The people behind Strike It Strong
Strike It Strong is run by volunteers who give their time, skills and connections so women in our community can feel safer and stronger. Here is the board, in alphabetical order.
Sharon is an active board member of NAWBO SJ's Corporate Sponsor Committee. She's an expert in the payroll business, having spent over 35 years running payroll companies for ADP and Paychex in the tri-state area. She currently works with Workplace HCM. We are overjoyed to have such an accomplished and kind-hearted woman serve on our nonprofit's board.
Theresa Freedman is a Governance and Control Specialist with TD Bank, bringing 25 years of experience in the banking industry. Prior to her current role, she served as a Relationship Manager, building a career centered on professionalism, knowledge and strong relationships.
In addition to serving on the Strike It Strong board, Theresa serves on the boards of the Zallie Community Foundation and the Medford Police Officer's Foundation. She is also actively involved with NAWBO South Jersey, the South Jersey Food Bank and the Medford Business Association, where she previously served on the board for 18 years.
Theresa believes in being fair, supportive and positive, and in encouraging others to be their best. She has been recognized with honors including 40 Under 40 and President's Club, and views volunteerism as both a responsibility and a privilege.
Andrea Lorry is the founder and Managing Director of Winning the Fight Against Neurodegenerative Diseases (WFND), a nonprofit dedicated to funding critical research and raising awareness around diseases such as ALS. She founded the organization in 2011 after her sister was diagnosed with ALS and was inspired by her father's determination to help find a cure.
A Florida native, Andrea earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Miami and a Master's degree in Real Estate from the University of Florida. Before launching WFND, she worked in commercial real estate as a property appraiser and property manager.
Today, Andrea leads WFND on a completely pro bono basis, helping fund research at Florida universities while building connections among researchers, families and supporters. Outside of her nonprofit work, she enjoys water sports, scuba diving, Pilates and traveling with her husband, Adam.
Tina Markoe has been capturing images for more than 20 years, since 2003, and is still going strong. Her style is classic and photojournalistic, and the images she captures will feel as relevant in 20 years as they do the day they are taken.
Co-founder
Cheryl Squadrito is an award-winning journalist, public relations professional and educator who founded Media Friendly Public Relations in 2005, building the firm on her newsroom experience and instinct for finding compelling stories.
Cheryl began her career as a music journalist as a teenager and later worked at Melody Maker magazine in London and Philadelphia Magazine. After graduating from Widener University, she joined The Philadelphia Inquirer, where she spent seven years as a reporter and music journalist. She later became music critic for the Courier-Post and contributed to USA Today. Her journalism career included covering everything from presidents and breaking news to movie premieres and rock concerts.
That newsroom experience became the foundation for Media Friendly PR. Today, Cheryl and her team help businesses, nonprofits and professionals increase their visibility through media relations, strategic communications, social media, video, websites, events and other marketing services.
Cheryl is also an adjunct professor who has taught public relations, media, public speaking and music marketing at Temple University's Klein College of Media and Communication since 2012. She joined Rowan University as an adjunct journalism professor in 2025.
In 2024, Cheryl and her friend Nancy Starr founded Strike It Strong, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowers women through self-defense education while raising funds to support women in crisis. In 2025, Strike It Strong started The Step-Up Fund in honor of her late sister Marilyn Squadrito Bonner.
A longtime South Jersey resident, Cheryl is also a certified Spinning instructor, avid vinyl collector and rock 'n' roll trivia aficionado. She is working on her first novel, London Calling.
Co-founder
Nancy Starr is an entrepreneur, marketer and longtime advocate for women. Throughout her career, she has created opportunities for women to connect, grow and support one another, from founding Women of Wit & Wisdom, a professional networking group at Philadelphia's Pyramid Club, to co-founding Girlfriendz Magazine, the region's first publication created for baby boomer women.
Today, Nancy serves on the board of NAWBO South Jersey (National Association of Women Business Owners) and is the co-founder of Strike It Strong, a nonprofit that empowers women through self-defense education and provides practical support to women in crisis.
Professionally, Nancy is the founder and president of First Impressions Marketing, where she brings more than 30 years of experience in strategic marketing, creative direction and communications. Her work has earned six Communicator Awards and has supported clients across a wide range of industries.
At this stage in her career, Nancy is continuing to pursue something that has always been important to her: helping women feel stronger, connected and supported.
Sanford "Sandy" Student is an accomplished senior executive and noted innovator with over 30 years of experience in bringing consumer and commercial products to market, and implementing new strategies and solutions.
Throughout his career, Sandy has provided strategic consulting services to leading worldwide organizations, including AT&T, Kodak, Motorola, Novartis, Rutgers University, Sun Bank and the United States Government.
Sandy has been instrumental in staging acclaimed local celebratory events and raising millions of dollars for local charitable organizations.
Want to get involved?
We are always glad to hear from volunteers, sponsors and anyone who wants to help women in our community feel safer.
