Meet Our Board

President

Teresa Rutledge took over the role of President in May 2022 after serving 

as LMU's Treasurer.  

Teresa raised her two boys, Matt and Mark Wilson, in the Northern Virginia area. During this time, she witnessed how many kids and adults benefited from LiftMeUp!, and is grateful to now be part of this special place.

Teresa retired in 2021 after a 41-year career as a banking regulator, half of that time spent as Director for International Banking Supervision 

at the Office of the 

Comptroller of the Currency.  

teresa.rutledge@liftmeup.org

Vice President

On the board since 2018, Shelley now serves as Vice President. Her charter is community outreach to expand the presence of LiftMeUp! in Northern Virginia.

After having an accomplished career in information technology, Shelley pursued a passion of a lifetime and launched her own interior design firm in 2014.

Since moving to Great Falls, Shelley is active in many clubs and enjoys volunteering for LiftMeUp! with her husband, Raymond and son, Mason.

shelldavenport3@gmail.com

Treasurer

Don began volunteering at Lift Me Up! in 2019, assisting instructors with riders and getting to know the herd. He developed a deep appreciation for the benefits the program brings to participants, and now as a board member is seeking to further strengthen its financial position to broaden its reach and impact through the community.   

Don enjoys golf, traveling to new places, and spending as much time as possible with his two grown children, Matt and Katherine.  

Don lives in Great Falls, VA with his wife and is retired from a career in the finance and banking industry. He received an MBA in business from The George Washington University and a B.A in economics from the University of Maryland.

don.weyback@liftmeup.org

Member at Large

 Roz has been a long-time leader at Lift Me Up! including holding the office of president and Gala Chair many times over. She has a strong commitment to volunteering 

and sponsoring organizations 

in the Great Falls community. 

Roz works at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty and holds the distinction of receiving the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors, Lifetime Top Producer Award. Roz’s degree and experience in business management, combined with her negotiating skills, show her uncompromising determination to deliver top caliber service.

Roz is an accomplished equestrian and an avid golfer.

Roz@RozDrayer.com  

Member at Large  

David Giroux joined the board in January 2023.  Dave worked with Lift Me Up! in 2019 to create the First Responder's Wellness Program.

David Giroux has been a police officer in Northern Virginia since 1995 and has been committed to improving mental health for first responders in the region for several years.  In 2020, his department was lucky enough to partner with Lift Me Up to provide wellness programming for their officers.  This pilot was well-received and has led to an expansion of wellness opportunities at Lift Me Up.  David is excited and honored to give back to Lift Me Up as a Board Member and looks forward to developing additional wellness options for all community members at LMU.  

Member at Large

Deiadre Rauch is an Executive Leadership Coach, Organizational Development Consultant, and Facilitator working in the Metro DC Area.  She and her husband Tom Tucker have lived in Great Falls the last 12 years, moving back to the area in 2011 after 8 years of living in Brussels.  She has lived and worked abroad for over 16 years, with assignments in London, Kuala Lumpur and Brussels. She also has a passion for fundraising and development at non-profits, and has set on several boards of educational and charitable organizations.

Deiadre and Tom have three adult sons, and their youngest, Lucas is autistic and a rider at Lift Me Up!. LMU has been such a great place for Lucas, increasing both his strength and his confidence. Throughout the three years Lucas has been riding at LMU, Deiadre has had the opportunity to see countless other children, young adults and adults find joy at the barn. She also often in awe at the dedication of the volunteers, and hopes to be involved at Lift Me Up! for many years to come.

Member at Large  

Silvie Stankova joined the board at the beginning of 2022. She is an avid philanthropist and brings years of experience volunteering for different nonprofits in the DMV area. 

Since moving to Great Falls in 2019, Silvie has taken interest in horseback riding, and regularly volunteers to help out some local horse owners in her neighborhood.

As a prior Operations Manager and Exec Assistant to the CEO and founder of a local Government Contracting company, Silvie has a keen awareness for what makes organizations run effectively. Her years of back office management, problem solving skills, and attention to detail are well suited to help support LIft Me Up and its ongoing goal to help support those in need.

Silvie has two children and can be seen regularly supporting community and philanthropic events here in Great Falls.

sgstankova@gmail.com