BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chair
Lynn Hazan
Co-Managing Partner | Influence Media
Lynn brings 25 years of executive level experience in strategic planning, management and leadership in the entertainment and yoga industries. Leaving the corporate finance world behind two years after landing her first job at Merrill Lynch, Lynn jumped head first into the music industry in the role of Tour Accountant for Lollapalooza Festival. After two summers of touring, she sought to combine her love of music and management skills into a corporate position. This lead to a continued upwards path within the various arms of Sony Music Entertainment, lastly overseeing Epic Records as EVP, GM and CFO.
Lynn recently left Sony to become the Co-Managing Partner of Influence Media, a private equity backed company set up to acquire and optimize music assets, with Warner Music Group as strategic partner.
A second passion Lynn seamlessly cultivated into a successful business is her love for yoga and its grassroots community. She spearheaded two successful studios, both located in Soho, NYC, Virayoga and Twisted Trunk yoga, attracting some of the leading names in the industry. Yoga has offered a fundamental, organic connection with the grassroots community in which Studio Samuel works in Ethiopia.
Ms. Hazan received her Masters of Business Administration from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and her Bachelor of Science in Management Science, Major in Finance and Economics, from MIT.
Co-Managing Partner | Influence Media
Lynn brings 25 years of executive level experience in strategic planning, management and leadership in the entertainment and yoga industries. Leaving the corporate finance world behind two years after landing her first job at Merrill Lynch, Lynn jumped head first into the music industry in the role of Tour Accountant for Lollapalooza Festival. After two summers of touring, she sought to combine her love of music and management skills into a corporate position. This lead to a continued upwards path within the various arms of Sony Music Entertainment, lastly overseeing Epic Records as EVP, GM and CFO.
Lynn recently left Sony to become the Co-Managing Partner of Influence Media, a private equity backed company set up to acquire and optimize music assets, with Warner Music Group as strategic partner.
A second passion Lynn seamlessly cultivated into a successful business is her love for yoga and its grassroots community. She spearheaded two successful studios, both located in Soho, NYC, Virayoga and Twisted Trunk yoga, attracting some of the leading names in the industry. Yoga has offered a fundamental, organic connection with the grassroots community in which Studio Samuel works in Ethiopia.
Ms. Hazan received her Masters of Business Administration from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and her Bachelor of Science in Management Science, Major in Finance and Economics, from MIT.
Vice-Chair
Helen Stefan-Moreau
President & Owner | The Midtown Group
Helen Stefan Moreau is the President and Owner of The Midtown Group, Washington, D.C.’s premiere professional career consulting firm, ranked by the Washington Business Journal as the fourth best temporary local staffing agency in terms of number of placements. Ms. Stefan Moreau opened the company in 1989, just months after beginning her career in the staffing industry. Upon graduating with a degree in Public Relations and Business from the University of Florida in 1988, she inquired at a staffing firm about a job in which she could use her degree. The firm recruited Ms. Stefan Moreau for a full-time position, beginning her career in the staffing industry. Shortly thereafter, Ms. Stefan Moreau resolved to broaden her horizons, and decided that she either was going to work for another agency or start her own staffing business with a partner. She chose to start her own business, and founded The Midtown Group with just a telephone, a card table, and a fax machine. Within the first year, she bought out her partner, and grew the business into the multi-million- dollar success it is now.
Today, in addition to running The Midtown Group, Ms. Stefan Moreau is an active supporter of the Washington, D.C. community. In 2007 and 2008, Rachael’s Women’s Center, which assists local women as they step-up and out of homelessness, awarded Ms. Stefan Moreau with Board Member of the Year for her active participation on the board of directors. In 2008, she was accepted as a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization, and served as the Chapter’s Education Chair in 2015. She now serves as the Chapter’s first female Chairwoman. Most recently, Ms. Stefan Moreau has been an active member of the prestigious C200, an invitation-only group dedicated to celebrating and advancing women’s leadership in business. She also serves on the University of Florida’s National Board.
In her spare time, Helen Stefan Moreau dedicates herself to her family and supporting organizations that she is passionate about, including Prevent Cancer and Living In Pink.
President & Owner | The Midtown Group
Helen Stefan Moreau is the President and Owner of The Midtown Group, Washington, D.C.’s premiere professional career consulting firm, ranked by the Washington Business Journal as the fourth best temporary local staffing agency in terms of number of placements. Ms. Stefan Moreau opened the company in 1989, just months after beginning her career in the staffing industry. Upon graduating with a degree in Public Relations and Business from the University of Florida in 1988, she inquired at a staffing firm about a job in which she could use her degree. The firm recruited Ms. Stefan Moreau for a full-time position, beginning her career in the staffing industry. Shortly thereafter, Ms. Stefan Moreau resolved to broaden her horizons, and decided that she either was going to work for another agency or start her own staffing business with a partner. She chose to start her own business, and founded The Midtown Group with just a telephone, a card table, and a fax machine. Within the first year, she bought out her partner, and grew the business into the multi-million- dollar success it is now.
Today, in addition to running The Midtown Group, Ms. Stefan Moreau is an active supporter of the Washington, D.C. community. In 2007 and 2008, Rachael’s Women’s Center, which assists local women as they step-up and out of homelessness, awarded Ms. Stefan Moreau with Board Member of the Year for her active participation on the board of directors. In 2008, she was accepted as a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization, and served as the Chapter’s Education Chair in 2015. She now serves as the Chapter’s first female Chairwoman. Most recently, Ms. Stefan Moreau has been an active member of the prestigious C200, an invitation-only group dedicated to celebrating and advancing women’s leadership in business. She also serves on the University of Florida’s National Board.
In her spare time, Helen Stefan Moreau dedicates herself to her family and supporting organizations that she is passionate about, including Prevent Cancer and Living In Pink.
Director of Innovation
Susan Gretchko
Founder & CEO | Great Story Global
Ms. Gretchko is the Founder and CEO of Great Story, LLC, a consultancy and incubator dedicated to launching transformative ventures that demonstrate new models of operation, growth, and success.
She has a demonstrated track record for developing and implementing people-centric system-level change by leveraging narrative, culture, and data while driving growth and increasing profits. She has personally served as the trusted advisor to Fortune 500 CEOs in order to position organizations for growth and improve operating performance.
She is a former Senior Partner at G2 Investment Group, a privately-owned financial services firm. She is also the former Managing Partner and current Senior Advisor to one of G2's subsidiaries, Threat Pattern, an elite private intelligence service for institutions and select families.
As a Senior Global Partner at Deloitte, Ms. Gretchko built the highly successful Human Capital Practice across 7 key industries and 22 countries. She was the co-leader for Deloitte’s global crisis response to the events of September 11. The response employed by Deloitte was recognized as a best practice in business continuity and crisis response. While at Deloitte, Ms. Gretchko was the first woman member of the Global Operations Council. As a Principal at A.T. Kearney, Ms. Gretchko led the Organizational Effectiveness & Transformation Business Division.
Ms. Gretchko is a former member of The Search for Common Ground Board of Directors and a current member of the Common Ground Endowment Fund and Emeritus Board. She designed and facilitated the Search for Common Ground Middle East Initiative for Peace and Cooperation’s Civil Society consultative meetings in London, Spain, Helsinki and Cyprus.
Founder & CEO | Great Story Global
Ms. Gretchko is the Founder and CEO of Great Story, LLC, a consultancy and incubator dedicated to launching transformative ventures that demonstrate new models of operation, growth, and success.
She has a demonstrated track record for developing and implementing people-centric system-level change by leveraging narrative, culture, and data while driving growth and increasing profits. She has personally served as the trusted advisor to Fortune 500 CEOs in order to position organizations for growth and improve operating performance.
She is a former Senior Partner at G2 Investment Group, a privately-owned financial services firm. She is also the former Managing Partner and current Senior Advisor to one of G2's subsidiaries, Threat Pattern, an elite private intelligence service for institutions and select families.
As a Senior Global Partner at Deloitte, Ms. Gretchko built the highly successful Human Capital Practice across 7 key industries and 22 countries. She was the co-leader for Deloitte’s global crisis response to the events of September 11. The response employed by Deloitte was recognized as a best practice in business continuity and crisis response. While at Deloitte, Ms. Gretchko was the first woman member of the Global Operations Council. As a Principal at A.T. Kearney, Ms. Gretchko led the Organizational Effectiveness & Transformation Business Division.
Ms. Gretchko is a former member of The Search for Common Ground Board of Directors and a current member of the Common Ground Endowment Fund and Emeritus Board. She designed and facilitated the Search for Common Ground Middle East Initiative for Peace and Cooperation’s Civil Society consultative meetings in London, Spain, Helsinki and Cyprus.
Secretary
Braden Kuhlman
Independent Management & Consulting
Braden thrives on connection with and for others. She began her entertainment career in 1988, since traversing tv, film, and commercial industries to studios, producers, personal assisting and talent management. Her volunteer and events coordination support for charities locally, nationally and globally since her teen years has kept her heart strings firmly dedicated with philanthropy throughout. Giving to and inspiring others personally and creatively remains a passion, which together with wanderlust works naturally with the non-profit community at large.
Braden's primary client focus July 2012-2017 was as Manager with Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, photographer, documentarian and philanthropist Julian Lennon. Her support included many global environmental and humanitarian projects with Lennon's organization The White Feather Foundation.
Ms. Kuhlman also served beginning 2011 on the Board with the Association of Celebrity Personal Assistants (Membership at Large 2011-2012; Director of Charities 2013-2016; Treasurer 2017-2018). Braden is a hobbyist photographer, sailor, writer and enthusiastic traveler. Los Angeles is her main port of call.
Independent Management & Consulting
Braden thrives on connection with and for others. She began her entertainment career in 1988, since traversing tv, film, and commercial industries to studios, producers, personal assisting and talent management. Her volunteer and events coordination support for charities locally, nationally and globally since her teen years has kept her heart strings firmly dedicated with philanthropy throughout. Giving to and inspiring others personally and creatively remains a passion, which together with wanderlust works naturally with the non-profit community at large.
Braden's primary client focus July 2012-2017 was as Manager with Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, photographer, documentarian and philanthropist Julian Lennon. Her support included many global environmental and humanitarian projects with Lennon's organization The White Feather Foundation.
Ms. Kuhlman also served beginning 2011 on the Board with the Association of Celebrity Personal Assistants (Membership at Large 2011-2012; Director of Charities 2013-2016; Treasurer 2017-2018). Braden is a hobbyist photographer, sailor, writer and enthusiastic traveler. Los Angeles is her main port of call.
Treasurer
Anne Molignano
Human Resources Executive
As a career Human Resources Executive, Anne is bringing her passion for individual growth & development, and the advancement of equitable and inclusive cultures for all, to her Board work at Studio Samuel. Anne has progressive experience on HR People teams across a number of industries and serves as a coach and advisor to organizations on Talent strategies that maximize commercial impact, and which foster an atmosphere that attracts and grows diverse talent.
Anne most recently held the position of Senior Vice President, Human Resources for Sony Music Entertainment (SME) where she sat on the company's Executive Operations Committee and was responsible for the global people strategy for the organization.
Previously, Anne worked in the Pharmaceutical industry as HR Business Partner, Primary Care Sales at Schering-Plough, and served as the Vice President, HR at Morgan Stanley where she headed up HR for the Operations division within the Global Wealth Management group. Anne began her early through mid career at SME in a number of roles including Talent Acquisition and as the HR business partner to the Company's Tech venture, 550 DMV.
Anne received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from King's College. She enjoys giving back to her alma mater by volunteering at events to consult with students in search of their secondary educational experience. As someone who contributes much of her own development and success to her participation competing on team sports, Anne pays it forward by volunteering as Manager of a cross country & track team for a local primary school in her hometown and serves on the Board of her children's school. Anne lives with her husband and three children in NJ.
Human Resources Executive
As a career Human Resources Executive, Anne is bringing her passion for individual growth & development, and the advancement of equitable and inclusive cultures for all, to her Board work at Studio Samuel. Anne has progressive experience on HR People teams across a number of industries and serves as a coach and advisor to organizations on Talent strategies that maximize commercial impact, and which foster an atmosphere that attracts and grows diverse talent.
Anne most recently held the position of Senior Vice President, Human Resources for Sony Music Entertainment (SME) where she sat on the company's Executive Operations Committee and was responsible for the global people strategy for the organization.
Previously, Anne worked in the Pharmaceutical industry as HR Business Partner, Primary Care Sales at Schering-Plough, and served as the Vice President, HR at Morgan Stanley where she headed up HR for the Operations division within the Global Wealth Management group. Anne began her early through mid career at SME in a number of roles including Talent Acquisition and as the HR business partner to the Company's Tech venture, 550 DMV.
Anne received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from King's College. She enjoys giving back to her alma mater by volunteering at events to consult with students in search of their secondary educational experience. As someone who contributes much of her own development and success to her participation competing on team sports, Anne pays it forward by volunteering as Manager of a cross country & track team for a local primary school in her hometown and serves on the Board of her children's school. Anne lives with her husband and three children in NJ.
Director
Hope Cooper
Chief Human Resources Officer | safeXai
Highly driven and accomplished Senior Human Resources executive with extensive experience in a variety of corporate, public, private and legal settings with specific proven experience in HR transformation involving organizational and process redesign as well as technological upgrades and enhancements. Specialized in project and change management; skilled in overseeing and turning around personnel crisis situations, managing legal, regulatory and contractual requirements and maintaining operational continuity. Proven track record of operational excellence, team building and increasing productivity.
Specialties: administration, benefits administration, budgeting, contract management, change management, customer relations, employee relations, government, hiring, legal, litigation, local government, personnel, policy analysis, process engineering, project management, recruiting, staffing, strategic planning, employee training and development, union negotiations, talent management, FLSA reclassification and compliance, organizational design, compensation strategy.
Chief Human Resources Officer | safeXai
Highly driven and accomplished Senior Human Resources executive with extensive experience in a variety of corporate, public, private and legal settings with specific proven experience in HR transformation involving organizational and process redesign as well as technological upgrades and enhancements. Specialized in project and change management; skilled in overseeing and turning around personnel crisis situations, managing legal, regulatory and contractual requirements and maintaining operational continuity. Proven track record of operational excellence, team building and increasing productivity.
Specialties: administration, benefits administration, budgeting, contract management, change management, customer relations, employee relations, government, hiring, legal, litigation, local government, personnel, policy analysis, process engineering, project management, recruiting, staffing, strategic planning, employee training and development, union negotiations, talent management, FLSA reclassification and compliance, organizational design, compensation strategy.
Director
Kimberly S. Ricketts, M.Ed.
Managing Director, Systems Improvement, Casey Family Programs
Passionate, results-oriented leader with executive level experience in the philanthropic, not for profit and government sectors with a focus on child and family serving systems, behavioral health, community-based organizations, consumer affairs, and local government. Take charge, thought leader with the demonstrated ability to drive strategic initiatives that improve programs and operations through strong fiscal management, team and consensus building and effective communication. Leadership actions consistently recognized through successive appointments in highly visible and responsible roles.
Kimberly was recruited in 2010 as a national managing director with Casey Family Programs, the largest operating foundation in the United States dedicated solely to safely reducing the number of children in foster care and improving safety, permanency and well-being for all children in the nations’ child welfare system. She leads a team of ten senior level consultants and two administrative professionals working in partnership with child welfare leadership and other community partners in CA, OR, WI, NE, VA, WV, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
Before joining Casey Family Programs she served eight years in New Jersey State Government, including being appointed in 2008 as Commissioner of NJ’s Department of Children and Families, where she led an agency with 7000 employees and a $1.5B budget. During her tenure as Commissioner she streamlined operations through work groups and planning, resulting in an increase of federal revenues and a savings of $50M in state revenues while sustaining critical programs. She successfully led an executive management team in achieving improved outcomes resulting in dramatically improved health indicators for children in foster care; continued safe reduction of children in foster care by more than 25%; and continuous development of the children’s system of care resulting in a decrease in the number of children sent out of state for behavioral health services from over 180 in June 2008 to 40 as of December 2009. Prior to joining New Jersey state government she spent 13 years working with child and family serving organizations in community, behavioral health and social service organizations in North Carolina, Florida and New Jersey.
She received a Master of Education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she also received a bachelor's degree in human services.
Kimberly S. Ricketts, M.Ed.
Managing Director, Systems Improvement, Casey Family Programs
Passionate, results-oriented leader with executive level experience in the philanthropic, not for profit and government sectors with a focus on child and family serving systems, behavioral health, community-based organizations, consumer affairs, and local government. Take charge, thought leader with the demonstrated ability to drive strategic initiatives that improve programs and operations through strong fiscal management, team and consensus building and effective communication. Leadership actions consistently recognized through successive appointments in highly visible and responsible roles.
Kimberly was recruited in 2010 as a national managing director with Casey Family Programs, the largest operating foundation in the United States dedicated solely to safely reducing the number of children in foster care and improving safety, permanency and well-being for all children in the nations’ child welfare system. She leads a team of ten senior level consultants and two administrative professionals working in partnership with child welfare leadership and other community partners in CA, OR, WI, NE, VA, WV, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
Before joining Casey Family Programs she served eight years in New Jersey State Government, including being appointed in 2008 as Commissioner of NJ’s Department of Children and Families, where she led an agency with 7000 employees and a $1.5B budget. During her tenure as Commissioner she streamlined operations through work groups and planning, resulting in an increase of federal revenues and a savings of $50M in state revenues while sustaining critical programs. She successfully led an executive management team in achieving improved outcomes resulting in dramatically improved health indicators for children in foster care; continued safe reduction of children in foster care by more than 25%; and continuous development of the children’s system of care resulting in a decrease in the number of children sent out of state for behavioral health services from over 180 in June 2008 to 40 as of December 2009. Prior to joining New Jersey state government she spent 13 years working with child and family serving organizations in community, behavioral health and social service organizations in North Carolina, Florida and New Jersey.
She received a Master of Education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she also received a bachelor's degree in human services.
