Managing Director Angie Grabski at the 2009 Los Angeles Inspiration Awards with actress Tori Spelling and honoree Lauren Zalaznick, President, NBC Universal Women & Lifestyle Entertainment Networks
Angie Grabski
Managing Director, New York
Angie Grabski serves as managing director of Step Up Women’s Network’s New York office. Angie came to Step Up New York after serving as the managing director of Step Up Los Angeles for two years.
As the managing director, Angie oversees all fundraising, strategy, programming and staffing for Step Up New York and ensures that Step Up’s mission of bridging communities of professional women and underserved girls is executed successfully.
Angie came to Step Up after having held membership and marketing roles at UCLA, at both the UCLA Alumni Association and the UCLA Anderson School of Management. There, Angie was responsible for generating $1.5 million in revenue annually through memberships at the alumni association and supervising all marketing, data and online services efforts at UCLA Anderson, in addition to executing the annual Alumni Weekend Leadership Conference.
Prior to UCLA, Angie served in membership and meeting planning roles for the American Staffing Association, a nonprofit trade association located in Washington, DC.
Shortly after moving to Los Angeles in 2003, Angie joined Step Up as a member and became an active volunteer before becoming part of the staff in 2008. Angie received her B.S. in journalism from Boston University.
Lori Dernavich
Chair, New York Board of Directors
Lori Dernavich joined Step Up Women's Network upon moving to New York City in 2007, and was immediately impressed with the talent and commitment demonstrated by Step Up's membership. Lori is excited to give back to the community and is looking forward to helping build the Luminary Circle of members and getting the word out about Step Up's initiatives.
A highly sought after and trusted business advisor, Lori Dernavich helps businesses and their employees become more successful, providing the skills to improve communication and accountability. Her unique expertise and objective voice make companies more profitable by delivering customized solutions and the tools to implement strategies for ongoing employee performance success.
Lori Dernavich, LLC was founded in 2002 and has since helped clients such as Absolut Spirits Company, Legal Sea Foods, Sean John and Credit Suisse revitalize their culture and workplace efficiency. Prior to forming her own company, Lori earned a Master's in Counseling Psychology and worked as an executive coach, leadership development trainer, and high-tech recruiter.
Linda Descano
Vice Chair, New York Board of Directors
As President and Chief Operating Officer, Linda Descano oversees management of Women & Co., a division of Citi that provides women with educational resources for navigating life transitions and planning their financial future.
Linda joined Women & Co. in 2003. Prior to joining Women & Co., from 1999 through 2002, Linda was a Director and Portfolio Manager in Citi's Private Portfolio Group, where she co-managed customized investment portfolios for individuals and institutions and oversaw the firm's socially responsible investment program. Before that, Linda served as Senior Vice President and Director of Environmental Affairs for Citi predecessor company, Salomon Inc., which she joined in 1994.
An accomplished speaker, over the course of her career, Linda has spoken at hundreds of major conferences around the world on an array of personal finance, investment and leadership topics. She is a member of several professional associations, including the CFA® Institute, New York Society of Security Analysts, Financial Communications Society, and Women In Communications. Linda also serves on the New York Board of Step Up Women's Network, co-chairs Dress for Success' Financial Literacy Committee, and is a member of the National Organization of Italian American Women. From 1997 through 1999, Linda chaired the steering committee of the United Nationals Financial Institutions Initiative on the Environment. Linda also has served on the Environmental Financial Advisory Board of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as well as the boards of the René Dubos Center for Human Health and the Environment and Recycled Paper Coalition, among others.
Passionate about education and science, Linda recently endowed the National Organization of Italian American Women with the Nina Anna Scholarship, in honor of her grandmothers, Nina Gaspari Pennachietti and Anna Fortunato Descano, which is a needs-based scholarship awarded to an Italian-American woman pursuing higher education. She also supports the Prudy Astrella Legacy Scholarship in honor of her inspirational 5th grade teacher, Ms. Astrella; the Philadelphia Museum of Art; the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian; and the Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
Among her many accomplishments, Linda was the New York recipient of the 2009 Corporate w2wlink Ascendancy Award for her career achievements and her dedication to mentoring women. She was recognized as a Wise Woman by the National Organization of Italian American Women in 2008. She received a Human Rights Leadership Award from Church Women United in 1999 and an Environmental Leadership Award from the United Nations Environment Programme - North America in 1997.
A native of Philadelphia, Linda attended Temple University and graduated with a bachelor of arts in geology. She holds a Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.
New York
Board of Directors
Tinamarie Feil (CFO), Sarah Carberry, Sara Holoubek, Nicole Hunter, Naomi Kent, Lindsey Pollak, Wendi Sturgis, Ferne Traeger, Cynthia Wolff
Staff
Kristen Baldwin (senior program manager), Margaret White (program manager)
