These dedicated volunteers work with Chapter Leaders, Service Project organizers, and individual purse makers as a source of information, encouragement, ideas, and guidance. Use the Locations by Region chart below to find your Region Managers.
Region Managers
Meet the Sew Powerful Region Managers
Leslie Unruh
Region 1
AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY
Leslie Unruh was the first volunteer to raise her hand to help Sew Powerful back in 2016. She has since worked on pattern design, Quilt Shows, sew days, merch development, and more. Most recently Leslie served as the Washington Regional Coordinator. Prior to retirement, Leslie had a long career with Boeing as a rocket scientist. Leslie resides in the Seattle area where she is an avid quilter, Lego enthusiast, and a blue-ribbon-awarded doll clothes maker.
Torey Elwell
Region 2
AZ, CA, HI, NV, UT
Torey Elwell has been involved with Sew Powerful since 2015 and had the joy of traveling to Zambia with the Sew Powerful team in 2016. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and is retired from a career in Human Resource Management. In addition to Sew Powerful, Torey leads a child-sponsorship program in Ethiopia for more than 700 students, where she is able to live out her passion for educating girls in the Developing World.
Christe Harwood
Region 3
IA, MN, NW, ND, SD
Christe Harwood is a retired health care worker, mother, and grandmother, who has sewn from an early age. Helping others is a theme in her life. Chris previously served Sew Powerful as the Iowa Regional Coordinator where she organized local purse-making events. Chris is an enthusiastic Sew Powerful purse maker and advocate because she understands the difference a purse makes in the life of a girl in Zambia.
Sharon Helms
Region 4
AR, IL, KS, MO, OK, WI
Before assuming her current position, Sharon Helms served as the Sew Powerful Illinois Regional Coordinator. Now retired, Sharon’s professional career included financial and secretarial duties at a technology manufacturing company, banks, and a brokerage firm. Sharon and her husband, Jerry, have served churches in different ministry positions for over fifty years. She has had a passion for sewing and feels it is an honor and privilege to be part of Sew Powerful.
Carla Robertson
Region 5
CO, LA, MS, NM, TX
Carla Robertson is the co-founder and operator of the non-profit, Dallas Designing Dreams. This unique organization is a small business incubator, offering access to equipment and expertise to make entrepreneurs' dreams come true. Finding Sew Powerful brought Carla another opportunity to give back. Carla traveled to Zambia with Sew Powerful in May 2023 which solidified Carla's commitment to our organization. Besides serving as a Region Manager, Carla is also the leader of the Sew My Dream Sew Powerful chapter.
Kathleen Broadfoot
Region 6
IN, KY, MI, OH, VA, WV, DC
Kathleen Broadfoot is an experienced Sew Powerful purse maker who joins the team directly from her role as the Indiana Regional Coordinator. Kathleen learned sewing from her mother, aunts, and grandmothers. She enjoys traveling with her husband, but favorite short trips are visiting their children and grandchildren. Kathleen feels blessed to be sewing purses for Sew Powerful and thanks God for the opportunity to use her talents to benefit others.
Jeanette Reynolds
Region 7
FL
Jeanette Reynolds began her love of sewing at age 12 when her mom volunteered her to make shorts for the recreation softball team. Jeanette considers her 42-year-old sewing machine her best friend through life’s journey. Sew Powerful has been an answer to Jeanette’s post career prayer, “Show me Lord, how to finish well”, combining her passion for sewing, meaningful friendships with a purpose, and a chance to live out James 1:27.
Jennifer Everett
Region 8
CT, DE, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT
Jennifer Everett learned about Sew Powerful during COVID and began praying for the girls and seamstresses of Zambia then immediately started making purses. Jenn traveled to Zambia with Sew Powerful in September 2022. It truly changed her life. She is a life-long sewer and quilter and loves working with fabric. Jenn is employed in healthcare as a certified medical coder. She is active in her quilt guild, church and veteran projects.
Paula Mangum
Region 9
AL, GA, NC, SC, TN
Paula Mangum made her first 50 Sew Powerful purses in 2014. She enjoys heirloom sewing and making doll clothes, but her current purse-a-day goal shows her true passion is for Sew Powerful, knowing each purse changes a life. Paula is a Sew Powerful Chapter Leader in Chelsea, Alabama, where she is also active in her church. Paula recently earned a master’s degree in Instructional Design and substitutes as an elementary school teacher.
Jan Cancila
International
AL, GA, NC, SC, TN
Besides being the Region Manager for all locations outside the United States, Jan Cancila serves as the Sew Powerful Director, Global Volunteerism. At age 6, Jan received a hand-crank sewing machine, and she has been stitching ever since. Of course, now she enjoys making Sew Powerful purses with a more modern machine. Jan finds volunteering for Sew Powerful personally rewarding and loves knowing her efforts directly benefit those we serve in Zambia.