Rosemarie Johnson
Founding Partner
Prior to taking time off to raise her children, Rosemarie was a founding partner in a technology startup and worked in the public relations and news departments at WNEV-TV (Ch. 7). She has held numerous leadership positions at education and civic-related non-profit entities and currently serves on the Board of the Cambridge Community Foundation (CCF), an organization that supports a broad range of local agencies through financial grants and technical assistance and is a member of the Board of Trustees of Concord Academy and the Board of Overseers of WGBH-TV.
Wendy Yellin Hill
Founding Partner
Wendy Hill’s vast professional experience over 30 years has ranged from Corporate Restructuring and Bankruptcy Attorney for a major NYC law firm to professional photographer to owning and operating a retail boutique to working in design and renovation in the residential construction industry. In addition, she has held leadership volunteer positions in various not-for-profit schools and corporations while pursuing her interest in Large Cap and Real Estate investments. She is a keen predictor of trends and uses this ability to inform her investment decisions.
Julie McKenna
Founding Partner
A Dartmouth graduate, Julie spent the early part of her career as a health and welfare benefits consultant at Wm. M. Mercer, Inc in Boston, specializing in claim administration auditing and reform, rate renewal negotiations, and plan design. After leaving Mercer, she dedicated the majority of her time to raising her four children, over time taking leadership roles in nonprofits dedicated to education, athletics and artistic performance. She is currently President of the Board of a Vermont-based alpine ski team with more than 100 racers. She brings strong organizational, design and project management skills to Persephone.
Joanne Bauer
Founding Partner
Joanne is an attorney by training, practicing family and general law in Boston prior to retiring to focus on raising her family. With an undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Joanne previously worked for Burroughs Corporation, the predecessor of Unisys, a global leader in information technology. Joanne is involved in US Squash and in a variety of nonprofit organizations in both Cambridge and on Martha’s Vineyard.
Tia Doggett
Partner
Tia graduated from Princeton and spent ten years in the the men’s fashion industry before taking time off to raise her four children. She has been involved at a non-profit supporting women’s health. She is now an independent personal stylist at J. Hilburn and works with clients to create a personalized wardrobe. J. Hilburn specializes in custom luxury products offered directly to the consumer, creating a new market standard in both quality and value.
Amelia McCarthy
Partner
Amy began her professional career in development at independent schools in both Boston and Washington, DC. After the the birth of her daughter she turned her attention to her family's real estate business in Washington, managing multiple residential and commercial properties and a 500 room hotel. She returned to the Boston area, where she was raised, and over the last 15 years has dedicated her time and talents to nonprofits, both community based and private, focusing primarily on children and education.
Elizabeth Orgel
Partner
A marketing and communications veteran, Elizabeth has helped tech startups navigate from early market challenges to IPO success and beyond. She has experience as an independent consultant, agency executive and Fortune 500 company manager. Elizabeth has worked for and helped advise companies such as Akamai Techologies, edocs, Norwest Venture Capital, Oracle Corp., PeopleSoft, and many others. A Boston native, she spent seven years during the internet boom in Silicon Valley. Elizabeth started her working career as a TV producer and reporter. She has dedicated time and energy to various non-profits, including having served on the board of directors of the Somerville Boys and Girls Club, as well as other local school and community charities. She serves on the Board of Directors for the New England Chapter of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America.
Sue Thomson
Partner
A graduate of Bucknell University, Sue has spent the last 25 years working with Fortune 500 companies to address their healthcare and benefits issues with innovative and creative solutions. Currently the Senior Vice President of Health Sales for Aon, Sue is responsible for the growth agenda in Aon's Health vertical, directing a team of 60 sales and marketing professionals. Sue has a wealth of health care, benefits and HR experience and is known for building strong, long lasting client relationships and for helping client organizations identify and design creative solutions that meet their business needs. Sue is looking forward to bringing this expertise to Persephone Venture Partners to help emerging businesses accelerate their road to success.