We make a great team

Our Story

Based in Charleston, South Carolina, Leveling the Fields exists to help create the next generation of women leaders by using sports as the catalyst. Research consistently shows that girls who play sports develop the confidence, resilience, and leadership skills that last a lifetime, yet too many girls never have the opportunity to play.

That's why we remove the barriers that keep girls on the sidelines. By addressing challenges like cost, access, and limited sports opportunities, we bring high-quality, multi-sport programming directly to schools and communities where it's needed most. Our EmpowerPlay programs are fully funded for Title I schools, ensuring every girl has the opportunity to participate regardless of financial circumstances.

Our team of dedicated volunteers, coaches, advisors, and community leaders is committed to creating opportunities where every girl can discover her potential, build lasting confidence, and develop the leadership skills that extend far beyond the playing field.

Because when more girls play, more women lead.

Our origin story

Executive Board

  • A woman with shoulder-length dark hair wearing a blue sweater and hoop earrings, smiling in front of a blurred background.

    Melyssa Jaskiewicz

    Founder & Executive Director

    LinkedIn

  • A smiling woman with glasses and light brown wavy hair, wearing a black shirt, standing in front of a green plant wall.

    Paige Yeater

    Board President

    Chief Operating Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at Mainstay Technologies

  •  A smiling woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a blue top and a pearl necklace, against a plain gray background.

    Amanda Davis

    Board Secretary

    Director at the Value Institute at MUSC; Registered Dietitian

  • Susie Paisley

    Board Treasurer

    Chief Financial Officer for OMATS Brands, LLC

  • Nina Sossamon-Pogue

    Board Member

    Speaker & Owner, NSP Communications 

Our Team

  • Wendy Petty

    Head of Development

    Chief Revenue Officer at WorkFusion

  • Jenn Goodrich

    Head of Programs

    Served as the Executive Director for the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) for 23 years

  • Sydney Conrad

    Volunteer Manager

    Associate Director of Student & Community Engagement, Honors College, College of Charleston

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    Jalonna Robinson, MPH, CHES

    Program Evaluation & Special Projects

    Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and public health professional in Women's Health Research at MUSC

  • A smiling woman with long dark hair, wearing a black and white top and a necklace, against a dark grey background.

    Morgan Flynn

    Grants

    Assistant Director of Compliance for the College of Charleston Athletics Department

  • A woman wearing a white dress and a blue sash with orange trim stands on a deck near the ocean, smiling at the camera.

    Mary Rockelman

    Marketing/Public Relations

    Marketing Specialist focused on social media and public relations

  • Woman with short dark hair smiles in a patterned halter top. She wears big earrings and glasses on her head.

    Dr. Cristina Esposito

    Operations/Finance

    Director of Products for ChiroHD; Former naval officer and current owner of two businesses in the health and wellness sphere

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    Emily Vogelgesang

    Programs

    Energy Solutions Manager for Line 45; Former environmental engineer, environmental educator, and teacher trainer.

  • McKinley Pollard

    Program Systems

    Marketing strategist in public infrastructure and civic tech, MBA candidate, and lifelong athlete committed to community impact

  • Mackenzie Kramer

    Marketing Operations

    Former college basketball player, passionate about helping young girls in sports

  • Meagan Burke

    Community Engagement

    Marketing Growth Manager at MedSuite

  • John Samuelson

    Marketing Team/Google Ads Expert

    COO, Digital Ignite; Girl Dad

  • Melissa Areiza

    Impact/Community Engagement

  • Lorraine Woolf

    Grants

Advisory Council

  • A woman with shoulder-length dark hair wearing a blue sweater and hoop earrings, smiling in front of a blurred background.

    Laura Humphreys

    Director, Partnership Marketing at Baltimore Ravens

  • A smiling woman with glasses and light brown wavy hair, wearing a black shirt, standing in front of a green plant wall.

    Melissa E. Milanak, Ph.D.

    Founder, MIND Impact Consulting

    Associate Professor, Sleep & Anxiety Treatment and Research Program (SATRP) at Medical University of South Carolina

  •  A smiling woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a blue top and a pearl necklace, against a plain gray background.

    David Ricca

    Founder & CEO of Vamos Venture Partners; former college and pro soccer player; founded Just Live Soccer to support underserved kids

  • Kai Murray

    Director, Season Ticket Sales & Business Development, Kansas City Royals

  • Cosmina Schulman

    CEO of Crush Monday, Principal at Amazon

  •  Katy Werner

    Katy Werner

    Senior Enterprise Legal Sales Executive at LegalOn Technologies

  • Amy Pope Latham, LCSW

    Coastal Beaches Therapy
    Sports Mental Health & Performance Specialist, Certified EMDR Therapist
    Member of EMDRIA, American Board of Sports Psychology, PAADS, ASWIS, Women Leaders in Sports Foundation and US Olympic and Paralympic Committee

  • Toni Will

    General Manager K-Wings, Tedx speaker, Entrepreneur, Podcaster, Lifestyle Coach, Professional Development Coach, 2x Guinness World Record holder

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