Entering the 2018-19 academic year, Springboard to Learning has welcomed four new board directors.

Catherine Merkel, Susan Sauer, Stephanie Valleroy and Lorie Westhoff are the newest members, providing Springboard to Learning with an influx of directors with a talented and diverse business and educational background.

Catherine Merkel

Catherine is the vice president of development at Emerson. Her leadership experience will serve the Springboard to Learning Board of Directors as a member of the Resource Development Committee.

Susan Sauer

Susan brings a wealth of business acumen to Springboard to Learning through her work as the owner of Rome West Realty.  Previously, she worked as a real estate agent for 11 years with Duffe-Nuernberger Realty. She received her Master’s Degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Washington University. She is a member of the Program Committee, chaired by Carol Hall-Whittier and Cathy Marek.

Lorie Westhoff

Lorie joins Springboard’s board of directors after serving for one year as a member of the Marketing Committee. She is a public relations strategist at Nestlé Purina. In addition to offering her public relations expertise to the Marketing Committee, Westhoff also serves the board on the Gala Committee.

Stephanie Valleroy

Stephanie is a retired principal, formerly of Northview High School with Special School District in St. Louis County. She will be serving on Springboard to Learning’s Program and Board Governance Committees.

These new additions bring the number of directors to 24, led by new president Laura Rossmann. In addition to their board committee memberships, Catherine, Susan and Stephanie are assisting with Springboard to Learning’s fundraising initiatives through Operation Connect, the Board’s ongoing project toward boosting the organization’s fundraising efforts.