Meet the Team!

Our Board Members and Fundraising Chair are dedicated volunteers committed to our mission and serve without financial compensation

  • Debbie Benton

    President

    Debbie moved from Ashland, Oregon to Maui in 2007 to co-found and help direct/manage ROOTS school in Haiku, where she taught grades K-3rd. In addition, she served on the school board for six years. She currently serves on the advisory board for the Maui Book Trust. She holds a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from Southern Oregon University and a BA in Humanities. She has taught K-3 for over 26 years. The last few years, she has focused on working for her family’s excavation and construction company, Benton Management, Inc. and their Bobcat of Maui store. In 2022 she returned full time to her passion for teaching Kindergarten! She enjoys hiking, running, surfing, traveling and volunteering for causes that help the community and island of Maui.

  • Linda Lafragiola

    Treasurer

    Linda Lafragiola (Linda La) has been a resident of Maui since 2007. In 2014, she closed the doors to her construction management business and moved from Marin/Sonoma California to make Maui her full-time home. She was the founder and director of a construction management company, was a foreman for an electrical union, and served as a bookkeeper for small businesses. She has served on multiple boards of directors, including investment groups, children’s organizations, and paddling clubs. Now retired, she keeps herself busy and involved by paddling in Hawaiian outrigger canoes, training for long distance breast cancer walks, volunteering for local charities, and traveling. 100 Women Who Care Maui is a perfect fit for her skills and passions.

  • Linda Ruegsegger

    Secretary

    Linda Ruegsegger (Linda R) moved full time to Maui with her husband Pete and two children (and dog Riley) during the summer of 2021. She was born, raised, and lived in the Chicago area for 50 years and is absolutely thrilled to be in Maui now! Her career in the financial services spanned almost 30 years, where she held various roles in both private and institutional investment management. She attended Northern Illinois University and Northwestern University and has earned the CFA designation. She has served on several board of directors during her career. A key area of philanthropic focus is on educational advancement, and one of her passions is to vastly improve the financial literacy of our youth. Since moving to Maui, her focus has been on discovering the new chapters that lie ahead and focusing on her family. She is thrilled to take on a more active role with the 100 Women Who Care Maui.

Sarina Ponte - Fundraising Chair

Originally from coastal Massachusetts, Sarina moved to Maui in 2021 and quickly found a place to call home. Inspired by the island’s generosity and strong sense of community, she knew she wanted to find meaningful ways to give back.
Sarina is a licensed therapist specializing in the treatment of eating disorders and substance use disorders. She has spent more than a decade involved in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and advocacy, with a focus on mental health awareness and community initiatives.
After years of volunteering, Sarina realized she could never choose just one cause to support. That’s what drew her to 100 Women Who Care Maui: the opportunity to support a wide range of local nonprofits. As Fundraising Chair, she is passionate about helping the organization grow and maximizing the impact of every membership donation.
Outside of work and volunteering, Sarina enjoys freediving, dancing, reading, and spending time with her dogs.

Melana Peterson - Mentee 2026/2027

Meet our Mentee, Meleana Peterson! She is a Junior at Kamehameha Schools Maui. Meleana already has an impressive resume with awards in journalism, water polo, swimming, diving, and leadership roles on her campus. She is active in the community volunteering for Camp Imua and the Piha Wellness and Healing, as well as others. She has been on the Headmasters list for three consecutive years, is the secretary of ʻAha Hoʻohanohano (National Honor Society), is the co president of Ka Leo Nā Koa Journalism. We are excited and honored to add her to our volunteer/organizational team for 100 Women Who Care Maui! Our goal is to continue to inspire, lead, and teach Mele how to be an effective leader in her communities.