Our Dedicated Leaders
A dedicated and diverse group of leaders care for and empower the success of our initiatives and projects worldwide.
Lisa brings over 30 years of management and business experience to ImpactAVillage. Previously, Lisa worked 28 years as Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Galil Motion Control. On behalf of ImpactAVillage, she makes connections with cultural ambassadors who can work within their community to manage projects that improve healthcare and education. Lisa received a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 1981 and is the mother of two grown children.
Under her leadership, Sage grew from a 2-person company to one of the Fastest Growing Companies in America by Inc Magazine in 2009 & 2013 and one of the Largest Bay Area Women-Owned Businesses by the San Francisco Business Times from 2009 through 2018. Cara received special congressional recognition from Nancy Pelosi when awarded Woman Entrepreneur of the Year in 2011 by the Women’s Initiative. In 2012, Cara was a finalist for the Ernst & Young Winning Women award. Prior to The Sage Group, Cara gained deep business acumen in management, marketing and strategy at companies including Intuit, Charles Schwab, Sun Microsystems, and Oliver Wyman Consulting. She is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) and a Board Member of 24 Seven, a Morgan Stanley Private Equity portfolio company. Cara has a BBA from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Stanford University. She resides in the Bay Area with her husband and their teenage twins. She loves collaging, abstract painting, and international destinations.
Dr. Desmarais graduated from Life West Chiropractic College in San Leandro in 1990. Her husband, Ron Desmarais is also a chiropractor and they opened their own practice in South San Francisco, CA, in 1994. They have two children, Sophia and Luke. Charisse was first interested in the plight of the Lost Boys of Sudan through her friend Jennifer Martin who has helped several Lost Boys, including Deng Jongkuch.
Deng was born in South Sudan in Bor County. In 1987, when he was only five years old, he was separated from his family after his village was attacked by soldiers during the Sudan Civil War. Deng walked over 1000 miles with other displaced children to seek safety. He lived in a refugee camp for over 10 years until he was selected to come to the U.S. in 2001 along with 3800 other “Lost Boys of Sudan”. Deng graduated from California State University-San Jose with a degree in Health Sciences in 2008 and from Touro University with a Masters of Public Health in 2011. After the war ended, Deng returned to his village in the summer of 2005 and was reunited with his family after 18 years. He was dismayed to find his village in poor condition with no roads, clean water or school and became passionately committed to helping communities in South Sudan and around the world improve education and healthcare. Deng received U.S. citizenship in 2010 and is the father of five children
Weight Loss and Body Image expert Laura Fenamore knows firsthand how love can save lives. Growing up in an abusive home, Laura was a compulsive overeater from childhood and an alcoholic by junior high. In her mid-twenties, Laura overcame her addictions, and in the course of a year released 100 pounds. Through her coaching practice and online community, OnePinky, Laura teaches women to love and accept themselves just as they are. Laura leads her students into the heart of why they dislike their bodies and treat themselves poorly so they can come out the other side wiser, happier, healthier, and better role models for future generations. A long-time resident of the San Francisco Bay area, Laura has worked with visionaries such as Marianne Williamson, Jack Canfield and John Gray. Laura is committed to offering hope and possibility to those who have overcome extreme hardships.
St. Michaels School, Sacramento
Laura brings to the board over 25 years of business and philanthropic experience. She is an active board member of several non-profits in the Sacramento area including the Child Abuse Prevention Center, the B Street Theater and the Community Center Theater. Laura is passionate about projects that help improve health and education, especially educational programs that reduce and eliminate abuse of children.