OFFICERS
Without the dedication of a great team of volunteers, the activities and efforts of BEAN could not be possible. Below is just a little information about the team that runs the BEAN Shanghai chapter.
SHEILA SEILER, President
Hi! I'm Sheila, President of BEAN. I joined BEAN in January 2009 because my New Year's Resolution was to "be more social." Since then, I have met hundreds of people around Shanghai who are BEAN members, who work with charities, or who are just interested in volunteering and socializing.
I am always on the lookout for new opportunities for BEAN and our members, whether in the Service, Social, or Networking sectors. I'm excited about all the new things I've learned and all the different people I have met while at BEAN.
When I'm not having a great time with BEAN, you'll find me drinking Cotton Gin at Cotton's, getting a massage (again!) with friends, and studying Chinese.
If you have any questions about BEAN or would like to volunteer with us, you can reach me at: sheila.beanshanghai@gmail.com
WAN HING CHEUNG, VP Service
Hey all, my name is Wan Hing and I'm the new VP of Services for BEAN. My first experience with BEAN was at an orphanage visit last year--who knew that cuddling and feeding babies would be one of my favorite experiences in Shanghai?
As VP Service, I am responsible for communicating with the charities, liaisons, and project directors at BEAN to help them create and manage projects that give back to the Shanghai community. Through this position, I hope to learn some business skills, meet like-minded folks in the community, and add to my overall experience in Shanghai.
In my spare time, I do what I can to study Chinese, workout, and travel! Feel free to contact me at wanhingcheung.beanshanghai@gmail.com if you would like to find out more about BEAN or are interested in a Chinese/English language exchange. =)
JOYCE ROQUE, VP Networking
I've been in Shanghai for almost 3 years now. I came to the city to learn Mandarin and eventually decided to stay. I now work as a business web/magazine editor for a consulting firm. I stumbled into BEAN in my search for a volunteer organization that would be as socially aware and emotionally satisfying as the organizations I joined back home. BEAN is a great place to meet an interesting mix of people be they from NGOs to business people to artists. Through BEAN, I've made friends and learned more things that's enriched my Shanghai experience.
STELLA YU, VP Social
Hi everyone! My name is Stella and I'm the founder and director of an educational consulting firm. When and if I give myself time off, I like to grab drinks at the House of Blues and Jazz, travel, or coordinate Social events for BEAN.
I hope to see you at our next Social event! We have some exciting business and social events coming up!
LYSTIA PUTRANTO, VP Marketing & Membership
Hi there :)
I’m Lystia and I’ve been the VP Marketing & Membership for BEAN Shanghai ever since BEAN was founded in September 08. Aside from my work at BEAN, I’m also the Executive Director of another Non-profit organization and a board member for an International mental health association.
It’s certainly been fascinating to see the organization grow from 5 people to almost 1500 members in a span of less than 1 ½ years. Of course all of this could not have been possible without the support and dedication of members like you and on behalf of all of us at BEAN; I would like to express my huge gratitude! It’s definitely quite a feat and we have shown Shanghai that its young professionals, despite their demanding schedule and frequent travels, are able to make the commitment to give back and make a difference in their community. I hope that you find the volunteering events that we organized worthwhile as much as we do. That being said, I hope to see you around at many of our events.
ALBERT CHANG, VP Multimedia and Charity Liaison
Ni hao, I’m Albert and I was born and raised in Los Angeles. I moved to Shanghai in February of this year, after falling head over heels for the City while on vacation a few months before. I knew one person when I got here, and decided to join a few activities to meet more people. I’ve always been actively involved in volunteering and community service where ever I have lived, so I naturally gravitated towards BEAN.
As a Charity Liaison Officer, I have established a close relationship with the Sunshine Disabled Home and contact them on a monthly basis to determine how BEAN can best support their needs. After that, I coordinate with VP Service Wan Hing to place the volunteer event on the master calendar. While at the event, I would be the contact person in case our volunteers had any questions about anything.
Outside of BEAN, I enjoy playing dodgeball, cheering on my LA sports teams, regaling friends with interesting stories or personal experiences, and meeting up with friends for food or drinks.
Shanghai is awesome and BEAN makes it awesomer, therefore BEAN Shanghai is the AWESOMEST thing in town!
JIMMY WU, VP Multimedia and Charity Liaison
Hi, my name is Jimmy, I am working at a medical position in a hospital in Shanghai. During the past one year, apart from work, life was nothing but tedious for me. By a lucky chance, I got to know BEAN by a doctor and became a part of it. Through it, I met some new friends and had a lot of fun, what's more importantly, along the way, I did what I can to help those who need, which brought them a happy time.
Now I am responsible for a charity called Home Sweet Home at BEAN. We go there every month to help the people with special needs. If you have any questions about this project or BEAN, or medical issues, feel free to contact me!
AUDREY DU, VP Chinese Relations
Hi, I am Audrey, VP Chinese Relations of BEAN. I joined BEAN last summer and started the fun and enlightening journey with all the nice BEAN members since then. I am currently working as project leader in a U.S. Public Relations Agency.
I enjoy doing volunteering job and meeting new people. With my PR and marketing background, I am so exited to help BEAN develop in China and attract more Chinese members.
In my spare time, I like going out with my friends, reading and practising French and German whenever I have a chance. But my biggest passion in life is travelling. I have travelled to most cities in China including HK and Macau and my next destination is Nepal.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about BEAN or would like to share your fun travelling stories at audreydujiani@gmail.com.
Like what BEAN and all BEAN people try to demonstrate, there is more to life than partying and working. The experience with BEAN will definitely offer you a great and diferent prospective about Shanghai. Hope to see you soon here. Cheers!
SHERRY LIU, VP Finance and Charity Liaison
Hello Beansters, I am Sherry, VP Finance and liaison for the orphanage program. Devoting more to the society was my original purpose when I first attended BEAN’s dental education program. And I ended up being more involved in this team because BEAN is such an amazing team, full of great people with strong passions and warm hearts.
I work for one of the big-four accounting firms in Shanghai. Yoga and Latin dancing are what I am enthusiastic to do after work. If you are interested in either of these or learning Shanghainese language, feel free to message me.
TAMMY KU, Environmental Education Project Director
Hi, my name is Tammy Ku and I am one of the Project Director for BEAN Shanghai. I joined BEAN in 2008 after I moved to Shanghai from New York. Through BEAN, I have been able to become involved in the community and meet new friends. I work with a variety of charities and recently launched an Environmental Education Day series with Greennovate.
I am a management consultant at A.T. Kearney in Shanghai, where I work with both local and international clients. In my free time, I like to explore and eat my way through Shanghai.
FELIX SIBARANI, Charity Liaison
Hi! My name is Felix and I'm a Charity Liason officer with a special interest in BEAN's orphanage visits.
My first BEAN activity was a clothes-sorting party that opened my eyes to the warm-hearted volunteers in Shanghai. Knowing that I can play a part in helping others and meeting other like-minded "BEANies" adds a dimension to my experience in Shanghai that will keep me smiling a long time after I move on from here.
If BEAN offered me a full-time job, I would say "sign me up" quicker than you can say "Sherpas". But until we get picked up by a wealthy philanthropist with limitless 'guanxi', I'll continue teaching kids in one of Shanghai's international schools.
In my spare time I like to keep my creative side active through travel, photography and learning Mandarin. I also like to get my regular adrenalin fix through Yinqixin Indoor Snow Park, SMP skatepark and racing e-bikes through traffic on my trusty Dutch-bike.
I'm grateful to be part of a team that does selfless things in a city where it's easy to be selfish. If this sentiment strikes a note in your heart, get in touch with us and I'll see you at the next BEAN event.
TALYA ENRIQUEZ ROMANO, Marketing Director
Hello everyone! I am Talya, the new Marketing Director of BEAN Shanghai. I joined BEAN in November 2009, during my third month in China. After the first few months of adjusting to my move, I feel ready to give something to society and feel useful. BEAN provides me the perfect opportunity.
As the Marketing Director, I will be responsible for promoting BEAN’s events which are open to the public, through magazines and websites. I will also be responding to e-mails coming to the BEAN account, so feel free to direct any questions to me to beanshanghai@gmail.com.
Currently I am a student of Chinese language in Changzhou Technical Institute. Before moving to China, I worked at the Marketing and Fundraising Department of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Istanbul, Turkey. In my free time, I love taking long walks in the city, discovering cozy places and learning yoga practices.
JOHN YUAN, Charity Liaison
Hi, I am John Yuan, who joined BEAN Shanghai since its founding in 2008 and who is now a BEAN's Shanghai Charity Liaison. I am rsponsible for two events, Xinhua Hospital visits and the Cerecare program, which works with children with cerebral palsy. Aside from charity events, I always come to BEAN networking events, which I think is everyone's favorite.
Outside of BEAN, I work in the IT profession as a Technical Consultant for Global accounts. Six years on, I found myself quite like this city full of energy and people from across the globe. I also run on weekends with a regular running event and have a couple of drinks with other runners.
LYNNETTE MARTIN, Administrative Director
Hi everyone, I'm Lynnette. I come from the UK originally but I have been living in China for the past three years.
I only knew one person in Shanghai when I moved here at the end of 2007, but joining BEAN soon changed all that, making life in Shanghai that bit more fabulous. I have enjoyed several different BEAN-related adventures this year, including donning a silver coat and joining in several choruses of "Brush your teeth" in the name of dental hygiene, attempting my first beer relay in the hope of winning some funds for BEAN on July 4th, pitching in at stapling and sorting parties, painting walls in a children's hospital and selling cupcakes for charity. I would strongly recommend anyone to come along to BEAN events in the future, it's a fun way to meet people and pretty rewarding too.
ROBERT HARTMANN, Project Director
Im from Switzerland and moved to Shanghai in 2005. In the years here, I learned Chinese got my university degree, and learned a lot about myself and this country. Now I'm working for an international company.
My first event with BEAN was the Dental Hygene Day. It was the first time it was held and I have participarted in every single one since.
Since I am really grateful for the opportunity to serve that BEAN provides, I try to help out as much as I can. If we need to buy some stuff, I go get it. My local supermarket is getting used to me buying 200 toothbrushes. =) Brainstorming and planning future events are also a fun way to get involved.
ALLIE ROOKE, Dental Education Project Director
I've been in Shanghai for over 3 years and a year a ago I heard about BEAN. I had been wanting to get involved with a Charity for a while but there wasn't anything that was suited to people who work!
So given the opportunity to set up and run the BEAN Dental health program I jumped at it. We go to a different migrant school every month and teach young kids why it is important to look after their teeth through a series of games, a play & a song...it is chaotic at times, like when we get somewhere and the headmistress has forgotten the kids! But it is always rewarding in the end.
JAMES KIRCHHEIMER, Dental Education Strategist
Originally from London, I moved to Shanghai two and a half years ago looking for a new challenge. When I first heard about BEAN I thought it would be a great way to meet some new people (which it certanly has been!) and give something back to the community along the way.
Before I knew it, I was designing the dental health program, up to my elbows in papier mache making the props and generally making the most of my spare time. I continue to run the program with Allie and am enjoying the challenge of making sure each month goes as smoothly as can be expected! So far so good...
ALEXZI GIRMA, Intern
I am a BEAN intern who was born and raised in Oakland, California. Through my university’s partnership with Fudan University, I am here in Shanghai studying Chinese and business. My major is International Business with a minor in Marketing; my goal is to one day be able to create and direct an international eco-friendly company. I have volunteered for organizations such as Girls, INC and Glide Memorial, and I was President of the association Jack and Jill of America Inc., an organization that helps raise money for minority scholarships. I am currently a sophomore at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA.
TAYLOR ULRICH, Intern
I am very happy to have joined BEAN in January 2009 as a student intern. I am currently completing my sophomore year of college through Pepperdine University’s collaborative partnership with Fudan University. Although residing most recently in Malibu, CA, I was born and raised on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. My major is International Business with a minor in Marketing. I truly enjoy Shanghai and am presently studying the Asian culture, Mandarin and business. My short term goals include obtaining my MBA and Juris Doctorate. Long range, I hope to balance a career in international business and continue to make a difference through volunteerism. Some of my past charity experiences include work for the American Red Cross, AmeriCorps, Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, and the Hurricane Katrina Relief effort. Hobbies I enjoy are tennis, surfing, and traveling.
EOIN BROWN, Intern
Ni hao everyone! I'm Eoin from Morristown, NJ (pronounced Owen- ha). In the U.S., I study Human and Organizational Development- International Leadership, Chinese, and economics at Vanderbilt University. Here in Shanghai, I am studying Chinese and the Chinese economy at Dongua University.
I only arrived in Shanghai on February 17, but have already fallen in love with this city and my internship at BEAN. In my free time thus far I enjoy chatting with my awesome Chinese roommate Yuheng, exploring different restaurants, experiencing the incredible nightlife with classmates, and going to as many BEAN events as possible! I look forward to getting to know more people in BEAN and please message me if you would ever like to meet up.
