We are in the business of realizing dreams, and helping others achieve theirs.

The projects we undertake to educate and to inspire are executed with integrity and with passion. We are a committed and cohesive dream team of volunteer professionals who strive to give back to the community at home and abroad.

Board of Directors

Ümit Gökçe - Chairman of the Board Umit Gokce has been a tech entrepreneur for 18 years. He is President of UBG Digital Media, a Seattle area interactive media agency he started in Chicago in 1995. Umit is also Co-Founder and CEO of MedModule, an integrator of proprietary multimedia technology and expert medical information founded in 2000. He served from 1993 to 1999 as Vice President of UBG International Inc, a wireless company operating in Europe. Prior to that, Umit was President of UBG Communications, an early pioneer of interactive multimedia based in Chicago. Umit serves as a board advisor to the University of Washington's School of Business and is actively involved in the development of youth soccer programs in the Seattle area. He previously volunteered as Executive Director of XYZ & You, a 4,000+ member computer graphics user group based in the Pacific NW. Fitness, wellness, and environmentalism are areas of particular passion for Umit who is developing ActiveHousehold, a community wellness program.
Brett Wolfe Brett Wolfe is a product and graphic designer, an internationally recognized, semi-pro endurance mountain bike racer, previously a semi professional alpine skier, instructor and coach, who now serves as a coaching resource for endurance cycling at CycleU.com. Brett is truly an inspirational individual who competes with only one leg and is accustomed to shattering perceptions in all aspects of his work. He is very familiar with the capacity of the human body to accomplish seemingly impossible physical tasks. Brett is an exemplary member of the Around-n-Over board, utilizing his background in sports coaching to help elaborate on the physical aspects of achieving seemingly impossible physical adventures. While Brett does not set out purposely to inspire people with his work, he has been more focused on awakening them to possibilities. Brett adds depth into Around-n-Over's mission statement to help inspire us all that there are no excuses, but solutions and learning in the challenges that we face daily.
Curt Rosengren Curt Rosengren is a Passion Catalyst (sm), working with clients to help them discover their passions and create careers that ignite them. He is a firm believer that passion pursuit and career development can - and should - be one and the same. Curt also offers Passion Pursuit seminars, is a passion-focused speaker, and organizes the Passion People (sm) Speaker Series, which provides those who have pursued their passions in their careers a forum to share what they have learned along the way. Curt met Erden in Seattle at the memorial service held for Göran Kropp. It wasn't long before Erden's passion for the path he was about to take drew Curt into the picture. He has been part of the team since the initial planning meeting.
Graeme Welsh Graeme is a professional hair stylist by trade and to Nancy and Erden. Originally from Perth, Australia, Graeme has made Seattle his home for almost 20 years. He has extensive fund raising experience and an endless enthusiasm for causes that he believes strongly in. He has been an invaluable resource for the journey to and through Australia, assisting with media contacts, logistics and transportation needs of the expedition. His fund raising projects include Children’s Hospital of Seattle and he volunteers regularly as a Big Brother. Graeme chairs the Board’s Fund raising Committee.
Matt Kear Matt currently works as an Information Technology Specialist for IBM in Boulder, Colorado. "Software is a Team Sport" is the motto that he uses to enable customers to understand and then to maximize their potential for success. When he is not working, he likes to spend time with his wife Kate and dog Jake. As a former mountain guide, Matt helped his clients realize the importance of the journey itself to the summit. He enjoys living an active life, and demonstrates his great appreciation for the environment by participating in multiple conservation projects. Matt clearly believes that there are no limitations in life; that opening our minds to the possibility is the first step in realizing our potential in both mind and body. His expertise in leading teams, resource utilization, and relationship development will directly empower Around-n-Over to achieve its goals of human powered endeavors.
Nancy Board Nancy Board is Vice President of International Business Development at PPC Worldwide, a global provider of employee assistance programs, based in England. She also presents leadership and personal development programs through Insight Dynamics, where she is a founding co-director. For over 15 years, Nancy has consulted and trained on issues related to leadership and service, workplace violence prevention, conflict management, and health and productivity. She has further used her expertise in leadership development and strategic planning to guide not-for-profit boards of directors. As a widely respected leader and facilitator, Nancy also delivers training programs for Woman Within International across the USA, Canada, Australia, and South Africa. Her primary passion is helping women be their own best friend and find meaning and fulfillment in their lives and careers. With her endless enthusiasm and energy, Nancy enjoys the outdoors through rock climbing, hiking, bicycling, and travel. As a founding member of our Board of Directors, Nancy's contributions to Around-n-Over have been indispensable.
Brad Vickers Brad Vickers is the Assistant Boat Show Director at the Northwest Marine Trade Association. He is a member of the Seattle-based OAR Northwest team that rowed across the North Atlantic in the summer of 2006. During the course of preparing for this ocean row, Brad found inspiration in the determination, knowledge and passion Erden shares in his quest to complete the circumnavigation. Brad hopes to contribute to Around-n-Over by drawing upon the knowledge of his own ocean rowing expedition and event planning experience. In addition, Brad is able to connect with a network of businesses and individuals in the Northwest marine community. In his spare time, Brad enjoys sailing, hiking, rock climbing and intense games of backgammon. Brad grew up in Santa Barbara, CA and moved to the Northwest to attend the University of Puget Sound. He majored in International Political Economy and rowed on the crew team for all four years.

Officers

Ellen Hecht Ellen Hecht is the president of Whole World Journeys LLC, a company which assists non-profits to optimize their fund raising and outreach opportunities through intentional travel and full-circle partnerships in the global community. Her passion to facilitate connections between cultures, and to help people achieve balance in their lives, has been a lifelong quest of hers. Orchestrating the fine details of international expeditions for over 20 years -whether it be ice breaker expeditions to the North Pole or private jet sojourns around the world- her expertise has taken her far and given her great insight into the ways of the world's cultures. In addition, her prior non-profit board membership has served to expand her expertise in the areas of marketing and PR. Ellen enjoys sailing, skiing, rowing, gardening and tarot card reading. Ellen's passion to lead people to uncover new and exciting parts of themselves, is what attracted her to become involved in the Around-n-Over team. Her primary goal here is to get the word out to the world to take notice of the mission which defines Around-n-Over.

Ronnie Henderson Ronnie is a Private Banker at Fortune Bank in Seattle. With his 11 years of banking experience, Ronnie hopes to add value to Around-n-Over as their treasurer, and assist in fund raising to support this mission of inspiring everyone, young and old. He had the pleasure of meeting Erden and Nancy in early 2007, and instantly felt captivated by their spirit and inspired by their goals. In his spare time, Ronnie loves to travel, paint, and enjoys everything that Seattle has to offer. He comes from a small town in North Carolina, but now calls Seattle his home.

Erden Eruç A former Software Developer, Project Manager and Mechanical Engineer by training, Erden found the confines of the corporate work environment and the cubicle life too binding to take over as his life's work. Using his mind AND his body has now become the way for him to have a greater impact in the world. The name "Around-n-Over" first germinated in Erden's mind while daydreaming in his cubicle about a human powered circumnavigation of the world. The route would have taken him over the top of Everest: up one side then down the other... That simple concept had remained with Erden until it was time to lay the foundation for his dreams by incorporating Around-n-Over as a non-profit organization. Through our 501(c)(3) status, we will serve to make the world a better place, and to make the journey a part of the lives of many children that will be touched by it. As the President of Around-n-Over, Erden shoulders the responsibility to ensure that the projects we undertake to educate and to inspire are executed with integrity and with passion, and that we become a cohesive dream team of volunteer professionals who strive to give back to the community at home and abroad.

Legal Counsel

Christopher S. Beer Christopher S. Beer is the founder and managing partner of Ironmark Law Group, PLLC. A resident of Seattle, Chris provides legal services and counsel for small to mid-size companies, creatives and other lawyers in the areas of intellectual property (copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets) and corporate law. Chris is well known his valuable community and nonprofit work. Chris is a firm believer in giving back to the world through his passion and his talents. A former collegiate rower and a regular soccer player, he is the Legal Counsel for Around-n-Over. Best advice that Chris gave us was: "Surround yourself with good people, and the dream will take care of itself!"

Book-keeping support

Naoko Oguchi Naoko currently works as a bookkeeper and an administrator for Northwest Family Development Center, which is a non-profit group for psychologists, psychoanalysts, and therapists dedicated to clinical training, research and service provision. She is inspired by the mission of educating and inspiring children around the world through the achievement of human powered endeavors. Knowledgeable in QuickBooks, Naoko ensures that our books are up-to-date. Naoko is an accomplished dancer, specializing in tango and Latin dances.

Strategic Support in Turkey

Murat Kaan Güneri The career mission of Murat Kaan Güneri is to help his clients reach their business goals by delivering them quality services in high level executive search by employing ethical and world standard industry principles. Güneri established the executive search firm MKG & Partners in mid 2002 with the goal of making a difference in the 21st century by locating capable managers for his clients. Güneri believes in the importance of giving back to the society outside of work hours; he is a founding member for the Turkish Ethical Values Center (TEDMER) and for the Boğaziçi University and Robert College Alumni Association of Industrialists and Businessmen (BRM). He also serves as a board member of BRM, TEDMER and TEDMER Economic Initiatives, and is a member of the Boğaziçi University Alumni Association. Valuing work-life balance, Güneri actively spends his free time enjoying tennis, squash, racketball, and outdoor activities. Güneri offers us his expertise in finding resources in Turkey. A former track and field teammate from college days, he has been an enthusiastic supporter of Erden's. He was the one to introduce us to the fine team at Marjinal Marketing Communications without whose help we would be unnoticed in Turkey.