Meet Our Leadership Team
SCORE has a dedicated leadership team that guides and supports our nationwide network of 10,000 volunteers. Discover more about the leaders who are responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of our organization.
Julie Christiansen has over 25 years of experience in executive leadership in the Consumer Goods and Manufacturing industries. She has a black belt in Lean Manufacturing and is a continuous improvement expert. She currently serves on three private and two non-profit boards. She holds an MBA from Capella University and a BA from St. Norbert College.
Board of Directors
Board Executive Committee
Julie Poland
Chair of the Board
Julie Poland is a speaker, author and Coach Partner for ProActive Leadership Group. Since 1990, she has provided processes and structures for business leaders to transform their organizations and achieve improved results and sustainable growth.
Steve R. Smith
Treasurer
After 40+ years with IBM and more than a decade with SCORE, Steve has vast experience in business entrepreneurship to share. He led IBM’s go-to-market strategies globally. At SCORE, he chaired the Fairfield chapter from 2019-2022. Steve graduated from Miami University and received his MBA from The Ohio State University. He also did post graduate work at Cal Berkeley and University of Michigan.
Board Members
Maggie Aaron
Maggie Aaron currently works as a Principal at a DC consulting firm, FS Vector. Additionally, Maggie brings Capitol Hill experience from both the Senate and House. She most recently was senior Professional Staff Member for the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship for Chairman Marco Rubio.
Rick Brimacomb
Rick Brimacomb, founder of Brimacomb & Associates, advises and invests in emerging companies. He also manages Club E, a networking group. Previously, he co-founded Sherpa Partners and worked in venture capital and investment banking.
Ricardo Casas
Ricardo Casas, a SCORE volunteer for over seven years, serves as Associate District Director for Southeast Florida. He led global businesses at ExxonMobil for 20+ years. Ricardo holds degrees from Georgia Tech and Thunderbird.
Bryan Eckle
Bryan is the founder of Summit2Sea Consulting, an award-winning Inc. 5000 firm recognized for pioneering applied enterprise AI, automation, and data analytics. Over two decades, he grew the company into an industry leader and successfully guided it to exit. Today, he shares that experience as founder of Jupiter Peak, LLC, where he advises businesses on strategy, growth, and innovation. A sought-after speaker and writer, Bryan is widely regarded as a thought leader in entrepreneurship, data and applied AI. He is a volunteer SCORE mentor and graduate of the University of Mary Washington.
Jim Helfgott
Jim Helfgott spent over 40 years in the Telecom business working in senior positions for major Cable TV and Satellite operators and content programmers. His leadership experience has taken him to all parts of the US and Europe working for names such as HBO, Time Warner and Liberty Global. He is the author of a book on change and has consulted with organizations helping them work through major changes. Jim graduated from Hofstra University and is in the Hofstra Radio Hall of Fame. He has been a SCORE volunteer of 8 years, most recently serving as the District Director for South Carolina.
Tim Jeffcoat
Tim Jeffcoat is the founder of Competitive Edge Development, a consultant to the government and business, as well as a provider of business workshops. Tim is also the founder of Tsquiggle, an emerging film and television music production company. Tim was previously the Director of the US Small Business Administration in Southeast Texas–based in Houston – for 9 years, and was an executive with the US Government for 20 years.
Debi Kleiman
Debi Kleiman leads the D^3 Institute's AI Lab for Startups at Harvard Business School, supporting academic-led AI entrepreneurship across Harvard. As managing partner of The Upside Angels, she consults with early-stage entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship programs. Kleiman is also the author of the Amazon bestseller First Pitch: Winning Money, Mentors and More for Your Startup.
Frank Klisanich
Frank Klisanich is a business leader who expanded ConAgra Foods Snacks Group into 70+ countries and served as CEO at The Village Company. Now a consultant and adjunct instructor, he holds an economics degree from the University of Western Ontario and an MBA from Queen’s University.
Ray Lee
Ray Lee has been a SCORE volunteer mentor and workshop presenter for more than 15 years. Professionally, he has held major financial positions in large domestic and international companies with a BA in Accounting and an MBA in Finance. Ray also has more than 10 years of experience in the nonprofit sector and is considered a founding board member of a $20 million children/science museum.
Pat Loftus
Pat Loftus, a New World Angels member, has 35+ years in corporate leadership and six years in small business. She advises startups and volunteers in entrepreneurship. Pat holds degrees from Penn State and Carnegie Mellon, in addition to an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.
Megan Malone
Megan Malone serves as senior director with the U.S. Government Engagement team at VISA. In this capacity, she leads and shapes the company’s small business policy priorities to support small and medium-size enterprises. She has extensive experience working with Congress and the Administration on small business issues and in developing coalitions that support common policy objectives.
Sam Marfatia
Sam Marfatia is recognized for his innovative efforts to advance the food and beverage packaging sector during his tenure as Global Marketing Director for Sealed Air, where he steered growth strategy and was responsible for a $1.2 billion portfolio. He is also founder of Pack’n Fresh, a co-packing firm in Dallas, and Power Central, a provider of software utilities.
John A. McCloskey
John McCloskey, a SCORE volunteer for 10 years, served as Chapter Chair and District Director in North Carolina. He was on management boards for FAG Bearings and Schaeffler AG and was CEO of the Aerospace Group. He holds degrees in engineering and business, with post-grad work at Harvard, London Business School and IMI Geneva.
Judy Treviño
Dr. Judy Treviño, vice president of finance for the Texas Hospital Association, has over 20 years of experience in business administration, finance, HR and IT. She excels in strategic planning, governance training, recruitment and fundraising in nonprofit, governmental and foundation sectors.
