LEADERS & CHANGE MAKERS

A native Western New Yorker, Sheri is honored to have joined the WNY Women's Foundation in January 2014.

A tireless advocate for girls and women with over 30 years of experience leading and growing nonprofit organizations, Sheri volunteers her time to serve on the Board of Directors of SEFCU and the Gay and Lesbian Youth Services of WNY, as well as the Steering Committee of Save WNYCPC, Russell Sage College Annual Fund, and as a member of Leadership Buffalo.

Sheri is a licensed physical therapist (Russell Sage College), earned an M.S. Executive Leader degree in health systems administration (Rochester Institute of Technology) and has an advanced post-graduate certificate in palliative care (The Sage Colleges).

She is currently in the Health Foundation of WCNY Health Leader Fellowship and Trauma Informed Champion programs. Former roles include: Director of Cancer Services for the NYS Department of Health/Centers for Disease Prevention and Control; President/CEO of Gilda's Club Capital Region; Chief Development Officer at Bellevue Women's Hospital; VP/COO WNY Physical & Occupational Therapy Group; and Senior Administrator-Surgical Oncology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

As a women's college graduate and mother of twins, Ms. Scavone is passionate about harnessing the incredible resources of women to strengthen our community.

sheri@wnywfdn.org

Suzanne D'Amico is proud to make the WNY Women's Foundation the next chapter of her nonprofit career of 12-plus years.

With a strong background in event planning and donor relations, Suzanne has helped successfully organize events to prioritize community building and growth. Her passion for educating parents and adolescents first manifested in her role as the North East Regional Walk Coordinator for the Hearing Loss Association of America. She later had the opportunity to use her skills to promote community education and awareness as the Director of Development for Kids Escaping Drugs.

Although Suzanne's educational background doesn't appear to lend itself to service work, her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Voice from Carnegie Mellon University shaped her ability to perform well under pressure and remain confident in high-stakes scenarios. As a beloved piano teacher, it is important to Suzanne to foster a love of music in today's youth. She continues to share her joy for music as Musical Director for MoonMaxx Productions.

Suzanne resides with her husband of 25 years, John, and has proudly raised two daughters who attend Bentley University and the University of Connecticut. She looks forward to furthering the mission of the WNY Women's Foundation alongside its incredible team.

suzanne@wnywfdn.org

Kailey is excited to join the WNY Women's Foundation as the Women's Economic Mobility Coordinator. In this role, Kailey will advocate for and coordinate the many workforce development programs created by WNYWF, that support the women in our community.

Kailey has always had a passion for service and her education and career reflect this. She has a bachelor's degree in History from Buffalo State College and master's degree in Community Mental Health Counseling from St. Bonaventure. Kailey worked as a mental health counselor in a non-profit agency prior to working for the New York State Department of Labor as an employment counselor for 8 years.

Having worked in both the mental health and employment spaces, Kailey has developed a profound appreciation for the impact that stable and sustainable employment have on an individual, their families, and their communities. By connecting individuals with resources to identify and resolve barriers to employment, creating opportunities to develop skills in high demand occupations and establishing partnerships with community organizations, we can create a happy and sustainable workforce in our region.

Outside of work, Kailey enjoys spending time with her family, reading and doing yoga.

kailey@wnywfdn.org

As the ALL IN Coordinator, Sydney manages outreach, relationship building, and programming for the WNY Women's Foundation's ALL IN initiative. Her work centers inclusivity to create purposeful, lasting change that makes Western New York a place where women and gender minorities are empowered to live, work, and lead.

Sydney holds a bachelor's degree from SUNY Fredonia in Business Administration and Women's and Gender Studies, as well as a master's from Arizona State University in Social Justice and Human Rights. She comes to the WNY Women's Foundation from the University at Buffalo's office of Research and Economic Development, where she developed relationships with local businesses and changemakers through the team at Business & Entrepreneur Partnerships.

Born and raised in Central New York, Sydney moved to Buffalo during her undergraduate years, and has since developed a strong community in the area. Sydney is passionate about women entrepreneurs, local businesses, the local queer community, intersectional workers' rights, and the inclusion of underrepresented and overlooked communities in social justice work.

sydney@wnywfdn.org

Cynthia has a history of organizational results at People Inc., Uniland Development, and Rich Products, as well as a degree in Business from Villa Maria College. She and her husband reside in Amherst and are proud parents of two adult children and four grandchildren.

cynthia@wnywfdn.org

As the Communications & Development Coordinator, Angela Blask plays a critical role in sharing the stories of the WNY Women's Foundation. She illustrates the organization's impact and raises awareness of our mission.

A graduate of Trocaire College, Angela has several years of experience in the nonprofit sector including social media management, comprehensive communication, and event promotion. She joined the WNY Women's Foundation from her most recent role as Development and Communications Specialist at Kids Escaping Drugs.

As a new member of the WNY Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, she looks forward to engaging with and learning from other colleagues in the nonprofit community.

Angela and her husband, Kyle, reside in Alden where she enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and outdoor activities.

angela@wnywfdn.org

As the Knowledge Management Coordinator, Mara conducts research, collects and analyzes data, and organizes information to support the work of WNY Women’s Foundation. Her role is critical to WNYWF’s data-driven approach to advocating for policies that promote gender equity and economic mobility on a local and national level.

Mara holds a bachelor’s degree from Skidmore College in Government and a master’s degree from New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service in Public Administration with a concentration in Public Policy. Her professional career has included positions at Planned Parenthood of NYC and the Social Services Task Force in the NYC Office of Management and Budget.

In addition to her role at WNYWF, Mara serves as the director of People’s Park, a community park on Main St., and as a board member of Gardens Buffalo Niagara, chairing the Lunenfeld Beautification Grant program.

Outside of work, Mara enjoys traveling, gardening, cooking, and spending time with her family. She is excited to join the WNY Women’s Foundation and use her experience and skills to help make a difference for women in WNY and beyond.