LOS ANGELES (April 24, 2026) - Mentorship nonprofit Step Up today announced the newest members of its regional chapter boards. In partnership with the organization’s National Board of Directors, the regional chapter boards provide support in the form of local fundraising, mentoring and ambassador efforts.
Eastern Region Board
Cori Fernandez (Google Cloud) returns as chair of Eastern Region Board. Annie Scranton (Pace PR) will now serve as vice chair.
Joining Fernandez and Scranton on the Eastern Region board will be new additions Natalie Haskins Laukitis (Teach for America), Rebecca C. Mann, M.Ed., (Uniquely Diverse Inc.), Victoria Mariscal (Front Desk), Vina Morris (AfroPink, Inc.) and Jillian Straus (Straus Strategic).
Midwestern Region Board
Baaba Holland (Baaba Holland Agency) returns as chair of the Midwestern Region Board. RoseAnn Abraham (Baker Tilly) also returns as vice chair.
Joining Holland and Abraham will be new additions Tisha Danehl (LHH), Ahja Howard (Illinois Community College Board), Emily Della Maggiora (Pioneer Ventures Group), Mayra Mandujano (BMO), and Lexi Torres-Desai (Jenner & Block LLP).
Southern Region Board
Tamara Bond Beverly (Daimler Truck Financial Services) begins her tenure as chair of the Southern Region Board. Erin Crawford (BMI) and Miara Shaw (Miara Shaw Enterprises) will now serve as vice chairs.
Joining Beverly and Crawford on the Southern Region Board include Kenyatta Dial (Dow Chemical), La’Kishia Harris (Turner Construction Company), Evelyn Jones (Dow Chemical), Edilsa LeGrier (AI InnoVision), and Dr. Catrina Pullum (Pullcorp Media & Business Consulting Group).
Western Region Board
Brieanne Gershick (Accenture) and Stacey Mendoza (strategic brand partnerships executive) will return as chair and vice chair of the Western Region Board.
Joining Gershick and Mendoza on the Western Region Board will be new additions Alexa Brandt (Brandt Advisory), Aisha Enriquez (First Citizens Bank), Desiree Gaitan-Buchanan (Poplinen), Terri Ross (Terri Ross Consulting), Audrey Rowe (Rowe’s Macaroons), and Jenny Vazquez-Newsum (Untapped Leaders, LLC).
Regional Chapter Board Service at Step Up
Step Up offers free mentorship programs that concentrate on supporting girls, and those who identify with girlhood, on their path to success. With structured programs, focused support, and inspiring connections, Step Up has established a multi-generational community that shares the resources and relationships needed for individual and collective success. These board leaders will support the nonprofit as it expands its practice of “flash mentoring” – providing young women with short-term opportunities to connect with mentors who share their experiences and skill-specific support, both in person and on-demand via Step Up’s Mentoring App.
“Step Up is grateful for the commitment, support and investment from our regional chapter boards,” Step Up CEO Delores Druilhet Morton said. “These ambassadors of the organization understand that mentorship is critical in this moment and they stand ready to provide Step Up with the support we need to navigate the years ahead.”
Many of the board members also serve as mentors to Step Up girls and help the organization access resources on both national and local levels. In addition to the board, the organization relies on nearly 1,500 members who share their time, talents and resources in support of the next generation of leaders. To inquire about board service or involvement, please email maya@suwn.org. A full roster of regional board members may be found below and on the organization’s website here.
About Step Up
Through structured mentorship programs, focused support, and inspiring connections, Step Up helps girls, and those who identify with girlhood, define and achieve their unique visions of success. Connect at suwn.org.
Media Contact: Alissa Zito Cruz, Step Up
alissa@suwn.org | 310.880.9049
EASTERN REGION BOARD
- Cori Fernandez, Enterprise Sales, Google Cloud, Chair
- Annie Scranton, CEO, Pace PR, Vice Chair
- Mandy Aragones, COO, Victory Patch Foundation + Director of Operations, Slick Rick Music Corporation
- Usheen Davar, Team Lead, Sales, Fullspan Health
- Quincy Evans, Principal-Investment Analyst, Davidson Kempner Capital Management
- Stacey Jenkins, Marketing and Business Development Executive
- Natalie Haskins Laukitis, Head of Executive Thought Leadership and Enterprise Messaging, Teach for America
- Jasmina Lukolic, Supplier Diversity Manager, Skanska USA Building
- Caitlyn MacAllister, Director of Strategy & Operations, Global Sales and Membership, The Leading Hotels of the World
- Rebecca Mann, Founder, Uniquely Diverse Inc.; Certified Career Development Professional
- Victoria Mariscal, Founder, Front Desk
- Vina Morris, President & Founder, AfroPink, Inc.
- Laura Rog, NYC Chief Service Officer, NYC Service | Office of the Mayor
- Jillian Straus, Founder and CEO, Straus Strategic Communications
MIDWESTERN REGION BOARD
- Baaba Holland, Founder and CEO, Baaba Holland Agency, Chair
- RoseAnn Abraham, Principal, Baker Tilly, Vice Chair
- Tisha Danehl, SVP Ecosystem Partnerships, LHH
- Tonya Gauff, Finance Partner, DLA Piper LLP (US)
- Michelle Gray, Sales Leader, LinkedIn
- Ahja Howard, Director for Program SUCCESS, Illinois Community College Board
- Ashley Kwateng, Senior Sales Strategy Manager, Kellanova-Mars
- Heather Lane, VP Supply Chain Strategy & Systems, Ulta Beauty
- Emily Della Maggiora, Managing Director, Pioneer Ventures Group
- Mayra Mandujano, VP, Relationship Manager, BMO
- Leila Shin, Principal, Advisory, KPMG
- Lexi Torres-Desai, Pricing Manager, Jenner & Block LLP
SOUTHERN REGION BOARD
- Tamara Bond Beverly, Senior Strategy & Transformation Associate, Daimler Truck Financial Services, Chair
- Erin Crawford, VP Affiliate Experience, BMI, Vice Chair
- Miara Shaw, CEO + Founder, Miara Shaw Enterprises, Vice Chair
- Bridget Biagas, Vice President, Partner Relations and Business Diversity, Hudson Group
- Edora Butler, Risk Management, Heitmeyer Consulting
- Dr.Kimberly S. Clay, CEO + Founder, Play Like a Girl!
- Lisa Crawford, Managing Director, Accenture
- Kenyatta Dial, Senior Business Manufacturing Director, Dow Chemical
- Brittainy Hall, Senior Consultant, Kotter
- La’Kishia Harris, Community & Citizenship, Turner Construction Company
- Evelyn Jones, Regional Analytical Director, Dow Chemical
- Edilsa LeGrier, Chief AI Compliance, Security and Special Programs Officer, AI InnoVision
- Dr. Catrina Pullum, Entertainment Executive, PullCorp Media & Business Consulting Group
- Claire Walters, Human Resources, CLW Advisory
WESTERN REGION BOARD
- Brieanne Gershick, Managing Director, Strategy and Consulting, Health Industry, Accenture, Chair
- Stacey Mendoza, Strategic Brand Partnerships, Vice Chair
- Alexa Brandt, Brandt Advisory
- Monica Cooper, Treasury Management Officer, CTP, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Aisha Enriquez, Financial Sales Manager, First Citizens Bank
- Desiree Gaitan-Buchanan, Founder and CEO, Poplinen
- Beth Helmstetter, Creative Director, Beth Helmstetter Events | Founder, The Good Beginning
- Meghan Birmingham Leader, Strategic Business Executive
- Mirtha Michelle, Actress, Writer, Advocate
- Terri Ross, Founder and CEO, Terri Ross Consulting (TRC)
- Audrey Rowe, Founder and CEO, Rowe’s Macaroons
- Jenny Dinh Safransky, Founder, Head of Partnerships and Talent Management, JDS Projects
- Nyanza Shaw, Managing Attorney/Owner, Shaw Esquire
- Deborah Thomas, Senior Vice President, Entertainment Publicity, NBCU
- Jenny Vazquez-Newsum, Founder, Untapped Leaders, LLC
