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!

Carole McCormick is a licensed mortgage lender with over 25 years of experience helping people with their home financing needs. As the branch manager of Primary Residential Mortgage, Carole offers solutions for almost everyone – from first-time and move-up buyers to seniors interested in tapping into their home equity to help with retirement.

She and her husband, Jerry, raised their three children in Sonoma County and are now the proud grandparents of six! In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, cooking, walking her two Portuguese Water Dogs, and hanging out with her family.

Being a part of Connections, Carole supports other women in Sonoma County through referrals and friendships, as well as gives back to the community by supporting the nonprofits that Connections supports. 

Virginia is principal of Passarell Tax & Bookkeeping Services, which prepares and files taxes, organizes bookkeeping and accounting systems, and provides various financial management services for individuals and small businesses throughout Sonoma County. She takes a detail-oriented approach to the tax process in order to get her clients the best possible returns. “Ultimately, I want every client to feel like they’ve received a great value for the service I provided.”

Virginia enjoys being part of Connections because it expands her community of women in business.

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.

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!