Wendy Oleksiak
Co-President
Wendy spent her summers with her father growing up on Beacon Hill, and later lived on Beacon Hill when she completed nursing school at the University of Vermont and worked at Mass General Hospital.
After she married, she moved to the South Shore with her husband Steve to raise their family. In 2015, Wendy shifted careers to become a Realtor. She has owned homes in Beacon Hill, Hingham, Scituate, Cohasset, and Duxbury. As a top selling agent, named one of Boston’s ‘Top 20 Agents,” Wendy is very familiar with resources ranging from painters to the best restaurants in town, and everything in between!
Wendy’s favorite thing about city life is the fact that you can step out your door and meet a new friend every day. You can often find her walking her dogs on the Esplanade, or enjoying a great cup of coffee at Tatte. She finds life in Boston ever exciting, with easy access to fine dining, theatre, museums and world class sports, all within walking distance.
As Co-President, Wendy wants to share her love for Beacon Hill, help new members of the BHWF settle in, and meet new friends and share their story. She is always just a phone call away!
Shaili Gupta
Co-President
Shaili is a management consultant in a boutique consulting firm based out of Massachusetts. From the very first time that she visited Boston, she wanted to live in Beacon Hill. She now lives on Mt. Vernon St and enjoys every moment of being a part of the wonderful community. She can’t wait to meet everyone this season and enjoy creative get-togethers and activities during these unprecedented times.
Michelle Burian
Secretary
Originally from New Jersey, Michelle has lived around the Beacon Hill area for the past 5 years. She works as an Account Executive at Salesforce and in her free time, loves running along the esplanade, exploring new cities, and spending time with family and friends.
One of Michelle’s favorite aspects of being a member of the BHWF is the opportunity to connect with great women, many of whom she would never have the chance to meet otherwise! The friendships that she’s been able to form through this organization are some of the many reasons why she enjoys it so much.
Michelle is looking forward to this next season of BHWF and further connecting with existing members and meeting the new women who are joining this year!
Ashley (Ash) Scott
Secretary
Ash has lived in the Beacon Hill area for around five years and is an MBA candidate at Boston College in the Carroll School of Management. Ash previously worked in the biopharmaceutical industry as a Director of Business Development and is active in the emerging biotech community of Greater Boston. She also is a board member on the New York Chapter of Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA). In her free time she enjoys oil painting, reading, cooking, and traveling. Ash can’t wait to meet new members at the monthly BHWF Feast with Friends this upcoming season!
Cindy Sullivan
Programs Director
Cindy Sullivan has lived on the Hill with her husband and 18 year-old daughter Holly for almost 20 years. After a long career in Public Relations and Marketing, Cindy decided to take the leap and follow her true passion for health and wellness. Today, Cindy runs her own private in-home personal training and fitness company, specializing in midlife and senior fitness. Her goal is to empower women to feel great, regardless of their age, size or fitness level.
You can often see Cindy and her team making house calls in the neighborhood. Cindy is looking forward to swapping out her workout clothes to join the amazing women of the BHWF!
Melanie Bertani
Programs Director
With over 35 years of marketing experience, Melanie brings a breadth of knowledge around effective branding, communications, social media and public relations across a wide variety of industries. Primary experience includes senior level marketing roles at Tampa General Hospital as well as several advertising agencies with clients located throughout the United States. Other expertise includes event management for small and large non-profit organizations such as Christopher’s Haven (affiliated with MGH) and Horizons for Homeless Children.
Since moving into Beacon Hill permanently in May of 2018, she immediately became actively involved in the Beacon Hill community. Melanie has volunteered as both Marketing Director and Co-Program Director for the Beacon Hill Women’s Forum, serving on the events committee for the BHCA and is now serving her second term on the BHCA Board. Melanie grew up in FL, received a B.S. from Florida State University. From there she lived abroad in Germany and subsequently moved to the Boston area. She raised her family in Sudbury, MA and has two daughters, ages 27 and 30 who live abroad.
Lisa Purcell
Membership Director
Lisa and her husband Howard moved to Boston in 2018 and live in Beacon Hill.
Lisa grew up in Michigan and graduated from the University of South Florida. Over the years, Howard’s career has taken them to Miami Beach, Jacksonville, Dallas and Boston. Highlights in Lisa’s career include publishing, advertising sales and co-owning an antique and home accessory store. Currently she is renovating a house in Cape Cod and getting away as often as possible to visit their children Hallie and Connor who live in Los Angeles – and son Cameron, his wife Caitlin, and three young grandchildren who live in St. Louis.
Sarah Hidey
Membership Director
Sarah Hidey is the Chief Development Officer at RefugePoint, a global nonprofit that finds long-term solutions for at-risk refugees. Originally from Maryland, Sarah spent 12 years in Denver as a social impact consultant before moving to Beacon Hill in March 2020.
In her free time she loves exploring New England, taking walks in the Public Garden and the Esplanade, cooking, standup paddleboarding, cheering for the Ravens, and spending time on the beach. She has a thirst for exploring new places, experiencing new cultures, and trying new foods; her favorite thing to do is to travel – whether to the North Shore or across the ocean. She is always planning her next trip!
Ariana Hanley
Marketing Director
Ariana Hanley is a Financial Advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors. Ariana is dedicated to assisting clients with investment and retirement planning needs. Ariana graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, and she also captained the Women’s Club Volleyball team. She currently resides on Charles St. in Beacon Hill. When Ariana is not running around the streets of Boston, she enjoys walking the beach, playing volleyball, snow- and water-skiing, and spending time with family in San Diego.
Holly Sullivan
Marketing Director
Holly is a Senior at Boston Latin School. She grew up on Beacon Hill having attended BHNS before entering BPS including Warren Prescott and the Eliot Innovation Schools. An avid volleyball player, Holly is a member of the Boston United Volleyball Club and on the Varsity team at BLS. She lives on Phillips Street and helped found the Friends of the Phillips Street Play Area when she was just five years old. Holly works at Upstairs Downstairs Antiques helping the Charles Street shop in many areas including social media. She is also an intern for the Boston based brand Lilibridge, where she is learning business basics from two female founders. In her role with the BHWF, she especially loves filming and creating videos to help promote many of the local Beacon Hill small businesses. Holly is looking forward to learning and working with the talented women of the BHWF.
Richelle Gewertz
Connections Co-Director – Feast with Friends, Backyard Adventures, Sunday Funday and
Laughs & Libations
Richelle Gewertz is an Architect at Elkus Manfredi Architects. Smitten by the old-world charm of Beacon Hill, Richelle has had her share of experiences living in a few of the North Slope’s tiniest and antiquated apartments, from former tenements to converted townhomes, from apron sinks to clawfoot tubs. Her appreciation has led her to fight for the preservation of the neighborhood by participating on the Civic Association’s Architecture and Zoning & Licensing Committees. Richelle joined the Women’s Forum to forge lasting friendships with those in the community, and is excited to oversee (as well as attend!) the many monthly Connections events that bring our members together over drinks, feasts, and fun adventures.
Western Philadelphia suburbs born and raised, Richelle moved to Boston after graduating from Syracuse University when a summer internship the year before led to a full time offer. Do ask her where she has discovered the most authentic cheesesteak outside Philly—hint: it’s on the Hill!
Deb Peterson Schwartz
Connections Co-Director – Book Group
Deb returned to her Boston roots five years ago after a 15-year stint in Connecticut. She lives on Beacon Hill and you can often see her walking or running in the neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods. She is employed as a commercial real estate portfolio manager at Barings and is a life-long reader. Deb believes books are a catalyst to connection and hopes to see you in the welcoming, low-pressure, non-academic BHWF book club this year.
Colleen Stadelmann
Finance Director
Colleen is the head of finance for Audley Travel North America, located nearby on N Washington St. She has worked in over 40 countries at her time with General Electric and Boston Consulting Group. She most recently completed her MBA at MIT. She has been a Beacon Hill resident for the last 4 years, living on Anderson St, and is excited to get more involved with the neighborhood she loves!
Colleen grew up in southern Rhode Island and loves to spend time on the water in the summer and up on the New Hampshire slopes in the winter!
Jayne Damesek
Public Relations
Jayne is a marketing consultant who has built a career driving marketing strategies for tech, consumer, and healthcare companies. She spent several years on Beacon Hill and in Back Bay, then moved to the suburbs with her husband to raise their family. With children off to college and beyond, it was time to return to enjoy Boston’s vibrant city lifestyle.
The Beacon Hill Women’s Forum has been a launching point for many new friendships and connections; there will be much to share about our community this season!
Marianne Salza
Marketing – Beacon Hill Times Articles
Marianne Salza is a writer and photographer for the Beacon Hill Times. She has been a photojournalist since 2012, when she graduated from Emmanuel College; and has since reported for Boston-area and North Shore newspaper publications, documenting on civic engagement, history, religion, education, visual and performing arts, and environmental advocacy.
Marianne loves the Romantic charm of Beacon Hill – the elegant homes and gas-lit street lamps that line the brick sidewalks. As a BHWF member, she hopes to continue learning about the passionate, diverse women of the organization, and sharing their inspiring stories of determination on their journeys to success.
Jessie Stayley
Audiovisual Directoress / Program Director
Jessie is a relatively new resident to Beacon Hill, moving to Boston from Atlanta in February 2020. She’s settled in quite nicely over on Grove Street with her boyfriend and English bulldog, Stella.
During the day, she is a data scientist for the U.S. Air Force and at night she is pursuing her MS in Analytics from Georgia Institute of Technology (though she’s a Georgia Bulldogs fan through and through!)
When not studying, Jessie enjoys running, playing tennis, exploring cute coffee shops all over Boston, and snuggling up on the 5th floor of the Athenaeum with a good book.
Advisory Board
Lisa Macalaster
Advisor & Founder
Lisa a natural “connector” in both work and play. She absolutely loves bringing people together! In 1991, as a young mother, she created the Wellesley Mothers Forum. When she and her husband Spencer moved into Boston in 2010, she used the same model to create the Beacon Hill Womens Forum. During the day Lisa helps people buy and sell homes with Coldwell Banker, Beacon Hill and in the evening she sings with either The Beacon HIll Jazz Quartet or The B/Sides. She finds joy in guiding each new BHWF board as they add their own style year by year and continue to keep the BHWF a warm and welcoming place where friendships thrive!
Sandra Gilpatrick
Forum Advisor/Past President
Sandra Gilpatrick has been a resident on Beacon Hill for over 15 years. She lives at 15 Ridgeway Lane with her husband, George and a son at boarding school.
She is an adventurous recipe explorer and enthusiastic urban gardener. She is a business owner devoted to the unique financial needs of women helping Gen X and Millennial women understand and manage their finances (www.sandragilpatrick.com). Financial literacy for women is an important mission in her practice. Sandra makes a concerted effort to find time to enjoy her friendships and volunteer in her community.
Sandra was the former President of the Beacon Hill Women’s Forum 2016- 2018. She is a board member of the Beacon Hill Garden Club, and former Beacon Hill Civic Association annual gala chair.
Senaida Bautista
Forum Advisor/Past President
Senaida has been an active member of the Beacon Hill Women’s Forum (BHWF) since its founding. She was the former President of the Beacon Hill Women’s Forum 2018-2020 and has served on the Board of Directors, as Treasurer, and is now a Board Advisor.
Senaida lives with her sweet daughter Adeline and her fierce Pomeranian Savannah. Together they are always in search of beautiful parks and gardens to enjoy.
Amy Tsurumi
Forum Advisor/Past President
Amy is an Assistant Professor at the Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School. Her postdoc fellowship advisor was Dr. Laurence Rahme, with whom she presented at the April 2018 Forum. Originally from Tokyo, Japan, she moved to Beacon Hill in 2013, and is eternally grateful to the BHWF for the vast opportunities to connect with many wonderful people in her new hometown.
At the BHWF, she has previously served roles as Co-President, Beacon Hill Times contributor, and Membership Director. In the neighborhood, she also enjoys organizing science seminars at Beacon Hill Seminars. An avid opera enthusiast, she also loves all the exceptional performances and activities at the Boston Lyric Opera.
Debra Hussey
Co-President
Debra and her family moved to Beacon Hill last year via Concord, Dallas, D.C. and Florida. She joined BHWF as soon as she moved to the city and is thankful for all the amazing women she’s met through the organization. After 25+ years as an executive in the senior living industry, Debra now spends her time as a volunteer literacy coach for the sweetest group of kindergarten students in the Boston Public Schools.
She is passionate about helping young children develop a life long love of reading. An avid reader herself, Debra also loves to travel, play tennis, ski, yoga and spending time on the lake with her husband and 3 children. She is a die hard Tar Heel fan, receiving her BS in Public Health from UNC Chapel Hill and a MBA from George Washington University.
Justine Laugharn
Finance Director
Justine and her husband downsized from Winchester to the Back Bay and she joined the BHWF in 2018. She is one of the Principals of Covaris, Inc., a small bio-tech company located in Woburn where she runs the Finance, IT and Administration teams. In 2019, Justine was a speaker for BHWF, “Yes, You Can Have It All”.
She holds a BS, Biology from Boston College and MS, Computer Engineering from Boston University. She serves on the board of the Barnstable Land Trust, Cape Cod, and the Wright-Locke Farm Land Trust, Winchester. Justine has two grown two children, one in NYC and one in Maryland, and a well-loved Corgi that enjoys walks along Commonwealth Ave.
Justine is an avid reader, loves to cook and eat well, is a hiking and natural history enthusiast, enjoys all the arts and is an active patron, and has a love-hate relationship with her golf clubs. She is thoroughly enjoying city-life and will continue to spend many glorious days on Cape Cod.
Kristin Owens
Membership Director
Kristin is as an accomplished, results-oriented, and strategic commercial leader with almost two decades of diverse pharmaceutical experience. Her expertise includes sales, operations, life cycle management, brand strategy and execution, and business development. She has US and global experience across numerous therapeutic areas in both broad spectrum and rare diseases. Kristin has managed portfolios from launch through authorized generics and appreciates the need for a long term, proactive approach to lifecycle management. She currently consults for The NemetzGroup, a life sciences commercial and strategy advisory firm.
Kristin is a resident of Beacon Hill and holds a B.A. in Economics from Boston College and an MBA in Finance from Villanova University. When she is not giving back to her local community, she enjoys traveling and leafing through books on interior design. She joins the BHWF Board this year as a Membership Director, and is eager to share the joys and benefits of a BHWF membership with anyone interested in learning more about the group.
Aliza Samuels
Program Director
Aliza is a REALTOR with Coldwell Banker in Beacon Hill. Having lived in nearly every neighborhood Boston has to offer, Aliza’s knowledge of the city and its properties is thorough and detailed. These days, she proudly calls Beacon Hill her home. She resides in the Sunflower Castle with her husband and two children, who attend the Eliot School.
Renee Walsh
Neighborhood Narrative Director
With 25 years of Healthcare Marketing, Business Development & Sales Experience, Renee was transferred for work to Boston in 1998 where she discovered our special neighborhood, 20 plus years later, Renee, her husband Michael & Son, Hutch (8) call Beacon Hill Home. Renee is the Founder of RPW Consulting. She is President of the State Alliance for Homecare’s Political Action Committee and serves as an Advisor to Mutual of America Retirement Services and Epione Healthcare.
Much of Renee’s free time is spent with her family and raising funds for a worthy cause. She is passionate about keeping Beacon Hill a viable community to reside. Renee is an active Member of the Beacon Hill Garden Club, the Vincent Club and is a Board Member of the Beacon Hill Civic Association.