2022 – 2023 SOS BOARD MEMBERS

Katy Dowd Mutert – President

Katy Dowd Mutert guides the marketing and communications for Altarum, a nonprofit organization focused on designing and implementing solutions to advance the health of individuals with fewer financial resources and populations disenfranchised by the health care system. With a Master of Arts in Health Communication from Tufts University School of Medicine, Katy is dedicated to using her 25 years of healthcare industry experience to deliver the healthcare triple aim… care better than we have ever seen, health better than we have ever known, at a cost we can all afford. Katy is a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters, is a founding board member of the Holy Redeemer Alumni Association, and was a puppy raiser for Duo, formerly Support Dogs, Inc.

Joni Karandjeff – Secretary

Joni Karandjeff is a community volunteer focusing on children, health, and education. Her interests have included the Women of Achievement, Miriam Foundation, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Women and the Kemper, the Women’s Society of Washington University, Greater St. Louis Book Fair, and the United Way.

Becky Courtney – Treasurer

After retiring from a two-part career in the banking and travel industries, Becky spends her time traveling with friends & family, golfing, reading, and volunteering in various pursuits – her favorite being cuddling babies in Mercy Hospital’s NICU.

Amy Garrison – Immediate Past President/Nominating

Amy Garrison owns Brand Virtue, LLC, which provides marketing and communications consulting to companies ranging from start-ups to large corporations. She also serves on the Southeast Missouri State University Corporate Advisory Board and supports and volunteers for several nonprofit organizations including Safe Connections, Old Newsboys, The SoulFisher Ministries, the Women’s Society of Washington University, and The Fisher Academy.

Ally Melvin – Membership Chair/President Elect

Ally works in Wealth Management helping individuals and families with their banking and investment needs. By aligning clients’ goals and values to their portfolios, Ally can help ensure families feel financially confident that their investments are having a positive impact in the world. Outside of her professional responsibilities, she serves on the Board of the Women’s Society at Washington University and as a community volunteer for the Junior League of St. Louis. Additionally, she serves as a political advocate for CARE. Ally loves traveling, hiking, and taking Callie on evening walks.

Sarah Woodburn – Membership Vice Chair

Sarah has an undergrad in Finance from the University of Illinois and held analyst and management positions in banking, insurance, and healthcare for 8 years before transitioning into a community volunteer in the Chicago suburbs for 25 years. Her favorite roles included grant allocation, board recruitment, volunteer engagement, and health advocacy. Now an empty nester, Sarah is loving her new home in St. Louis, and launching a career reboot as Director of Development at Arch Grants and participating in the Economic Development Partnership’s International Mentoring Program. Sarah enjoys playing pickleball in Tower Grove Park when not in her garden.

Shawntelle Fisher – Governance and At Large Member

Shawntelle is the Founder/CEO of, The SoulFisher Ministries, a non-profit organization whose mission is to respond to the needs of youth with incarcerated parents and to promote restorative justice for those currently or formerly incarcerated. Shawntelle holds Bachelor degrees in Education and Media Studies and Master degrees in Social Work and Divinity; she is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Certified Reciprocal Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CCRAADC). She thrives best when empowering people to be the very best version of who God created them to be. Shawntelle has raised nearly $3 million dollars to support the agency’s mission and while proudly serving as a United Way of Greater St. Louis agency partner.

Nancy Garvey – Education Chair

Nancy Garvey is retired from AT&T where she spent 36 years in sales, marketing and strategic planning. She is an active Emeritus member of the Board of Metro Theater Company and on the Advisory Board at Fontbonne University.

Patricia Crowe – Education Vice Chair

Pat is the director of marketing and communications at the Saint Louis Art Museum for which she directs the planning and execution of all digital and traditional marketing, strategic communications and public relations. She also serves on the board of the St. Louis Media History Foundation and is an alumnus of Leadership St. Louis and Leadership Belleville.

Kathleen Beckmann, Grants Chair

Kathleen Larrimer Beckmann has been an active SOS member for 10 years. She has spent them enjoying the opportunity to see all the fantastic work being done throughout our community by working on the Grants, Multi-Year Grants and Finance Committees. She is the Chief Financial Officer for several early stage biotech companies based in the Cortex district. Kathleen is an avid reader. She and her husband love great food and traveling – especially to see their adult children in Washington D.C.

Joan Gallagher – Grants Vice Chair

Prior to retirement in 2020, Joan was the Manager of Interior Design at Centene. She currently teaches Interior Design classes (1-2 per semester) at STLCC at Meramec. Joan is a native St. Louisan who has lived in Clayton for 27 years. She has three adult stepchildren (all in STL area) and one adult daughter that she’s hoping to recruit to join SOS. Her retirement goals are more travel – centered on National Parks & doing more volunteerism at agencies. Joan enjoys crossword puzzles, paint by numbers.

Carroll Rodriguez – Impact Chair

Carroll Rodriguez is retired from the Alzheimer’s Association where she served as Senior Vice President of Public Policy. She currently serves on the board of STL Village, is a commissioner on the St. Louis County Older Adult Commission, and volunteers at the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Nancy Hamilton – Impact Vice Chair

Nancy is a retired attorney who specialized in corporate governance, securities law and mergers & acquisitions at two major public companies in St. Louis. She is a member of a number of professional associations and most recently served on the board of Grace Hill Settlement House before its merger with the Urban League. She loves gardening, reading, traveling and – of course – her activities with SOS.

Caroli Young – Marketing/Communications Co-Chair

Caroli Young owns N2it Marketing Solutions LLC, it’s a women-owned diversity business and a WBNEC company. N2it provides marketing and communications consulting and creative services to US companies ranging from start-ups to large corporations. She also serves on the board of Women’s Society of Washington University, and Crisis Aid International.

Tasha Borglum – Marketing/Communications Vice Chair

Tasha earned her B.S. in Finance, with an accounting minor, and her MBA with a concentration in Finance from Missouri State University. While in school, she worked as an Investment Assistant at Central Trust and Investment Company. Her role there helped prepare her for the next phase of her life when she joined Moneta Group as a Client Service Manager in 2011. Constantly pursuing opportunities to continue her education and expand her expertise, Tasha earned her CFP® designation in 2013 and was promoted to Advisor in 2014. Outside of her time at Moneta, Tasha enjoys traveling as much as possible, reading and spending time with her husband, family, friends and “pup child” Vivian.

Amy Conard – Technology Chair

Amy Conard is a Data Manager at the American Parkinson Disease Association - St. Louis Chapter and formerly a Senior Vice President of Software Engineering at MasterCard. She is also on Chair of Technology for Philanos. She volunteers regularly with Fit & Food Connection and provides software consulting with other non-profits. She enjoys gardening and walking (and tries to enjoy running), reading, cooking, and doing puzzles.

Cynthia Pilling – Technology Vice Chair

Cynthia Pilling is retired from Mastercard where she was a Principal Engineer leading teams building digital wallet solutions. She continues to participate in Mastercard’s Junior Achievement In a Day program. She has participated as a classroom teacher in the program for 13 years. She also volunteers at the Food Bank, with co-workers from Mastercard. She is an avid cyclist and has traveled on two wheels in many parts of the U.S. and Europe. She and her husband enjoy traveling, golf and tennis together.

Rose Carnes-Bruce – Governance and Member At Large

Dr Bruce is an award-winning educator that has devoted time and energy to serving urban children in educational settings. She has provided effective and positive outcomes for children. For many years, Rose has also worked with her public service sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Saint Louis Alumnae Chapter, by holding leadership positions and actively participating in programming and activities. Throughout the years, Rose has participated with and held leadership positions in other community-based organizations in order to positively impact those in need. She looks forward to broadening the ability to invest further in our community and meet the needs of individuals and families.

Ellen Schapiro – At Large

Ellen Schapiro is retired from working in the Early Childhood field after 25 years as a teacher and then Director of the Ethical Society Nursery School. In addition to her professional responsibilities, Ellen’s organizational experiences include chairing the Program Committee on the Scholarship Foundation Board and chairing the Salon Committee on the Nishmah Board (a program of the St. Louis Jewish Community Center which inspires, engages and supports Jewish women).

Shelby Schagrin – Founder and Initial SOS Co-Chair and Advisory Council Chair

Shelby Schagrin, managing director-investment banking for Benjamin F. Edwards & Co., founded SOS and co-chaired it with Susan Block for its first three years. Her goal was to bring together a group of women and pool their collective resources of time, talent and money to improve our community.

Susan Block, Founding Initial Co-Chair of SOS; Member At Large

Susan Block owns The Designing Block, a home décor and designing business. She volunteers with and sits on the boards of various nonprofit organizations. With Shelby Schagrin, she co-chaired the Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund for its first three years, 2006-2009.