Our Team

Wendy Stringfellow, Executive Director

Wendy Stringfellow, MSW, brings extensive nonprofit leadership, organizational structure and advocacy experience to the Network. Before joining the Network in late 2023, she worked with nonprofit and government leaders to advance land conservation in Maryland, most recently as the President of Forever Maryland. Wendy holds a Master of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her extensive background includes therapist to children, adolescents and adults. She has also taught English to Japanese professionals and volunteered in leadership positions in Dumbarton Middle School’s PTA and athletics programs. Wendy is a 30-year Baltimore County resident and has two adult children who both value the education and academic experiences they received from BCPS. In her free time, Wendy enjoys traveling, playing tennis, hiking and reading.

Jennifer Bergantz, Development Coordinator

As Development Coordinator, Jennifer is responsible for creating and implementing the Network’s fundraising and external communications strategies.

With 20 years of experience in nonprofits and public schools, Jennifer Bergantz is committed to helping children, families and our community. Jennifer holds a MA in History and Museum Studies from University of Missouri St. Louis, and she has previously worked at Port Discovery Children’s Museum, Mother Goose on the Loose, and most recently as CARE Liaison for Featherbed Lane Elementary in BCPS. She is the mom of two awesome BCPS children, two nosy cats and lives in Baltimore County. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys gardening and gaming.

Helen Dyer, Program Coordinator

As Program Coordinator, Helen makes sure the Network schools, and the students within them, have what they need!

Helen has been with the Student Support Network since 2020. Prior to her current role, Helen was the Network’s Administrative Coordinator. Previously, Helen worked as a preschool teacher and has always volunteered her time and energy, with children and their well-being as a primary focus of her efforts. Helen holds a bachelor’s degree in Fitness Management from the University of Delaware and lives in Baltimore County with her husband and their two college aged children.

Lindsey Formosa-O’Dell, Program Manager

In her role as Program Manager, Lindsey oversees our Rooms of Support program, enabling Network schools to feed and equip students for learning.

Lindsey Formosa-O’Dell joins the Network with over 17 years of experience in social services and nonprofit programming, bringing expertise in community outreach, program development, and people management. She has extensive knowledge and experience working with children and families and partnering with school districts. Lindsey holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and has a strong background in trauma-informed communication and workshop facilitation. Lindsey recently relocated to Baltimore from the Tampa Bay area with her husband, adult bonus daughter, and two cats. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, traveling, reading, and exploring her new city.

Jean-Marie Trivedi, Administrative Coordinator

Jean-Marie serves as Administrative Coordinator, leveraging the left side of her brain to manage all of the administrative needs of the Network and keep things moving steadily forward!

Jean-Marie Trivedi first came to the Student Support Network as a volunteer for the emergency food distribution in the spring of 2021. She continued her involvement as a Lead Volunteer for the Care Closet at Dumbarton Middle School in BCPS for several years. With a background in academic advising and over 20 years of active community volunteer and advocacy experience, Jean-Marie has focused much of her career on strengthening school communities and in academic settings. She has a B.S. in Rehabilitation Services Education from Penn State University and a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology in Education from Arizona State University. Jean-Marie and her husband are loyal Baltimore Ravens fans- they have a dog named Lamar! They have lived in Baltimore County for 25 years and their two college-aged children are proud BCPS grads.

Sara Buth Waire, Community Coordinator

Sara’s title of Community Coordinator is apt! She engages our broad network in volunteerism and oversees the collection of countless in-kind donations shared by local groups. And she keeps our community informed by managing our social media.

Sara Buth Waire resides in Baltimore County with her husband and 3 children. She has been an active member on the Dumbarton Middle School PTSA Board since 2018. Sara’s work experience includes nearly 10 years working in corporate and global immigration matters. She currently focuses her work and volunteers efforts with non-profits. In addition to working with Student Support Network, she also teaches yoga and mindfulness to students in underserved school systems throughout Maryland.

Board of Directors

Board President — Ron McDade

Ron McDade brings the Network leadership and strategic and operational development skills from a career of leading and improving not-for-profit organizations in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, focusing primarily in the health care industry. He has also led an organization that serves people with disabilities using therapy and assistance dogs, and has volunteered his leadership in other capacities for education and religious organizations. His role on the Board is to assist with Board development and strategic planning. Ron is a 25-year resident of Baltimore County whose sons benefitted greatly from their BCPS education.

Secretary — Michelle Corbett

Michelle Corbett is a HealthCare Business Transformation Advisor & Program Integration Consultant at CareFirst Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Baltimore and resides in Baltimore County. She has had a strong career as an analytical and transformative healthcare consultant with proven abilities to strategize and execute programs and projects to effectuate change and drive business transformation. Her planning and analytical skills in process/policy development, including strategic planning and contract analysis, are essential skills for planning the future growth of the Network.

Treasurer – Marianna Starostin

Board Member – Gwen Betts

Gwen Betts has taught in Baltimore City and Baltimore County Schools and received the Specialist of the Year award for her work on Visual Arts curriculum from Baltimore City Public Schools. She was the coordinator of the AVID program at Randallstown High School and was also a mentor for the Fine Arts Department there. Gwen is a Founding member of The Baltimore County Highlanders: Professional Black Women in Baltimore County who are committed to work on education issues and other advocacy.

Board Member – Ana Maria Cardenas

A member of the BD Integrated Diagnostic Solutions (IDS) Leadership Team, Ana Maria Cardenas, senior director, global medical affairs, is responsible for engaging Medical Affairs teams in Latin America and Mexico. She represents Medical Affairs on leadership teams for product development, lifecycle management and strategic innovation across a broad range of diagnostic products. Ana Maria serves on various steering teams and mentoring committees, is active in BD associate resource groups, co-leads Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Engagement initiatives for Medical Affairs IDS and was recently appointed Inclusive culture coach for IDS. Ana has been a resident of Baltimore county since 2019.

Board Member – Matt Copeland

Matt Copeland joined KLNB in 2016. Mr. Copeland specializes in retail services in the Baltimore Metropolitan area with a focus on landlord services. Matt’s professional experience includes commercial real estate transaction management, asset management and strategic planning. Currently, Matt is responsible for leasing of over 3,500,000 square feet in the Baltimore Metropolitan Area. Before joining KLNB, Mr. Copeland worked for CBRE for 11 years leading the retail landlord service practice. He was responsible for all leasing functions on a retail portfolio of 3,500,000 square feet. Prior to CBRE, Mr. Copeland was Director of Leasing with Emmes & Company.

Board Member — Robert Glaze

Robert Glaze is an Employment and Benefits Senior Assistant General Counsel at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (“CareFirst”) in Baltimore. He has worked at CareFirst since 2006 and has supported the General Counsel and Boards of Directors advising on corporate governance for CareFirst’s holding company system as well as the Healthworx team, CareFirst’s team that is responsible for innovation and investments in startups. He currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Health Law Section of the Maryland State Bar Association and resides in Baltimore County with his wife and three young children, two of whom attend a Baltimore County public elementary school.

Board Member – Shalini Morgan

Shalini Morgan has served the BCPS community for the past 30 years as a Science teacher. She has served her school in various roles including Professional Development School Coordinator, Department Chair, Team Leader, Equity Liaison and Magnet School Coordinator. She has experience in organizing multiple events with the community at the school level. As a mother, she has also spent countless hours planning and organizing events with the local PTSA. Shalini is excited about giving back to the community that she graduated from!

Founder and Board Member — Laurie Taylor-Mitchell

Laurie Taylor-Mitchell founded the Loch Raven Network in December of 2015 with the help of over 100 volunteers; the Network became a registered non-profit in 2016 and grew to become the Student Support Network in April of 2018. Her local model for assisting students in poverty is being replicated in schools across Baltimore County. She taught Art History at Hood College for ten years, and was active in the PTAs at Hampton Elementary and Ridgely Middle schools, and the PTSA at Loch Raven High School.