member.
- Full-time volunteer
- Psychotherapist
- Artist
- Activist
- Certifications: Trauma Therapy, Community Emergency Response Team
James Cameron
Logistics Director
Planning and logistics coordination and management, resource allocation, cost-benefit analysis, transportation partnerships, project management, board member.
- Motor yacht captain
- Business owner
- Certifications: 200 US / 500 ITC Captain (U.S. Coast Guard)
Volunteer Staff
Raven Dodson
Administrative Director
Manages daily tasks, contacts, scheduling, partnership communication, documents and contracts, and aids in overall organizational coordination
- MA in historical theology; AA in network administration
- Freelance project manager and graphic artist
Jay Watsky
Medical Director
Oversees all medical and health/wellness projects, including those in conjunction with local clinics, and coordinates medication sourcing and delivery.
- Endocrinology and internal medicine
- USAF trained
Astrid Miller
Events and Planning Director
Planning and implementation of events for OWR including fundraisers, team meetings, expos, etc. Assists in media management.
- Holistic esthetician
- Event planner
Laura Hamel
Media Manager
Functions as OWR’s webmaster and photographer, as well as media, communications, and publications adviser.
- BA in organizational studies
- Search and Recovery, Salvage, and Cave diver
- Former law enforcement
Brian Kay
EMS Manager
Coordinates OWR’s fire and emergency medical services response, as well as conducts fire prevention and volunteer training.
- Firefighter
- Emergency Medical Technician
- Hazmat Operations and Ice Rescue Technician
- Performance driving instructor
Jackie Watsky
Opportunities Manager
Works with various contacts through networking and events to bring partnership and sponsorship opportunities to OWR.
- Retired teacher
- Artist
- Dosan