Sara Whitman
As a former Chief People Officer, Sara is a performance-driven leader with extensive expertise at the intersection of strategy, culture, internal communications, and people (HR).
Sara Whitman is a HR and Communication consultant and PCC credentialed coach from the International Coach Federation. For twenty years, she has focused on the power of the individual. Sara started At The Start to combine all areas of her professional life in service of the next generation.
Sara is the former Chief People Office and a founding executive of Hot Paper Lantern, an interdisciplinary agency that helps aspiring brands build relevance.
Sara is a member of the International Coach Federation and the Society for Human Resource Management. She holds PHR and Extended DISC certifications and is a graduate of the Erickson Coaching International coaching program. Sara holds a M.A. in Public Relations from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and a B.A. in Literature & Communications from Pace University.
A strong advocate for suicide prevention and mental health awareness, Sara chairs the annual “Out of the Darkness” walk in Westchester County for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Sarah Sanzari
Sarah’s career began in public relations, where she honed her relationship-building skills while supporting a diverse portfolio of B2B clients. After nine years in public relations, she recognized a desire to contribute more directly to employee well-being and company culture. Cue a career transition to human resources, where she now works to foster a positive and inclusive employee experience, from attracting and retaining top talent to empowering employees with the resources they need to thrive.
Most recently, Sarah served as the Director of Talent Management for Extend, a VC-funded startup in the spend management and virtual payments space. In this role, she led all aspects of high volume full-cycle talent acquisition. She also supported employee development initiatives, implemented a mentorship program, and built a robust recruiting foundation to support the company's rapid expansion.
Sarah is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Psychology from Rutgers University, New Brunswick.
Outside of work, Sarah enjoys exploring the vibrant culture of NYC, indulging in her love for iced coffee (regardless of the weather!), and immersing herself in a good book.
Lia LoBello Reynolds
Lia LoBello Reynolds is an award-winning public relations and communications professional with 20 years’ experience helping clients exceed their communications, branding, and marketing goals. She has worked with organizations big and small through her career and what remains consistent is her ability to listen to and understand her client’s needs. Lia is practiced in providing honest counsel for what it will take to achieve client goals, supported by a creative, thoughtful, and resourceful approach to the work.
Lia has worked for a variety of South Florida and New York City-based integrated communications agencies where she specialized in helping design, implement and execute integrated programs in the B2B and B2C sectors. After 15 years, she moved in-house to manage communications, crisis, and reputation as Senior Director of Communications for Saint-Gobain.
In 2021, Lia started ofDC Communications, LLC, based on a desire to do great work for clients who are looking to leave the world a little better than they found it.
Lia lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, two sons, and rescue pitbull-mix, Domi.
Olivia Corey
Olivia Corey has extensive experience in global HR strategy, leadership development, project & program management, and communications. Having earned a Master’s in Communication Leadership from the University of Washington and an Agile Leader Certification, Olivia’s career includes roles with Amazon, T-Mobile, and The RBL Group, where she led strategies in 36 countries and demonstrated her ability to enhance organizational efficiency and employee engagement.
In her position with At The Start, Olivia integrates her passion for streamlining processes with her expertise in creating job architecture frameworks, onboarding templates, and communication strategies that simplify complexity and drive outcomes.
A passionate traveler, Olivia has organized travel agendas and groups across 10 countries and managed property rentals, demonstrating her adaptability and dynamic problem-solving skills. She also volunteers with Kesem, supporting children through and beyond a parent’s cancer.
Isabella Ramos
Isabella is an adaptable professional whose work in digital marketing, non-profit administration, and the food service industry come together to make her a dynamic team member at At The Start.
Isabella holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Pace University, where she also studied Arts & Entertainment Management and Women & Gender Studies. She has a handful of experience in an array of industries and has enjoyed working in different capacities, anywhere from teaching dance classes to organizing events and managing social media platforms.
Outside of work, Isabella’s favorite activities include attending concerts, taking dance classes in New York City, and completing puzzles.
She is excited to put her prior experience to work in her position at At The Start with the amazing team of talented individuals that they’ve put together.