Home » About Us » Our Team » Staff
Print This Page

Staff

 

Florri Ladov, Executive Director
 
Florri joined RIF Pittsburgh in February 2009. Florri has been leading companies in the Pittsburgh region for the past 27 years. Her focus has been on early stage businesses, companies in transitions and turnarounds. Most recently, she held the position of President and CEO of Innovation Works, The Ben Franklin Technology Partner of Southwestern PA, a publicly funded economic development organization providing risk capital, expertise and resources to high-potential technology start up companies here in our region. Florri received her BS in Operations Management from The University of Vermont and attended the Tepper Graduate School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University.
 
 
Kate Porigow, Director of Programs
 
Kate joined RIF Pittsburgh in August 2010. Kate comes to RIF Pittsburgh with five years of experience working in education and children’s literacy. Most recently, she worked for Beginning with Books Center for Early Literacy as a volunteer coordinator. Her interest in education truly began in Asia, where she spent three years teaching English to children and adults in Thailand and Taiwan. She recently completed the Coro Leaders in Learning program, and holds a bachelor’s in English and Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh.
 
 
Traci Johnson, Program Director - Storymobile
 
Traci joined RIF Pittsburgh in November 2011.  Traci comes to RIF with many years of experience in early childhood education and after school programming. She most recently worked as the Director of Precious Ones, a child care center in the Hill District, and is pursuing an advanced degree in English from Carlow University.  Traci has a passion for children and families.  When she is not working or in school, she spends much of her time volunteering with many local community groups and organizations who share her passion. 
 
 
Lisa Sharfstein, Everybody Wins! Recruitment Coordinator
 
After volunteering with RIF Pittsburgh for many years, Lisa joined our staff in November 2011.  A long-time educator, her previous work experiences include teaching English language and instructional methodology classes with the Peace Corps in Uzbekistan, working with at-risk high school students through Upward Bound Math & Science, and instructing middle school students in language arts and Judaic studies. Lisa received her BA in English from Ithaca College, and her MS in English and Reading from Syracuse University.
 
 
Kathryn Heffernan, Program and Development Associate
 
Kathryn joined RIF Pittsburgh in November 2009. Kathryn has interned at a variety of nonprofits throughout the region, while also working in community libraries. She has also worked with children directly, most notably instructing English classes for elementary-school aged refugees in Cairo, Egypt. Kathryn holds a master's in Nationalism Studies from Central European University in Budapest, Hungary and a bachelor's in Middle Eastern Studies and Spanish from Wellesley College in Massachusetts.
 
 
Justin Brown, Outreach Coordinator -- Books for Keeps
 
Justin joined RIF Pittsburgh in September 2010. While in college, Justin interned at China Elections and Governance in Beijing, China and served as a Peer Advisor at the University of Pittsburgh. Justin also served as a substitute teacher in the Mount Vernon School District in Mount Vernon, New York and has completed his first increment of Officer Candidate School for the US Marine Corps. Justin graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Rhetoric and certificates in Global Studies and Asian Studies. Justin comes to RIF Pittsburgh through the Public Allies Pittsburgh program.
 
 
Elisabeth Dorman, Outreach Coordinator - Everybody Wins!
 
Elisabeth joined RIF Pittsburgh in September 2011. She is a full-time member serving with Literacy*AmeriCorps through the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council to promote literacy within the Pittsburgh community, and is especially passionate in encouraging children's love of reading. Her previous experience includes an internship with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and a position with the Duquesne University Office of International Programs, where she coordinated campus events and study abroad promotion. Elisabeth received her BFA in Voice Performance from Duquense University.
 
 
Adrian Foy, Outreach Coordinator - Storymobile
 
Adrian joined RIF in September 2011. Adrian has a history of volunteering and promoting literacy in her community. She recently moved from Fredericksburg, VA where she was a contributor with the Great Start Program, which provided school supplies and other basic essentials for a successful school year for students at no cost. She has also provided free tutoring for underprivileged youth for the past five years. In 2009 Adrian began working for Volunteer Maryland as the volunteer coordinator for the Banneker-Douglass Museum, Maryland’s official repository on African American history and culture. Adrian comes to RIF Pittsburgh through the Public Allies Pittsburgh program.

 
Katie Gigl, Outreach Coordinator - Books for Keeps
 
Katie joined RIF Pittsburgh in September 2011 as a Literacy*AmeriCorps member serving through the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council.  She has spent a number of years coaching children’s soccer camps, and also volunteered for Camp Quality New Jersey, a camp for children who have been diagnosed with cancer.  While in college, Katie played for the Ursinus College Women’s Soccer Team and was named co-captain her senior year.  During a semester abroad, she interned at The British Museum in London, England. Katie holds a BA in History from Ursinus College, as well as a Pennsylvania State Certification in secondary Social Studies education.
 
 
Danielle Stump, Outreach Coordinator -- Books for Keeps
 
Danielle joined RIF Pittsburgh in September 2011 as a Literacy*AmeriCorps Member through the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council. She has experience working with children of all ages through her participation in Girl Scouts, and through an environmental education program for elementary school students. During the summer of 2011, she volunteered as a public policy intern with the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations. Danielle received a BA in Environmental Studies from Juniata College and spent a semester abroad studying Marine Science in Pondicherry, India. She recently graduated from Vermont Law School where she obtained a Masters of Environmental Law and Policy.
 
 
Maya Wilkerson, Outreach Coordinator -- Storymobile

Maya joined RIF Pittsburgh in February 2012, with many years of experience in childhood education and outreach coordination. Involved in community development since her teenage years, Maya has worked as a tutor, summer literacy counselor, student advisor at Duquesne University’s Health Careers Internship Program and most recently as a Program Coordinator at the Hilltop Alliance in Pittsburgh’s Southside.  Maya has a passion for helping people reach their full potential and knows that reading is one of the best vehicles for success. Maya earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Duquesne University, where she studied Sociology and Political Science, and is currently a member of Public Allies Pittsburgh.