Currently, these generous and hard working professional women are our board members. If you click on their names, you will be taken to the individual's photo and biography below. Thanks for your interest.
| BOARD OF DIRECTORS | POSITIONS | |
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| PRESIDENT |
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| Sheila Cardno | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | |
| Deanna Schluter | COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR | |
| Janiece Rustin | SPEAKERS BUREAU DIRECTOR | |
| Allison Goodman | TRAINING & EDUCATION DIRECTOR | |
| Elena Naderi | COMMUNITY OUTREACH DIRECTOR | |
| Theresa Milan | BOARD DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR | |
| Postion to be filled | INFRASTRUCTURE DIRECTOR | |
| Postion to be filled | MARKETING DIRECTOR | |
| Postion to be filled | VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT & MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR | |
PRESIDENT
Susan Wheeler
For the past 20 years, Susan has helped companies define, focus on and
realize their business goals. Before opening her own consulting company,
Pathfinder Consulting Solutions, she held a number of senior level positions
at start-up and established companies including General Electric and AT&T.
Susan and her Pathfinder associates work with medium and large companies
around the world to improve the way they do business through strategic
planning and process improvement. She finds that her undergraduate degree
in Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley and her
MBA from Columbia University provide her with a solid foundation for helping
businesses to succeed.
Susan believes that many girls need additional encouragement to consider a career in an under-represented field. She finds that encouragement and inspiration can often come from unexpected sources. The creation of SAGE (Sacramento Advocates for Girls Empowerment) is driven by like-minded women who are motivated to share their enjoyment in succeeding despite challenges. Through SAGE, Susan hopes to open up new possibilities for girls and young women.
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Sheila Cardno
Sheila has had a varied career in education, technology and finance with
a common thread of integrating her enthusiasm for working with people
and analytical skills. Since 1998, she has been an independent financial
planner with LPL Financial Services and enjoys helping her clients navigate
the challenges of investments and retirement planning. Before this, Sheila
was a senior manager with Intel Corporation where her career spanned finance,
marketing and information technology positions. Sheila’s first career
was in education as a math teacher and high school vice-principal in Victoria,
Canada.
In each of Sheila’s distinct careers, she has been an advocate of developing women’s independence and confidence. Her education career included coaching in numerous sports and development of computer science courses. In the corporate world, she has mentored women to develop successful careers and maintain personal life balance. Sheila is a board member for the Executive Women’s Golf Association, the Financial Planner Association and her homeowner’s association. Her personal interests include biking, golf, skiing and cooking.
Sheila holds a Bachelors degree in Education from the University of British Columbia, a Masters degree in Education from the University of Oregon and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley.
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Deanna Schluter
As a Strategic Planner and Commodity Manager for HP Global Procurement Marketing Services Division, Deanna negotiates Master Services Agreements with values ranging from $1M to $20M with Fortune 500 companies. Previously, Deanna worked as an Operations Manager for a point-of-sale equipment company where she managed a staff of 50 employees including hardware repair technicians and software downloading staff. She developed key performance indicators and professional development programs, negotiated vendor contracts, and identified and implemented new technologies in a variety of functional areas including Production, Fulfillment, Purchasing, and Receiving. Overall, she has 7 years of experience in procurement and logistics and 13 years of management experience.
She earned her BS in Business with concentrations in Management and Marketing and has recently started the EMBA program at Sacramento State University.
Deanna joined the SAGE team because she believes that girls should not only know the variety of careers available to them but be able to see women who have succeeded in them. She spent 12 years as a Girl Scout when she was young and attributes her success in part to this experience. She believes that girls need good role models and mentors to act as guides encouraging them to explore their career options in underrepresented fields.
Deanna also currently sits on the board for the Business Chapter of the CSUS Alumni Association. Other affiliations include the Sacramento Entrepreneurship Academy and the Society for the Advancement of Management. In her spare time she enjoys rock climbing, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
SPEAKERS BUREAU DIRECTOR
Janiece Rustin
Inspired by the individual and collective strength and resilience inherent in women of all
ages in her community, Janiece Rustin joined SAGE as their Speakers’ Bureau Director
in the spring of 2007. Her youth was greatly influenced by the presence of successful women
mentors, but it only took one woman to change her life, herself. It was through the support
of those around her that she learned to hear her own voice, trust it and to challenge the
standards set forth by her community. Today she finds great satisfaction in participating
with SAGE knowing that through her contributions she is helping to continue the legacy of
women supporting girls in the pursuit of rewarding and challenging careers in science, technology,
mathematics, and engineering.
Janiece has been professionally and personally involved with bay area and Sacramento nonprofit organizations since 1999. She is the Marketing Manager for Megaphone Communications, a business consulting firm in Sacramento. Inspired by the mechanics of history, art and communication, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature; Medieval and Early Modern Drama, from the University of California, Berkeley. Currently, she is a fellow of the Riordan Programs, UCLA Anderson School of Management which is part of a larger educational path toward a JD/MBA. It is her hope to become more active in shaping employment/salary policy toward economic justice for women.
TRAINING & EDUCATION DIRECTOR
Allison Goodman
Allison is currently working as a Project Analyst in the laptop division at Intel. She graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Allison joined the SAGE team to continue her focus on promoting supportive networks and developing resources. Her goal is to help young girls have confidence to study in field where women are under-represented and take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH DIRECTOR
Elena Naderi
Elena is currently pursuing a Masters in Molecular Biology in a joint program with University
of California Davis and California State University Sacramento. She is also a Post Graduate
Researcher in the Lab of Dr. Nuzhdin at Uc Davis, where she manages daily operations, train,
mentor, and advise undergraduates. As an undergraduate at University of California Davis she
received her Bachelors in Biotechnology with two minors in English and Computer Information
Systems. In summer of 2001 she was granted scholarship to study and research at the University
of Copenhagen, Denmark, by Arla foods to assist international marketing campaign for genetically
modified products. In spring of 2003 she received a scholarship from Universidad Internacional
Menendez Pelayo in Santander, Spain to participate in their intensive Spanish course program.
She also participated in a wide variety of extracurricular activities while attending UC Davis,
such as Multicultural Night, Picnic Day, Flu shot drive, Meals on Wheels for the elderly,
and tutoring Math.
Elena joined the SAGE team to focus on promoting supportive collaborations with organizations similar to SAGE. Her goal is to help young girls have confidence, realize their full potential and seek opportunities in male dominated fields.
BOARD DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Theresa Milan
Theresa Milan began her professional career at CV Logistics, a firm specializing in supply chain management. After completing a major research project to support the company’s expansion, Milan moved to Linking Education and Economic Development (LEED), a local non-profit organization sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Over the next five years, Milan’s scope of responsibility increased from managing the organization’s workforce development programs to Deputy Director of Operations. In June 2006, Milan moved again to the position of Director, Center of Excellence for the Los Rios Community College District. The Center is an applied research unit with the focus of identifying and addressing regional workforce needs.
Milan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Sacramento State University and a Master’s Degree in Organization Development from the University of San Francisco.
Elena joined the SAGE team to focus on promoting supportive collaborations with organizations similar to SAGE. Her goal is to help young girls have confidence, realize their full potential and seek opportunities in male dominated fields.
INFRASTRUCTURE DIRECTOR
To be filled. Position Details
MARKETING DIRECTOR
To be filled. Position Details
VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT & MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR
To be filled. Position Details
