Meet The Team

Offering services in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Virginia with a National reach through online education, LRJ Foundation’s team of knowledgeable and caring professionals provides licensed and credible outreach to students grades 3-12, teacher in-services, Parent University’s, and college classes as well as to other various community groups and businesses.

Board of Directors & Executives

Teressa Ruspi

Co/Founder & Executive Director

Teressa Ruspi-Stann born and raised in Pennsylvania and currently resides in Georgia. Graduate of Marywood University, Pennsylvania, with a Bachelors in Nutrition & Dietetics and Master’s from Mercer University in Organizational Leadership with a focus on nonprofit management , a motivational speaker, a mother of three, enjoys fitness, cooking, and traveling.

Karla Ruspi

Co/Founder & Director of Schools and Community Engagement, Pennsylvania Chapter

Lorenzo D. Caparo

President, Engineer

EXPERIENCE & SPECIALIZATIONS: Serves as technical advisor over accounts such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Walmart.

Nori Price

Board Member

EXPERIENCE & SPECIALIZATIONS: Nori Price has been a 14 year employee and consultant of MetLife specializing in the IT Department. She is a mother, wife, and community volunteer. Nori is dedicated to Mental Health & Suicide Prevention education to better her community, law enforcement, and youth school education.

Emily Naylis

Board Advisor

Emily Naylis serves as a Board Advisor with a focus on supporting mental health education and outreach initiatives.

Joe Moceyunas

Joe Moyceyunas recently retired from the Riverside School District in Taylor, PA as high school principal. He previously helped organize a very successful and positive event – A Night of H.O.P.E (Hold On Pain Ends) – with Karla Ruspi for his school district and has been a member of the LRJ Foundation since 2016.

Pennsylvania & Northeast Region Presenters and Curriculum Specialists

Vanessa L. White Fernandes

MS, LPC, RTC

EXPERIENCE & SPECIALIZATIONS: Vanessa White Fernandes is a licensed professional counselor with more than thirty years of experience in the field of mental health. She has worked with children with emotional disturbances; children and adolescents in foster care; college students; and families at high risk.

Sara Zegalia

ATR-BC, LPC

EXPERIENCE & SPECIALIZATIONS: Sara Zegalia is a licensed professional counselor and board certified art therapist with 15 years of experience in the field of mental health. Sara has served children and families throughout the NEPA region with an emphasis on trauma informed care.

Cat Maria

MS, LPC

EXPERIENCE & SPECIALIZATIONS: Cat maintains a private practice in Scranton, PA with multiple special certifications in trauma therapy. Cat supports survivors of trauma and abuse through the therapeutic process of all ages, from children and adolescents to adults.

Christine DeSousa

MA, LPC, NCC

EXPERIENCE & SPECIALIZATIONS: Ms. DeSousa attended and graduated from Marywood University in December 2010 with her Master of Arts degree in Mental Health Counseling. She successfully passed the PA State Licensing Board Exam and the National Counselor’s Exam resulting in her National Counselor Certification and Pennsylvania state licensure.

Jazzy Yammout

Intern

EXPERIENCE & SPECIALIZATIONS: My name is Jazzy Yammout and I am currently a senior at JCHS. I am passionate about mental health awareness and love being involved in my community. I have experience in social media marketing and tennis coaching. My hobbies include reading and writing poetry, playing tennis and guitar, and volunteering at nonprofits that support causes I believe in. Through my experiences, I have cultivated a strong passion in helping others and advocating for important issues facing our society.

Taylor Guttesman, MA

Taylor Guttesman is a current outpatient art therapist, offering services to children, adolescents and adults in a private practice setting. Taylor graduated with her Masters in Art Therapy from Marywood University in 2020, specializing in art therapy with individuals with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities during her graduate career.

Georgia Presenters and Curriculum Specialists

Sanona Williams

MS, LPC

EXPERIENCE & SPECIALIZATIONS: Sanona was previously employed with the Department of Family & Children’s Services and is now a full-time professional counselor.

Jillian Canada

MS, NCC

EXPERIENCE & SPECIALIZATIONS: Jillian is passionate about working with individuals across the lifespan as they navigate challenges such as anxiety, depression, identity development, and difficult life transitions.

Ginny Vose

M. Ed, MA.

Ginny has worked with children, teens, and their parents for over 25 years. She loves to work with children and teens who struggle with anger management, anxiety, depression, bullying, and children dealing with parental divorce.

Lyla Mills

LMSW

Lyla Mills, a Licensed Master Social Worker, specializes in helping individuals, couples, and families through a compassionate, integrative approach to therapy. She has expertise in areas such as adoption, relationship issues, trauma, and disordered eating, and is certified in mindfulness, anxiety, and child and adolescent trauma treatment, practicing under the supervision of experienced LCSWs.

Wellness Educators and Consultants

Teressa Ruspi

MSOL, Executive Director & Co-founder of The LRJ Foundation, Mindset and Leadership Consultant

Teressa is a graduate of Marywood University, Pennsylvania, with a degree in Nutrition & Dietetics and holds a master’s degree from Mercer University, Atlanta, GA, in Organizational Leadership and nonprofit management. Since 2012, she has held the position of the Executive Director of the Lou Ruspi Jr. Foundation (LRJ), a mental health education organization. The LRJ Foundation provides community education on mental health topics and serves as a bridge and resource for parents, educators, and adolescents.

Chantal Webb

RECE, Founder – In It Together

Chantal has always had a deep connection with children and felt a pull to empower children in their everyday lives. As an educator for more than 15 years, she seen first hand the challenges faced by children, parents, and fellow educators. She has also seen the profound successes of children who are given the guidance and opportunity to flourish in their environment.

Fundraising and Community Support Committee

Carrie Chase

Advisor

Education Committee

Dana Fortunato Pavlick

MS, NCC, LPC

EXPERIENCE & SPECIALIZATIONS: Dana previously worked at United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA as a Youth Program Coordinator and as a Mental Health Counselor at Keystone College. She is currently a Mental Health Professional in a local high school, serving through the Community and School Based Behavioral Health program.

Martina Watson

Director of Operations and Curriculum Development

EXPERIENCE & SPECIALIZATIONS: Martina Watson, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Richmont Graduate University. She has worked with families for 11 years, been a speaker at various events, and has her own private practice in Gwinnett.