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, which serve women ages 18-60, combine the power of one-on-one mentoring, community-building workshops, and opportunities to connect to help women identify and work toward their goals in education, career, and life.

For nearly 15 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. We are proud to be part of over 500 women’s stories.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

We acknowledge and celebrate the diversity of our community. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to our mission, and we embrace both our common humanity and what makes each of us unique. We foster belonging for all and amplify women’s voices, affirm their value, and spotlight their strengths. We recognize that our commitment to DEI is ongoing work and requires continuous reflection and education.

To learn more about our process and next steps, click the button below.

Our Staff

Amanda Whitener, Executive Director (she/her)

Amanda joined the Woman to Woman Mentoring family in October 2023 and serves as the Executive Director. Amanda holds a B.S. in Biology from Lake Erie College in Ohio and completed her Master’s work in Biology at Illinois State University. In 2021, she graduated with an Executive MBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology. Her previous roles were primarily focused on STEM and informal education, most recently as the Head of Workforce Development with WorldStrides. Amanda resides in Gaithersburg with her husband, dog, and two ancient cats.

Amy Savitt, Senior Program Manager (she/her)

Amy Savitt is the Senior 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. Amy is the mom of  two teenagers.

Alex Gushard-Edwards, Development and Marketing Assistant (she/her)

Alex serves as the Development and Marketing Assistant for W2WM. Alex has worked in hospitality and marketing for most of the last decade. She holds an Associate of Arts in Business Administration from Frederick Community College and is the owner of Marie Rose Photography & Videography in Frederick. She and her daughter live in Frederick.

Eileen Foley-Breck, Program Coordinator (she/her)

Eileen serves as the Program Coordinator for W2WM. Eileen has worked in the service of young people most of her career here in Frederick County, first as an English teacher and then as a youth services librarian. She was also a business owner in Downtown Frederick for ten years, a graduate of Leadership Frederick, and had several opportunities to work with the Woman to Woman Mentoring Program and Clutch the Future. She resides in Urbana, Md with her husband

Board of Directors

Executive Committee

Andi Overton, Chairwoman (she/her)

Andi Overton is the Director of Recruitment for Johns Hopkins University’s Carey Business School. Andi has held previous leadership roles within higher education at Mount St. Mary’s University, Stevenson University, and Excelsior College. Andi’s career focuses on providing a proactive approach to identifying opportunities in higher education for disenfranchised students of all ages. A dedicated Rotarian, Andi has served on several non-profit advocacy membership boards throughout Maryland, with much of her experience culminating in and around Frederick County. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College, Andi also holds graduate degrees in criminal justice and business from American University and Frostburg State University, respectively, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in project management from Mount St. Mary’s University. Andi is in the last year of her doctoral program at Frostburg State University where she concentrates her research in higher education leadership with a focus on the assessment of learning in virtual reality curriculum delivery. An avid Boston Redsox baseball fan, Andi lives in Carroll County with her wife, Stacey, and several rescue dogs and cats.

Sukanya Bora, Vice Chair (she/her)

A certified organization development professional and a certified executive coach, Sukanya has 25+ years of experience in a wide variety of industries including biomedical sciences and health care.

In her current role as a Leadership and Engagement Strategist in Frederick Health, Sukanya provides guidance and expertise on key strategic initiatives that focus on employee development, engagement and retention.  She is passionate about leadership development and firmly believes that leaders, both current and future, play a significant role in shaping and sustaining a culture of continuous learning and growth.  A certified facilitator of The Leadership Challenge® and a Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) certified trainer, she leads and facilitates workshops on a variety of topics focused on organizational and individual learning and success.

Sukanya holds a BS from Sophia College, Mumbai, India. Married to a scientist and a mother of two, she is a resident of Frederick County and is an avid supporter of several local community organizations.

A past board member of Frederick County Society of Human Resources (FCSHRM) for 10+ years, she has served in numerous volunteer leader positions for the organization and as a proud member of one of the first groups of mentors of Woman to Woman Mentoring, she continues to actively associate and support our mission.

 

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.

Ellen Martin (she/her)

Ellen Martin owns and operates Archichoke Project Design & Drafting LLC, and Properties of Archichoke LLC. Ellen has a Master’s degree in Architecture from Southern Illinois University and a  Bachelor’s of Science degree in Architecture from The Catholic University of America. She has 10 years of architectural experience in the design and construction of various architectural structures.

Through Archichoke Project Design & Drafting LLC she supports small scale architecture and engineering firms, general contractors, and homeowners to formulate permit and construction drawings. She is well versed in architectural software including AutoCad, Revit, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite and Blue Beam. Through Properties of Archichoke LLC she invests in and manages rental properties throughout the Frederick area with the goal of maintaining access to an affordable rental market.

Ellen grew up playing softball, basketball, swimming, and tennis. She continued to play softball in college and began competing in Kickboxing, Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at the age of 27. She has recently been invited to compete internationally for the World Kickboxing Association and is also working towards her first MMA competition. While Ellen was living in Denver, Colorado she was invited to train with Elevation Fight Team. Ellen has always loved the physical and mental health benefits of preparing for competitions especially as it translates into her work, home, and relationships.

Ellen lives with her husband and two dogs in the downtown Frederick area. One of her favorite places to work is Gravel and Grind, one of her favorite places to eat is The Orchard, and one of her favorite places to shop is Baileys Treasures.

 

Board Members

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.

Jill Browning (she/her)

Born and raised in Frederick City, Jill Browning spent the majority of her career 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 PA, singing, reading, hiking with her dog, and being part of the vibrant Frederick community.

Kim Johnson (she/her)

Kim Johnson, a 24-year resident of Frederick County, is the Director of Institutional Advancement at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, Bethesda, MD.  She has previously served as the Executive Development at Mount St. Mary’s University and 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 has been fortunate to serve as a mentor and has loved watching her mentee succeed at many of her goals.  Kim is a past board chair and currently serves on the Finance Committee.  She is a regular trivia player and has been playing with the same team for five years.  Kim is a die-hard Pittsburgh sports fan.  She is the proud mom to an adult son and a soon to be college graduate daughter.

Miranda Ducey (she/her)

Miranda Ducey is the Executive Assistant and Board Liaison for the National Recreation and Park Association. Her prior roles included work in both higher education administration and non-profit organizations, including a year of service as an AmeriCorps volunteer. A native Nebraskan, she holds a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her relationship with W2WM began by being a mentee, then mentor, and most recently as a participant in W2WM Circles. She currently lives in downtown Frederick with her two children. Miranda enjoys good music, exercising, and learning about new places to hike.

 

Gloria Waller Coleman (she/her)

Gloria is a Retired School Psychologist who holds certifications in Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia. She began her career as a Residential Counselor in a home for formerly hospitalized psychiatric patients transitioning to community living. Over the course of 40 years, she was a practicing School Psychologist, College Adjunct Professor and Diagnostician for the Virginia Department of Corrections, Youth Services Division.

Gloria is a wife, mother and former Reservist in the United States Marine Corps. Gloria’s prior Board work was with the Hulon Willis Association, an Affiliate of the William and Mary Alumni Association, and the American Association of University Women. She is currently a member of the Diaconate and Connections Ministries at her Church.

Laura Clarke (she/her)

Laura Clarke found the love of life-long learning, teaching and mentoring from her parents, and it is no wonder she finds joy in supporting the W2WM mission since 2015 by serving as a mentor, volunteer, and board member with the organization. In her career, Laura has over 20 years of people and project management experience, and currently works for a retirement community coordinating programs to help residents with dementia transition to memory care.

After graduating from college in 1996, Laura met her husband at her first “real” job in Frederick, and she has lived in almost every Frederick zip code, including downtown, her very favorite! They have two children that she adores, one in high school and one in college, and her furry best friend, Chewy. She loves visiting museums, exercising, listening to good rock music, and playing her cello.

Stacey Collins (she/her)

Stacey Collins is Vice President and Assistant Director of Client and Community Relations for PNC Bank in the Greater Washington Area. In this role at PNC, Stacey is responsible for client, community and employee engagement strategies. Stacey also leads the regional implementation of PNC’s signature philanthropic program, Grow Up Great, a multi-year initiative to help prepare children from birth to age 5 for success in school and life, and champions the importance of investing in early childhood education. Her 30-year career in banking spans marketing, advertising, public relations, channel management, and community engagement.

A resident of Frederick, Stacey loves the beach, reading, travelling, spending time with friends and family, exploring historic sites, and zipping around town in her convertible on a sunny day. In the community, she is a member of the grants committee for the Community Foundation of Frederick County, Inc., Hood College’s Board of Associates, and serves on the Frederick Speaker Series Advisory Committee. Stacey earned her Master of Business Administration from Mount Saint Mary’s University and received a Bachelor of Arts from Hood College.

Karen Justice (she/her)

Karen Justice is retired from a diverse career in avenues across the country and abroad. She has been a teacher and trainer for students from pre-school through adult learning, facilitated organizational strategic planning, promoted counties and scientific innovations, and held other responsibilities through twelve states and three countries. Along with Woman to Woman Mentoring, she has served as executive director or senior leader for several non-profits. As an author, she writes about managing change in books, blogs and articles.

A 2007 graduate of Leadership Frederick County, Karen has served on committees with the LFC Alumni Council, the Tourism Council of Frederick County, the Women’s Business Network of Frederick, the Maryland Governor’s Tourism Industry Conference, Catoctin Forest Alliance and the One Mountain Foundation. She currently serves on committees and the board for the Woman to Woman Mentoring program and her condo association. When she’s not out exploring the world as much as possible, she also volunteers for activities in her church.

While living in Norway, Karen earned her M.B.A. from BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo. Although somewhat of a non-traditional selection following her B.S. in Home Economics from West Virginia University, the choice perfectly fit her life full of change.

 

Melissa Curtis Cherry (she/her)

Melissa Curtis Cherry, LCSW-C, is a licensed clinical social worker who has worked in the field of child welfare in Frederick County since 2002. She currently is the Program Manager of In-Home Family Services at the Frederick County Department of Social Services. Melissa is one of the founding board members of W2WM dating back to 2006 and has served as board chair, secretary, and chair of the Program and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committees in addition to being a frequent mentor for the CORE Program. She lives in Mount Airy with her husband and has two children in high school and college.

Gina Curcio

“It’s easy to spot strong women, they lift each other” (credit unknown). Gina’s career began with strong women who showed her how to use her voice at the table. They showed, by example, how to carry yourself, present ideas, and drive toward goals. Her roles in leadership have given her to opportunity to continue the message to other women. Additionally, as a girls’ soccer coach of 16 years, she has helped instill lessons of hard work, dedication, life-lessons, goal setting, and self-love. Gina’s passion for helping individuals reveal their own strengths and abilities has allowed her to watch others make their career and life aspirations come true. In her career, Gina has over 20 years of leadership experience in sales and marketing, and currently works with companies across the country to bring affordable higher education and professional development opportunities to their employees. Her passion for the success of others has brought her to Woman to Woman where she has been a mentor, and is excited to be part of future of the organization.

Interested in joining our board of directors or volunteering for one of our committees? Contact us today!

W2WM Timeline of Events

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    2004 - 2005

    The Frederick County Commission for Women (FCCFW) conducts a Needs Assessment Survey that examined the key needs and priorities of women in Frederick County.  The majority of focus group sessions raise the topic of “mentoring” as an unmet need for women in the county. 

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    2006

    FCCFW embarks on creating a mentoring program. Around a kitchen table, three FCCFW commissioners create an Advisory Board, and the program is initiated.  

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    2007

    Woman to Woman Mentoring (W2WM) opens its doors in the Adult Services Office at Frederick Community College. 

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    2008

    W2WM is established The Ausherman Family Foundation awards Woman to Woman Mentoring a $50,000 matching grant to help jumpstart our funding. 

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    2009

    In September, the first CORE cohort begins. 

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    2010

    The first annual Clutch the Future purse auction fundraiser is held, raising $26,000. Also, this year, the FCCFW receives an outstanding recognition award at its national conference for its creation of W2WM. 

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    2012

    W2WM Pop-Up Shop is launched. One hundred percent of the revenue earned from this social enterprise supports the programs of W2WM. 

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    2015

    W2WM becomes its own 501c3 non-profit organization and initiates its new program, Mentoring Circles. Mentoring Circles is a peer-to-peer small group opportunity for mentorship. 

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    2018

    W2WM’s Women in STEM Program begins, connecting STEM women students with STEM women professionals from Frederick County as mentors and role models. 

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    2020-2021

    W2WM continues to provide CORE, STEM and Mentoring Circles during the COVID pandemic by offering all services and programs virtually. The Women in STEM program expands to Carroll County thanks to the Kahlert Foundation.  

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    2022

    Mentoring Circles returns in a new way, focusing on women 35+ and is now free. 

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    2023

    Alumnae Advisory Board is instituted to expand services to alumnae of all three programs. 

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