Influential Woman · Non profit

Lynne Versaci

Director of Development, Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation

Wappingers Falls, NY

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Associate's Degree in Business Degree Dutchess Community College Degree Bachelor's Degree in Business Degree Mount St. Mary College Cert Certification in Traditional Counseling and Hypnotherapy Member Chamber of Commerce Member Women Mean Business in Orange County Member Wappinger Falls Business Association

Her Story

About Lynne

I have been working in the nonprofit sector for 21 years, and it has been the most meaningful part of my professional journey. I currently serve as the Director of Development at Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation, a role I started in January. This work is deeply personal to me because my sister is a breast cancer survivor, and we serve 9 counties regionally. Raising money for foundations and people in need is a big deal in and of itself, and I consider it my most notable professional achievement. Before focusing on nonprofit work, I worked in the hospitality industry, the music business, and event planning. I'm also a former county legislator and am currently running for re-election because I believe in serving my community through public service. In August, I underwent major open-heart surgery where my heart stopped, and I had to have a pacemaker put in to beat my heart again. That experience taught me that you either get rolled over or you roll with it, and I chose to roll with it. I could have easily wilted away and not pushed forward, but I chose to be transparent, vulnerable, and real. I'm currently working toward my 5-year goal of becoming a keynote speaker, and I've already started doing speaking engagements. I'm also in the middle of writing a book and have poetry that I've written. I believe that being a good role model for my kids and never giving up are what drive me forward every day.

Quick Facts

IndustryNon profit
Based inWappingers Falls, NY
Specialty Nonprofit, Hospitality
Volunteers with American Heart Association
- Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation
- Sparrow's Nest

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Lynne

01What do you attribute your success to?

I attribute my success to God, resiliency, and never giving up. Having to be the best role model for my kids is also a huge part of what drives me. After my major open-heart surgery in August, where my heart stopped and I had to have a pacemaker put in to beat my heart again, I could have easily given up. But I chose not to. Instead of getting rolled over, I choose to roll with it. I'm alive because of that choice, and I choose to be very transparent, very vulnerable, and very real. I think you can go through everything and still come out on top, and that's what keeps me going.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I would say mean what you say and say what you mean. I would say be transparent, be real, be vulnerable, and build the best relationships that you can with a solid foundation. And always follow up. After my heart surgery in August, I had a major open-heart surgery where my heart stopped and I had to put a pacemaker in to beat my heart again. That's why I'm alive, so I choose to be very transparent, very vulnerable, very real. I could have given up, quite frankly, but I chose not to. Instead of getting rolled over, I choose to roll with it. I think that's pretty important for people to know that you can go through everything and still come out on top.

03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

The biggest challenge is that there's a lot of great nonprofits out there, so it's hard to compete. And I don't like the word compete, to be honest with you, because nothing is a competition. I think any nonprofit that's founded is usually a very good thing, because we're all helping people. The challenging thing is just working together and realizing everyone doesn't need the whole darn pie. I think that we could all work together just getting a slice of the pie, and I think it would help all over.

04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

I think just being real is most important. I think truth and someone being very honest is a great value that people could have. Being transparent is a good value. I think being a good person, being nice, is something that people take for granted, or they're just nice on the surface and not inherently nice. I think being kind and showing kindness is a great value. That's something that's important, just to be kind to one another no matter what you're being in this life. I also think being mindful of others' time is crucial, because time is their most valuable asset.

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