Our Team
Nicoletta Nerangis
Nicoletta, Founder & Executive Director, created Run4Fun with the inspiration of her son, Panagiotis. Nicoletta has completed 12 marathons, including the Boston and NYC Marathons, and finds joy in sharing her love of running with kids, teens, and families. Nicoletta is a certified RRCA Coach and holds a BM in Opera Performance and an MSW from Fordham University. When Nicoletta isn’t running with the youth and her family in NYC, Greece and the UK, she can be found singing the National Anthem at the start of running races.
Stephanie Manske
Stephanie, Senior Program Manager, has been a Coach-Mentor with Run4Fun since March 2017. Her love of running began at age 10, where she ran on nature trails and through fields in upstate NY. Later at Ithaca College, she competed on Ithaca College’s Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field teams. Stephanie earned a BS in Physical Therapy from Ithaca College and a MA in Applied Physiology from Teachers College, Columbia University. After working as a physical therapist at St. Vincent Medical Center in Manhattan, Stephanie took time to raise her two children and found many opportunities to take her knowledge of health, wellness and love of running directly to the community she lives in. She developed and continues to direct a running program at an elementary school her kids attended. Stephanie’s belief in “movement as medicine” for physical and mental health aligns seamlessly with Run4Fun’s curriculum which is delivered through running, games and play! When she is not coaching she loves hiking, swimming, biking, traveling and spending time with family.
Marcos Costa
Marcos has been running with Run4Fun since the summer of 2021. He grew up in Brazil and moved to the United States a few years ago. He practices a variety of sports including soccer, skateboarding, and cycling, and worked for 4 years as an art teacher in Brazil. Marcos is also a musician and enjoys practicing the drums and guitar in his spare time. He has a daughter who is almost 5, and enjoys teaching kids because of their energy and their sense of wonder and excitement about learning.
Mal Ward
Mal is the Communications Manager and has been a Run4Fun Coach since April 2023, Mal discovered her passion for running in high school in Kentucky, joining cross country and track. Graduating with her BFA in Performing Arts from Western Kentucky University, she found running therapeutic for stress management. After her move to New York in 2013, Mal joined Team for Kids in 2015, mentoring adult runners and inspiring confidence in young women through the Run for the Future Program. With 17 marathons across 6 states and 3 continents, Mal is a certified USATF Level I coach, Abbott World Marathon Majors 6 Star finisher, and a 2x Olympic distance triathlete.
Conor Sullivan
Conor started running with Run4Fun in elementary school over 12 years ago. He has continued to be involved as a coach after he went to high school. Running and Run4fun have been constants in his life through his formative years, and both have helped him grow as a person while forming relationships that will last the rest of his life. His passion for running and staying active has culminated in his participation on the track and soccer teams at Hunter College, where he has won all conference honors. He is currently a junior studying clinical psychology and journalism.
Sydnie Counley
Sydnie loves anything active and everything outdoors, favorites being rollerblading, swimming, and camping. Playing sports, such as volleyball and ultimate frisbee, with friends is one of her favorite pastimes. Sydnie moved to NYC from Central Texas in 2023 after receiving her Bachelor's in Neuroscience. She is passionate about educating kids and supporting them in their journey to reach their full potential.
Jason Dunlap
Jason Dunlap has been a coach with Run4Fun since September 2023. He is a doctoral student in Audiology at The CUNY Graduate Center and has worked as a research assistant at the Child Mind Institute in Manhattan, helping to provide no-cost neuropsychological evaluations to children across New York City. Jason loves to work with kids of all ages and likes to spend his spare time with a good non-fiction book.