Meet The Board
Our board members volunteer their time to advance the Pocket Queens mission. They are passionate about poker and even more passionate about providing poker education and support to as many women as possible.
Advisor
Victoria Livschitz
The Advisor's key role is to be a mentor for Pocket Queen's leadership team, coaching them through important decisions, using her cumulative experiences and knowledge to offer strategic guidance.
Victoria Livschitz's journey from a Baltic Sea town in Lithuania to the US as political refugee is marked by entrepreneurial pursuits. She pursued mathematics and computer science, opening a chess academy with her husband before immersing herself in the tech industry. A serial entrepreneur and mother of three, she is also the founder of Grid Dynamics, RightOnTrek, and Octopi Poker.
During the pandemic, Livschitz's poker skills flourished. She's not only a skilled poker player but also an ardent outdoor enthusiast. Her dedication to both nature and poker showcases mindfulness, adept problem-solving, and deliberate decision-making, driving success in both realms. Motivated by a strong sense of fair play and equality, she aims to increase women's participation in poker, mentoring through Pocket Queens.
President
Rachel Giacopuzzi
The President's role includes overseeing the board’s work & facilitating board meetings. She will be the primary person working with the advisor to make sure things are running smoothly and keeping the board informed.
Rachel is a single mom of 3: Zoe (22), Lucas (20) & Emily (17). She learned poker during the 2020 lockdown from her boyfriend Dennis. In 2022 she met Victoria Livschitz via a Twitter giveaway & soon after Pocket Queens was born. Since then her passion for poker has exploded and through the tutelage & support of QQ her game has improved immensely; earning her a LAPC title & 2 major final tables in 2023.
Vice President
Nan Min
The Vice President's role will be to serve as a backup leader to the board President so the board is never without leadership. She will assume all duties as the board President and will work in conjunction with her.
Born in Korea and raised in Brazil, Nan Min is a global citizen who embarked on her journey to the US at 19 and currently resides in New York City. Trained as a research scientist, she
has a diverse background spanning banking, finance, and education. A single mom of two - Avalon and Amanda - Nan is an avid Argentine tango dancer and an open water swimmer. Presently, she's passionate about poker and contributing to Pocket Queens. Her future goals involve becoming a poker nomad and flag-chasing for her Hendon Mob.
Secretary
Teri Lewis
The board Secretary’s role encompasses a variety of duties and responsibilities including: Scheduling board meetings, taking accurate meeting minutes, maintaining board records, monitoring legal compliance, etc.
Teri, an integral part of our poker community, ignited her passion for the game as a teenager playing cards with her family. Outside the realm of poker, Teri excels as a realtor and actively engages in residential remodeling. She finds fulfillment in her roles as a dedicated mother to her two sons and as a graphic designer, even crafting our QQ logo. Her interests extend to photography, animal rescue, and anything mid-century modern.
Treasurer
Dayanna Ciabaton
The board Treasurer's role is to manage all financial aspects of Pocket Queens. She is in charge of: managing the budget, taking the lead in the annual audit, partnering with the board President & Advisor to ensure the financial reports are continually updated, etc.
Dayanna lives in Naples, FL with her husband. She has recently become an empty nester after her 4th child left for college. She and her husband own a printing business, in which Dayanna is the CFO.
She's been playing poker for 20 years. During the pandemic, she made the decision to take the game more seriously, and was elated to find Pocket Queens. In the past year, this group has provided her with the knowledge, confidence and resources to travel to multiple tournament series around the country as a profitable poker player. She hopes to continue this momentum, and help other women who are passionate about poker.
Member at Large
Charlet Molique
The at-large board members are just as important as nonprofit board positions for officers, as all board members have equal responsibility for the board’s actions and decisions. She is expected to : attend all board meetings, engage in board meetings actively, serve on at least one committee, etc.
Char, a successful business woman, mother of 4, and womens' advocate, has 25 years of experience playing poker. At the table, Char's prowess shines while her infectious personality keeps everyone laughing. As the owner of a busy salon, she empowers women with wisdom and beauty. Char's rare blend of strength and grace makes her a powerhouse, especially at the table.
Member at Large
Naomi Pazol
The at-large board members are just as important as nonprofit board positions for officers, as all board members have equal responsibility for the board’s actions and decisions. She is expected to : attend all board meetings, engage in board meetings actively, serve on at least one committee, etc.
Naomi recently moved back to the suburbs of Chicago after spending the last year traveling the country with her husband, Jon, and dog, Lucy. Her adult kids, Jonah and Ellie, and her cat, Murphy, were good sports while she crisscrossed the country over 30,000 miles. She is happy to return to a somewhat more predictable life which will include time for poker both live and online. She has been playing Hold Em for almost 20 years since learning the game in a friend’s basement for $20 per tournament. Her obsession, competitive streak, and love of the game grew quickly and she is excited to take it to the next level as she continues to study NLHE with Pocket Queens and add mixed games to her repertoire.