Meet our Board of Directors
and
Cancer Parent Committee
Front Row (left to right) John Herron, Lisa Henry, Laura Leporati, Andie McConnell, Stephanie Johnson. Jeremy McCommons
Back row: Lisa Lapier, Lynne Richardson, Helen Jarrett, Carole Boniface, Mary Beth Gass and Courtney Harris
Not Pictured: Jenna Cooley, and Aimee Hardy
Carole Boniface serves on our Cancer Parent Committee. She graduated from the U of Fla in 1968 with a B.S. in Physical Education and Health. She also has Master's work in Interior Design from Virginia Tech and Master's work in Education at MWU. She had an Interior Design business for 10 years She is the mother of five children and grandmother of twelve. enjoy horseback riding, bridge, Scrabble and farm work.
Jenna Cooley is a voting member of the board and serves on the Strategic Planning Committee. Jenna has over 20 years of experience in education, non-profit leadership, counseling, and coaching. She has served children and families in various roles including the coordinator of bereavement programs and Camp Rainbow for Hospice Support Care. Jenna is the founder of Jenna Cooley Coaching where she is passionate about her role as a business, leadership, and personal development coach and trainer. Jenna has an M.Ed. in Counseling from VCU and a professional coaching certification from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching. Jenna and her husband, Steve, have a "beautifully blended" family with one grown son, two sons who are freshmen at VT and VCU, and a daughter who is a junior in high school.
Mary Beth Gass is a voting member of the board and serves on the Marketing and Promotions Committee. While she is new to Fairy Godmother Project, she is not new to volunteering and the non-profit world. She has served in a variety of volunteer roles from Key Volunteer Advisor in the Marine Corps, to Semper Fi Fund, to Young Marines as well volunteering at church and her children's classrooms when they were younger. She also spent many years as a Labor and Delivery nurse, taught Lamaze classes and was a clinical instructor at Arizona Western College. Most recently, she was the Volunteer Coordinator for Hospice Support Care. During her time at HSC, she also ran the auction portion of their annual gala. Mary Beth has a BS in Nursing from Vanderbilt University.
Lisa Henry is a voting member of the board and serves as chair of the Marketing and Promotions Committee. She has nearly 20 years of experience with non-profit, volunteer organizations, including leadership roles for the American Heart Association and United Way. She has served on planning committees for national events most recently on the Society of Healthcare Strategy and Market Development national conference planning committee. Lisa has 17 years of marketing experience and is currently the Director of Marketing and Health Link Call Center for Mary Washington Healthcare. She and her husband, Kevin, have three children and live in Stafford, Virginia.
John Herron is as a voting member of the board and serves as chair of the Finance Committee. He works in Facilities Management at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Randolph Macon College in Ashland, Virginia. As a Fredericksburg native, John spends his volunteer time working with local organizations for projects that stay within local community. In his free time, John enjoys working on his farm in King George County.
Helen Jarrett serves as a voting member of the board and serves as chair of the Volunteer Coordination Committee. As a volunteer, she has been with FGP since late 2011 and became a Lead Volunteer and the Meal Coordinator in February of 2012. Because pediatric cancer touched her life in high school when her best friend was diagnosed with a brain tumor, she always wanted to give back to the pediatric cancer community and Fairy Godmother Project has been a perfect way of doing that. In addition, Helen has been involved with the local community through a mom’s club and with the local chapter of Le Leche League. Currently she works part time as an RN at Mary Washington Hospital on the cardiac unit. Her full time job is raising her four young children. Helen holds a BS in Nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University. In her “spare” time she loves reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Stephanie Johnson manages Fairy Godmother Project’s Photography Program and is a voting member of the board. As Director of Photography, she is on both the Volunteer Coordination Committee and Executive Committee. She has 10 years experience in residential treatment, home-based services, and therapeutic foster care as a therapist/case manager and 7 years experience as owner/photographer of a small portrait photography business, BabySnap Photography . Additionally, she has volunteered her services to Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep and the Downs Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia. She has a BA in Psychology from Radford University and an MA in Counseling from Marymount University. Stephanie has 5 kids and loves to read and run.
Lisa Lapier is as a voting member of the board, serves as Volunteer Coordinator, and sits on the Volunteer Coordination Committee. Lisa has 2 children and enjoys running and boating. She began working with at-risk children and families in 1995, first in residential treatment, then as a therapeutic foster care case manager before working in the psychiatric hospital inpatient and intensive outpatient programs. Lisa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is currently employed in private practice providing individual and family outpatient psychotherapy services to children, adolescents, and adults. Lisa received her BA from Indiana University of PA and her Masters in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Laura Leporati serves as Chairman of the Board and is a voting member. She has also served as Coordinator of the Richmond Chapter since January of 2012. She has extensive experience working with children with chronic illnesses and disabilities and their families. Settings of experience include a children’s hospice, a pediatric unit in a hospital, a long-term behavioral hospital, camps for children with disabilities, schools, and low income homes. Additionally, she was a small business owner for six years and therefore has experience in business development and fundraising. Ms Leporati has a BS in Psychology from James Madison University and an MS in Rehabilitation Psychology and Counseling from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Laura enjoys exercise, adventure in the outdoors, and spending time with her husband and 2 young daughters.
Jeremy McCommons is as a voting member of the board and serves on the Strategic Planning Committee. He is the co-owner of Foundation Companies and MacDoc Realty in Frederickburg, VA. Jeremy has previously served as the President of a Business Networking International chapter, volunteered for the Special Olympics, SRM Memorial Bike Ride, and has served in multiple areas within his church including: helping to coordinate and run a community service event, participating on a building committee and coaching Lifegroup leaders. Jeremy received a B.S. in both Marketing and Business Marketing Education.
Andie McConnell oversees all programs of FGP and as Executive Director is not a voting member of the board. She also serves as Fredericksburg Area Coordinator and a Lead Volunteer. She has 3 years experience in fundraising, volunteer recruitment, and working with pediatric cancer families. Her nine years as a teacher in K-8 provide her with experience in community relations, planning, leadership and training. She holds a BA in Elementary Education and English Literature from SUNY Potsdam and an M. Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Grand Canyon University. Andie enjoys reading, running and time with friends, and family especially her three school-aged children.
Sue Ann Oltman serves as a voting member of the board. She has over 25 years of experience supporting military personnel and their families. This experience includes acting as an adviser to unit families during deployments, mentoring military spouses, and managing family readiness volunteers. Additionally, she has been involved with organizing and managing fundraisers for various non-profits. She is currently a small business owner. Mrs. Oltman has a BA in History from San Diego State University.
Lynne Richardson is a voting member of the Board and serves as chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. She currently serves as Dean of the College of Business at the University of Mary Washington and has held similar roles at Ball State and Mississippi State. Lynne earned a PhD in Marketing from the University of Alabama and has taught a variety of marketing courses over her career. She resides in Spotsylvania County with her husband, Woody, and high school senior, McKay. Lynne's two oldest children are students at the College of William & Mary and University of Arkansas.
Jenna Cooley is a voting member of the board and serves on the Strategic Planning Committee. Jenna has over 20 years of experience in education, non-profit leadership, counseling, and coaching. She has served children and families in various roles including the coordinator of bereavement programs and Camp Rainbow for Hospice Support Care. Jenna is the founder of Jenna Cooley Coaching where she is passionate about her role as a business, leadership, and personal development coach and trainer. Jenna has an M.Ed. in Counseling from VCU and a professional coaching certification from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching. Jenna and her husband, Steve, have a "beautifully blended" family with one grown son, two sons who are freshmen at VT and VCU, and a daughter who is a junior in high school.
Mary Beth Gass is a voting member of the board and serves on the Marketing and Promotions Committee. While she is new to Fairy Godmother Project, she is not new to volunteering and the non-profit world. She has served in a variety of volunteer roles from Key Volunteer Advisor in the Marine Corps, to Semper Fi Fund, to Young Marines as well volunteering at church and her children's classrooms when they were younger. She also spent many years as a Labor and Delivery nurse, taught Lamaze classes and was a clinical instructor at Arizona Western College. Most recently, she was the Volunteer Coordinator for Hospice Support Care. During her time at HSC, she also ran the auction portion of their annual gala. Mary Beth has a BS in Nursing from Vanderbilt University.
Lisa Henry is a voting member of the board and serves as chair of the Marketing and Promotions Committee. She has nearly 20 years of experience with non-profit, volunteer organizations, including leadership roles for the American Heart Association and United Way. She has served on planning committees for national events most recently on the Society of Healthcare Strategy and Market Development national conference planning committee. Lisa has 17 years of marketing experience and is currently the Director of Marketing and Health Link Call Center for Mary Washington Healthcare. She and her husband, Kevin, have three children and live in Stafford, Virginia.
John Herron is as a voting member of the board and serves as chair of the Finance Committee. He works in Facilities Management at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Randolph Macon College in Ashland, Virginia. As a Fredericksburg native, John spends his volunteer time working with local organizations for projects that stay within local community. In his free time, John enjoys working on his farm in King George County.
Helen Jarrett serves as a voting member of the board and serves as chair of the Volunteer Coordination Committee. As a volunteer, she has been with FGP since late 2011 and became a Lead Volunteer and the Meal Coordinator in February of 2012. Because pediatric cancer touched her life in high school when her best friend was diagnosed with a brain tumor, she always wanted to give back to the pediatric cancer community and Fairy Godmother Project has been a perfect way of doing that. In addition, Helen has been involved with the local community through a mom’s club and with the local chapter of Le Leche League. Currently she works part time as an RN at Mary Washington Hospital on the cardiac unit. Her full time job is raising her four young children. Helen holds a BS in Nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University. In her “spare” time she loves reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Stephanie Johnson manages Fairy Godmother Project’s Photography Program and is a voting member of the board. As Director of Photography, she is on both the Volunteer Coordination Committee and Executive Committee. She has 10 years experience in residential treatment, home-based services, and therapeutic foster care as a therapist/case manager and 7 years experience as owner/photographer of a small portrait photography business, BabySnap Photography . Additionally, she has volunteered her services to Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep and the Downs Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia. She has a BA in Psychology from Radford University and an MA in Counseling from Marymount University. Stephanie has 5 kids and loves to read and run.
Lisa Lapier is as a voting member of the board, serves as Volunteer Coordinator, and sits on the Volunteer Coordination Committee. Lisa has 2 children and enjoys running and boating. She began working with at-risk children and families in 1995, first in residential treatment, then as a therapeutic foster care case manager before working in the psychiatric hospital inpatient and intensive outpatient programs. Lisa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is currently employed in private practice providing individual and family outpatient psychotherapy services to children, adolescents, and adults. Lisa received her BA from Indiana University of PA and her Masters in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Laura Leporati serves as Chairman of the Board and is a voting member. She has also served as Coordinator of the Richmond Chapter since January of 2012. She has extensive experience working with children with chronic illnesses and disabilities and their families. Settings of experience include a children’s hospice, a pediatric unit in a hospital, a long-term behavioral hospital, camps for children with disabilities, schools, and low income homes. Additionally, she was a small business owner for six years and therefore has experience in business development and fundraising. Ms Leporati has a BS in Psychology from James Madison University and an MS in Rehabilitation Psychology and Counseling from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Laura enjoys exercise, adventure in the outdoors, and spending time with her husband and 2 young daughters.
Jeremy McCommons is as a voting member of the board and serves on the Strategic Planning Committee. He is the co-owner of Foundation Companies and MacDoc Realty in Frederickburg, VA. Jeremy has previously served as the President of a Business Networking International chapter, volunteered for the Special Olympics, SRM Memorial Bike Ride, and has served in multiple areas within his church including: helping to coordinate and run a community service event, participating on a building committee and coaching Lifegroup leaders. Jeremy received a B.S. in both Marketing and Business Marketing Education.
Andie McConnell oversees all programs of FGP and as Executive Director is not a voting member of the board. She also serves as Fredericksburg Area Coordinator and a Lead Volunteer. She has 3 years experience in fundraising, volunteer recruitment, and working with pediatric cancer families. Her nine years as a teacher in K-8 provide her with experience in community relations, planning, leadership and training. She holds a BA in Elementary Education and English Literature from SUNY Potsdam and an M. Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Grand Canyon University. Andie enjoys reading, running and time with friends, and family especially her three school-aged children.
Sue Ann Oltman serves as a voting member of the board. She has over 25 years of experience supporting military personnel and their families. This experience includes acting as an adviser to unit families during deployments, mentoring military spouses, and managing family readiness volunteers. Additionally, she has been involved with organizing and managing fundraisers for various non-profits. She is currently a small business owner. Mrs. Oltman has a BA in History from San Diego State University.
Lynne Richardson is a voting member of the Board and serves as chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. She currently serves as Dean of the College of Business at the University of Mary Washington and has held similar roles at Ball State and Mississippi State. Lynne earned a PhD in Marketing from the University of Alabama and has taught a variety of marketing courses over her career. She resides in Spotsylvania County with her husband, Woody, and high school senior, McKay. Lynne's two oldest children are students at the College of William & Mary and University of Arkansas.