Our Staff
Sasa Olessi Montaño
Chief Executive Officer
ceo@mealsonwheelsmercer.org
Sasa Olessi Montaño joined Meals on Wheels of Mercer County in August 2013 as CEO, and brings with her a wealth of non-profit and management experience. A graduate of Bryn Mawr College and Johns Hopkins University, she is a past President of the Trenton School Board and adjunct professor at Rider University. She has held various leadership positions within the Mercer County and Trenton City governments, in addition to being a past Executive Director of the YWCA of Trenton, founding Director of the Pace Center at Princeton University, and the founder of Latinas Unidas 28 years ago, a program that supports immigrant families acclimate with language, job and life-skills. Sasa is a member of the National Board of Meals on Wheels America. She has served on numerous State Commissions and Boards, many with a focus on the City of Trenton and its residents which include the Trenton City Planning Board, the TASK Board of Directors, the Board of Directors of the YWCA of Trenton and the Rescue Mission of Trenton Board of Directors.
Chief Executive Officer
ceo@mealsonwheelsmercer.org
Sasa Olessi Montaño joined Meals on Wheels of Mercer County in August 2013 as CEO, and brings with her a wealth of non-profit and management experience. A graduate of Bryn Mawr College and Johns Hopkins University, she is a past President of the Trenton School Board and adjunct professor at Rider University. She has held various leadership positions within the Mercer County and Trenton City governments, in addition to being a past Executive Director of the YWCA of Trenton, founding Director of the Pace Center at Princeton University, and the founder of Latinas Unidas 28 years ago, a program that supports immigrant families acclimate with language, job and life-skills. Sasa is a member of the National Board of Meals on Wheels America. She has served on numerous State Commissions and Boards, many with a focus on the City of Trenton and its residents which include the Trenton City Planning Board, the TASK Board of Directors, the Board of Directors of the YWCA of Trenton and the Rescue Mission of Trenton Board of Directors.
Brandon Verrault
Director of Operations
bverrault@mealsonwheelsmercer.org
Mr. Verrault comes to Meals on Wheels of Mercer County with a passion for helping others and making a difference in the community. He brings non-profit experience, having served as the Meals at Home & Weekend Mobile Meals coordinator for seven years at the American Red Cross of NJ. There he managed all areas of the program, including volunteer, client, and grant management. He graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management and a minor in Business Administration. In his spare time, he enjoys being active by playing basketball, tennis, and running.
Director of Operations
bverrault@mealsonwheelsmercer.org
Mr. Verrault comes to Meals on Wheels of Mercer County with a passion for helping others and making a difference in the community. He brings non-profit experience, having served as the Meals at Home & Weekend Mobile Meals coordinator for seven years at the American Red Cross of NJ. There he managed all areas of the program, including volunteer, client, and grant management. He graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management and a minor in Business Administration. In his spare time, he enjoys being active by playing basketball, tennis, and running.
Lara Livne
Director of Volunteer Services
volunteerservices@mealsonwheelsmercer.org
Lara Livne is a licensed social worker with a lifelong passion for helping people of all backgrounds and ages achieve a higher quality of life. She received her BA in psychology from Goucher College in 2001 and Masters of Social Work from the University of Maryland in 2006. Lara began her career at the Baltimore Jewish Community Center, as Director of Children Services, Special Needs Services and youth camps, where she stayed for 10 years. In 2011 she was hired by Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County as the Director of Community Programs and Services. In particular, she directed the volunteer program, case management services, food pantry and financial assistance for 5 years. After moving to Chicago, Lara became the Assistant Regional Director for the Midwest of the Anti Defamation League. Now that she’s back in Mercer County, Lara is excited to be part of the Meals on Wheels team. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family including her miniature poodle Yofi, cooking, baking, hiking in the outdoors and the occasional tennis match.
Director of Volunteer Services
volunteerservices@mealsonwheelsmercer.org
Lara Livne is a licensed social worker with a lifelong passion for helping people of all backgrounds and ages achieve a higher quality of life. She received her BA in psychology from Goucher College in 2001 and Masters of Social Work from the University of Maryland in 2006. Lara began her career at the Baltimore Jewish Community Center, as Director of Children Services, Special Needs Services and youth camps, where she stayed for 10 years. In 2011 she was hired by Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County as the Director of Community Programs and Services. In particular, she directed the volunteer program, case management services, food pantry and financial assistance for 5 years. After moving to Chicago, Lara became the Assistant Regional Director for the Midwest of the Anti Defamation League. Now that she’s back in Mercer County, Lara is excited to be part of the Meals on Wheels team. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family including her miniature poodle Yofi, cooking, baking, hiking in the outdoors and the occasional tennis match.
Pauline Leung
Director of Program Services
programservices@mealsonwheelsmercer.org
Pauline joined Meals on Wheels of Mercer County in July 2018 with 16 years of experience helping improve the lives of those struggling with mental illness, behavioral and adjustment issues. She has held leadership positions as a volunteer and at work. As a Volunteer Staff she helped start the first Asian American chapter of Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship at Boston University by recruiting, developing and training student leaders. She has led support groups and Sunday School programs at local churches. Most recently as a Clinical Team Leader with Legacy Treatment Services, Pauline led interdisciplinary and inter-agency teams to ensure treatment, continuity of care as well as client compliance. Her experience in public speaking includes topics of faith, parenting and self care. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Boston University and Master’s degree in Counseling from Cairn University. Born in Los Angeles and raised in Brooklyn, she never imagined she would eventually settle
down in the Garden State with its lovely landscapes and rich agriculture. In her leisure, Pauline loves cooking for family and friends, reading, doing yoga, biking and canoeing.
Director of Program Services
programservices@mealsonwheelsmercer.org
Pauline joined Meals on Wheels of Mercer County in July 2018 with 16 years of experience helping improve the lives of those struggling with mental illness, behavioral and adjustment issues. She has held leadership positions as a volunteer and at work. As a Volunteer Staff she helped start the first Asian American chapter of Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship at Boston University by recruiting, developing and training student leaders. She has led support groups and Sunday School programs at local churches. Most recently as a Clinical Team Leader with Legacy Treatment Services, Pauline led interdisciplinary and inter-agency teams to ensure treatment, continuity of care as well as client compliance. Her experience in public speaking includes topics of faith, parenting and self care. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Boston University and Master’s degree in Counseling from Cairn University. Born in Los Angeles and raised in Brooklyn, she never imagined she would eventually settle
down in the Garden State with its lovely landscapes and rich agriculture. In her leisure, Pauline loves cooking for family and friends, reading, doing yoga, biking and canoeing.
Jabeen Obaray
Project Manager
jobaray@mealsonwheelsmercer.org
Jabeen joined Meals on Wheels of Mercer County (MOWMC) in January 2017. Originally from Lawrenceville, she returned to New Jersey in 2013 from the Washington DC area, and served as an administrative assistant at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Mercer, as well on their Helpline. Prior to this, her work experience included teaching, in early intervention and preschool settings, for children with autism and blindness and visual impairment. Jabeen received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Bryn Mawr College, and her masters degree in Special Education from the Columbia University Teachers College. In her current role at MOWMC, Jabeen is responsible for assisting the Executive Director and other staff, performing various daily and event related administrative tasks, assisting participants and volunteers who call in to the office, and providing information to those who are interested in learning about the program. In her spare time, she enjoys outdoor activities, video games and comic books, and spending time with her niece and nephew!
Project Manager
jobaray@mealsonwheelsmercer.org
Jabeen joined Meals on Wheels of Mercer County (MOWMC) in January 2017. Originally from Lawrenceville, she returned to New Jersey in 2013 from the Washington DC area, and served as an administrative assistant at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Mercer, as well on their Helpline. Prior to this, her work experience included teaching, in early intervention and preschool settings, for children with autism and blindness and visual impairment. Jabeen received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Bryn Mawr College, and her masters degree in Special Education from the Columbia University Teachers College. In her current role at MOWMC, Jabeen is responsible for assisting the Executive Director and other staff, performing various daily and event related administrative tasks, assisting participants and volunteers who call in to the office, and providing information to those who are interested in learning about the program. In her spare time, she enjoys outdoor activities, video games and comic books, and spending time with her niece and nephew!
Kareem Cropper
Courier
Kareem is a Philadelphia born, New Jersey resident. He initially joined MOWMC in 2015 as Volunteer Coordinator. As a United States Marine for the last 7 years, he is returning to MOWMC after a year deployment because he enjoys working with the volunteers, and the program has helped open his eyes to his community. His hope is that every young person becomes more interested in programs like ours. He is also a father of three: two girls and one boy. In his spare time, he likes to play video games, listen to music, and read comics - he is a big Spider-Man fan. He also likes to work out, run and motivate others do so - in high school he was an accomplished track athlete. His goal in life is to feel accomplished and leave his mark on the world while helping as many people as he can. Kareem is working to complete his college degree.
Courier
Kareem is a Philadelphia born, New Jersey resident. He initially joined MOWMC in 2015 as Volunteer Coordinator. As a United States Marine for the last 7 years, he is returning to MOWMC after a year deployment because he enjoys working with the volunteers, and the program has helped open his eyes to his community. His hope is that every young person becomes more interested in programs like ours. He is also a father of three: two girls and one boy. In his spare time, he likes to play video games, listen to music, and read comics - he is a big Spider-Man fan. He also likes to work out, run and motivate others do so - in high school he was an accomplished track athlete. His goal in life is to feel accomplished and leave his mark on the world while helping as many people as he can. Kareem is working to complete his college degree.
