Starfinder Foundation

Our United Way Donor Choice Number is 14963.

Team Members

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Stephen H. Baumann is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Starfinder Foundation. With more than 30 years of educational, museum, and soccer experience, Baumann oversees and drives the overall strategic vision of the organization.

Formerly President of the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum in Oneonta, New York, Executive Director of Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena, California, Vice President of Education and Programs at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey and Director of Educational Technology Programs at The Franklin Institute Science Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Baumann has been a proponent of creative mission-enhancing programming, the integration of appropriate technological innovation, and the adoption of novel earned and contributed revenue strategies in the non-profit environment. A lifelong educator, Steve taught grades 2, 3, and 4 in the Fairfax County Virginia Public Schools and also served as an adjunct professor at both Rosemont College in Rosemont, Pennsylvania and George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

Steve has authored articles for national museum-based publications and journals such as Museum News, THE Journal, and the Journal of Museum Education. He also has delivered numerous presentations at annual conferences of the Association of Children's Museums and Association of Technology-Science Centers.

Steve was an All-American soccer player at the University of Pennsylvania and played three years for the Miami Toros of the North American Soccer League. He also coached high school and club soccer in Virginia, was a licensed referee, and was the men's varsity soccer coach at Penn from 1987-1993.

Steve holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education from the University of Pennsylvania, and Master of Science degree in science education from the University of Virginia.

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Heidi Warren, Deputy Director

Heidi is the chief financial officer of the organization and provides leadership and direction that ensure the ongoing excellence of programs, service, facilities, and organizational performance. Working closely with the President, Heidi oversees and evaluates the work of staff to ensure Starfinder achieves its programmatic vision and its operating, financial and youth services goals.

Heidi brings to Starfinder over eighteen years of experience in nonprofit management and leadership. She has worked with Starfinder since 2002, originally as its Chief Operating Officer and later as the Financial Controller. In addition to her work with Starfinder, she worked for many years as an independent consultant, guiding the development of nonprofit arts, educational, and social service organizations throughout Philadelphia. She is committed to helping nonprofit organizations thrive through the development and implementation of practices that promote clarity of purpose, institutional integrity, shared vision, and responsible action. Warren holds a B.A. in urban studies from Haverford College and Certificates in Participatory Strategic Planning and Group Facilitation Methods from the Institute for Cultural Affairs. As an eight-year-old, Heidi proudly played fullback for the Chocolate Chips intramural team.

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Ellen Freda, Chief Development Officer

Ellen Freda is Starfinder’s Chief Development Officer and has over 12 years of non-profit development and community outreach experience. Ellen helps Starfinder fulfill its mission by advocating for the organization’s goals, and generating support for its fundraising efforts.

Ellen began her development career at a national consulting firm that provides strategic development, management and marketing solutions for a wide-range of nonprofit clients. She also spent seven years at a 225-year-old historical medical institution, including three years as its development director. Most recently, she was the executive director of the Philadelphia affiliate of an international organization that helps single mothers transition from welfare to work.

During her career, Ellen has had the privilege to work closely with community leaders, educators, and philanthropists. She served as the principal evaluator for an urban charter school, led a clinical literacy program and conducted a health literacy project for urban teens. Ellen holds an English degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s in educational psychology from Temple University.


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Nick is responsible for the establishment, oversight, and continual enhancement of Starfinder's programmatic interventions. He designs and implements programs that are true to Starfinder principles and meet the needs of our program partners and participants.

Nick graduated from Lafayette College with a BA in Economics and Business. While at Lafayette, Nick was a 3-time All Patriot League selection--earning the Conference Defensive Player of the Year in his senior season. Nick still ranks as the league's all-time career assist leader with 33. From 1997 to 2005 Nick played on several professional teams including: the Philadelphia Kixx, the Reading Rage, Philadelphia Freedom, Delaware Wizards, Hershey Wildcats and the Richmond Kickers. Chrisanthon's coaching career began in 1999 as an assistant coach at Great Valley High School. After a year at GVHS, Nick was the assistant coach at Widener University for a year and, subsequently, at Villanova University for two years. From 2003 through 2007, Chrisanthon coached at Conrad Weiser High School in Robesonia, PA. During that time he helped run and coach at the F.C. Revolution Soccer Club. Nick brought his soccer playing and coaching expertise to Starfinder in December, 2007.

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Jeanette Hibbs, Program Administration Director

Jeanette is responsible for the oversight of processes and mechanisms that insure the effective use of program resources. She manages the part-time and volunteer coaches and teachers and leads the design and implementation of all Starfinder's programs for girls. Jeanette joined the Starfinder team in April, 2008 after supporting the programs as a volunteer for several months.

Jeanette was a member of the Temple University Women's Soccer Team from 1999 to 2002 and graduated with a BA in Business Administration. Following graduation, Hibbs played semi-professional soccer from 2003 through 2006 with the Hampton Roads Piranhas (2003 W-League Champions) and Philadelphia Liberty. Jeanette's coaching experience includes serving as a volunteer coach with the Temple University Women's Soccer Team in 2004 and as a Program Coach for the Black Women in Sport Foundation in 2001 and 2002. From 2003 through 2005, Hibbs also coached at the club level for teams in both Pennsylvania and Virginia. Prior to joining Starfinder full-time, Jeanette was an Accountant for SunGard Higher Education and QC Laboratories.

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Stephen Jackson, Program Development Director

Stephen oversees the design and implementation of the Starfinder philosophy and leads the assessment and evaluation process for all programs. He manages the development of enrichment curriculum for all programs and facilitates the development of the Starfinder online presence and communications strategy.

Stephen joined Starfinder on a full-time basis in September of 2009 after spending several months working with our programs. Stephen received his bachelor's degree from Rider University in 2002 and a M.Ed. in Sport and Recreation Administration from Temple University in 2009. Prior to his time at Starfinder, Stephen was an Assistant Director of Admissions at Rider University and the Director of Operations and Ticketing for the Philadelphia Freedoms (WTT).  While attending Rider, he was both the captain and MVP in his senior year. He has also coached at the youth club level in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and served as an assistant coach at both Rider and Villanova Universities.

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Amy Rymer, Administrative Assistant, Program Instructor

Amy works closely with Heidi to support the organization’s daily operational needs—keeping the books, managing office equipment and supplies, tracking gifts in our donor database, and countless other duties.

Amy has been involved with the Starfinder community since 2009. She is the “AR” in AR Creative, the multimedia company responsible for the many wonderful videos found on our homepage. Amy also teaches the Media Literacy and Technology class for our Senior Leaders, which encourages the teens to analyze media messages, communicate their own stories through video and online tools, and build tolerance towards each other and within their communities.

Amy graduated from Principia College in 2002 with a B.A. in Business Administration and finished her M.A. in Photojournalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2008.  She is a seasoned intern, if there is such a thing, having explored a variety of careers with the state department, an advertising agency, a nonprofit entrepreneurship training center, a microfinance institution, and three newspapers. Although these experiences appeared disconnected at the time, they have all funneled into her current path and contribute greatly to her understanding of the world and her roles at Starfinder.

 

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