Join Molly Smiles Foundation, Inc. in Making a Difference
Michelle Gherlone
Michelle is the co-founder of Molly Smiles Foundation. Michelle is Molly’s mother and caregiver. She has been advocating for Molly since Molly was 6 months of age and exhibited significant developmental delays. Michelle worked closely with a team of specialists to ensure Molly had all of the tools and supports she needed to make progress in all areas of her development.
Michelle graduated from UCLA and later attended St. Mary’s College for her Master’s in Psychology. Michelle has been a school psychologist for over 10 years in San Lorenzo Unified School District. Throughout her career, Michelle has worked closely with students, parents, teachers, and administrators to foster a supportive and inclusive learning environment. Beyond her direct work with students, Michelle also plays a crucial role in implementing district-wide programs and initiatives that promote positive social and emotional functioning.
In Michelle’s free time, she loves chasing around her 2.5 year old and 7 year old daughters. She also enjoys playing tennis.
Ashley Pittman
Ashley was lucky to be one of the teachers at the infant center Molly attended as a baby. When Ashley and her husband had their daughter, she became Molly’s nanny and caregiver. Ashley gained firsthand experience working with a child with Angelman syndrome and the various therapies that would help with Molly’s development. Working with Molly gave her so much joy.
Ashley stays busy with her young daughter and enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Ashley has received her BS in Business Marketing from San Francisco State University and has taken courses specializing in Early Childhood Education.
Lauren Meyers
Lauren Meyers is the Lead Talent Manager at Robert Half. Her position helps job seekers to find employment, potentially changing someone’s life. Lauren is Molly’s Aunt, she was fortunate to spend lots of time with Molly, Disneyland was their favorite!
She has 2 children under 3, they keep her very busy. Lauren loves taking the kids to the park and bunco with her friends!
Natalie Eloe
Natalie received her BA in Psychology and French with a minor in Education in Applied Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, her MS in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA).
Natalie had the honor of supervising Molly’s ABA treatment and working closely with her family and other service providers. Molly’s spirit and the dedication of her treatment team impacted Natalie and led her to join the Molly Smiles Foundation. Natalie resides in the Bay Area with her husband, baby boy, and Labrador Retriever.
Linda Freccero
Linda Freccero is a retired educator who had the pleasure of working alongside Molly’s mom in
the San Lorenzo Unified School District for several years. Throughout her career as a school
counselor and administrator Linda had the opportunity to work with and support many
students with special needs and their families. She worked diligently and found it very
rewarding to work with students, their families, teachers and fellow administrators to ensure
that the students received their appropriate supports and services. She is excited to be working
with the Molly Smiles Foundation in their efforts to continue to support these children and
families.
Linda has a BA in Human Development from CSUH and a Master’s Degree in Counseling from
Chapman University.
In retirement Linda is enjoying spending time with her grandchildren, volunteering with Open
Heart Kitchen and traveling to new places with her husband, Mike.
Mary Furlong
Mary Furlong, Ed.D., President and CEO of Mary Furlong & Associates (MFA), is a leading authority on the longevity marketplace. Successful social and serial entrepreneur, (SeniorNet (1986), ThirdAge Media (1996), and MFA (2002)), Mary has secured over $150 million in venture financing and corporate sponsorships for companies with products and services to serve the needs of the boomer/senior marketplace. Next Avenue named Mary one of its “2016 Influencers in Aging,” she is also a past winner of the Silicon Valley Business Journal’s “Top 100 Women of Influence” award, and the author of Turning
Silver into Gold: How to Profit in the New Boomer Marketplace.
Mary produces the industry-leading What’s Next Boomer Business Summit and the Silicon Valley
Boomer Venture Summit and Business Plan Competition. She has appeared on NBC, CBS, and NPR and is an advisor to the Ziegler Link•age Longevity Fund, L.P., the Thrive Center, and the Centre for Aging +
Brain Health Innovation
Valerie Epting
Valerie is a long-time close friend of the Gherlone family and committed supporter of the Molly Smiles Foundation.
Professionally, Valerie works as a local real estate agent at Dudum Real Estate Group, with 20 years of experience in the real estate and financial services industries. Outside of her professional pursuits, Valerie enjoys various activities that the Bay Area has to offer. She enjoys tennis, running the occasional 10k, and spending time with her twin girls, and rescue dog, Penny.
Valerie and her husband Tyler are generous donors to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, Platinum Sponsors of their local public elementary school, and Valerie has provided extensive prior philanthropic work for the Junior League of Oakland-East Bay. She’s helped build multiple homes for Habitat for Humanity and helps run an annual holiday neighborhood food drive. Valerie is passionate about the Molly Smiles Foundation and excited to see the resources of the Foundation continue to benefit local families of special needs children in unique and meaningful ways.
Rhoda Larner
Rhoda hails from a career background in marketing, fashion merchandising, and event
planning. With two school-age children, she now focuses her time and creative efforts toward causes that hit closer to home. This includes volunteering at her children’s school as well as fundraising for the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Contra Costa County. Rhoda also enjoys a little tennis, snow skiing, and traveling with family and
friends.
Rhoda is a Bay Area native and received a B.S. in Business Marketing from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
