YWCA Team

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Board of Directors

Why an all-female board? Despite many gains made over the last several decades, women remain underrepresented on executive boards at all levels. Among 71 percent of Fortune 1000 companies, women occupy less than 20 percent of board seats (the rest have female board representation of 20 percent or greater). At small nonprofit organizations (budgets less than $25 million), women make up 45 percent of CEOs and 43 percent of board seats. At large nonprofits (budgets $25 million and up), women make up 21 percent of CEOs and 33 percent of board seats.*

The YWCA offers an opportunity for women to develop leadership skills and have a real voice in the organization’s management at the executive and board level through maintaining an all-female board and a female executive director. This empowerment carries over into other areas of life. Many former board members have expressed that their experience on the YWCA board has provided them with experience and skills to enable them to pursue other leadership positions and contribute to other organizations in the community. The guidelines for all-female boards and executive directors are set forth by the YWCA USA.

Jessica Ritter

Co-President

Lyne Aurand

Co-President

Smitha Nair

Co-Vice President

Elizabeth C. Strauss

Co-Vice President

Linda Raymond

Treasurer

Emily Gerlach

Secretary

Lindsey L. Wilner

Chrisanne Bowden

Cara Smith

Maria Erling

Rukhsana Rahman

Sarah Brechbuehl

Julie Haller

Denise Membreno Royer

Judy Morley

Kara Boehne-Miele

Our Team

Judy Morley

Interim Executive Director

Alex Hayes

Fund Development Director

Kara Ferraro

Senior Director of Programs

Felicia Trujillo

Human Resources Manager

George Marguglio

Sr Director of Finance & Operations

Ian LeVee

Membership Director

Nancy Lilley

Advocacy Director

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Jenn Vintigni

Sports & Fitness Director

Mark Purdy

Coordinator of Communications and Events

Teresa Rodgers

Senior Administrative Director Child Enrichment Programs

Lisamarie Baer

Child Enrichment Program Director at Adams Commerce Center

Coty Slothour

Child Enrichment Program Director at YWCA Gettysburg

Bud Glass

Building & Grounds Director

Becky Tims

Finance and H.R. Assistant

Jessica Ritter

Co-President

Jessica has a master’s degree in religious studies. She focused on the sociology of religion and researched how a community (and individuals within) gendered God.

Her bachelor’s degree is in sociology and religious studies as well. She is very passionate about a wide range of issues, from astronomy to violence against women, and is excited for the opportunity to engage her interests in social justice at the YWCA.

Lyne Aurand

Co-President

Lyne Aurand graduated from Shippensburg University with an elementary degree and received an administrative certification from Penn State University. She taught in the Gettysburg Area School District for 40 years, where she served on many district committees.

During her teaching career, she helped write grants, presented workshops, and designed programs. The Lincoln Elementary Activities Program (LEAP) and Girls Robotics were a partnership between the YWCA and local elementary schools to provide opportunities for children. Presently, Lyne is a Supervisor of Student Teachers at Gettysburg College. Since retirement from GASD, Lyne is serving the community by volunteering with St. James Lutheran Church and Gettysburg Optimist Club and wherever needed (Ruth Harvest, Cares, etc.).

Lyne enjoys playing cards, dancing, traveling, and the beach. She lives in Gettysburg with her husband, Daryl, and spends as much time as possible visiting her two daughters, two granddaughters, and family.

Smitha Nair

Co-Vice President

Smitha Nair was born and raised in India and started medical school when she was 16. That is where she met her husband, Dr. Raj Makkenchery. They married in 1998 and moved to the United States. Smitha completed her residency at UMASS Fitchburg Family Practice and moved to Gettysburg in 2007. She now lives with her husband, parents, and three children in Gettysburg.

Smitha worked for Wellspan from 2007-2010 and then took a break to care for her two children. She then worked at Family First Health from 2012-2016. In May 2016, Smitha decided to quit the traditional setting and started her Fellowship at University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. In May 2017, she started her private practice in Gettysburg, Aura Integrative Medicine Clinic. Her goal is to address the physical and lifestyle, emotional, and spiritual needs of her patients. Smitha’s goal is to get to the root cause of problems and use compassion and care to heal her patients.

Her hobbies are writing poetry, watching cooking shows, and scrolling Pinterest.

Elizabeth C. Strauss

Co-Vice President

Elizabeth grew up in Charlotte, NC. She graduated from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 2002 with a BA in Germanic Languages and Literatures. Upon completing an interdisciplinary transatlantic curriculum at UNC and Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany, Elizabeth was awarded an MA in Political Science in 2003. She also earned an MA and Ph.D. in History from the University of Notre Dame in 2014. After moving to Gettysburg with her husband, Charles, in late 2013, Elizabeth began work as a contributor to the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies’ Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos project at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. In fall 2016, she joined the faculty at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD as an assistant professor in the Department of History. Drawn to the institution's mission to empower women and eliminate racism, Elizabeth and Charles joined the YWCA immediately upon moving to Gettysburg. An avid runner, Elizabeth enjoys the Y and its environs for training. In addition, Elizabeth is a proud mother of four children—Anna, Charlie, Tessa, and Peter—all of whom have benefited in profound ways from the caring and committed community at the YWCA’s childcare center.

Linda Raymond

Treasurer

Linda Raymond is now retired but followed two very different career paths—conducting and performing in military music and working in business with two luxury car companies. Elements of both fed her lifelong interest in tackling projects, data, and details. Linda strives to lead a healthy life and enjoys teaching gentle yoga at the Y. She and her husband Pat have one son and six grandchildren in Arlington, VA.

Emily Gerlach

Secretary

Emily Gerlach is a young professional who has worked in the Gettysburg area since 2015. She is a licensed social worker in Pennsylvania and has earned a master’s degree in social work from Shippensburg University and a bachelor’s of arts degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh.

In her current roles as Social Services Director for Homewood at Plum Creek and Client Services Specialist at Survivors, Inc., she puts her advocacy and counseling skills to good use in working to improve the lives of older adults and survivors of interpersonal violence and sexual assault. Environmental sustainability, international women’s rights, and food security are other causes near and dear to her heart.

In her spare time, Emily loves being outdoors, camping, traveling, kayaking, and running. She is overjoyed at the opportunity to collaborate with other strong women leaders and the Adams County community through the YWCA!

Lindsey L. Wilner

Lindsey was born and raised in the Midwest. She graduated from Michigan State University, with a degree in psychology, and went onto complete her master’s and a doctorate in clinical forensic psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Lindsey has worked in a variety of settings from county jails to state prisons to federal prisons. She currently maintains a private practice in Gettysburg, focused on forensic psychology, that is assessment of individuals who are somehow involved in the justice system, as well as completing evaluations on individuals applying to become public safety officials. Lindsey also works at South Mountain Restoration Center as a clinical psychologist. Lindsey is passionate about helping underserved communities and populations, especially those who were (or are) incarcerated, and ensuring their voices are heard.

Lindsey loves to volunteer. Beginning at a young age, she was in girl scouts. During her undergraduate career, she was a member of Alpha Phi Omega (APO), a fraternity that focused on giving back to the community. While in APO she was the chair of connecting new students with senior members of the organization. During her senior year, she was the Vice President of Programming, which focused on bringing members of the organization together in fellowship. She completed leadership classes at APO Conferences. Over 2 years, Lindsey amassed 700 hours of service. In graduate school, Lindsey was initially a member of the Forensic Ambassadors, which connected students to faculty and staff, as well as provided forensic psychology-based volunteer opportunities in the greater Chicago area. Lindsey was then President of the organization. Throughout the years, Lindsey has maintained volunteer efforts in other capacities, such as for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or at local running events (when she’s not running in them).

When Lindsey is not working or volunteering, you can find her reading a good mystery novel or magazine, watching a movie or television show, planning her next travels, out running around Gettysburg, or walking her fur baby with her spouse. Lindsey is excited for the opportunity to work with the YWCA of Adams County and join a team of strong female leaders!

Chrisanne Bowden

Chrisanne Bowden was born in rural Western Pennsylvania. She has nearly three decades of experience in a wide variety of human resources and management roles. During her career, she has worked in an HR leadership capacity in multiple industries, where she is recognized as a catalyst for growth, positive change, and continual improvement. She currently works as a Human Resources consultant with PeopleWorks LLC, supporting businesses without in-house HR, as well as larger employers on special projects or areas needing specific expertise. She has also mentored many junior HR professionals. Prior to PeopleWorks, she served as HR Director for Liberty, Whitetail, and Roundtop Mountain Resorts.

Within the HR arena, Chrisanne’s areas of focus include Leadership Development, Employee Relations, Strategic Planning, Hiring and Training, Talent Management, Performance Evaluation and Improvement, Policy and Procedure Design, Regulatory Compliance and Community Outreach. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from Slippery Rock University along with Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) credentials, has been an active member of National Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), has served as a board member of Frederick County SHRM, and is involved with Adams County Area Human Resources Association.

Chrisanne’s primary focus and source of pride is mentoring. Having served as a mentor for four young women through Woman to Woman Mentoring in Frederick County, Maryland, where she also was a board member, she now mentors with Project Hope through Adams County Children and Youth Services. She is passionate about using her time, energy and experience to improve the lives and successes of young women.

Cara Smith

Cara Smith relocated to Gettysburg from New York City. She completed her undergraduate work in Comparative Religion at Colgate University and earned a Master of Education in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from Harvard University. Her 20-year career has focused on career counseling and pre-professional advising in higher education, mainly at Barnard College and Yeshiva University. Cara currently works as an Academic Advisor at HACC and coaches clients in private practice.

Since moving to Gettysburg, Cara has become a true CrossFit enthusiast and has volunteered as an Ally at SCCAP in the Circles program. In addition, she has been active with the YWCA Sharks Swim Team as an officer of the Parents Association. Cara enjoys exploring new places and visiting old favorites with her husband and two children whenever she can. Cara looks forward to the opportunity to meet new people and become more involved in the Gettysburg community.

Maria Erling

Maria Erling has been a member of the YWCA since moving to Gettysburg in 1999. She was born in Sweden and lived in Minnesota, Illinois, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire before coming to Gettysburg. Maria is a Lutheran pastor working as a professor at United Lutheran Seminary, teaching modern religious history—everything after 1600. She enjoys working with people who are dedicated to advancing work on racism, sexism, workism, classism, and all the other subconscious assumptions.

“The work to touch hearts, to support healthy community life, and to meet new faces and friends, is a work I want to join.”

Rukhsana Rahman

Rukhsana Rahman practiced as a radiologist at Gettysburg Hospital for 31 years and retired in December of 2017. She was a board member of YWCA Gettysburg & Adams County from 2010 to 2016. She and her husband were co-recipients of Adams County MLK Living the Dream Award, Interfaith Center for Peace and Justice Peace Maker of the Year Award, and World Affairs Council of Harrisburg Peace Maker Among Us Award.

Rukhsana has formerly served on the Vida Charter School board and currently serves on the boards for the Adams County Bar Foundation, Interfaith Center for Peace and Justice, and Adams County Farmers Market.

Sarah Brechbuehl

Sarah Brechbuehl grew up south of Gettysburg in Emmitsburg, Maryland. As a girl, she was a member of the Prince of Peace Episcopal Church in Gettysburg and was introduced to the YWCA through a friend at the church. When Sarah and her husband moved back from the Philadelphia metro area to be closer to her family, she remembered the YWCA.

Sara’s family got a pool membership, and she encouraged her father to join as well. Prior to COVID-19, she and her father were part of the YWCA’s workout crew. To Sarah, the YWCA is home. “Little did we realize that not only did we have our relatives in the area, but we now had a whole new loving community that can only be described as family.”

Julie Haller

I grew up and have lived in Adams County my whole life, with the exception of attending college at Madison College (now James Madison University) in Virginia. My bachelor’s degree is in Home Ec. Education and I started my career as headteacher, then promoted to Director, of the Infant Migrant Day Care Program funded through Lutheran Social Services. After my three children were born, I stayed at home with them until they were all in school. At that point, I went back to work for my family’s business, Adams County Nursery, where I worked as a co-owner and Credit Manager until I retired in 2017.

Throughout my career, I’ve taken on a variety of volunteer roles in the community, including the Chair of the PA Apple Marketing Board, Christ Lutheran Church Council President, Vacation Bible School Director, and Sunday school teacher for Bendersville Lutheran Parish, lead in the effort to establish the county-wide Eddie Horst Scholarship and have assisted in the Adams County Dollars for Scholars scholarship selection day.

In my retirement, I’ve enjoyed traveling with my husband Steve “Buzz” Haller to our beach house on the Rappahannock River, taking oil painting classes, and spending time with my 4 granddaughters who are between 4-7 years old. I am currently involved in a Be the Bridge group with Nancy Lilley and I have recently become a Mission Member at the Y.

Denise Membreno Royer

Denise Royer was born and raised in Parsippany, New Jersey, the youngest of four children. After graduating from Connecticut College in 1996, she lived in Washington, DC for 15 years and began her career as a marketing/communications professional with a 10-year stint at the Discovery Channel and her current position with Mortgage Bankers Association. DC is also where she met her husband, Paul, who is an attorney in Gettysburg.

Her mother and father, natives of the Netherlands and Nicaragua respectively, met in New York City when they were young physicians. They became naturalized Americans and loved the life they made in the country. After growing up a first-generation American, it means a lot to Denise to live in this area, where Paul’s family has lived since before the Revolutionary War.

Their daughters are thriving in the Gettysburg area school district and are active in athletics and organized music. She has formed strong friendships in the community and rediscovered her love of running through the Gettysburg Beer Runners. She lives a busy life and on any given day, you may find her working, attending one of her daughters’ events, running on and off the battlefield (often with her dog), or at the Y with her husband.

Judy Morley

Judy Morley is a nationally recognized leadership speaker and coach specializing in helping female entrepreneurs master purposeful leadership, emotional intelligence, and courageous communication. Her goal is to teach women to be authentically audacious! Her 25 years of corporate and nonprofit experience vary from being an advertising executive to a college professor to an executive to an entrepreneur and franchise owner. She is even an ordained minister. Each of these positions has given her great insight into helping people find their authentic style of leadership.

Judy holds a Ph.D. in American History and a master’s degree in Conscious Leadership. She is also a certified Emotional Intelligence facilitator. She has helped boards of nonprofits as both a hired consultant and a board member, showing them how to work together more effectively. She is the author of multiple monographs, essays, and books, including “Use the Cosmic 2×4 to Hit a Home Run.” In addition, she has been featured in several documentaries, including “MPower: Empowering Women in Business and Beyond.” She is currently on the faculty of the Lincoln Leadership Institute at Gettysburg and the president of Intuitively Speaking, a speaking and coaching firm located in Gettysburg, PA.

Kara Boehne-Miele

A lifelong resident of Gettysburg, Kara Boehne-Miele is thrilled to be joining the YWCA Board of Directors. She remembers fondly many YWCA programs and activities during her school years and has frequented the fitness center as a community member.

After graduating from James Madison University in 2001, Kara started her career in education as the band, orchestra, and choir director at Oakdale Middle School in Frederick, MD. After deciding a slight career shift was necessary, Kara received her Master’s in Library Science from the University of Maryland in 2007 and has served as the High School Librarian and Department Chairperson for the Cumberland Valley School District in Mechanicsburg ever since. Outside of public education, Kara serves on the Board of Trustees for the Adams County Library System and is an active workshop presenter for various entities with her husband, Pete Miele, Executive Director of the Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center. Her personal passions include cooking and baking, and in recent years has pursued the art of cookie decorating. She has shared her talents locally through classes at the Adams County Arts Council.

Kara and Pete live in Ridgewood with two crazy felines. They love to spend time outdoors hiking, kayaking, camping, and exploring new places, especially historic sites, state parks, and “hidden gems.”