Our mission is to Cultivate Mentoring Relationships
Woman to Woman Mentoring, Inc. provides women with guidance, support, and community connections through mentoring relationships. We are a 501c3 non-profit created by a group of community leaders to serve the women of Frederick County.
Through our programming we offer women the opportunity to:
- Be heard. Discover how sharing “you” can start to open doors.
- Take action. Dig into your challenges and explore the possibilities. Get the information and encouragement needed for new habits to take root.
- Move forward. Collect small wins that help to create momentum!
- Grow without limits. Enjoy an extended community that remains committed to your success.
Our innovative, effective programs combine the power of one-one-one mentoring, community-building workshops, and opportunities to connect to help women identify and work toward their goals in education, career, and life.
For over 10 years, W2WM mentees have used the power of mentorship to succeed in transition; start, restart, and complete school; explore, start, grow, and advance in their careers; and to build connections.
More than 400 women have worked with W2WM to gain new skills and perspectives, move to the next level, and build their futures!
Our Staff
Tonya Hatosy-Stier, Executive Director
Tonya Hatosy-Stier is the Executive Director for Woman to Woman Mentoring, Inc. Executive Leader, Mentor, and Entrepreneur, Tonya has more than 25 years of experience working collaboratively to build successful businesses in for-profit and non-profit sectors. She enjoys connecting with women, matching pairs, getting to know the mentors and mentees, and watching women soar. She lives in Frederick with her husband and two children.
Amy Savitt, Program Manager
Amy Savitt is the Program Manager for Woman to Woman Mentoring, Inc. Amy has a master’s degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education and has worked in leadership development and with women’s organizations. She has been with W2WM since moving to Frederick County with her husband and two children in 2013.
Andrea Baker, Program Assistant
Andrea Baker is the Program Assistant for Woman to Woman Mentoring, Inc. Since graduating from Hood College in 2013 with a degree in archaeology, Andrea has become a dynamic nonprofit professional with experience in program, volunteer, and event management and consulting. She does it all! As a previous mentee of W2WM, Andrea understands firsthand the value of mentorship and believes wholeheartedly in helping others effectively cultivate mentoring relationships. Andrea resides in Frederick with her husband, James and their two children.
Board of Directors
Executive Directors
Ashley Waters, Chair
Ashley Waters, a central PA girl turned Fredericktonian, is an avid volunteer for many local nonprofits. With degrees in Public Administration and non-profit management, Ashley enjoys helping organizations create and sustain momentum, and she currently serves as Communications Manager for The City of Frederick. As a wife and mother, Ashley is drawn to W2WM, Inc.’s mission as it creates a lasting impact on the future leaders and sustainability of the Frederick community.
Kim Johnson, Vice Chair
Kim Johnson is the Director of Development at Mount St. Mary’s University and previously served as the Assistant Director for Institutional Advancement at Frederick Community College. Kim joined the W2WM board in 2016, but has been involved with the program for many years, most notably on the Clutch the Future Purse Auction Committee. She recently was fortunate to serve as a mentor and has loved watching her mentee succeed at many of her goals. She also serves as president of her church council.
Michele Mills, Treasurer
Michele Mills, CPA, is a Principal at Deleon and Stang CPAs and Advisors. She has over 30 years of public accounting experience and specializes in governmental and non-profit audits. Michele has been on the W2WM board since 2007 and serves as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee. She has served as the Co-Chair for the annual Clutch the Future purse auction for the past four years. Outside of W2WM, Michele also serves on the Board of the Frederick Community College Foundation, Inc. as Vice Chair. Michele was born and raised in Frederick and has two adult children—Emily and Nick.
Jill Browning, Secretary
Born and raised in Frederick City, Jill Browning recently completed a 26-year career as a VP with Wells Fargo Bank where she worked as a business systems consultant manager, technical project manager, technology manager, program manager, process engineer, and e-business systems consultant. Jill’s passion has always been to help individuals grow into the people they wish to become through encouragement, relationships, and connections, making W2WM a perfect fit for her. Jill has served the community through other non-profit boards and outreach at her church. She enjoys visiting her grown children living in NY and VT, singing, reading, hiking with her dog, and being part of the vibrant Frederick community.
Cathy Warner, Past Chair
Cathy Warner is Vice President and Technology Relationship Manager within the Consumer Lending Technology group at Wells Fargo. She has worked in the financial industry for 27 years as a project and program manager, business systems consultant, technology manager, and relationship manager. Cathy joined the W2WM, Inc. board in 2016 and served as the board chair. She also serves as a mentor for the program. Cathy is married with three children and lives in Frederick.
Board Members
Melissa Curtis Cherry
Melissa Curtis Cherry, LCSW-C, is a licensed clinical social worker and has worked in child welfare since 2002. She currently is the Program Manager of In-Home Family Services at the Frederick County Department of Social Services . Melissa has been involved with W2WM since its inception in 2006. She has served as board Chair, secretary, and chair of the Program Committee as well as a mentor for the program. She lives in Mount Airy with her husband and two children.
Veronica Lowe
Veronica Lowe is the Deputy Director of Labor and Employee Relations for MDOT Maryland Transit Administration. She has over 28 yrs in both public and pupil transportation. She holds a BA in Human Resources Management and a MBA in Leadership Studies. Veronica is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Chi Theta Omega Chapter and a W2WM, Inc. mentor. She has one daughter and one grandson.
Laurie Ballow
Laurie is a Product Manager with iHire in downtown Frederick. While her 30-year career path has included sales and small business ownership, she has spent the past 12 years in workforce development, specializing in career coaching and recruitment marketing. In 2015, Laurie joined W2WM program as a mentor and has continued her involvement as a mentor and community advocate. Laurie is the proud mom of two grown daughters and lives with her dog in Boonsboro, MD.
Marjorie Smithhisler
Marjorie Smithhisler is a Senior Business Development Executive with HemaCare Corporation. She has worked in the biotech/research industry for 17 years as a scientist, global product manager, sales associate, and business development manager. Marjorie joined the W2WM, Inc. board in 2019 but began mentoring within the STEM program in 2017. Marjorie enjoys horseback riding, crafting, and reading. She and her partner Jeff live in Gaithersburg, Maryland with their two dogs.
Andi Overton
Andi Overton is the Director of Business Development at Mount St. Mary’s University’s Frederick Campus. She works to bring industry and academia together, helping folx reach their professional goals through academia, workforce development and mentorship. A dedicated public speaker, Andi has dedicated her professional career to serving the underserved while fighting for equality and equity. Andi is a mentor, community volunteer and local activist. A 2019 Emerge Maryland graduate, Andi has two graduate degrees and is working toward her doctorate with Frostburg State University’s Ed.D program at USMH. She lives with her girlfriend and several rescue animals on the North End of Hagerstown in Washington County, Maryland.
Theresa Williams-Harris
Theresa is an entrepreneur, speaker, mentor, author, and committed community servant. She is engaged with many community outreach initiatives. She is the founder of Just A Kind Note and is engaged through the Truist Advisory Board, Tough Waters, LLC Board, Hood College Board of Trustees and Frederick County Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.Theresa is founder, President of GEORGE STREET Services, Inc. providing cyber security, IT and Managed Services, Software Engineering, and Program Management. From 1996 to 2008, she was co-founder, President of Athenyx, LLC, which was acquired in 2008. Prior to Athenyx, Theresa was co-founder, SVP of Patuxent Technology Partners, LLC. She’s held numerous executive and leadership positions of increasing responsibility with numerous technology companies.
Rachael Pashkevich Koontz
Rachael Pashkevich Koontz, Esq. leads the Cybersecurity Compliance Program for Thermo Fisher Scientific, a global biotechnology company, ensuring compliance with external laws and regulations and internal policies. She is a Board Member and Co-Chair for the Women in Business Committee at the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, and was a founding partner of S.H.E. Week. She is also a regular volunteer with Girls on the Run of Mid & Western Maryland and the Community Foundation of Frederick County’s Scholarship Committee. Rachael earned her Bachelor’s degree from Towson University and her Juris Doctorate from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law. She is a Virginia-licensed attorney, and previously worked at a law firm before moving into compliance. She resides in Frederick with her husband and their corgi.
Interested in joining our board of directors or volunteering for one of our committees? Contact us today!
W2WM Timeline of Events
2004 - 2005
The Frederick County Commission for Women (FCCFW) conducted a Needs Assessment Survey that examined the key needs and priorities of women in Frederick County. The study consisted of eight focus groups and a written questionnaire distributed randomly throughout the county. Virtually all of the focus group sessions raised the topic of “mentoring” as an unmet need for women in the county.
2006
FCCFW embarks on creating a mentoring program. A group of three FCCFW commissioners met around a kitchen table to begin plans for a meeting with women leaders in the community to discuss how to make it happen. An Advisory Board is formed and the program is initially named the “Winning Women Mentoring Program of Frederick County.” The FCCFW provides more than $10,000 in seed money raised from their annual golf tournament.
2007
Frederick Community College (FCC) President, Dr. Carol Eaton, agrees to have the program housed in the Office of Adult Services at FCC.
2008
The Ausherman Family Foundation awards Woman to Woman Mentoring a $50,000 matching grant, enabling the program to take the needed steps to launch.
2009
W2WM hires its first staff member, Karen Justice, as the Program Coordinator. In September, the first pilot program class of mentees and mentors launches.
2010
Our second staff member, Jenny Burgard, is hired as a Case Manager and our first annual Clutch the Future purse auction fundraiser is held, raising $26,000. Also this year, the FCCFW received an outstanding recognition award at its national conference for its creation of W2WM.
2011
Our second Program Coordinator, Katherine Douglass, is hired.
2012
Our Social Enterprise, the W2WM Pop-Up Shop, is launched.
2013
Our third Program Coordinator, Tonya Hatosy-Stier, and second Case Manager, Amy Savitt, are hired. The dream team is born…
2014
W2WM begins offering two core programs a year, one in the fall and one in the spring.
2015
W2WM becomes its own 501c3 non-profit organization.