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.

Lyne Aurand

President

Angela Borger

Secretary

Cara Smith

Kara Boehne-Miele

Co-Vice President

Smitha Nair

Maria Erling

Julie Haller

Co Vice President

Elizabeth C. Strauss

Ana Sanchez-Gerhart

Linda Raymond

Treasurer

Kathleen Sibley

Judy Morley

Camery Brown

Susan Cole

Dakota McBride

Beth Kanagy

Carrie Soliday

Emily Knowles-Kellett

Our Team

Melissa Leathery

Chief Executive Officer

Nancy Lilley

Advocacy Director

Jill Hoko

Health & Wellness Director

Lydia Van Evera

Child Enrichment Program Administrative Coordinator

Bud Glass

Building & Grounds Director

Cortney Kuhn

Director of Membership

Beth Raub

Aquatic Director

Coty Slothour

Asst. Child Care Director
909 Fairfield Road

George Marguglio

Chief Financial Officer

Lili High

Development & Grants Director

Michelle Stojka

Child Enrichment Program Director
Adams Commerce Center

Jennifer Eichhorn

Human Resources Specialist

Katie Myers

Child Enrichment Program Director
909 Fairfield Road

Doug Kubeck

Asst. CEP Director
Adams Commerce Center

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

Camery (Cam) Brown

I am a 2015 graduate of Fairfield High School and currently reside in Fairfield. I am a self-taught print graphic specialist. I attended Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) after graduating from High School, and I plan to finish my Associate of Applied Science in Architecture in the next few years.

I previously worked for Staples in Gettysburg as the Print & Marketing Supervisor. After the closure of Staples in May 2019, I took a new role working for the Staples Production Facility. I left the Staples Production Facility in December 2019 and took a full-time position at Gettysburg Print & Frame in January 2020. I am also a part-time Graphic Communications Specialist for Renn Kirby Mitsubishi in Frederick, MD.

I was very involved in several school clubs and the community when I was growing up. My family was very involved in three local fire departments (Fairfield, Barlow, & Harney in Carroll County, MD) and helped with a lot of fundraising events. In high school, I was a Youth Leader with Collaborating For Youth (CFY), a local non-profit organization. Today, I still volunteer with CFY as a Mentor for Youth at their Annual Youth Leadership Camp.

While it may seem that I am busy all the time, I like the time when I get to have some fun and challenge myself. In my free time, I love to draw, build 3-D models, put puzzles together, play cards, listen to a wide variety of music, attend concerts, spend time with my younger sister, and learn about new technology.

Susan Cole

Susan Cole, who grew up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA, is known for her achievements and down to earth nature. With an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from the University of South Florida in Tampa, she embarked on a journey to fulfill her childhood aspiration of becoming a Dentist, which she accomplished at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine.

In 1998, Susan's unwavering determination led her to the Gettysburg area, where she thrived as a devoted mother, raising two incredible sons (both enjoyed the YWCA daycare and athletics) , while simultaneously establishing and overseeing multiple local dental practices for a span of over 20 years.

After years of traditional dental practice, Susan embraced a new approach, choosing to work Locum Tenens—providing dental care at various local offices when dentists are unavailable due to vacation, illness, or personal time off. This unique path not only grants her the freedom to pursue her diverse passions, but it also allows her to make a meaningful impact in her community.

Outside of her dental endeavors, Susan's passions come to life. She is an ardent advocate for women and children, fearlessly speaking up on their behalf. When she's not immersed in her professional and advocacy pursuits, she finds solace and joy in gardening, creating culinary delights in the kitchen, staying active through exercise, exploring new destinations during her travels, and cherishing precious moments spent with her beloved family and friends.

Susan's dedication to making a difference extends beyond her immediate surroundings. She has generously lent her time and expertise as an Adult Chaperone for St. James Youth Mission Trips twice. Additionally, she ventured to Guatemala on a transformative Medical Mission Trip, where she practiced dentistry and positively impacted the lives of those in need. Moreover, Susan has consistently chaired the Adams County Holiday Family Outreach, a non-profit organization, for the past four years, ensuring that families in her community experience the warmth and joy of the holiday season.

Dakota McBride

Hello! My name is Dakota McBride, and I am the Branch Manager at Members 1^st Federal Credit Union in Gettysburg. I’ve worked for Members 1^st Federal Credit for over 6 years, starting as a teller and advancing throughout the company into my current role. I grew up in the Adams County community and reside in Abbottstown. I graduated from Commonwealth Connections Academy and am currently attending Central Penn College. I love spending time outside with my friends and family. I enjoy hiking, fishing, riding my horses, and camping. Helping people throughout all phases of their lives is one of the things I enjoy most about my role.

I am heavily involved within my community, and actively volunteer each year. I presently sit on multiple boards within Adams County: Businesswomen Influencing Gettysburg, PA Interfaith Housing, and McSherrystown Interfaith Village. I actively volunteer on six committees throughout Pennsylvania: Personnel Committee for Adams County Housing Authority, Business Operations Committee for Adams County Housing Authority, Giving Spree Committee for Adams County Community Foundation, Ambassador Committee for Adams/Gettysburg Chamber, Health & Safety Committee for Members 1^st Federal Credit Union, and Policy & Efficiency Committee for Members 1^st Federal Credit Union. I am passionate about being involved and actively present within the Adams County community and making it a better place to live.

Beth Kanagy

I am an experienced professional communicator and having been retired for nearly 2 years, I believe I have the time and the experience to aid the YWCA in furthering its mission.

I attended Shippensburg University, graduating with a BA in 1982 and an MS in 2012.

I have enjoyed a long career in communications, highlighted by my time with Gettysburg Times as a staff writer, the Gettysburg Area School District as communications coordinator and as a faculty member at Shippensburg University.

My husband, Duane, and I operate Kanagy Communications. Our small firm assists small businesses and non-profit groups throughout Central Pennsylvania in their public relations and communications efforts.

My family has called Gettysburg home for nearly 27 years.

Carrie Soliday

Carrie Adams Soliday is a native of Gettysburg, a mother, an entrepreneur, and an educator. She is thrilled to join the YWCA Board of Directors to support the organization’s goals by utilizing her personal and professional experiences. Her volunteer experience includes serving on the Board of Directors of the Gettysburg Area School District and the Adams County Technical Institute. As a professional, Carrie taught in rural, suburban, and urban K-12 public schools in Maryland, Iowa, and Pennsylvania before transitioning to adult learning. For over a decade, Carrie has facilitated professional and executive leadership development for educators and business leaders. She has also co-authored and served as co-principal investigator for serval multi-year, multi-million dollar grants. Carrie considers her most significant professional accomplishment to be the positive relationships built over the course of her career. Time outdoors enjoying the bucolic features of Adams County, the local, live music scene, and time with her adult children keep Carrie balanced and grounded. She has also developed a fondness for the Stairmaster in the YWCA’s fitness facilities.

Emily Knowles-Kellett

Emily Knowles-Kellett has been delighted to be a member of the Gettysburg community since 1996, when she moved here to marry her best friend’s brother. She and Bill Knowles-Kellett are the proud parents of four sons, grandparents of Luca, and have enjoyed years of PTO, scouting and AYSO coaching.

Emily works in youth and community development. In Adams County, she coordinated the federal Drug Free Communities program with the Center for Youth and Community Development, working with diverse partners to carry out long-term wellness strategies. Following the Communities That Care development model, many county-wide programs Emily spearheaded are in their second decade. In the Maryland/DC/Delaware region, Emily has worked with the nonprofit Transform Mid-Atlantic to advance post-secondary readiness and community wellness through academically-tied youth civic and community engagement. Highlights of Emily’s work with TMA include synthesizing the contributions of area service-learning leaders into a comprehensive action plan for strengthening bonds among K12 schools, higher education institutions, and community nonprofits. More recently, Emily worked with TMA’s AmeriCorps VISTA program screening the applications of dozens of higher ed institutions and nonprofits looking to reduce poverty in diverse and profound ways. In Chicago and NYC, Emily spent her early years in under-resourced classrooms working with teachers to identify low-cost arts and experiential learning opportunities that tied into core curricula.

Emily enjoys hands-on projects with her family, including managing real estate in Gettysburg and in Emily’s hometown, NYC. Slowly, steadily, they are finishing their home by the creek. Fun times also include camping, sing-alongs, traveling, and playing with Luca!