The SparkleBIZ Team

 Samantha Tradelius

Founder & Board of Directors, Sparkle Foundation, Inc.

Samantha Tradelius is a seasoned commercial property insurance broker with an impressive 25 years of industry expertise. She leverages this wealth of experience to provide invaluable risk management support to women-owned businesses. Currently holding the esteemed position of Vice President of Operations at LyteSpeed Learning, Samantha is deeply passionate about insurance education for agents and brokers throughout California. This role is particularly significant to her, as it allows her to share her real-life insights gained from years of owning her own insurance agencies.

Beyond her thriving career in insurance, Samantha Tradelius is the visionary founder of The Sparkle Foundation, a distinguished non-profit organization committed to assisting single mothers in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Sacramento. Her unwavering mission to uplift and empower women is evident in every endeavor she undertakes. Through The Sparkle Foundation and its invaluable resource arm, SparkleBiz, Samantha extends financial aid to support enrichment programs, offers microloans to female-owned small businesses, and connects women with a vast, influential network. Since its inception in 2016, The Sparkle Foundation has raised a remarkable sum of over $2 million, with every dollar reinvested directly into the community.

In 2021, Samantha unveiled S. By Samantha Inc., a dynamic consulting firm dedicated to amplifying the voices of real-life women and advancing their careers. She co-hosts the popular InspiHER’d podcast, curates a monthly collection featuring female-founded brands, and authored an inspiring book titled "Impact: Stories of Change Makers, Creators, and Everyday Women Doing Extraordinary Work."

When Samantha Tradelius isn't making waves in the insurance industry or celebrating the achievements of women, she's raising two remarkable daughters and tirelessly working to make a positive impact in the world every day. Her life is a testament to living with purpose and passion. To keep up with her latest ventures and contributions, visit SamanthaTradelius.com.

Rachel Larsen

Rachel Larsen is a SAHM that thrives on helping others, event coordination, and organization. She spent many years working in television production on game shows like “Fear Factor,” “Deal or No Deal,” and “Wipeout.”

As life lead her on the path of raising two smart girls, she continues to be enthusiastic about gaining new skills. She values learning from others, genuine connections, and hearing about other peoples passions and how she can possibly help. Sparkle Foundation has allowed her to fulfill these passions and continue to help make a difference in people’s lives.

Stacey Fleece

Board of Directors, Sparkle Foundation, Inc.

Stacey C. Fleece, CFA, is a Regional Manager with Pinnacle Home Loans. Stacey proudly has 15 years’ experience in residential finance with expertise in territory management, business development, strategic planning, and business mentoring.

Prior to her tenure in lending, Stacey was also a recognized leader in the investment industry where she worked at several Bay Area based hedge funds in both trading and research, ultimately opening her own fund as General Partner. She is co-founder of the women’s networking group, SKIRT, co-authored SKIRTWorking, How To Network Using SKIRT, and is an expert on coaching professionals on building their business through relationship networking.

Stacey earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree from the University of San Francisco. In addition to her work as a board member at Sparkle Foundation, she is a 25+ year member and past president of The Junior League of San Francisco, former board member for the San Francisco Symphony League, and has served as chair for various non-profit fundraisers throughout the Bay Area. She currently resides in Mill Valley (Marin County) with her two children.

Tracy Teale

Board of Directors, Sparkle Foundation, Inc.

Tracy Teale, CPA, is an Audit Partner with RINA/APRIO and is the head of the Firm’s San Francisco office. Tracy joined RINA in 1999 and serves as the Managing Director of RINA/APRIO’s Not-For-Profit Practice Group. Prior to joining the Firm, Tracy was the CFO of a not-for-profit organization, and the CFO of a personnel firm. With more than 20 years of public accounting experience, and over 10 years of private industry experience, Tracy is very knowledgeable in accounting issues facing small to medium sized companies. Tracy specializes in providing tax, audit, and attest services to not-for-profit organizations, for-profit businesses, partnerships, S corporations, private foundations, and colleges. She also has extensive experience designing and implementing processes and systems.

By applying a customized approach to each engagement, Tracy helps business owners grow their businesses, and reach the next level of success. She works closely with clients to help them adjust their processes during high growth periods and to establish or modify their accounting systems. Tracy is passionate about working with not-for-profit organizations, and she is adept at implementing and updating online accounting systems. She also has significant experience working with real estate partnerships and REITS in connection with the audits of real estate properties and developments. Tracy works with companies in a variety of industries, including manufacturing and distribution, information services, and technology.

Tracy serves as Treasurer of the Financial Women of San Francisco, Director of Finance for Sparkle Foundation, Vice President for Contra Costa Child Care Council, Board member and audit committee chair of Girls Scouts of Northern California and Audit Committee Member for the Diablo Regional Arts Association. In addition to being involved in several nonprofit organizations, Tracy works with youth through the Contra Costa County 4H program.

Andrea Morales

Andrea Morales is currently the Vice President, Total Rewards, HR Systems and Operations at Affirm. In a former role, Andrea started the transformation of the compensation structure and took the company on the journey to transparency. Andrea believes transparency builds trust and culture, and as a pay equity champion, also knows it eliminates the pay gap. Andrea and her team capitalized on that success and revamped the entire Total Rewards package and value proposition in creative ways on a small budget. Andrea is on the journey again in her new role and additionally speaks at many conferences to share her story. In her personal life, she is a native Californian, is married with three amazing kids and coaches a competitive girls softball team. Andrea played softball most of her life and continued in college. She enjoys being a female role model and leader to the young girls on her team and learned many life lessons during her playing years. Andrea has an older sister who was a very young single mom that started her own business to make ends meet and still raise her son. She is passionate about helping others do the same.

Jana Mannina

Board of Directors, Sparkle Foundation, Inc.

Jana Mannina is the Co-Founder of Elite Mortgage Solutions, Speaking of Money, and First Responders & Finance.  Jana and her team are consistently top producing mortgage loan officers, serving families predominantly in Marin and Sonoma Counties. She is an industry leader in personal financial education, writer, and regular contributor to various media outlets.  She believes financial education can lead to personal and generational wealth no matter where one begins their financial journey, and focuses a great deal of time and attention to at risk youth and their families as well as First Responders and their families. 

Jana loves immersing herself in, and talking about all things money, and anything about online marketing, social media strategy, entrepreneurship, personal growth, and leadership. She’s passionate about service to both her clients, and her community, and is actively involved in several local programs such Sparkle Foundation, Save A Warrior, coaching youth sports, and loves bridging the divide between First Responders and the communities they serve through exposure, education and access. This year, Speaking of Money will launch as both a book and a podcast featuring topics on financial literacy and education meant to guide people towards attaining a level of personal wealth that’s comfortable for them. In addition, there are several coaching programs running via Speaking of Money at any given time for couples, teens, and individuals looking to get a better handle on their finances. Jana is also a regular financial educator at police academies throughout the country.

As you may have guessed, Jana is part of a First Responder family and is dedicated to serving that community. She is the wife of a San Francisco Police Captain, and Mama to three awesome children. In her spare time, you will probably find her indulging in her guilty pleasure- frequenting an amazing day spa.  She’s also borderline obsessed with great hotels, travelling, brightly colored and/or strappy heels, yoga, laughing hysterically with her girlfriends, a great dance party, opportunities to karaoke and freestyle rap, sparkly things, the outdoors, crafting, and spending time with her family and friends engaged in any fun shenanigan.

Brittany Maffia

Brittany Maffia is the owner of Urban Organics, a boutique full service catering and event production company based in the Bay Area. Starting out in the restaurant business at an early age she chose to learn every facet of the industry. From there she moved to the private chef world in San Francisco. After years of working for an incredible family she found herself catering their private events, dinner parties, etc. . After that experience she decided to launch a full catering company. With experience in design, menu planning and event production she began her journey. Fast forward to 2020 where Urban Organics produces events for some of the biggest tech companies in the world. There is also an extensive private and wedding division of the company.

Brittany has always loved giving back to her community, especially when it has an emphasis on local and organic food. Urban Organics support local farmers, purveyors and vendors helping to maintain an ecosystem of community. Donating to local nonprofits has been a gift over the years. She plans to be able to increase her contributions each year.

Why Sparkle is important to me :

After being involved with Sparkle for years I have seen the impact on many families. It brings joy to my heart to be a part of this board to make such an impact. When I heard about SparkleBIZ I knew I had to be a part of it. As a young woman entrepreneur I had very little direction or capital to start my business. It was only through the support of my friends and fellow women entrepreneurs that I was able to grow into the successful woman I am today. I am excited to be apart of another’s journey into the world of business. I look forward to helping in any way I can !!

Josh Demers

Board of Directors, Sparkle Foundation, Inc.

Josh Demers is a Sales Operations Program Manager at Microsoft, working with a team focused on Operational Excellence and Sales Enablement. His history is rich in technology and retail, spanning over 15 years, leading highly collaborative, strategic, cross-functional customer centric teams across brands families globally know and love. Josh leads with passion and the end experience is at the center of his work, both personally and professionally.  

A Pacific Northwest Native, Josh and his husband moved to California in 2017 and found the Sparkle Foundation through social media in a personal outreach campaign. Growing up in a single mother household, he quickly saw the positive impact the Sparkle Foundation had on the community and began to volunteer. Over time he became more involved behind the scenes and 2023 has offered an opportunity to step forward into a leadership role within the organization.  Josh will be joining Sparkle as Director of Technology and Infrastructure.

Farimah Erlandson

Farimah F. Erlandson is a graduate of the University of San Francisco, School of Law. While in Law School, Farimah F. Erlandson was a member of the Public Interest Law Foundation. She was a tutor during law school and also participated in the Criminal Clinic where she advocated on behalf of defendants in the criminal justice system. She was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2003.
Farimah F. Erlandson earned her undergraduate degree in Communication Studies with an emphasis in Middle Eastern Studies, from San Jose State University in 1998.

Farimah F. Erlandson was an Associate Attorney at The Law Office of Daniel Jensen in Santa Clara and Hersh Family Law Practice in San Francisco prior to her opening her own family law practice. She has appeared and handled family law and divorce cases in San Francisco County, Alameda County, San Mateo County, and Santa Clara County family courts and has handled dissolutions, custody, spousal and child support, and domestic partnership issues. She has been practicing law for 17 years.

She is dedicated to helping the next generation of lawyers by volunteering at the University of San Francisco’s School of Law, Moot Court Competition and the Santa Clara and San Mateo County’s High School Mock Trial Programs.