BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sandie Schach is a licensed real estate agent who has been helping families realize their dream of homeownership since 2004. Before focusing her talents in real estate, Sandie worked in both the lending and accounting industries, acquiring the skills that help her educate and guide clients through the complicated process of selling and buying real estate. Though she serves all of Sonoma County, she is particularly knowledgeable about properties in Santa Rosa, Petaluma and Rohnert Park. Because of her commitment to family and local community, she has made it a point to learn about what is important to the families in our area. Sandie loves helping people realize their goals and recognizes that for most people buying or selling their home is one of the biggest steps they will take in their lives. 

"A great business networking group with a purpose" — that's what originally brought Sandie to our organization. The "icing on the cake" is the close relationships that have come from it!

Christi Corradi, a transformational life coach and an art therapist, has worked in the personal empowerment arena for over three decades. Christi teaches Creative Thinking, a unique approach that helps people design a life by choice rather than default. She is the creator of “The Creative Way in Five Minutes a Day” and “Tools 4Success”—programs that get personal development off the shelf and into your everyday life. She leads workshops and teleclasses that help you create your dreams. An artist herself, Christi loves traveling the world, making art and enjoying life.

Christi joined this group to make connections and not be isolated in her business. She loves supporting other women!

Susanne Lake is an entrepreneur at heart. After working for others in tourism and technology for more than thirty years, she retired from the County of Sonoma so she could focus her energy on helping women create wealth. Through her Rodan + Fields Skincare direct sales business, she loves to be her own boss, to be her best self, and to be of service to others. Along with her fiancé, Tim Gibney, she also owns a home remodeling construction business. 

With a knack for finances, she serves as Treasurer as a way to give back to the Connections membership and the greater community.

Susan Hammond is a teacher and consultant specializing in the Feldenkrais Method®, a form of somatic education developed to improve movement and function, and decrease pain. In addition to providing pain relief to countless clients, Susan is a fourth-degree black belt who has trained in Aikido, a Japanese martial art, for over 30 years. She integrates the physical aspects of the art, human effectiveness, communication, safety, women's issues, embodied leadership and wellness in her Feldenkrais practice. 

Susan joined Connections to connect with professional women who were independent business owners, as well as support our Sonoma County community!

Lori Acocella works at AAA and has experience in several areas of insurance, including personal, commercial, life and health. She helps people understand and protect their assets with individual needs analysis and is extremely passionate about educating her clients.

The feeling of family is what sets Connections apart for Lori. She has developed very close friendships here, and she especially values the fundraising Connections does for women in our community.