Dear Second Act Community,

I'm thrilled to introduce myself as your new Director of Community. My name is Erika Pugh, and like many of you, I have experienced firsthand the excitement and challenges that come with being part of the dance community. Originally from Central Pennsylvania, I studied ballet pre-professionally at the Performing Arts School of Central PA before attending Penn State University to pursue a degree in Finance. Currently, I am an Investor at Erie Street Growth Partners where I invest in high-growth, creatively-led companies.

Looking forward to the fall, we're gearing up for a series of exciting initiatives aimed at enriching our community. We're working hard to bring you informative live events, inspiring mentorship stories, and valuable resources for every stage of your journey.

Whether you're just beginning to explore your career options, in the midst of your transition, or looking to mentor and give back, your involvement is what makes Second Act such a dynamic and vibrant community.

Let me highlight some recent community updates—

New Mentors:

Please join me in welcoming our newest mentors. They bring a wealth of experience from a range of fields:

• Shelby Elsbree, SVP Brand Development, Strategy & Vision at Hollywood.com

• Miko Fogarty, Neurological Surgery Research Assistant at UCSF Medical Center

• Sakiko Yamagata, Director of Integrated Production at Calvin Klein

Recognizing Our Recently Active Mentors:

Giving a shoutout to some of our most active mentors this summer, who have generously shared their time and wisdom with the community:

• Keith Roberts

• Garen Scribner

• Carlo di Lanno

• Leah Hirsch

• Christine Blackshaw

• Roland Spier

• Sabrina Karlin

• Claire Harbour

• Ester Wells

• Angie Sheehan

Their dedication and active engagement have greatly enriched our mentorship program, especially as we are still in our early days. Thanks so much!

VOLUNTEER NEEDED: Mentorship Program 

Second Act is seeking a volunteer to assist with our mentorship program's admin tasks. This is a great opportunity to work behind the scenes, interact with dancers and community members, and contribute to our mission. It’s also more than an opportunity to contribute— it’s a chance to shape our community in a meaningful way. If you're organized, community-minded, and ready to dive in, we want to hear from you! Please reply to this email if you are interested.

That’s all I have for now— thanks so much for being part of our journey! We’re looking forward to this fall and continuing to create a supportive and dynamic environment for everyone. Stay tuned for more updates, and please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, stories, or ideas!

Sincerely,

Erika Pugh

Director of Community, Second Act

[email protected]