Bridget Belgiovine: Former collegiate athlete – captain, Lacrosse; Currently, Director of Athletics /Chair of Physical Education & Recreation, Wellesley College, MA. Bridget earned a degree from The College of New Jersey. She began her career teaching health and physical education and coaching field hockey and basketball for 8 years in NJ. She completed a master’s degree in Sports Administration from Springfield College and served as assistant field hockey coach, taught Sports Administration and was the assistant athletic director from 1986-1991. From 1991-98 she was Director of Athletics at the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse, a program that won 14 Division III national championships. She moved on to Director of Division III at the NCAA from 1998-2006. Additionally, Bridget has served in professional and service organizations including the ECAC, AAHPERD, NCAA, the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators, National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, the Collegiate Women’s Sports Award and YWCA. She was inducted into her HS Hall of Fame and honored as a Distinguished Alumnae by Springfield. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Springfield College and president of the Alumni Association.
Linda Driscoll: Former high school athlete – captain, Field hockey; Basketball and Softball.Currently, Founder & CEO, Dream Big!. After 24 years in the non-profit and sports management world, Driscoll launched Dream Big! in 2010 to provide girls from economically disadvantaged communities with the equipment, uniforms, footwear and program fees needed to participate in sports and physical activities. Working to empower girls through sports and physical activities, Dream Big! helps to break down the economic barrier that currently prevents girls from being active. Prior to founding Dream Big! Driscoll spent her career working for various non-profits both nationally and internationally including American Red Cross, Women’s Sports Foundation, Massachusetts Special Olympics and Special Olympics International in South Africa. Linda is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Her charitable work has been recognized by the “Oprah Winfrey Show” and she is the recipient of the 2010 New Initiatives Activating Confidence Award presented by the Women’s Sports Foundation and Boston Sports Woman and the Inaugural 2011 Women’s Initiative LIVE UNITED Award presented by United way of Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley.
Marsha Florio: A Pennsylvania State University graduate and varsity letter winner in field hockey and lacrosse, Marsha was a four-time lacrosse All American and competed on nationally ranked teams throughout her career. An 8-year member of the United States Lacrosse team, Marsha competed on the 1988 tour to the United Kingdom. In 2011, Marsha was appointed Senior Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Athletics, Recreation, and Special Programs at the University of Massachusetts Boston. In this role, she oversees community outreach initiatives, serves as a liaison to campus departments and divisions, and oversees budgets and strategic planning initiatives. Marsha started her career as a secondary teacher and has held numerous positions in educational leadership and school reform. From 2004-10, she was an Executive Director at the charter management company, EdisonLearning, supporting school districts across the country. Her background includes many years as a lacrosse coach, adjunct professor, school district administrator, and consultant.
Brianna Forde: A Boston native and resident, Brianna excelled in high school sports and attended Bentley College on a full basketball scholarship. Among her sports accomplishments, she was a two time All American, four- time Boston City All Star (1997-2000), a three-time member of the Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Scholastic team (1997-1999) and Boston Globe’s class of 1999 Dream Team. Upon graduation, Brianna became an assistant woman’s basketball coach at Curry College and eventually landing another coaching position at UMass Boston. Much of her professional career has been spent mentoring youth and creating resources/opportunities for them to engage in physical activity and educational programs. Currently, Brianna Forde is a Program Associate at the Boston Foundation and oversees the youth sports division and initiative, CHAMPS Boston (Coaches Helping Athletes through Mentoring and Positive Sports).
Angela Hucles: Former 2 Time Olympic Gold Medalist, Professional & Collegiate Soccer Player; Leveraging her experience as an International athlete and sport development ambassador, Angela now works to support athletes transition from sports to life and serves as a motivational speaker. An All-American at the University of Virginia where she played from 1996-99, she was a four-time All-ACC selection and finished her career as the all-time leading goal scorer in Cavalier history with 59 goals. Hucles played all three seasons of the WUSA for the Boston Breakers from 2001-2003. Hucles was a member of four world championship teams for the USA, winning two Olympic gold medals. She made her first world championship roster for the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup, was a 2 time gold medal winner at the 2004 & 2008 Olympics and was also on the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup Team. After retiring from soccer Hucles worked at the firm of CB Richard Ellis in Boston from 2010 – 2012. Angela currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors for Dream Big!
Dr. Megan Leo: Former Collegiate Athlete - Soccer; Attending Physician - Emergency Ultrasound Fellow, Boston Medical Center: Megan was the All Dade County Athlete of the Year, Soccer 1998 and went on to play for UVA Women’s Soccer from 1998-2002. Megan earned herself UVA Intermediate Honors in 2000, ACC Conference Honor Roll, was on the UVA Dean’s List 1999-2001 and Phi Beta Kappa. Her education included: a Doctorate of Medicine from Univ. of Florida; College of Medicine Benjamin H. Kean Traveling Fellowship Scholarship, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2005; International Medical Volunteer: D.R., Nicaragua, Mexico, Bangladesh. Megan’s work and other volunteer experiences include: Boston Medical Center Emergency Medicine Residency (2006-2010): Chief Resident 2009-2010; Pan Mass Challenge, TRIAD Trust (HIV/AIDS prevention NGO) South Africa 2006-2007 and Emergency Medicine elective, St. Croix 2009.
Dottie Lessard-Brownsberger: One of the most inspirational examples of what the human spirit and mind can accomplish. A victor over life's challenges since an early age; at 6 weeks old Dottie was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and doctors told her parents not to expect her to live past 2 years of age. Then, when Dottie reached 2, doctors told her parents she would not make it to first grade. Now at 44, Dottie is one ferocious athlete with an insatiable appetite for life. In 1994, she was presented with the opportunity to step into the life she always envisioned forherself. The opportunity, according to her doctor was a 50/50 chance at surviving a relatively new procedure: a double-lung transplant. All she heard was a 50% chance of living the life she visualized herself thriving in. 17 years later Dottie is in the best shape of her life, physically, mentally and spiritually. Following her double-lung transplant Dottie pursued her lifelong dream of becoming an athlete. She has competed in and won multiple Gold Medals in the 100m, 200m sprints at the US Transplant Games between 1996 and 2010. Additionally she competes in the Tri-Fitness Challenge against "able-bodied" athletes. Dottie has been a certified personal trainer, licensed muscular therapist, and is now a wellness and empowerment speaker and coach. Her belief is anyone can accomplish anything with a solid foundation based on health and wellness of the body and mind.
Monique Maye is a native of New York City, where she attended Brooklyn College, and earned a degree in Political Science. She has a Masters degree in Sports Management and a Law degree from Massachusetts School of Law. During her collegiate career, Monique lettered in softball and basketball and then went on to play Professional basketball in Europe. She also coached basketball internationally as well as on the collegiate level at Brooklyn College and Northeastern University. Moreover, while building a client base spanning the national and international markets, Monique, created camps and tours for professional athletes to showcase their talents for international basketball scouts and successfully negotiated programs support from corporate sponsors. Following law school, she established Maye & Associates Sports Management, representing a host of male and female basketball players transitioning from college to professional sports. Over the years her firm has represented NBA, WNBA, and International players. With devotion for developing talent, she also dedicates time to teaching Sports management/marketing, and Marketing of the Arts as an Adjunct Professor at Columbia College in Chicago.
Lauren A. Smith, MD, MPH: A former high school swimmer, volleyball player and track athlete. Lauren A. Smith, M.D., MPH, is the Medical Director and Chief Medical Officer of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, where she provides senior clinical leadership for programs, planning and policy. An Associate Professor at the Boston University School of Medicine, she served as the Medical Director of the Pediatric Inpatient Unit at Boston Medical Center and was a pediatric hospitalist for 10 years. Dr. Smith’s research career has focused on childhood health disparities and the implication of public polices for child health and wellbeing. In addition to numerous peer reviewed papers, she has authored reports on the health impact of affordable housing and energy costs as examples of the effects of public policy on health. She served as a William T. Grant Health Policy Fellow in the office of the Massachusetts Speaker of the House and as a member of the Massachusetts Commission to End Racial Disparities in Health. Her public service also included work as a policy analyst for the Department of Health and Human Services. She completed her education and training at Harvard College, the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine and the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health. She completed her residency and chief residency at Children's Hospital, Boston and her fellowship in General Pediatrics at Boston Medical Center.
Tara Spann: Former high school basketball player and coach. Tara is currently in transition between careers. Most recently, Ms. Spann was an Executive Director responsible for the direction and management of supplier diversity initiatives for Staples, Inc. A key part of her role included directing the supplier diversity program for Staples business-to-business sector serving mid-sized and Fortune 1000 companies globally. Ms. Spann was a key member of the Staples Executive Leadership Team and reported to the President of North American Delivery. Prior to joining Staples, Ms. Spann served as Senior Software Licensing Negotiator, Contract Manager, Minority Procurement Manager and Government Compliance Officer at Harvard University. In addition to Ms. Spann’s professional career, she coached Division III basketball at MIT for 6 years. Additionally, she developed and managed the basketball program at the MATCH Charter Public High School and acted as its Athletic Director and Girls Basketball Coach for 10 years. Ms. Spann is also a board member and the Director of Technology for the Massachusetts Charter School Athletic Organization. Ms. Spann is a 2nd degree yellow belt in eclectic karate and a certified personal trainer, specializing in sports performance.
Sarah Keohane Williamson Attended Williams College in western Massachusetts and played rugby, eventually becoming president of the rugby club. She played #8,which is the last spot in the scrum. After college, Sarah worked for Goldman Sachs in investment banking in New York and London and the US Department of State in Washington. She returned to school to get her MBA at Harvard and then worked for McKinsey in strategy consulting in London, Dallas and Boston for 5 years before moving to Wellington Management. Sarah has been at Wellington for over 17 years and has worked in San Francisco and Boston as well as spending time in many countries of the world for business. She serves on the Board of Williams College and is a member of the Dream Big! Advisory Board. Sarah and her husband have three children who play a variety of sports including sailing, soccer, rowing, squash, tennis and skiing.
