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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| Laura Leavitt | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | |
| Deanna Daly | SPEAKERS BUREAU CO-DIRECTOR | |
| Theresa Milan | SPEAKERS BUREAU CO-DIRECTOR | |
| Allison Goodman | TRAINING & EDUCATION DIRECTOR | |
| Elena Naderi | COMMUNITY OUTREACH 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
Laura Leavitt
Laura provided a broad array of financial services to private businesses for over thirty years. Then, twelve years ago she decided to bring that knowledge and experience to help individuals, families and businesses make smart financial decisions. After working at Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley, six years ago Laura established her own financial planning firm where she gives personal, independent financial advice.
Laura is a firm believer in education and the limitless ability of women. Helping young women broaden their own vision for the future, providing role models and opportunities for girls to hear about career possibilities and actually participate in hands-on activities that inspire makes a great deal of sense to her. She strongly supports the SAGE mission.
In her free time, Laura enjoys travel, kayaking, camping, fishing and her mini-Schnauzer, Jake.
She was awarded her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration summa cum laude by California State Polytechnic University at Pomona. Her studies were concentrated in Finance, Real Estate, and Law. By completing further rigorous courses in various aspects of financial planning, she earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation in 2004.
Laura is an active member of the Financial Planning Association of Northern California and the Sacramento Estate Planning Council.
SPEAKERS BUREAU CO-DIRECTOR
Deanna Daly
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 CO-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.
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.
INFRASTRUCTURE DIRECTOR
To be filled. Position Details
MARKETING DIRECTOR
To be filled. Position Details
VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT & MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR
To be filled. Position Details
