Meet the Board of Directors
President, Neal Desjardins
Neal brings his leadership experience and dedication to team involvement and engagement. A proud dad of two daughters, he has been in leadership roles for most of his life including his current profession where precision, quality, and integrity are paramount in the success of his team. Over the past season, his passion for his youngest daughter’s sport was in full display. He is excited to lend his talents to the pool of parents assisting their athletes to perform in the sport they love while strengthening their courage while fostering team bonds, ultimately claiming the gym as their second home.
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Vice President, Donald Lanciano
Meet Donald Lanciano, a dedicated father whose daughter Aria has flourished as a cheerleader at Warrior Elite Athletics for the past three seasons, eagerly anticipating her fourth. Witnessing the invaluable life skills cheer has instilled in Aria has inspired Donald's commitment to the sport and its accessibility. Formerly a skilled finish carpenter, Donald now runs a portable sawmilling business and works as a licensed realtor salesperson. His dedication extends beyond his professional life, as he actively serves as the Head of Maintenance for The Rochester Girls Softball League and as the President of the Chamberlain Street School PTA in Rochester. Donald's primary goal is to ensure that all children have the opportunity to experience the incredible benefits of cheerleading, regardless of their family's financial situation. He is passionate about alleviating the financial burdens associated with the sport and is excited to serve the cheerleading community, working tirelessly to help all children thrive.
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Marketing, Karissa Horne
Karissa Horne is a dedicated Compliance Manager and BSA Officer at a local Credit Union, where she brings her passion for detail and integrity to everything she does. She holds certifications in BSACS and CUCE. Outside of her professional role, Karissa is an active member of her community, serving on her local Crime Line Board. She also has a lifelong love for cheerleading; an interest sparked in her school years and now carried on through her involvement with Warrior Elite. She proudly supports the athletes and her daughter, cheering them on like any devoted cheer mom. Above all, Karissa is a proud mother to her three wonderful children.
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Treasurer, Kristen Applegate
Kristen Applegate has been working as a fractional Controller for the past six years and is excited to bring her experience to the Warrior Nation team. Her clients range in variety and include life sciences, construction, SaaS, and ecommerce. She has worked with many start-ups in the funding stage, research and development stage, as well as several existing small businesses. Kristen enjoys rolling up her sleeves to dive into the numbers so she can provide the highest level of support for her clients. Her primary focus is on historical financial clean-ups, period closes, budgeting and forecasting, process improvement, and systems implementations. She is advanced certified in QuickBooks Online and has experience in a variety of other accounting and ERP systems.
Kristen has her MS in Finance & Accounting and a BSBA in Business Administration with a focus on small business management.
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Secretary, Nicole Martin
Nicole brings her project management expertise and passion for empowering others in every role she takes on. A proud mom of two daughters, Nicole's journey includes being an assistant coach for the Oyster River Youth Association and cheering for 5 years in high school. Her lifelong love for animals and community engagement fuels her commitment to making a positive impact. With a heart for teamwork and a background in leadership, Nicole is excited to support the mission to helping young athletes grow in confidence, strength and spirit.
Nicole has a BSBM in Business Management and an AAS in small animal care.
