Behind the

Scenes

Managers, Coordinators, and More

  • Aswathy Shailaja (she/her)

    Event Coordinator

    Hey y'all! I’m Aswathy, and I relocated to the Durham area in 2021 for work. I'm thrilled to be part of WOTTHC—a community that combines my love of nature with my passion for empowering women through outdoor wellness

    My motivation to volunteer with this incredible team comes from a strong belief in the power of nature—not only to strengthen our bodies but also to ground our minds. For me, hiking isn’t just about reaching a destination; it’s about slowing down, reconnecting with ourselves, and appreciating the journey. Spending time outdoors has brought me inner strength and mindfulness, and I’m excited to help others experience the same.

    There’s something truly special about shared experiences on the trail, and I’m committed to planning events that spark joy, foster connections, and inspire wellness. I hope to make each outing more than just a hike—a journey of growth, empowerment, and community.

    Outside of hiking, I love curling up with a good book and my favorite cup of coffee or chai. I’m looking forward to exploring new trails, building meaningful connections, and making every event a chance for us all to grow, share, and embrace the beauty of the outdoors together. Let’s lace up, step out, and enjoy every moment along the way.

  • Erin Jernigan (she/her)

    Office Manager

    I'm Erin, a native of North Carolina. My love for hiking began when my parents would take me to Hanging Rock on weekends during my childhood. For over two years, I've been an active member of WOTTHC. My first event was the Newbie Orientation. Since then, I've embarked on countless hikes with the club, and I've lost track of the exact number. I enjoy being outside and feel fortunate to be part of this wonderful community of women.

    I graduated from NCSU with a degree in business and a minor in HR Management. Go Pack! I have over a decade of recruitment experience and work for a local tech company. I'm eager to contribute to the smooth operation of WOTTHC and support the team in any way I can.

  • Hannah Maher

    Event Specialist

    Hey y'all! My name is Hannah Maher. I have a Bachelors in Exercise Science and an LPN certification. Three years ago, I met my husband while playing my favorite sport: ultimate frisbee. After we had our son, we packed up and moved from Mississippi to the Raleigh area to be closer to our family. It was important for me to find a community of people to interact with that aligned with my interests and spirit. Luckily, I found WOTTHC! I enjoy playing ultimate frisbee, kayaking, reading, thrifting, and spending time with friends and family. I hope to meet y'all on the trails soon!

  • Laskshmi Krishnamoorthy (she/her)

    Wellness Partner Manager

    I am Lakshmi Krishnamoorthy, a corporate woman turned Health & Wellbeing Coach, Founder of Mindful Manam LLC.

    Through Mindful Manam, I empower women to build sustainable health habits, manage stress, and cultivate mindfulness for a thriving life. Whether it’s through coaching, workshops, or digital resources, my goal is to help you unlock a healthier, more mindful version of yourself.

    As the Wellness Partner Manager at WOTTHC, I look forward to creating impactful wellness programs that inspire and transform lives.

    Let’s embark on this journey together!

  • Lindsay Cowell (she/her)

    Facebook Moderator

    Hey, everyone! I am a native Georgian who moved to North Carolina for grad school. Upon moving to the Triangle area, I was looking for a way to meet people and stumbled upon WOTTHC! I have been involved with the group for 2 years and have enjoyed the hikes and friendships. Aside from hiking, I enjoy spending time with my husband and my dog, Reesy (who also joins the group for hikes :D). I also enjoy coffee, a good crossword puzzle, and going to trivia. I look forward to meeting all of you! 

  • Logan MacDonald (they/them)

    Logan MacDonald

    Member Care Coordinator

    Hi everyone! I’m Logan! I’m originally from eastern NC, and moved to the triangle in the summer of 2023. I joined the club right when I moved, and went on my first hike shortly after! I volunteer at most events the club puts on, and really enjoy meeting all of you at the events!

    I have been described as a “hobby hoarder” by my friends. I enjoy crocheting, cross stitch, cooking, reading, watching movies, and whatever other new hobby I pick up! I’m also super into nerd stuff (I have a tattoo of the comics code authority so take from that what you will), and I love horror. I do volunteer work in my free time, mostly with RLT. I also do disability advocacy and volunteer as a patient advocate. Feel free to yap to me about literally anything and I will listen, completely enraptured. Looking forward to meeting you all!

  • Sam Fallone (she/her)

    Event Specialist


    Hi everyone! I am originally from New Jersey but also lived in South Carolina and Florida before making North Carolina my home in 2024. I lurked in the group for awhile before finally going on my first group hike in January 2025. I moved here not really knowing anyone and am so grateful to have met so many amazing women through WOTTHC even in such a short amount of time.

    I've always loved the outdoors and am always craving some sunshine. It's my first time living away from the beach but I'm learning to appreciate all the lakes and rivers and being so close to the mountains - my favorite day trip so far has been Hanging Rock State Park!

    Aside from hiking and spending time in nature I enjoy reading, yoga, checking out new zoos/aquariums/museums, road trips, and live music (catch me working at the two amphitheaters in Raleigh all summer!)

    I'm also on a mission to visit all the NC state parks!

    See you on the trails!

  • Shannon Reckler (she/her)

    Newsletter Editor

    Hello! My name is Shannon, and I joined the club in the fall of 2024 after googling "hiking clubs near me" with the intention of finding like-minded people with whom could connect. I became passionate about hiking in 2022 when I began to focus more on my health. In 2023, I set a goal to hike all 42 NC State Parks by the end of the year, and on 12/30/23 at Crowder's Mountain State Park, I accomplished that goal. I live in Fayetteville with my spoiled pets: two pups and one cat. I work in healthcare management and spend most of my free time trying to relax by cooking, reading, or hiking. I am passionate about the NC mountains and try to escape there as often as I can. My next major hiking goal will be to hike some (maybe eventually all) of the Appalachian Trail. I look forward to meeting many awesome ladies on the trails!

Leadership Team

  • Ana Sandhu

    President

    Hi everyone!

    I'm Ana, and I'm absolutely thrilled to be a part of this incredible organization!

    While I'm originally from the Northeast and have lived in five different states, North Carolina truly feels like where I’m meant to be. For nearly 13 years, I've been a nationally certified behavior consultant and professional dog trainer. My best friend is my dog, Athena (though I usually call her "Pig"!). We're passionate backpackers and love introducing first-timers to the wilderness on extended trips. Beyond hiking and dog training, I’ve worked in sales for various tech companies the last 4 years.

    My journey with WOTTHC began in June 2023, and I quickly became a hike leader. In April 2024, I stepped into the role of HR Director, focusing on volunteer recruitment, onboarding, and administrative tasks. And as of May 2025, I'm honored to serve as your President and Executive Director!

    My true passion lies in helping women find confidence and build strong, lasting relationships, particularly through the power of the outdoors. I genuinely enjoy learning about people and their unique journeys, so I encourage you to strike up a conversation—there's so much we can learn from one another

  • Elaine Petrone (she/her)

    Vice President

    Originally from NY, I've lived in Raleigh since college. Retired after 41 years working with computers. Now I enjoy my free time supporting the club and creating theatre with a few different community theatres in Raleigh. Walking has always been my preferred fitness activity, especially near the local lakes. In 2020 I started exploring some of the unpaved trails of Umstead, and a newbie hiker was born. I discovered WOTTHC in early 2022, just as I wanted to explore further. I'm happy to be able to give back to WOTTC.

  • Alexandra Boutiette*

    Director of Finance

    Hello everyone. I am Alexandra, and I moved to the Triangle with my family from Illinois in 2021. I am originally from Germany and have lived in the USA for 11 years. Being from Germany, I grew up in the woods, and hiking was always part of my life! I love being outdoors, and I try to teach my kids to appreciate the outdoors as much as I do. Hiking in the triangle with this group is my therapy and helps me get less homesick since the NC trails remind me a lot of Germany!

    *Alex speaks French and German.

  • Carolyn Sparano (she/her)

    Hike Leader Coach

    I've been a technology executive for over 20 years and in tech my entire professional career. Along my professional journey, one of the things I enjoyed the most was mentoring women. The second thing was international travel, typically visiting our company offices around the world. I grew up in upstate NY but we've been in NC for 30 years and never looked back (who needs all that snow!). I've recently retired and am looking forward to this next phase of my life, which includes doing what I love, which is spending time outdoors. I am a dedicated outdoors woman! Always seeking outdoor adventures, whether it's backpacking on the Camino Trail, hiking down the Matterhorn or enjoying the Appalachian mountains. Nature has always brought me peace of mind. I look forward to many more outdoor adventures with the WOTTHC!

Meet our hike leaders >

Interested in joining the team?

WOTTHC is built by women, for women. 100% of our volunteers offer their time and skills as a priceless donation to the organization.

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