Gena Coopersmith
After nearly two decades in corporate systems and technology roles, I realized it was time for something different. I had gone through a divorce, left a job that drained me, and stepped away from work a few years before COVID to be home with my kids. That time allowed me to reset and reflect on the life and work I wanted to create next. Like many people we serve at SDA, I have navigated significant life transitions that reshaped my priorities.
I joined SDA in 2020 and began working in the business as my relationship with Scott grew beyond the strong friendship we built as adults after reconnecting. I’m grateful to work with him and SDA as we grow our personal lives together.
Today, I oversee operations and shape the client experience at SDA. My journey through divorce has given me a unique perspective and empathy in supporting our work at SDA Divorce Solutions. I understand the overwhelming nature of the process and the value of feeling seen, supported, and grounded during such transitions.
Before joining SDA, I worked as a business systems analyst in the staffing and retail industries, primarily at Apex Systems in Richmond, Virginia. My first job in Richmond was with the now-defunct Circuit City, an early chapter that launched my path in systems and operations. At Apex, I was the bridge between business and technical teams, leading workflow design and system implementation. My work spanned Financials Billing, AR, AP, GL, Contracts, HR, Payroll, and more—an experience I now apply more personally and purposefully.
In the spring and summer of 2023, just months before Scott and I got married, I faced an unexpected health scare. A routine screening led to the discovery of something called stage 0 breast cancer. Thankfully, it was caught early, but it was a humbling reminder of how quickly life can change and the importance of taking care of yourself, even when everything else feels more urgent.
I grew up in a small town outside Rochester, New York, and earned my B.S. in Applied Economics from Ithaca College, where I first met Scott. Many years later, we reconnected, started dating again in 2020 and married in November 2023.
We’re raising four kids: Addison, Jacob (mine), Daniel, and Alexa (his). Like everyone else, we believe our kids are amazing, but our primary goal is to raise good, grounded adults. We are splitting our time between New York and Virginia and plan to settle in one place eventually.
Outside of work, I love traveling, hiking, reading, and listening to country music. So far, my favorite trips have been to Alaska, Italy, and Iceland (our first international trip together), and I will always have a soft spot for D.C., where Scott proposed. I am grateful for where I’ve been and excited about what lies ahead.
