Janice Pliner has worked for more than 30 years in the areas of adult education and volunteer and program management.   She has a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Arts in Human Resource Development from Marymount University. 

She has worked for large corporations, including Gannett and Host Marriott Services, and for national non-profits, such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  Since 2013, Janice has been the Program Manager at Washington Metropolitan Oasis.  In this role, she is responsible for the planning and development of all course offerings at the Oasis center and other community locations.

Mayorga Organics is our Business of the Year!

Mayorga Organics, based in Rockville, Md., embodies the spirit of Rotary.  At Rotary we use the four-way test in our business dealings. We ask:  Is it true?  Is it fair to all concerned?   Does it promote good will?  Will it be beneficial to all concerned?  Mayorga Organics grew into an international company by telling the farmers and the customers the truth, about market forces, the process of production and how they maintain quality.  They are dedicated to being fair to the farmers who produce our coffee and giving them a fair price for their labor. 

Martin Mayorga (pictured at left) started roasting coffee in Rockville in 1997. The company has expanded and now operates a state-of-the-art roasting facility on Gude Drive.

Mayorga Organics has promoted good will not only in their business model of non-exploitation but by many generous corporate acts including donating $145,000 to build homes in Nicaragua that was destroyed by floods and donating food and water to over 700 families in Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua when disaster struck.  They are regular donors to local food banks in Montgomery County, and they donate time to help social enterprise groups in Tennessee that create jobs and provide mentorships in coffee roasting and the retail business.  They have developed a scholarship program that awards 10 scholarships a year, each valued at $5000. Mayorga has also donated prizes for our club’s fundraising events.

North Bethesda Rotary is awarding Mayorga the first North Bethesda Business of the Year Award for their mission and their success.  We wish them continued growth and prosperity. Congratulations Mayorga Organics!

Paul has a BS in Physics and an MS in and Computer Systems Management. He served as a civilian employee in the Navy, where he conducted research projects in  acoustics and oceanography. Later he worked as a technology contractor for various government agencies. In 1998 Paul co-founded a strategic management consulting firm.
Paul has always had an interest in energy and environmental issues. In his retirement, he decided to focus his efforts in solar cookers, which is not a crowded field. He joined a small local nonprofit called Solar Household Energy, which has been developing solar cookers and managing field projects for over 20 years all around the world. Paul’s work has focused on the more technical aspects of solar cooker testing and research. This work has expanded his awareness of the needs of cooks (who are mostly women) to have better alternatives. Paul joined North Bethesda Rotary Club in 2017 and currently serves to support the zoom meetings and videos of their weekly meetings.