About Dr. Donna

A Single Day, a Lifelong Drive:

Why I Do What I Do

On September 11, 2001, while I sat in my graduate school classroom, my father was on the 105th floor of the North Tower—one of the very buildings he’d helped build and maintain as an electrician. We called them “Dad’s Towers.” That day, he stood among the 50,000 people working there, including the 2,753 who never made it out. It was the most devastating moment of my life, but it ignited a resolve within me—a vow to honor my father’s legacy and values of family and hard work.

In his name, I committed myself to creating a better world by guiding family businesses, which influence communities on both local and global levels. By rescuing their families and their legacies, I preserve my father’s spirit and ensure that something powerful and enduring arises from our darkest day. This is why I do what I do.

Who is Dr. Donna?

I grew up on Long Island as part of a hardworking, blue-collar family. While not a family business, it felt like one with generations of Manhattan commercial/construction electricians. My grandfather, the first generation did the electrical work on the building of the Verrazano bridge (Grandpa’s Bridge). My father who was his apprentice at the time, would go on to do the same work on the building of the Twin Towers. Later, my brother would work on Laguardia Airport and more famously, the scoreboard at Yankee Stadium (sorry Red Sox fans).

My siblings and I were raised with such a strong work ethic that “lazy” was the ultimate in four letter words. We would become the first generation in our family to go to college—pursuing everything from marketing and sales, psychology, and veterinary science. We believed in the power of hard work. I am the only member of my family to achieve a doctoral degree. I still remember the day I called my father to tell him I had been accepted. He answered the phone with a “What’s up, Doc?.” I laughed and told him with so much excitement, “that’s exactly it!” The pride he had for me and for pursuing my education to the level I did is something I will always remember.

Now with over twenty years in the field of psychology, and as a business owner for most of my career, I’ve focused my passion on where my values, my skills, and my legacy all come together by helping family businesses. I’ve taken this magical trifecta to focus on what I love most, rescuing families and their legacy businesses from unnecessary rifts and destruction. Because I know it doesn’t have to be that way.

Interested in learning more about working with me one-on-one or in a team setting? Reach out and book a complimentary consultation to learn more.

Free Consult

Certifications & Degrees

PsyD (Doctorate of Psychology) Clinical Psychology

Licensed Clinical Psychologist_IL

Loyola University Family Business Center: Peer Advisory Group Facilitator

Prairie Family Business Association: Affinity Peer Group Facilitator

Certificate in Positive Psychology

Positive Psychology Coaching

Certificate in Executive Leadership, Cornell

Certificate in Performance Leadership, Cornell

Certified Hypnotherapist

Mission & Vision

Mission:
Standing with multi-generational family businesses—preserving their heritage, fueling their growth, and honoring their values—so every family's story endures and inspires.

Vision:
Seeing a future where family enterprises flourish across generations—guided by tradition, shaped by innovation, and fostering a more resilient world for all.