2010 - 2011 SOS Board Members

Felice Joyce – President of SOS

Felice Joyce moved to St. Louis in 1976 to attend Washington University Law School where she earned her law degree and a master’s of law in taxation, in addition to a social work degree in community organizing and social policy. She practiced corporate, tax and estate planning law for 30 years. Joyce participated in many professional boards and associations, as well as community outreach programs through the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. She also is a local real estate entrepreneur. Recently, Joyce served on the nonprofit boards of Congregation Shaare Emeth and Interfaith Partnership, Faith Beyond Walls and on several committees of the Jewish Community Center. She participated in the Common Grant Application Task Force sponsored by the Gateway Center for Giving. She also served on SOS’ Membership Committee and chaired its Grant-making Committee. Joyce believes that the SOS experience transforms lives – those of SOS members and participants in programs and services supported by SOS. “Everyone has something to give,” Joyce explains. To her, SOS presents many opportunities for  women: to lead by example by directing charitable giving in a powerful way through pooled funds, to connect with engaging women and to address the needs of the St. Louis community.

Elaine Queathem – Interim Vice President and Website Committee Co-Chair

Elaine Queathem has spent more than 25 years working to make a difference. Her work experience spans multi-billion dollar companies, owning her own company and working for entrepreneurs. She has been involved in telecommunications, financial services, real estate development and cutting edge technology. For Queathem, SOS’ greatest value is the opportunity to give back to the community. A lifelong St. Louisan, Queathem says her philanthropic efforts have broadened her awareness of the tremendous needs existing within the St. Louis region, particularly in serving as Grant-Making Committee co-chair until 2010. “SOS is of extreme importance to me because we fund organizations that are grassroots in nature,” she says. “Funding from SOS is profoundly beneficial.” In addition to her work with SOS, Queathem has served on the board of the Human Rights Campaign and now serves as a mentor with Innovate Venture Mentoring Services and as board chair for Discovering Options. 

Kathy Frost – Secretary and Membership Committee Chair

Kathy Frost is committed to lifelong learning, teaching and making a difference in the community where she lives. Her dedication to ongoing professional development recently earned her a Chancellor’s Certificate in electronic art and publishing from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Frost, born and raised in Charlotte, N.C., earned her bachelor’s degree in history and a secondary education certificate from Duke University. After moving to St. Louis, she taught at Kirkwood High School, then created and led the public relations office at Delta Dental Plan. Frost is currently on the membership committee for the Murray Weidenbaum Center for Public Policy at Washington University. She sits on the board of the Women’s Society at Washington University, and she serves as a fundraiser and community volunteer for Girls On the Run. Her dedication to SOS has led Frost to chair the SOS Membership Committee and volunteer on the Grant-Making Committee. 

Linda Finerty – Treasurer and Finance Review Committee Co-Chair

Linda Finerty is an active volunteer in the St. Louis community, serving numerous deserving causes through her involvement with nonprofit boards that include Ready Readers, Aim High, The Missouri Botanical Garden and the Saint Louis Art Museum. She also has served on the boards of The Magic House, Junior League of St. Louis and Moneta Group Foundation. Finerty co-chairs the SOS Financial Review Committee. She believes firmly in the power of women’s gifts and was drawn to SOS because of the potential to have an impact on numerous deserving organizations which improve the greater St. Louis community. 

Terry Bernstein

Terry Bernstein has been involved in nonprofit work since moving to St. Louis to attend graduate school in 1974. She earned a joint master’s degree in social work and counseling from Washington University, and during that time she served as a counselor at Reproductive Health Services, followed by a career as a guidance counselor for elementary school children. She has co-chaired the Kids at Home Program and KMOV’s consumer hotline. Bernstein has held several offices and board positions in the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), Jewish Hospital Auxiliary and the J Associates. Currently, Bernstein is the president of Sitters To The Rescue, an agency that provides childcare for convention attendees, hotels and local individuals. Previously, she participated in the highly-selective Coro Foundation Women in Leadership Program. For Bernstein, SOS is an opportunity to participate in a women’s philanthropy group and to make real and lasting change where the St. Louis community needs it most.

Susan Block

Susan Block is dedicated to enriching lives. As owner of The Designing Block, a home décor and designing business, she adds aesthetic enhancements to her clients’ homes. She also volunteers tirelessly with various nonprofit organizations, including the Saint Louis Art Museum. She sits on the board of directors for Epworth Children & Family Services and the Saint Louis Zoo. Block co-chaired the Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund with Shelby Schagrin for its first three years (2006-2009). “SOS is all about community and our role in it,” she says. “Helping - meeting - learning - granting. It is an incredible feeling seeing first-hand how a grant from SOS can enrich the life and circumstances for many in our community.” 

Leslie Corey – Impact Committee Chair

For more than 30 years, Leslie Corey enriched the healthcare industry during her tenure at Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. Her career spanned information systems and product development, and she most recently served as staff vice president of process improvement to oversee project implementations for individual markets. A native St. Louisan, Corey tutors high school students through the Firm Foundation Program at Restore St. Louis. Volunteering with Restore St. Louis also led Corey and her husband to work with a local refugee family from Liberia. She also volunteers with Rainbow Village and tutors fourth graders at Hamilton Elementary in the city of St. Louis. “I’m so impressed by SOS’ dedication to its mission to make a difference in St. Louis. I’ve learned so much about our local charitable organizations and the needs of our community,” she says. Corey has volunteered with SOS’ Impact and Evaluation Committee and was a team leader for SOS site visits during the most recent grant cycle.

Lynn Dole

A native St. Louisan, Lynn Dole is grateful for the opportunity SOS provides to have an impact on the communities she most cares about. For Dole, former SOS secretary, the opportunity to give back at the level of each participant’s choosing is empowering. “I am proud to be an active member of SOS and hope to encourage more of my friends and neighbors to join our group.” In addition to her work with SOS, Dole volunteers with the Jewish Food Pantry and College Bound, an academic and social resource for promising high school students from under-resourced backgrounds. 

Gretta Forrester-Gaffney

A native St. Louisan, Gretta Forrester-Gaffney spent several years in New York City where she worked in the film and video industry. She returned to St. Louis in 1994 and has raised three children while still producing films and documentaries on subjects of local interest. Forrester-Gaffney is committed to giving back to the St. Louis community. She is involved in numerous arts and education-related nonprofit organizations, including St. Louis City Open Studio and Gallery (SCOSAG), KDHX radio, Black Cat Theater and the local chapter of College Summit, a national platform devoted to mentoring at-risk high school seniors as they write college admissions essays. She welcomes the new challenges and rewards that sitting on the board of SOS will bring.

Laura Friedman – Grant-Making Committee Co-Chair

Laura Friedman worked as a campaign consultant, issues advocate, congressional aide, state lobbyist and community volunteer for more than twenty years. She was the founder of the Charter Schools Information Center, which, like many of the agencies SOS supports, took an idea born around a kitchen table and expanded it into a successful nonprofit organization. She served as the group’s executive director for six years before stepping down in 2004. Friedman understands the structure and operations of emergent nonprofit corporations, as well the special challenges they face, including growth, leadership and development. She was attracted to the mission of SOS because she believes in the ability of small organizations to effect big change.

Linda Grayson – Grant-Making Committee Co-Chair

Linda Grayson’s 35-year career with May Department Stores took her from California to New York and finally to St. Louis in 1993. Grayson held a variety of merchandising positions there, serving as senior vice president of product development for her final eleven years. She is very active with SOS, having served on the Grant-Making Committee and participating in site visits to prospective grantees. Her passion for improving the St. Louis community is also seen in her contributions to the Saint Louis Zoo, where she served as co-chair of the logistics committee for the 2009 Zoofari.

Laure Hullverson

Laure Hullverson is co-owner of Cortinovis & Hullverson, a St. Louis-based interior and landscape design firm. Ann Cortinovis also is a member of SOS. With more than 20 years experience in design, Hullverson recently earned her degree in horticulture, expanding her knowledge and services of landscape design. She is very passionate about education and gardening. Hullverson has served on the boards of Salem Methodist Preschool, the MICDS Parents, Reed School and Gateway Greening. She is currently president of the Missouri Botanical Garden Members Board. She also is active in the Ladue Garden Club. Her involvement with SOS includes service on the Education and Membership Committees.

Melissa Jones – Communications Committee Chair

Melissa M. Jones is VP–Development for the World Chess Hall of Fame and the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis. She was recently Director of Development for Jazz St. Louis for five years. Under her leadership, the organization increased its contributed income by more than 135% and tripled its number of individual donors. Ms. Jones has worked in development for the arts, social services, and religious organizations. She previously worked in HR for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri and volunteer management for St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Ms. Jones holds a bachelor of arts in human resource management from Lindenwood University and graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA. She serves on the board of the Spirit of St. Louis (SOS) Women’s Fund, chairing its PR Committee, and is on the board of the St. Louis chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). Ms. Jones’ husband, Joe, is a Senior VP of Talent Development with Fleishman-Hillard. They have three children.

Parker McMillan – Website Committee Co-Chair

For Parker McMillan, SOS represents an opportunity to learn about and address the needs of the St. Louis community. “I have learned first-hand about the needs of our community and I have met some incredible people - dedicated and creative individuals who manage nonprofit organizations that do so much for our community. It is amazing to actually see how much impact a grant can make for these organizations and the people each one serves.” A community activist for more than 15 years, McMillan currently volunteers with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and as a Master Gardener with the Green Center. In addition, she serves on the Missouri Botanical Garden Members Board and Shaw Nature Reserve Advisory Board.

Barbara Nikolychik

Barb Nikolychik has lived and worked in St. Louis for more than 30 years. She has focused her career in the insurance industry and currently works with Huntleigh McGehee as a senior producer in the firm.  With her years of experience working with many different types of businesses, she witnessed the financial impact of the highs and lows of the economy. Barb was inspired by several successful individuals in their efforts to give back to the St. Louis community. As one of the founding members of SOS, Nikolychik saw the opportunity to help make a difference with local grassroots organizations with passion and drive to assist those in need. SOS offers the platform as a local group of women with a vision to make St. Louis a better place to live and work.

Lisa Nouss

Lisa Nouss joined SOS in 2007 and has served on the group’s Grant-Making and Education committees. Her leadership in SOS is an extension of her breadth of service to the St. Louis community. Lisa is currently active in numerous area organizations and boards, including the Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis Children’s Hospital, Washington University Women’s Society, The Women’s Safe House and The Danforth Plant Science Center.

Dorte Probstein

Dorte Probstein was born and raised in Denmark. She moved to St. Louis in 1990 and received her bachelor’s degree in fine art and art history from Saint Louis University in 1994. In 2007 she earned her master’s degree in art history and art criticism from Webster University. Probstein currently serves on the board of directors at Laumeier Sculpture Park, serving as co-chair of the event committee and has co-chaired its last four galas. She is on the board of the St. Louis Public Library Foundation and co-chaired its first major gala Winter White in 2008. Probstein serves on the Contemporary Art Museum board and its education committee, and co-chaired Arts Desire 2007 and Dada Ball 2008. Finally, Probstein and her daughters co-chaired the first annual kids tea party benefitting Forest Park Forever. She recently joined the advisory board for the Chess Museum.

Nancy Rodney – Education Committee Chair

Nancy Rodney is an architect with a long-standing career designing senior living environments. She serves as an expert in residential and long-term care for seniors, where her solid understanding of regulatory and financing issues has contributed to her client’s success. Her interest spans all projects where seniors are able to interact with their built environment. Rodney is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-Accredited Professional and an advocate for sustainable buildings. She chairs the U.S. Green Building Council Missouri Gateway Chapter’s Advocacy Committee and is a member of its Leadership Circle. She is a past president of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) St Louis and serves on the advisory board of the Missouri Growth Association. Rodney chairs the SOS education committee. She finds SOS intriguing because the organization also believes in sustainability, however with people and service versus facilities. She says, “Our region’s success is limited by its most troubled and underserved community. SOS is one way to remove that barrier and lift all boats.”

Shelby Schagrin – Founder of SOS 

Shelby Schagrin, president of Q.E.D. Consulting Group, founded SOS in 2006 and co-chaired SOS with Susan Block for its first three years (2006-2009). Her goal was to bring together a group of women and pool their collective resources of time, talent and money to improve our community. “What I love about SOS is the amazing talent and commitment of members as well as the opportunity to learn about different organizations doing wonderful work in our community. In every possible way, SOS has exceeded my wildest expectations,” she says. 

Mary Schoolman

Mary Schoolman is the co-founder and co-executive director of Educational Multimedia, Inc., a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create preventive educational products, using cutting edge technology, to educate young people about serious health and social issues that directly impact their lives. Schoolman serves on the boards of City Academy and the St. Louis Center for Hearing and Speech. She also chairs the advisory board at the Center of Creative Arts (COCA). She describes her involvement in SOS as one of the most transformational and fulfilling volunteer opportunities she has experienced.

Meghan Sheehan

Meghan Sheehan is the senior client services specialist at Argent Capital Management, a St. Louis-based investment firm that manages domestic equities for institutions and high net worth individuals. Since 2005, Sheehan has led Argent’s client service efforts which include daily client communication, event planning and travel to nationwide conferences. She graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in psychology. A St. Louis native, Sheehan enjoys spending time with family and friends and is actively planning her fall 2011 wedding! She is thrilled to be involved in SOS and finds fulfillment in working in conjunction with such a dynamic group of women to help deserving organizations within the greater St. Louis community. Sheehan volunteers on the SOS communications committee and believes “SOS presents a unique opportunity to work with a talented group of women providing substantial and necessary support to organizations dedicated to advancing our community.”

Vicki Sheehan – Nominating Committee Chair and Immediate Past President of SOS

An attorney and entrepreneur, Vicki Sheehan is the founder and president of Sheehan Investment Services, a real estate investment, development and management firm that develops, owns and manages commercial property, including office properties in St. Louis and Mount Carmel Senior Living Communities in St. Charles, Mo. A lifelong St. Louisan, Sheehan has served on several nonprofit and professional boards, including the YWCA, Junior League of St. Louis, Haven of Grace, Independence Center, Community School and Midwest BankCentre. Sheehan completed her two-year term as SOS president in 2011. “As women, we are all very busy, which is a good thing!  If we are lucky, we also have time available to become more involved in our community,” she says. “The SOS concept of equality and democracy among a group of women who put their minds together in an active and intelligent effort to support the best emerging charities is empowering. It was an honor to serve as SOS’s president, and an absolute pleasure to work together with SOS’s members and our grantee organizations. I look forward to future SOS endeavors on the Nominating Committee.”

Ann Sutter – Finance Review Committee Co-Chair

Ann Sutter is a 24-year veteran of the banking industry, currently working as the senior vice president of commercial lending at Midwest BankCentre and president of WomenConnect, a network for women business owners to forge enduring relationships, offering each other advice, counsel and decision-making support. In the same communal spirit, Sutter says partnering with the women of SOS offers her fulfillment by creating an avenue to reach out to others across the community in ways not easily accomplished by an individual. Sutter also volunteers with a variety of other community organizations, including Horizon Housing Foundation, where she serves as treasurer of the board, Puttin’ for Downs Syndrome, the Finance Council for Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and the development board of Sunnyhill, Inc. 

Gwen Wesley

Gwen Wesley is the former executive director of Great Things, Incorporated, a nonprofit organization working to build up economically-depressed areas of the metropolitan St. Louis area through community development. For Wesley, joining SOS is the perfect complement to her life’s mission. “SOS provides me the opportunity to work with other women philanthropists to meet a broad spectrum of needs in the St. Louis community,” she says. A longtime community volunteer, Wesley currently works with the Central West End-North Development Council and has served as a board member and volunteer for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of St. Louis County. A talented vocal artist, who sings with the In Unison Chorus of the St. Louis Symphony and the Legend Singers of St. Louis, Wesley has volunteered as a reading role model for the St. Louis Public Schools and with the IN ROADS program, preparing college students for corporate internships. She is currently a third-party reviewer for foster care cases in St. Louis County.