OUR TEAM
LANI SILVERSIDES
FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Lani Silversides is a native of York, Maine. She is a 17+ year educator and coach (15 years were spent teaching and coaching at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts). Sport has long time been a passion for Lani. A graduate of York High School in York, Maine, Silversides is the second all-time basketball scoring leader (male or female.) She was also an all-state soccer goalie and state champion hurdler. She was Maine female athlete of the year in 2001.
Lani continued her athletic career as a 4-year basketball player of the University of Vermont. She finished her career ranking among the all-time leaders in 10 different categories. In 2013, Lani was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in recognition of her contributions as both a coach and player.
Lani now coaches and teaches, not in the classroom anymore, but through this organization and through her mental performance consulting business.
She is a breast cancer survivor, diagnosed with stage three cancer in 2018. She credits her experience as an athlete and being part of a team as well as the educational foundation and practice in sport psychology, mindfulness, and mental skills training as key components fueling her through treatments.Â
Lani founded Strong Girls United shortly after finishing her active cancer treatments, realizing there was no better time than the present to teach these important skills to all girls through sport and mentorship. Her north star is to impact many, one person at a time.
Email LaniCHARLIE EKSTROM
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH
Charlie was a standout student-athlete and member of the beach volleyball team at Stanford University, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Design and a master’s degree in Communications. During her time at Stanford Charlie was an AVCA All American, as well as a four-time All Pac-12 team member and four-time Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll member, along with earning her ownership of the most Beach Volleyball wins in program history, having won 82 games in her 5 years on the Farm.
While doing ALL of the amazing things as a student, athlete, and human being while at Stanford, Charlie served as a member of the Stanford Athletics Student Leadership Council, and also founded and served as president of Cardinal Community, the first Stanford Athletics community organization that was solely made to engage student athletes with more volunteer opportunities and endeavors.
Charlie began her journey with Strong Girls United in June 2020 as a summer coach and empowerment officer, and continued on as a FAM mentor over the last 3 years. She is our incredibly excited host of the Strong Girls Pod, and continues to spread SGU’s mission while she competes across the nation as a professional beach volleyball player.
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ELISE PELLETIER
AMERICORP UP2US VISTA
 Elise Pelletier, a native of Waterville, Maine, has always had a passion for sports. Growing up, she was a dedicated three-sport athlete in high school. Her love for soccer led her to pursue her dream of playing Division 1 Soccer and was a four-year player at the University of Maine, where she also completed her degree in Kinesiology and physical education.
She furthered her education by earning a master's degree in Sports Management from Southern New Hampshire University. This marked the beginning of her coaching career as a Collegiate coach at the University of Valley Forge. In addition to coaching at the NCAA III level, she has also coached at several travel clubs in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. Her dedication to coaching is evident in her achievements, including obtaining her NFHS National Coaching license and holding the USSF D License. She believes in a holistic approach to coaching, emphasizing the development of the whole person, fostering personal growth and well-rounded individuals on and off the field.
In August 2023, Elise embarked on a new journey with Strong Girls United (SGU) as an AmeriCorps VISTA. In this role, she is actively involved in community outreach and program development. Elise is deeply passionate about the SGU mission and is proud to be part of a strong team that empowers and supports girls through sports and mentorship to help young girls thrive in all aspects of their lives.
Elise currently resides in Derry, New Hampshire, with her husband and two daughters.
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TARA FLANDERS
AMERICORP UP2US VISTA
Tara is in the final stages of completing her Bachelor’s degree in Leadership and Organizational Studies at the University of Southern Maine. Before attending USM, she began her academic journey at Southern Maine Community College, where she distinguished herself both academically and athletically. During her time there, Tara served as a three-year captain of her team and earned numerous accolades, including First and Second Team All-American honors, an Honorable Mention, the Player-Coach Award, the Patrick Harviland Leadership Award, and the Carol Rimes Sports Person of the Year. One of her proudest achievements came after transferring, when she reached the significant milestone of scoring 1,000 points in her basketball career.
In the summer of 2024, Tara joined the Strong Girls United (SGU) family as an intern, where she played a key role in running community programs for both summer and afterschool initiatives. She also contributed to the promotion of SGU’s mission across all social media platforms. Tara is passionate about spreading SGU’s mission and values wherever she goes and is honored to continue her work with the nonprofit now as an AmeriCorps VISTA.
Looking ahead, Tara aspires to coach basketball at the high school or college level. She also aims to stay actively engaged in her community and explore various avenues within the world of sports.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORSÂ
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SHEILA ADAMS
Adams brings more than 25 years of sales, marketing and management experience to Strong Girls. She has had leadership roles within technology companies in all stages of growth from venture-backed start-ups to high growth, including several successful IPO’s and Merger & Acquisitions.
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LYNN MANNA
Lynn is a New York City public school teacher with 30 years of experience. She received her master’s degree from Teachers College, Columbia University in Special Education. She has worked as an elementary classroom teacher, literacy staff developer, and academic intervention specialist and in all roles has supported children by creating positive, inclusive settings for students.
DEIRDRE LEID
Deirdre is a Veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard and has over 25 years of experience in the consumer technology industry. She currently serves as the General Manager of Hudl’s Hardware Business Unit. Bringing expertise in product development and operations, Deirdre is also a passionate supporter and mentor of women in sports and technology. She was introduced to SGU by her daughter, Darby, one of SGU’s college athlete mentors.
ELIZABETH WHELAN
Elizabeth is a Director at Fairmont Consulting Group and has over 20 years of experience in the aerospace and defense industry. She has served as the Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of the Air Force and held roles at BAE Systems, Renaissance Strategic Advisors, and Jane’s. Her work over the past five years has focused on maturing both large and small organizations. Elizabeth became involved with SGU through her husband and daughter, who has been an SGU mentee.
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MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Our Mental Health Advisory Committee comprises a dedicated team of mental performance coaches and mental health experts who wholeheartedly contribute their expertise to our cause. United by a shared belief in our mission, they are committed to empowering girls by fostering confidence, resilience, and self-compassion. Through their collective efforts, they advocate for the integration of mental skills into sport and youth programs, recognizing the transformative power of equipping girls with the tools they need to thrive.
LEARN MORETHE DESIGN TEAM
Lauren Bodwell
Photographer, Lauren Bodwell Photography
Don Whelan
Graphic Designer, Winter\Victor Studio
ABOUT US
SG United Foundation ("Strong Girls United") is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission is to empower girls to be strong, confident, and resilient.
EIN: 84-2731661
