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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, Co-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. 
 
 
Katie Glover, Co-Director - Storymobile
Katie joined RIF Pittsburgh in June 2012. Katie comes to RIF Pittsburgh with four years of experience in urban education and early literacy. Most recently Katie worked as the Senior Site Manager for the Jumpstart Program in Boston, where she recruited, trained and supported college students to implement an early literacy curriculum in preschool classrooms in low-income communities. Before that Katie worked in advocacy with Rhode Island KIDS COUNT and as a preschool educator in Colorado.  Katie holds a Master’s in Urban Education Policy from Brown University and a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Journalism from the University of Richmond.
 
 
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 is also a member of the planning committee for Art All Night, volunteers with A+ schools, mentors a local middle school student through Be A 6th Grade Mentor, and serves on the board of Casita Copan. 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.
 
 
Jasmine Atkinson, Outreach Coordinator - Books for Keeps
Jasmine joined RIF Pittsburgh in September 2012 through AmeriCorps KEYS. She previously served with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America in Dallas, Texas. Jasmine also worked with at-risk youth in Dallas under the Future Leaders Program and volunteered for the Penn State Dance Marathon benefiting the Four Diamonds Fund’s fight against pediatric cancer. Jasmine has traveled to Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Peru, and Ecuador studying and working in Latin America. She graduated from Penn State with a bachelor’s in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management.
 
 
Eliza Hens-Greco, Outreach Coordinator - Books for Keeps
Eliza joined RIF Pittsburgh in August 2012  through Public Allies Pittsburgh. Eliza comes to RIF Pittsburgh with experience working as a camp counselor in Texas, a camp coordinator through the Pittsburgh Public Schools’ Summer Dreamers Academy and as a program assistant for a camp managed by PittsburghCares. Eliza also spent spring 2011 in Chile and Argentina studying education systems and learning Spanish. She holds a bachelor’s degree in History from Earlham College in Indiana, and volunteers for the Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh.
 
 
Lucas Soto, Outreach Coordinator - Storymobile
In August 2012, Luke joined RIF Pittsburgh as a KEYS Service Corps member. Previously, Luke served as a Public Ally for ReServe Miami where he helped develop and build a volunteer program providing service opportunities for older adults with local non-profits.  Additionally, he spent several years working with children in summer camps.  During his undergraduate at Columbia University, he travelled to Spain to study art history, and the Dominican Republic to study the environment and language.  In the Spring of 2012 he took a short trip to Guatemala to volunteer at a clinic for malnourished children. He received a degree in Hispanic Studies with a minor in Anthropology in 2011 and is fluent in Spanish.
 
 
Malina Suity, Outreach Coordinator – Everybody Wins!
msuity@rifpittsburgh.org, ext. 269
Malina joined RIF Pittsburgh in October 2012 as a KEYS Service Corps member.  Malina recently worked at Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation on a long-term historic preservation project, and has volunteered for the Heinz History Center and worked as a staff member at Alpha, the Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Workshop for young writers. Malina received her MA in Public History from the University of West Florida and her BA in English and Medieval Studies from Ohio Wesleyan University.
 
 
Melinda Ward, Outreach Coordinator - Books for Keeps
Melinda joined RIF Pittsburgh in September 2012 through Public Allies Pittsburgh.  Melinda previously served with KEYS Service Corps where she worked at Holy Family Institute, and Schenley Heights Community Development Program.  She also worked for the Student Conservation Association during the summer of 2012, as a community crew leader in Mt. Washington’s Emerald View Park.  In addition, Melinda traveled to the Amazon Rainforest in 2009 to study lifestyles of indigenous tribes and ecology. She is a graduate of the Spring 2012 Mayor’s Civic Leadership Academy, and holds a bachelor’s in Sociology with minors in Political Science and English from Carlow University. 
 
 
JoEllen Leech, Volunteer Coordinator - Storymobile and Everybody Wins! 
JoEllen has been volunteering with RIF Pittsburgh since early 2011. JoEllen’s background is in market research. She was Vice President of the Market Research and Planning Division at Mellon Bank, and also worked as a market research and planning consultant with a variety of local clients. JoEllen also volunteers with other organizations in our community, including Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, North Hills Community Outreach, United Way, and her church and school district. JoEllen holds a bachelor’s in Mathematics from Grove City College and has an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.