SHERI WEST, Founder, CEO & Chairwoman

Sheri West is a Founder & CEO, podcast host, speaker, and champion for equity and inclusion. She is a former Fortune 500 management executive turned social entrepreneur with over 25 years of corporate and leadership development experience. In 2014, she founded LiveGirl, dedicated to equipping the next generation of diverse female leaders, serving over 17,500 girls since. Sheri regularly speaks on a wide range of topics relating to women’s leadership and career readiness, co-hosts the award-winning Confident Podcast with her college daughter, and authors the LinkedIn newsletter, If Only.

Sheri was recently featured in The New York Times and at the Yale Women’s Leadership Launch. Her honors include being named “Best Friend to Girls” by Moffly Media and a Community Champion by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Her education includes BA Finance and Masters of Leadership Development from Michigan State University and Executive Women’s Leadership Certificate from the Yale School of Management. Originally from Michigan, she is married with three children and now lives in New Canaan, Connecticut, where she is actively involved in the community and served nine years on the Board of Education. Committed to progress, she serves on various boards and advocates loudly for policies that advance opportunities for women and girls.

(She/her/hers)

You may email Sheri at Sheri@goLiveGirl.org.

VERONICA T. DELANDRO, Executive Director

Veronica T. DeLandro is a passionate, innovative, and cross-functional leader with a successful track record of leading organizations through change, stability, and growth. Originally from the Midwest, Veronica moved to CT to begin a career at ESPN. Veronica's passion for mentoring and helping students get into college led to a career in the nonprofit arena. She previously served as Executive Director at the Aurora Women & Girls Foundation and at College Summit and as Director of Community Engagement at The Governor’s Prevention Partnership. In 2018, she was appointed by Congresswoman-elect Jahana Hayes to be her District Director for the 5th Congressional office. Most recently, Veronica provided nonprofit leadership consulting through VTD Consulting.

Veronica is very active in the community and involved in a number of organizations including the New Britain Branch of the NAACP, the National Hampton Alumni Association, Inc., the Greater Hartford Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, and Hartford Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Veronica currently serves on the boards for the YWCA New Britain and Community Mental Health Affiliates in New Britain. 

Veronica is a proud HBCU alum and earned her bachelor’s degree with honors in Mass Media Arts with a concentration in Broadcast Journalism from Hampton University and her master’s degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from the University of Connecticut. 

(She/her/hers)

You may email Veronica at Veronica@goLiveGirl.org.

SHAMARE HOLMES, Program Director

Shamare joins the LiveGirl team with a depth of experience in youth development. She has been a LiveGirl mentor since Fall 2019 and previously served as the Assistant Youth Director at LifeBridge Community Services, partnering with Bridgeport’s youth and families to build resilience. Shamare serves on the CT Council for Women & Girls and the Fairfield County Community Foundation Thrive by 25 Advisory Council. Previously, Shamare served as the Program Director of Her Time, a proud partner of The Center for Family Justice, focusing on the effects of mass incarceration and assists women with re-entry. She also served as a Community Organizer for the Bridgeport Education Alliance for Public Schools and the Director of Girls Reality Empowerment Circle (GREC).

Shamare earned a BA in Mass Communications with a concentration in Public Relations from the University of Bridgeport in 2016 and will complete her Masters in Public Administration from the University of New Haven in December 2021. She is concurrently completing Leading for Change, a new cohort program for leaders of color, sponsored by the Fairfield County Community Foundation.

(She/her/hers)

You may email Shamare at Shamare@goLiveGirl.org.

HANNAH JEAN-PIERRE, SHE WORKS Program Manager

Hannah Jean-Pierre was recently hired to be the Program Manager for SHE WORKS with LiveGirl, where she will direct and oversee student and employer outreach, vet and train mentors, and host the SHE WORKS Career-Readiness Training. Hannah has over five years of work experience in community development, project management, and youth leadership programming. Outside of LiveGirl, Hannah spends most of her time leading in the community and mentoring youth at New Vision International Ministries of Bridgeport, CT. She also serves as an Administrator for Edifying Women Eternally, INC, a nonprofit that encourages, educates, equips, and restores women in all aspects of their lives.

Before being Program Manager, Hannah was the Program Assistant and a Confidence Coach with LiveGirl in 2022. She has also worked as a Mental Health Counselor for the Department of Aging in New York. Hannah is excited to continue to help launch women who have been historically underrepresented.

Hannah has her BS in Sociology with a minor in Women's Studies and Human Rights/Social Justice from Sacred Heart University and her Master's in Social Work from New York University.

(She/her/hers)

You may email Hannah at Hannah@goLiveGirl.org.

KALA MALVASO, Development Manager

Kala Malvaso joins the LiveGirl team with an extensive background in marketing, development, and nonprofit experience. A transplant to the tri-state area, she has lived in DC, Virginia, and is originally from the mountain state of West Virginia, giving her exposure to a variety of social and economic landscapes that have helped guide her to her current work with nonprofits.

Passionate about women’s initiatives, she serves on the board of the local Junior League of Stamford-Norwalk as their Communications Director and volunteers regularly in her community. She believes in the power of women and how connection can lead to opening doors in each other’s lives.

Kala has her Masters in Education from Virginia Tech where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and was part of the Golden Key Honor Society. She received her Bachelor of Science from Liberty University where she graduated with honors and helped co-found the Athletic Training Student’s Association.

You may email Kala at Kala@goLiveGirl.org.

FARRELL LINDEMANN, SHE CARES Program Manager

Farrell Lindemann is a social worker who believes in the resilience, strength, and uniqueness of adolescent girls. Farrell has worked with LiveGirl since 2018 and has loved working as a Confidence Coach, a She Cares Mentor, and now the She Cares Program Manager. 

Farrell graduated from Boston University in 2014 with a Masters in Social Work and a specific focus on clinical work with adolescents. Farrell has worked with amazing and inspiring teen girls in both school and residential settings. During the pandemic, Farrell also founded a community of artists from 15 different states who make art together on Zoom. Farrell loves following LiveGirls’ lead in creating a safe and brave space for every person she meets with, and can’t wait to find out what makes you, YOU! 

(She/her/hers)

You may email Farrell at Farrell@golivegirl.org.

CHERI FARRIOR, Grant Writer

Cheri had focused her career on working to advance educational equity and close the Opportunity Divide. She has spent her career working in schools and various non-profit organizations. Her passion for working with children led her to become a 2013 Teach For America corps member, where she taught middle school social studies. After completing her corps experience, she found her niche in working in fundraising and development and has secured both public and private grants for non-profit organizations and schools. Her portfolios have included individual and institutional giving, with a focus on foundation and corporate relations.

Cheri has her Masters of Public Administration from Syracuse University and her B.S. in Journalism and Mass Communication (Public Relations) from North Carolina A&T State University. When she is not working, she enjoys traveling and trying new restaurants.

JESSICA WEAVER, Research Associate

Jessica Weaver is a recent graduate of the University of Connecticut where she earned a BA in Political Science while minoring in Business and Human Rights in 2019, and her Master’s in Public Policy in May 2020.

During her undergraduate and graduate career, Jessica served in a variety of governmental agencies and offices including the CT Office of the Treasurer, Congressman John Larson’s office, the Commission on Women, Children and Seniors, and the CT 2Gen Anti-Poverty Program. She also served as the Legislative Advocacy Fellow for the YWCA Hartford Region, was a part of the 2019 Obama Foundation Community Leadership Corps, and currently serves as an Ambassador for the United State of Women. In November 2019, Jessica was elected to the Board of Education in her hometown of Newington, CT at the age of 21, making her the youngest elected official ever in her town.

ELAINE LLOYD, Photographer

Elaine has spent her career working in finance at firms including Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan. She is presently the co-founder of Risk Premium Investment Management Company in NYC. Elaine has an undergraduate degree from St. Anselm College and an MBA in finance from NYU. Photography is her passion and she frequently donates her time to photograph animals available for adoption for the Stamford shelter and for local rescues.

Ms. Lloyd is married and a resident of New Canaan where she raised her triplets. Elaine generously donates her photography skills to LiveGirl, and we are thrilled to offer a scholarship in her name.