Behind the
Scenes
Managers, Coordinators, and More
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Camila Schiel
Attendance Coordinator
Howdy Howdy! I’m Camila and I moved to NC 7 years ago from Florida. I’m a
Mechanical Engineer from UCF – Go Knights! What I love about living in the Triangle is that you always find new hidden gems – beautiful trails and nature areas. I joined the club in 2024 to connect with other like-minded women that shared the same enthusiasm for the outdoors and be more engaged with the community.
I’m super active and love being outdoors – hiking, biking, running, gardening, birding and exploring new places, especially coffee shops. If I’m not outside, I enjoy cooking, reading books, arts & craft – creative and junk journaling – and building Legos with my fiancé and our 2 spoiled kitty cats.
See you on the trails!
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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!
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Larissa Benavente (she/her)
Event Coordinator - Hike Events Specialist
Hello fellow hiking ladies! My name is Larissa. I am originally from Fortaleza, Brasil. I moved to and have been calling North Carolina home since 2004. I work full time in biopharma here at the RTP area. A biologist by trade, I have always loved nature, all the amazing and beautiful environments and their living creatures. With my kiddos having grown up and being out of the house, I have found time to explore the outdoors. Inspired by the beauty of this state, it awakened my passion for hiking. Being in nature, hiking, is my happy place. It brings me joy and peace, and it's where I find balance and wholeness. In addition to hiking, I enjoy listening to music, baking and cooking, and spending time with my family and dogs. I am also very passionate about women empowerment, leadership, and sisterhood. We have so much to share with and learn from each other! Looking forward to meeting you on the trails!
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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!
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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!
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Olivia Lutz
Treasurer
My name is Olivia. I am a CPA that has spent the majority of my career auditing non-profit organization. I have worked with over 30 non-profits over the past 5 years. I audit financial statements, draft financial reports and provide recommendations for improvements over internal control.
In my free time, other than hiking of course, I enjoy reading, running, and traveling.
I've been a part of the group as a hiker for a few years and am looking forward to working forward with the organization in a greater capacity!
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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!
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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
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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
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Alexandra Boutiette*
Finance Team Lead
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.
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Aswathy Shailaja (she/her)
Events Team Lead
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.
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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! -

Elaine Petrone (she/her)
Membership Team Lead
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.
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.
