The People

Meet OUR TEAM

Steve Alpert

Steve Alpert
Artist & Executor Director

“Making the Connection between Civilians and Military through Art”

Born in Manhattan, Mr. Alpert worked as an award-winning TV film and video editor/writer/producer/director for thirty years. In 1999, he changed his focus and became a fine art oil painter. His mainstay was landscapes, but in 2003 he began to be drawn to make work that honors the men and women who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Fifteen years after he first began painting, Alpert’s talents were honored by a request from the staff of Joe Biden, the Vice-President of the United States at the time, for the loan of Alpert’s triptych “Portrait of a Woman.” Depicting a woman soldier saluting the flag from three different angles in the same moment, the triptych was on display in the Vice-President’s home at the Naval Observatory during the 2015 holiday season. In 2016 Alpert donated “Portrait of a Woman” to the Women in Military Service for America Museum at Arlington National Cemetery.

Alpert’s work is part of the permanent collection of these national military museums: The National Museum of the United States Marine Corps, Quantico VA; the Naval War College, Newport RI; the International War College, Washington D.C.; the Women in Military Service For America Museum at Arlington National Cemetery; and the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Additionally, Alpert’s series of large paintings titled “Full Honors” is on display at the Pentagon through August 2019.

Alpert’s work has also been exhibited in fine art galleries located all over the U.S., including Manhattan, Red Bank NJ, Florida, Maine, Texas, California, Hawaii, and many others. He is currently creating ten large portraits of women veterans for a series called “Proudly She Served,” intended for a national tour with a mission to inspire young women to achieve their dreams.

Alpert maintains working studios in Manhattan and Quogue, NY, where he lives with his wife Dorothy and their beautiful black Labrador, Markie. He is an Adjunct Professor at Fordham University, where he leads an art and creativity workshop for veterans as part of the Fordham Veteran Initiative.

Linda Maloney

Linda Maloney
Project Director

Linda is an award-winning author, business owner, speaker & former military aviator and officer. She served 20 years in the Navy and was one of the first women in U.S. history in 1993 to join a combat military flying squadron. She is the recipient of numerous military awards, including the distinguished air medal for combat, awarded for flights flown over Southern Iraq in support of the no-fly zone during her deployment to the Arabian Gulf. She also was the first woman to eject from a Martin Baker ejection seat from her A-6 aircraft in 1991 over the Atlantic Ocean. She retired from the Navy in 2004 and started her second career as a defense contractor, author and business owner. Linda also holds an MBA from DeVry University, Keller School of Management. Her first book, the award-winning, Military Fly Moms ~ Sharing Memories, Building Legacies, Inspiring Hope, was published in 2012, and is a biographical collection of the inspiring true stories and photographs of seventy women who shared the same two dreams—becoming aviators in the military, and being moms. Linda also was the CEO of Women Veteran Speakers from 2015 to 2021, the first speaker’s agency of its kind offering exclusively exceptional women military veterans as event speakers, trainers, coaches and facilitators.

Lori Noonan

Lori Noonan
Strategy Development Officer

Lori is a nonprofit management expert with a focus on strategically directing nonprofits for a sustainable and impactful future. As a US Navy veteran and current military spouse, Lori has spent the last decade building national and community efforts to better serve the nation’s veterans and their families. With an MBA from University of Maryland, she brings a strong business acumen to nonprofits where she takes satisfaction in guiding strategy, building the development process, designing marketing initiatives, and strengthening the fundamentals of operational excellence. Lori is a proven fundraising and marketing professional consistently increasing donated and earned revenue as well as raising brand visibility. She is the Chief Development officer for Camp Corral focusing on children and families of wounded and fallen veterans. Lori is a former nonprofit strategy consultant, nonprofit executive director, and most recently, the development and marketing director for American’s Warrior Partnership where she led the growth of their national presence. Lori considers herself a builder having helped many nonprofits with overall growth including significant funding, program, and operational improvement. Lori is the constant advocate of service members, veterans, and military families. She is the volunteer Chief Strategy Officer for VETLANTA, Strategy Development Officer for Proudly She Served, and Guardian Ad Litem for NC Department of Family & Children Services.

Lynly Boor

Lynly Boor
External Affairs Advisor

Lynly Boor is founder of SPLYSS LLC, a forward-driven boutique firm dedicated to advancing 21st century policies, agendas and ideas to improve health and wellbeing outcomes worldwide. With over 20 years of experience as a valued advisor on public and government affairs, strategic communications and business development, Lynly is inspired by and committed to moving the needle ahead in support of our nation’s service members, veterans and military families and strengthening the bridge that unites our military and civilian communities.

Prior to launching her own firm, Lynly was Head of External Relations at the United Service Organizations (USO) for more than a decade. She led USO’s relationships with the U.S. Congress, the White House, Department of Defense/Executive Branch agencies and key stakeholder groups. Lynly spearheaded successful advocacy efforts and built collaborative relationships with the entertainment industry, partner organizations and targeted external constituencies to generate public awareness and ongoing engagement in support of USO goals and bottom-line objectives.

Before joining the USO, Lynly specialized in strategic advocacy and development on behalf of clients in the non-profit, corporate and philanthropic sectors. At the intersection of celebrity and politics, she has worked with arts and entertainment groups, government organizations, policy makers and progressive businesses in raising funds, framing strategies and implementing targeted campaigns in support of a wide variety of policies and projects.

Christopher Adam

Christopher Adam
Executive Producer

In 20+ years, Christopher has executive produced conferences and events throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia, while also serving his country as Master Navigator for the New York Air National Guard. Christopher has extensive experience working with Fortune 500 companies as well as up and coming industry leaders. Clients include Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, IBM, Walgreens Boots, Boeing and many more. One of the highlights of his career was leading the creative teams that designed, developed and fabricated the Johnson & Johnson Olympic Pavilion for the Beijing Olympic Games. Christopher is a strategic thinker who digs deep to uncover the essence of the Big Idea.

Sarah Woodfin

Sarah Woodfin
Writer & Editor

Sarah Woodfin, a former U.S. Naval officer, is a homemaker in "Almost Heaven" who enjoys freelancing as both a writer and proofreader. A 2005 graduate of the University of West Florida, Sarah most recently put her BA degree in history to use while writing and proofreading military history-related articles for an online publication. She brings meticulous attention to detail and excellent research skills to any assignment, and immerses herself in her work; one of her readers observed to her, "In your writing you seem to have genuine affection for your subjects." Sarah's interest and abilities in writing about military history in particular are augmented by her own experiences in the military. After receiving her commission via the Navy's Officer Candidate School in 2007 and then graduating from Navy Supply Corps School, she served on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and then served as the Officer in Charge of Aviation Support Detachment in Mayport, FL. Sarah views writing and editing as creative outlets within the myriad of projects she takes on as a wife, mother, and hobby farmer. When she is not doing freelance work, she can usually be found wrangling children, chickens, dogs, and abundant garden produce at her rural West Virginia home. She and her family daily exemplify the quote by Shanti that says, "And at the end of the day, your feet should be dirty, your hair messy and your eyes sparkling," and she wouldn't have it any other way.

Pat Snyder

Carol Hoenig
Public Relations Director

Carol Hoenig is President of Carol Hoenig, Publishing Consultant, Inc. where she covers a variety of aspects in the publishing industry, including, ghostwriting, editing, publicity and marketing for authors and helping with book proposals. In addition, she is a published author and was named Best of Long Island Author 2012 by the Long Island Press and named Outstanding Advocate for the Arts 2013 by the Long Island Arts Council. Her novel, WITHOUT GRACE, was awarded the Silver Medal for Book of the Year 2005 by ForeWord Magazine and given First Place for Fiction by the DIY Book Festival. Jada Press and the New York Book Festival also gave her novel honorable mention. Her second novel, OF LITTLE FAITH was published October 22, 201 to rave reviews. Her nonfiction work, THE AUTHOR’S GUIDE TO PLANNING BOOK EVENTS was given the Gold medal by ForeWord Magazine for Book of the Year in the category of writing and named finalist by USA Book and Reader Views.

Carol’s essays, articles, book reviews and short stories appear in a wide number of publications. She blogged for The Huffington Post and contributed to PUTTING YOUR PASSION INTO PRINT, written by Arielle Eckstudt & David Henry Sterry. Arianna Huffington invited Carol to contribute to ON BECOMING FEARLESS. Tory Johnson, ABC’s Good Morning America’s workplace contributor, published Carol’s essay in Tory’s New York Times Bestseller, WILL WORK FROM HOME. Carol’s short story, Snow Angels and Somersaults, was a finalist for the 2007 Spring/Summer Glass Woman Prize, a bi-annual prize for women prose writers. Her essay, “Wild Horses and Young Stallions” was selected for the anthology LOST LESSONS FROM LIFE ON A FARM. You may find out more about the author at carolhoenig.com.

Tori Fabio

Victoria “Tori” Fabio
Video Coordinator

Tori graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2019 with a BA degree in Film & Television and works as a freelance production assistant and coordinator for several east coast studios. In pursuit of a full-time career as a writer/producer, Tori ultimately aspires to open a female-driven production company in an effort to change the institutional aspects of the male dominated film industry. Tori is developing her expertise in developing and producing sizzle reels and project videos. She’s extremely passionate about female empowerment and believes that it’s time for women to be able to tell their stories. In her spare time, you can find her working on a variety of art projects (from ceramic sculptures to needlepoint), writing, campaigning for social justice or relaxing with her dogs.

Madison Sanders

Madison Sanders
Social Media Manager

Madison Sanders holds a Bachelor’s degree in Corporate Communication from Emmanual College in Franklin Springs, GA. She enjoys writing and pens a Blog “Making My Mark” which focuses on her life with cerebral palsy, sharing her joys, trials, and everything in between as she makes her mark on the world. She is developing an online magazine “Real Authentic Warriors” highlighting men and women with disabilities living life to the fullest. Madison also has been the Executive Assistant for Women Veteran Speakers Agency over the past 4 years since its inception and she leads all aspects of digital marketing. Madison never shies away from a challenging assignment and the Proudly She Served team is thrilled to have her on onboard!

Mick Wieland

Mick Wieland
Website Designer

Mick Wieland is the wizard behind the curtain at Mick Wieland Design. For over 20 years, he has been inspiring responses such as “You made it look just like I imagined it,” and “That’s just what we were looking for,” from clients in a wide range of industries. With a BFA from the School of Visual Arts, Mick’s long history of success has included design and art direction roles in creative agencies, media firms and publishing houses in New York. He lives in New York City with his wife and two children.

Bella Adinolfi

Bella Adinolfi
Social Media Intern

Bella Adinolfi is a student at Elon University studying Strategic Communications and Business Administration. Outside of the classroom, you can find her traveling, writing content for Elon University’s first, and only, trivia game show, “Win Stuff”, dancing, attending concerts, or spending time with friends and family. After graduation, she hopes to receive her MBA and begin her professional career in the entertainment industry as a publicist. Bella is very excited to participate in this project as she comes from a long and proud line of those who served!

Kathleen Mount

Kathleen Mount
Sponsorship Intern

Kathleen Mount is currently a student at Texas Tech University majoring in communication studies. Kathleen is excited about gaining experience serving as the Sponsorship Intern and assisting with the development of the sponsorship database and with potential sponsors' communication needs.

In her free time, Kathleen enjoys the outdoors, exercising, spending time with animals, and involvement with her sorority Chi Omega. Her love of animals and her entrepreneurial spirit has helped her build and maintain a dog sitting business.

Project Team Contributors

Candace Sarah Foster

Candace Sarah Foster
Marketing Writer

Nadine Nokey

Nadine Nokey
Graphic Designer

Chris Mowery

Chris Mowery
Marketing Director

Genae Mowery

Genae Mowery
Marketing Director

Erin Mahoney

Erin Mahoney
Public Relations Director

Erin Mahoney

Patricia Snyder
Creative Director

Erin Mahoney

Victoria “Tori” Fabio
Video Coordinator

Erin Mahoney

Bella Adinolfi
Social Media Intern

Erin Mahoney

Kathleen Mount
Sponsorship Intern

Erin Mahoney

Lynly Boor
External Affairs Advisor

Linda Lowry

Linda Lowry
Sponsorship Director

Linda is the CEO of Health Educators & Trainers and has over 30 years in the healthcare field including working intensive care units, trauma, emergency medicine and flying with MediVac flights. While working with the Army in the Middle East in 1995, Linda was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained during a bombing attack in Saudi Arabia. Linda has extensive fundraising expertise, including working with the Gary Sinise organization, which honors our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need. Linda received the Gary Sinise Foundation Volunteer award in 1997. Linda also served as the Director of Operations and VIP Manager for the GI Film Festival for 9 years. Linda is the Sponsorship Director for Proudly She Served and manages all aspects of corporate sponsorship.