OUR TEAM
Our Board
Luba Dub, HTX4Ukraine President
A native Houstonian raised by immigrant parents who survived Soviet labor camps and forced resettlements during and after WWII, Luba has played an active role in the Greater Houston Ukrainian community since she was a child. Luba graduated from the University of Michigan with a BA in Russian and East European Studies and a minor in French and Francophone Studies. She then moved to L’viv, Ukraine to pursue an MA in International Relations, and lived there for 9 years. Despite her educational background, Luba fell in love with construction and is a Superintendent for a Texas-based commercial construction company. After Russia illegally annexed Crimea and invaded eastern Ukraine in 2014, Luba helped lead fundraising efforts to buy basic non-lethal military and medical aid for the frontlines. So it was a only natural that Luba helped found HTX4Ukraine after Russia’s escalated invasion in 2022. You can usually find her behind a microphone, bullhorn, or HTX4Ukraine’s merch table at various events and rallies.Denys Stavnychyi, HTX4Ukraine Vice President
Born and raised in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, Denys Stavnychyi has called the United States home for over 20 years. With a background in mechanical engineering from Ivano-Frankivsk Technical University of Oil & Gas, he has become a seasoned professional in the pipeline industry.
Driven by a profound love for Ukraine, Denys actively volunteers to support Ukraine's resilience against Russian aggression. He brings technical expertise and a global business perspective to our organization, with a focus on making a lasting impact in saving lives and fostering hope for Ukraine's future.Nestor B. Dub, HTX4Ukraine Secretary
Born in Houston, Texas and raised in the Houston Ukrainian community, Nestor considers Ukraine his second home. After graduating from the University of Michigan with a bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering and a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, he moved back to Houston to work in the Aerospace sector while receiving a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering online from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Nestor met and married his wife Marta in Ukraine where he also has many close family and friends. He previously served as director of "Ridna Shkola" Ukrainian School of Houston from 2013-2016 and still helps organize the school's annual Christmas Caroling fundraiser.Inna Noeske nee Pantiushenko, HTX4Ukraine Treasurer
Inna was born and raised in Kremenchuk, Ukraine. Having lived in various states around the US, her job in the Oil & Gas industry brought her and her family to Houston in 2021. Inna holds BS in Mechanical Engineering with minor in Business from Louisiana State University. She transferred to LSU from the College of Engineering in Kyiv Polytechnic University (KPI) and International University of Finance in Kyiv, Ukraine. Even after 13 years in the United States Inna continues to honor her Ukrainian heritage through authentic cooking and baking. When the full scale invasion of Ukraine began, Inna could not remain a simple bystander, so she joined HTX4UKRAINE as an event coordinator. Even her two little kids have contributed to our fundraisers by creating art in exchange for donations, or in the case of her 6 month old daughter Ana, exchanging smiles for donations.
Inna’s family and friends are still residing in various cities across Ukraine, some currently occupied by the invading russian army.
Iryna Petrovska Marchiano, HTX4UKRAINE Head of Communications
Iryna was born in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk in the western part of Ukraine and has relocated to Houston in 2008 to work as a petroleum engineer, after completing her PhD at Imperial College London and Masters degree at Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil & Gas. Her family still resides in Ukraine. Iryna previously served as a president of the Ukrainian American Cultural Club of Houston (2013-2017) and is currently an International Aid Ambassador at the Society of Petroleum Engineers' Central Ukraine Section.
Our Team
Chrystia Zobniw, Social Media Volunteer
Chrystia was born and raised in the Ukrainian American community of Binghamton, NY. Ukrainian school, Ukrainian folk dancing, and Plast Ukrainian Scouting supported a strong base and love for Ukraine and Ukrainian culture. Wherever she lived, she found a Ukrainian community. In 2014, after completing her PharmD and residency, Chrystia moved to Houston as a clinical pharmacy specialist in oncology. She became involved in the Houston Ukrainian community, including teaching preschool at "Ridna Shkola" Ukrainian School of Houston from 2014-2019, and dancing in the Ukrainian dance group.
Chrystia's parents instilled a sense of joy and passion for Ukraine, and a responsibility to protect Ukraine and share our Ukrainian culture. Chrystia continues this call to action through advocacy, involvement in the Ukrainian community, and combining her love of Ukraine and medicine.Kyrylo Pyrshev, Cultural outreach volunteer & photographer
Kyrylo grew up and went to school in Feodosia, Crimea. He holds Master of Science degree in biochemistry from Kharkiv National University n.a. Karazin (2011) and a PhD degree in Biochemistry from Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of National Academy of Science of Ukraine in Kyiv (2019). In 2017 Kyrylo was selected for the Fulbright research and development program to study sickle cell anemia in University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. In 2020 he was invited as a postdoctoral research fellow to University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston for studying kidney physiology and pathology. When asked why he chooses to volunteer with HTX4UKRAINE, he said: "The Russian invasion literally impacted all the homes I have ever had"Lana Hetman, Social Media Volunteer
Lana was born in Kyiv, Ukraine. She graduated from the Pedagogical University, then the MBA program at the Kyiv Business School. She built a career in digital advertising and rose to a position of commercial director at which point she decided to build her own business. For the last 2 years, Lana was the owner of a marketing agency (Instagram: design, SMM; PR placements, banner advertising). She was visiting the United States as a tourist, when she found herself stranded in Houston due to teh russian invasion of Ukraine. Her relatives and friends are still in Kyiv, Ukraine. Unable to work, as she awaits her TPS approval, Lana chose to dedicate her time and skills to aid Ukraine via her volunteering with HTX4Ukraine.
Iuliia Avetisian, Strategy & Stakeholder Engagement Advisor
Iuliia (pronounced you-lee-yah), hailing from Kyiv, Ukraine, holds dual master's degrees, one in Water and Wastewater Civil Engineering from Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture, and the other in Non-profit Management from Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv. In her previous role as a Water and Habitat Engineer for the International Committee of Red Cross, Iuliia assisted the local Water Authorities in reconstructing the facilities damaged due to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Having witnessed the devastation caused by the war firsthand, Iuliia is driven to continue serving affected communities wherever she goes. In late 2022, Iuliia relocated to Houston through the Uniting for Ukraine program. Her unwavering dedication to helping others is what led her to join HTX4Ukraine in Houston, and she remains committed to making a positive impact in the lives of those affected by the conflict and beyond.