Meet Our Staff
Danielle Johnson
Director
Danielle began her career in the field of education. She served in Americorps and worked for Partners in School Innovation in San Francisco, CA. She spent six years with the Quantum Learning Network where she traveled the US and abroad as a Team Leader. It was there that Danielle realized that her true passion was to empower individuals to succeed. Danielle has a degree in Community Relations and Psychology. While researching empowerment programs with the intention of opening her own non-profit she discovered Girls on the Run and thought, "This is amazing! Why recreate the wheel?". In 2003 Danielle began volunteering as a coach for Girls on the Run in Western Colorado. She returned to Michigan and volunteered for Girls on the Run of Southeastern Michigan in 2005. Danielle was hired in November that year as the Program Coordinator and in 2008 Danielle was promoted to Director. Her favorite thing about Girls on the Run is that it is not only the participants who are empowered. The volunteers, coaches, families and communities are also positively impacted by the program.
Danielle is the proud mother of a two year old little boy who keeps her on her toes. She loves hiking, yoga, cooking and spending time with her large and exuberant extended family.
(734) 712 5640
Lisa Gizzi
Program Coordinator
Lisa Gizzi is first and foremost the mother of three incredible children (two girls and one boy) and the wife of "the most supportive husband on the planet". Lisa didn't grow up running, mostly because she never had the "runner's body" she thought you had to have. But in her thirties Lisa decided to try it as a new form of exercise. Her first time out for a run she made it about 1/8 of a mile but even after that short distance she knew she felt stronger, smarter, and was filled with an emotion she had never felt before. She realized ANYONE could do it! No matter how small, how big, how fast, how slow...
After discovering Girls on the Run, 6 years ago, Lisa knew she found a home. Since then, she has coached for 10 seasons. Her daughters (ages 13 and 15) have participated in more than twenty-two 5k events!
In 2008, Lisa was awarded the Lisa Hesse Spirit Award for her volunteer work, the Girls on the Run International Coach of the Year Award and the Michigan Association of Middle School Educators Volunteer Parent's Award. Though each award is a great honor the best reward is knowing the difference she is making in children's lives.
(734) 712 5640
Beth Gillespie
5k Event and SoleMates Charity Running Coordinator
Beth uncovered her inner runner in 2005. The power of running transformed her mind, body, and future. She always laughs when people ask if she has always been a runner, because she failed running the mile in high school, not once, not twice, but three times! She found not only a passion for running long distances and has completed four marathons, but has reveled in her new-found identify as a runner. Her favorite runs, regardless of the distance, are ones completed with her husband, Michael, and their crazy 10 year old yellow lab!
Leading up to being a part of the Girls on the Run team, Beth worked in Human Resources as a Recruiter and an Employee Relations Consultant. She has a Bachelor's degree in English, and a Master's degree in Human Resources Administration.
Working for Girls on the Run is a dream come true for Beth. It allows her the opportunity to help create an experience where girls can unlock their inner runner at such a vital age! The bright smiles on their sweaty, vibrant, beautiful faces as they cross the finish line and realize that they completed an entire 5k, that their bodies are strong and capable, and that each of them are special and amazing, is a gift not only to Beth, but to our collective universe.
beth@girlsontherunsemi.org
(734) 712 5640
Malissa Petrock
Program Assistant
Malissa Petrock stumbled across Girls on the Run by chance while looking to supplement fitness development for soccer girls. She did not know it would cultivate into one of the luckiest finds ever. Being trained as a Girls on the Run coach provided many opportunities to be both a teacher and a student of what it takes to stay out of the "Girl Box". The challenges of raising twin girls (and a little man) in today's culture are many and varied. Involvement in Girls on the Run has become a family affair for the Petrock's.
Malissa has over twenty years of working experience in the field of exercise and fitness. The opportunity to use these tools to help young girls honor their bodies, revel in unfettered enthusiasm and explore the link between emotional and physical health is a gift. It's her belief that every girl deserves this gift, and many others, and she's ready to share it with her girl-light glowing bright.
malissa@girlsontherunsemi.org
(734) 712 5640