Michelle Peterson, Executive Director
Michelle Peterson, Sarah’s mother, has held the position of Executive Director since the foundation’s inception in 2014. A former educator, Michelle has a B.A. in education from Michigan State University and is a certified trainer of safeTALK, Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR), and Soul Shop. She is trained in ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), Mental Health First Aid, Youth Mental Health First Aid, and ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences training). She holds a certificate in Diversity Equity & Inclusion from Virginia Inclusive Communities. Michelle loves to travel, camp, & trek the outdoors in the U.S. and Canada, visit her grown children, sew, read, and cook.
Amy Woods, Programming Coordinator
Amy comes to the SMP Foundation with years of experience on our board of directors, previously holding the title of Director of Religious Education at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ghent. She has worked for the Catholic Church for the past 22 years primarily in youth ministry, and she considers the youth her first love. She continues to work with them because they keep her young and enthusiastic. Amy lives in Norfolk with her husband and two teenage children.
Laura Ryding, Administrative Coordinator
Laura has worked at nonprofits in Michigan, California, and Minnesota. Among other things, her work has included program management, substance abuse counseling, and front desk staff/customer service. She is a recent transplant from the Motor City. In her spare time, she enjoys playing tennis, writing, and photography. Laura and her wife live in Norfolk withtheir two sassy cats, Nahla-Man and Thor.