WERC's Community Leading Stars

Through their commitment to community service, these women make a positive impact and are role models for women of all ages.

2025

Megan Allen

Megan Allen is CEO of the New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. (NYCON), a nonprofit organization working to develop and promote an effective and vibrant charitable community throughout New York State. With more than 3,000 members, NYCON empowers nonprofits through education, capacity building support, advocacy and more. Megan also serves as CEO of Board Strong, Inc., a NYCON affiliate that works nationally to create a vibrant and healthy nonprofit sector by strengthening and improving the governance and management of charitable organizations.

Prior to joining NYCON and BoardStrong in 2022, Megan founded and led a grant-writing service at Capital Region BOCES that helped nonprofits, school districts, BOCES and municipalities statewide realize more than $105 million in funding. In the past 20 years Megan has also worked in communications and development for nonprofit organizations. She has also participated on several nonprofit boards, including serving on the Women’s Fund of the Capital Region’s previous Steering Committee. Today she is a board member for the Capital District Women’s Employment & Resource Center.

Megan has a master’s degree in business administration and lives in the Capital Region with her husband Andy and daughter Veronica.

2024

Barbara WIsnom, CPCC, ORSC, MS

As an Executive Coach for the past 26 years, Barbara Wisnom has witnessed profound changes in the clients and organizations with whom she works.

Barbara brings a wealth of professional experience as a leader in the healthcare industry.  She has held senior positions in hospitals, local government health care agencies & medical malpractice insurance.  Additionally, she held a senior level director role in a Saudi Arabian hospital.

Since becoming certified by the Coaches Training Institute, Barbara has coached hundreds of senior leaders.  Her clients come from national and global companies including financial services, pharmaceutical, marketing/PR, manufacturing, food service, oil and gas and entertainment. Focusing on leadership development, Barbara works with clients in the areas of strategic thinking, vision and values, employee engagement, innovation, communication & organizational change.

Barbara’s background, as a senior leader in multiple organizations who has lived many of the challenges leaders face, has uniquely positioned her to understand what life is like in the leadership trenches. 

2023

Hope DeRocha, PHR, SHRM-CP

The Hopeistic Way - Whole Life Leader - Transformational Coach - Wellbeing Consultant

Hope DeRocha has more than 20 years' experience in human resources as a corporate leader, consultant and motivator. Her recent career shift was inspired by participation in a Whole Life Leader Program where she was introduced to the science of positive psychology and Character Strengths. Hope relies on her strengths of Kindness, Humor, Creativity, Love of Learning and Leadership to be the Leader of her Whole Life. The Hopeistic Way is the core of her coaching practice and helps others shine a light on what is best in themselves so they can shift their mindset, create positive outcomes and be the leader of their whole life. The Hopeistic Way not only inspires individuals, but transforms organizations by developing more engaged and effective teams.

In addition, Hope partners with Wisdom of Wellness, LLC and engages her strengths to design and host soul centering retreats and wellbeing workshops. She continues her passion for inspiring positive change in women through her position as a Board Member with The Women’s Employment & Resource Center and serves as Chairperson of their Annual Luncheon and Program Development Committees. Hope’s recent speaking engagements included: the Capital Region Human Resource Association’s Annual Conference and UAlbany Alumni Association’s webinar series.

2022

Amanda Goyer

Corporate Responsibility Officer, KeyBank

Amanda Goyer is the Corporate Responsibility Officer for KeyBank in the Capital Region after beginning her career at CAPCOM. She is responsible for KeyBank’s community benefits plan, covering the areas of mortgage lending, small business lending, community development lending and transformative philanthropy. As a strategic relationship builder, she represents the heart of KeyBank’s brand by connecting business and philanthropic resources with the communities that need them the most to creative sustainable change. Amanda is actively involved in KeyBank’s Key4Women’s initiatives and their dynamic Young Professionals group. She currently serves as the Immediate Past Chair of the Capital Region Chamber Women’s Business Council, a mentor through the Chamber’s Young Professionals Network, a Champion for Northern Rivers Behavioral Health Center. She is a strong supporter of WERC and is active on WERC’s Employer Engagement Committee.