Meet the Staff

Updated: March 8, 2010

Anne Mahlum, Founder and President, Shoe Size 8

Click here to read Anne's story

PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER

Jonathan Shur, Chief Operating Officer

After reading an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer in July of 2007, Jonathan immediately picked up the phone, called Anne Mahlum and said, “I am in”. Living and running in Center City Philadelphia for over 10 years, Jonathan was immediately hooked on the unique concept of using running as a vehicle to help move the homeless population towards a self-sufficient life. It wasn’t until he showed up for his first run with the original 9 members of the program did he fully realize the power and the possibility of the Back on My Feet program. The idea was so simple, yet so powerful. Assisting Anne with various aspects of forming the organization and relying on his numerous years of sponsorship and marketing experience to help grow the brand and raise funds for Back on My Feet, Shur continued to play an integral role with Back on My Feet while serving as the organization’s first Chairman of the Board from May 2008 to December 2009. As Back on My Feet expanded and the national agenda became more of a priority, the need was apparent to identify someone to come in and operate the day-to-day business objectives for the organization. It was a match made in heaven.

Serving as Chief Operating Officer, Jonathan’s primary focus is to ensure the overall success of Back on My Feet from a business perspective ensuring that organization is operating effectively while always keeping the vision and mission of Back on My feet at the forefront. He will be working very closely with Founder and President, Anne Mahlum to advance the organization’s goal of being nationwide.

Prior to his role at Chief Operating Officer, Jonathan was a Senior Marketing Manager at Penn State Sports Properties where he handled all of the marketing, media, and sponsorship for Penn State Athletics. When not hard at work, Jonathan enjoys running (of course!), travelling, walking his St. Bernard, and most of all spending time with his wife Jennifer and daughter Harley.

Email Jonathan

Maureen O’Toole, Vice President of Special Events and Corporate Communications, Shoe Size 9

Maureen graduated in 2007 from Drexel University with a degree in International Area Studies. During her last Co-op she worked with Anne as an intern for the Dash for Democracy 5K.

“This was my first exposure to the running world and I haven't looked back since! I couldn't help but be drawn to BOMF from the start. The positive change and the smiles on our members' faces are what I love the most.”

Email Maureen

Sera Snyder, Philadelphia Program Director, Shoe Size 8.5

It took one Saturday morning run with BOMF to get Sera hooked on the BOMF lifestyle. Since her first run in 2007, Sera has been a social coordinator for BOMF, a team leader twice and helped on multiple committees.

It was only natural for Sera to come on board as full-time staff. When the Philadelphia Program needed a new leader, Sera was ready to take on the role with excitement and a passion for making it better than it already was.

Prior to joining BOMF Sera worked for more than five years in a variety of finance roles at the asset management firm Delaware Investments.

“BOMF has changed my life in so many ways. It has helped me develop strength, courage and motivation to be the person I have always wanted to be. When you see a member push through their first mile and then, a few weeks later, push through their first race, you know anything is possible and it encourages you to push yourself to new limits.”

The native of Gettysburg, Pa. was a 2004 graduate of West Chester University.

Austin Gee, Program Coordinator and Team Leader, Ridge, Shoe Size, 9

Austin started running in college when he was too small for the soccer team and ended up falling in love with the sport! He learned about BOMF while living in Delaware, and was excited to join the team upon moving to Philadelphia to teach in 2008. From team member to team leader to full-time employee, Austin lives and breathes BOMF! “I cannot stress enough just how successful this organization is at building relationships across all societal barriers - We are all runners. I am continually inspired by our members’ dedication to moving themselves forward- one step at a time!” Email Austin

Owen Camuso, Director of Outreach and Member Services, Shoe Size 10

Owen graduated from Penn State University in 2008 with degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology. After graduation he worked at local Philadelphia homeless shelter where he was introduced to BOMF. He went from being a volunteer to a team organizer, and eventually a BOMF full-time employee. “I have learned a lot about the members I have meet though BOMF, I have also learned a lot about myself…watching our members have success is what brought me to where I am today with BOMF.” Email Owen

Kim Sauer, Manager of Internal Affairs, Shoe Size 7

Kim came to BOMF in January 2009 from the corporate world of sales & marketing. “I went from running one mile then, to running the Broad Street 10-miler in May. The organization is amazing and I’m so grateful to be a part of BOMF – I can’t imagine my life without it!” Email Kim

Sandi Maro, Director of Growth and Expansion

Sandi Maro graduated from Bucknell University in 2006 with a degree in business and an obsession with orange and blue. Following graduation, Maro worked as a consultant for Accenture, specializing in healthcare and working on projects for payer clients across the US. From her days as a high school cross country runner to now marathoning in her 20’s, Maro loves to run and is grateful for the sanity and self improvement it brings. On a snowy winter morning in early 2009 she found herself headed to 9th and Buttonwood to run with the team at Our Brothers Place. From that day on, Back on My Feet became a part of who she was; Maro continued to run with OBP and, in June, became Team Lead for Interim House.

In December 2009, Maro left her career in consulting to accept the role as Director of Growth and Expansion for Back on My Feet, where she will lead the development and launch of Back on My Feet chapters. Working with local government and associations, volunteers, corporate sponsors and shelter facilities, Maro will work to bring this amazing organization to new cities. “This career is the marriage of my passions: strategy and business development coupled with a social mission I could not be prouder to support,” Maro said. “I believe in always trying to be the best version of yourself; Back on My Feet is a community of people doing just that and I could not be prouder to call myself a member of this organization.”

Rob Nonemacker, Executive Assistant

Rob joined the Back on My Feet staff in January 2010.

The native of Southwest Philadelphia is an alumnus of Gwynedd-Mercy College in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

He manages the office and maintains the schedules of Anne and Jonathan.

Christopher Wink, Director of Media and Social Marketing

Christopher is a former full-time freelance journalist and a 2008 graduate of Temple University. He manages the Web presence and promotion arm of BOMF.

He joined the Back on My Feet team in January 2010.

A resident of the Fishtown neighborhood, he says he's amazed by the power running can have on creating a community of support.

Charlotte Matri, Outreach and Member Services Intern, Philadelphia, PA, Shoe Size 10

Charlotte is currently a junior at Drexel University, majoring in psychology. She recently joined the team in September 2009 and works closely with Owen Camuso. She became interested in BOMF when she came across the job description during her internship search. “I am so excited to be a part of this team. BOMF gives so much hope to the homeless population and shows that even those who experience extremely hard times, with the help of a few great people, can get a second chance and reach heights they had never imagined were possible.”

Cathryn Sanderson, Special Events and Communications, Intern, Philadelphia, PA

Cathryn Sanderson is a graduate student at University of Pennsylvania studying Nonprofit/NGO Leadership. She works with Maureen O’Toole and Lauren Williams in Special Events and Communications. “I am so impressed with the level of support that BOMF is given. The organization’s ability to revive the community, in more ways than one, shows the important role that BOMF has taken in community building. I am not surprised to see that support and awareness for the organization has quickly spread across the nation."