Who We Are

The people behind InvestInMentalHealth.org share one thing in common: a deep belief that mental health support should be accessible to everyone. Together, we bring expertise in nonprofit leadership, community education, marketing, and operations — and a whole lot of heart.

Meet the Team

  • Loretta Stagnitto

    Founder, Executive Director & Board Member | Certified Executive & Leadership Coach I Certified Adult & Youth MHFA Instructor

  • Lou Stagnitto

    Director of Development and Non-Profit Operations

  • Barbara Zerbe

    Marketing, Customer Acquisition & Project Management Consultant

  • Sarah Rose

    Marketing & Operations Coordinator

  • Rachel Arn

    Social Media Content Creator and Consultant

  • Joanne Lutat

    Bookkeeping & Accounts Payable

Get to Know Our Board

Sharon O’Mara

  • I believe as humans, we will all, at one time or another, find ourselves, a friend, co-worker or a loved one challenged with mental health issues. So many of us don’t have the language, experience, or skills to comfortably and confidently approach what could be a life-changing conversation. I joined the Invest in Mental Health Board because of its commitment to giving people the foundational knowledge and practical skills they need to engage in difficult mental health conversations. The team, along with Mental Health First Aid, is also committed to demystifying the various types of mental health conditions and educating those who want to help make the world a little smarter and more comfortable approaching mental health conversations.

    Sharon is a marketing executive with over 25 years of unrivaled expertise in building market share and revenue with innovative startups and industry leaders, including notable leadership roles at Apple. She led Apple's marketing strategy and execution in commercial markets, including Enterprise and Education. She has extensive expertise collaborating with sales, finance, and engineering teams to deliver revenue and market share growth. She is currently helping to drive the growth of early-stage companies and is providing mentorship to forward-thinking entrepreneurs.

Board Chair

Christina Conner, MS, PMP

  • Christina Conner, MS, PMP is a transformative human resources leader and turnaround expert.

    She adds value to organizations through her skill at leading change initiatives, mitigating legal risk, building infrastructure and cultivating engaged workforces.

    Currently, as Chief People & Culture Officer at Bill Wilson Center, a non-profit providing transitional housing and mental health counseling to youth and families in Santa Clara County, Christina oversees people operations leading strategic planning initiatives, leadership development programs and fosters a culture of belonging through DEIB initiatives.

    Previously, as Chief Human Resources Officer at Cherriots, a transit agency, she acted as a change agent instilling a culture of ownership. Her work was defined by successfully implementing merit-based performance management systems and the launch of a DEI Plan rooted in equity studies and listening sessions.

    Christina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. Her early career includes progressive roles in accounting leading to a pivot to her field of passion, human resources. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management alongside various professional certifications most notably, Project Management Professional (PMP) and Diversity Equity & Inclusion in the Workplace.

Board Secretary

  • A former educator and medical device executive with experience across the US and Europe, Marianna is a dedicated leader in school and community volunteer programs. She served as past president and fundraising chair, among other roles, for the Summit League, a local women’s philanthropic organization, and is a former board member of Montalvo Arts. As a mother of four, two stepchildren and two biological children, she brings personal experience to the challenges of supporting mental health within a family, and is deeply passionate about raising awareness and reducing the stigma surrounding it.

Training Committee Lead

Marianna Faist Samson

  • Takiyah is a talent strategist, operator, and community builder with more than 8 years of experience helping hypergrowth startups build high-performing organizations. She has held recruiting operations roles at Asana and Faire, where she built foundational hiring processes from the ground up. Most recently, she led talent advisory at a $125M early-stage venture fund.

    Takiyah is also the founder of South Bay Social Adventures, a community initiative that creates intentional spaces for adults to build meaningful friendships through shared cultural and outdoor experiences. Her work focuses on addressing social isolation and fostering genuine connection.

Training Committee

Takiyah Hartwell

Development Committee

Barbara Weingarten

  • Barbara spent the majority of her professional career in the high tech industry, serving as a Human Resources Manager.  She developed expertise in leadership training, team building, organizational development and workforce transitions. Later she served as a Training Project Manager, leading initiatives to develop technical training programs designed to address industry wide workforce shortages.

    Following her corporate career, Barbara turned her focus to community service and nonprofit leadership. She has served as a board member and past President of Valle Monte League, an organization committed to raising funds for mental health charities. Her volunteer experience also includes serving in key roles for school fundraising initiatives and as President of the Parent Association. In addition she remains actively involved with JW House, an organization that supports families facing medical crises. 

    The mission of Invest in Mental Health strongly resonates with Barbara because of its commitment to empowering individuals  with practical tools and resources to respond proactively and compassionately to those experiencing mental health challenges. 

Open Position

    • Fundraising & Philanthropy

    • Corporate Sponsorships & Partnerships

    • Education

    • Mental Health & Wellness

    • Marketing, Branding & Communications

    • Finance, Accounting, or Legal Expertise

    • Entrepreneurship & Business Leadership

    • Community Organizing & Advocacy

    IMH strongly encourages individuals from diverse backgrounds, industries, identities, and lived experiences to apply — especially leaders who are deeply connected to the communities we serve.

Contact Us to Apply

Meet Our Instructors

  • Loretta Stagnitto

    ADULT & YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID INSTRUCTOR
    Founder of InvestInMentalHealth.org

  • Marianna Samson

    YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID INSTRUCTOR

  • Heather Rodriques Furuta

    ADULT MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID INSTRUCTOR


Ready to Make a Difference?

Donate to join us in the fight to improve mental health awareness and save lives with early intervention.

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Interested in becoming an instructor or joining our board?
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