Our People

Chief Executive Officer
sara@experiencecamps.org

Under Sara’s leadership, Experience Camps has conducted original research on the state of grief and launched a national network of  programs and platforms for grieving kids and teens. She received her MBA from Columbia, and blends her background of 12 years in finance and business with her passion for the mission. In 2020, she received an award for “Best Entrepreneurial, Scaling” from Connecticut Entrepreneur Awards, and was named a “Patriots Difference Maker” by The Krafts Family and Patriots Foundation. Sara was named by Causeartist one of 32 nonprofit leaders who will impact the world in 2022 and was a 2023 mentor at the SXSW festival.

Chief Development Officer
carly.basile@experiencecamps.org

After five years volunteering with Experience Camps as a counselor and champion fundraiser, Carly is joining our team full-time. Carly graduated from Mount Holyoke College with an undergraduate degree in Women and Gender Studies and obtained an M.Ed. from the University of Vermont. Carly has over 10 years of experience in non-profit fundraising and works particularly with major gifts and donor acquisition. She has spent most of her career in education working to support college access and students with learning challenges.

Director of Innovation
jesse.moss@experiencecamps.org

Motivated by her own experience with loss, Jesse builds programs, partnerships, and digital platforms that reach millions — including launching the first TikTok channel for grieving kids and developing griefsucks.com, a community for connection, belonging, and healing. Her work has reached over 80 million people and is shifting culture toward greater grief literacy and stronger support for young people. Jesse is a 2025–2026 Obama Foundation USA Leader and a two-time SXSW speaker (2023, 2025), with previous roles at Warner Bros., E! Entertainment, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Director of Operations
elena.soderblom@experiencecamps.org

Elena’s operations experience spans hospitality, HR, finance, and technology, where she has focused on building systems and processes to improve efficiency and employee success. She holds an MBA and an MA in Economics from American University, where her research centered on developing sustainable business models for the hospitality industry. Elena also holds a BA in Management from NYU and has hands-on experience as a service director and wine director in Michelin-starred establishments.

Director of Programs
ashley.laughlin@experiencecamps.org

Ashley is joining Experience Camps full time after spending eight summers volunteering with the organization in multiple different roles. She helped open our Georgia and Maine locations, simultaneously overseeing these camps as the Program Director since 2018. Ashley has spent the past decade working in the private health insurance industry specializing in sales and management. She graduated with honors from the University of Florida where she received her BS in Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management.

Director of Marketing & Communications
nicole.kramer@experiencecamps.org

Nicole has over a decade of marketing experience across some of the most iconic consumer brands in health /wellness. She has both supported and led teams across brand, integrated marketing, community partnerships and expansion for Equinox and sweetgreen. Her volunteer work as a CASA and mentoring youths navigating the workforce has primed her for this impactful work at Experience Camps.

Senior Manager of Fundraising Operations
thomas.diguglielmo@experiencecamps.org

Thomas applies his analytical skills and eye for detail to help our Development team be as efficient as possible. He worked as a Database Consultant for The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and most recently at The Carver Foundation of Norwalk as the Resource Development Manager. He graduated from Drew University in 2014 with a BA in Economics. Thomas has also completed a Nonprofit Management and Entrepreneurship course as well as Harvard’s Online Business Certificate program, HBX.

Senior National Camp Manager
jamie.diamond@experiencecamps.org

Jamie was born and raised in South Florida, but can now call herself a New Yorker after being there for 10+ years. She started her career in the fabulous world of events and wedding design, she then transitioned her event planning skills to the camping world as the Director of Operations. This is where she was first introduced to Experience Camps and from year 1 started her volunteering journey. She instantly connected with the mission and the fantastic people which only furthered her involvement with Experience Camps over the last 6 years. For the past 2 years she has had the pleasure of being one of the associate directors at the PennEx program. Jamie is eager to contribute to the growth of Experience Camps in a more purposeful way as the Senior National Camp Manager!

Communications Manager
michelle.cove@experiencecamps.org

Michelle draws on her 25+ years as a professional media maker to create content that brings awareness to our work. She is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, journalist, and national bestselling author whose projects have been featured on numerous national platforms including “The Today Show,” The Washington Post, and The New York Times. From 2014 to 2020, Michelle was the founder and Executive Director of MEDIAGIRLS, a nonprofit that empowers young women to harness the power of media to uplift one another.

Program Operations Manager
sydney.choi@experiencecamps.org

Sydney earned her BA from the University of California, Davis and her MFA from Rutgers University, Newark. She has a background in education, writing, and administration with experience ranging from teaching to running poetry events. Sydney uses her editorial lens to streamline processes and organize information at Experience Camps. When she’s offline, you might find her volunteering at a local food bank, baking a cake, or walking aimlessly around Brooklyn.

Clinical Manager
samira.moosavi@experiencecamps.org

Samira has dedicated over a decade to providing psychosocial support to children and families. As a Certified Child Life Specialist, she has supported families in the hospital setting, during natural disasters, and on global medical missions. After volunteering for years, she became staff at a local hospice in their Children’s Bereavement Program, running summer grief camps, peer-based support groups, and school programming.

With more than 14 years of event planning and corporate sponsorship experience, Kristen loves turning ideas into meaningful moments that foster community, inspire generosity, and make a lasting impact. Kristen has co-founded event management companies as well as led events with organizations such as Seattle Study Club, ACT Dental, and the Dallas Mavericks. She is thrilled to combine her professional expertise with her personal mission of giving kids the resources and skills to help them process grief.

Clinical Manager
kait.vanderlaan@experiencecamps.org

Kait is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Pennsylvania and has over a decade of experience working with children, adolescents, families, and adults. She has worked in a variety of settings including outpatient therapy, inpatient hospitals, crisis programs, schools, and camps. Kait is passionate about supporting grieving children and teens. She spent 8 summers as a Grief Specialist at PennEx before joining the team full-time.

Camp Manager
jordan.rappoport@experiencecamps.org

Jordan joined us after volunteering as a counselor for our camp program in Georgia since 2017. She received her BS from the University of Florida in Public Relations with a minor in Event Management. Jordan is passionate about relationship building and watching memorable moments come to life. A lifelong camper, Jordan is excited to turn the “Best Week Ever” into the best job ever! When not working, you can find her singing with her guitar to Taylor Swift songs.

Leadership Giving Officer
ilana.gutman@experiencecamps.org

Ilana started volunteering with Experience Camps in 2017 and helped us open our Michigan location in 2019. After five years as Girls Program Director, Ilana joined our development team part-time to support our fundraising efforts. Ilana lives in the Chicagoland area and works full-time at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation supporting fundraising and board development. Ilana has her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her masters in Education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. ExCamps is her passion and the mission keeps her coming back for more.

Intake Coordinator
gayle.brumley@experiencecamps.org

Gayle is an MSW, Certified Child Life Specialist and holds a Certificate of Thanatology from the Association for Death Education and Counseling. She has over 10 years of professional experience in the non-profit camp sector with children and young adults with developmental disabilities and serious illnesses. Gayle also volunteered with a grief camp in Ireland for four years. When not working, she’s usually living slowly by reading outside, baking peach cobbler, and/or cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs.

Development Associate
joan.reilly@experiencecamps.org

Joan works with the Development team to coordinate year-round planning and execution of Experience Camps’ fundraising logistics in addition to providing database support. Prior to joining Experience Camps, Joan held positions at several nonprofits. When Joan is not working you can usually find her outdoors, especially on the beach with her family and dogs.

Camp Associate
austin.baird@experiencecamps.org

Austin joins the team with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Western CT State University, and a wealth of experience in outdoor leadership and youth development. He served as a director at a ski mountain for many years, accrediting numerous certifications through both U.S. Ski & Snowboard and PSIA, and has spent time developing and managing summer camps throughout Connecticut. He believes in encouraging kids to get outside and stay active, and is committed to helping create a positive experience for children and teens within the programs at Experience Camps.

Content Manager
danielle.costa@experiencecamps.org

Danielle is a New York native, radio host, and social media strategist with over eight years of experience in advertising and media. She has led content strategy and creative campaigns for iconic brands like OREO and Starbucks, as well as nonprofits including the BLAC Internship program. Passionate about storytelling and building community, Danielle is excited to bring her creativity and marketing expertise to help share the Experience Camps mission with the world.

Corporate Giving Officer
ori.balaish@experiencecamps.org

Ori brings over eight years of experience building cross-sector partnerships that advance health equity and expand opportunities for underserved communities. He has held roles in corporate engagement, family empowerment, and public health at organizations including StreetWise Partners, the NYC Department of Education, and the New York State Department of Health. He holds a Master’s in Global Public Health from Imperial College London and a B.A. from Lafayette College.

Beachside Strategy, LLC
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Rialto Capital Advisors
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Uncharted Philanthropy
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Bridgewater Associates 
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