Her Fifth Gear: Longtime Friends Lead By Example as Marathon Relay Approaches

Lindsay Meucci and Nicole Hauptman Amick became instant friends the moment they met.

That camaraderie has them taking the extra steps – literally – to lead by example.

The two are set to participate in the Pittsburgh Marathon Relay on May 3, raising money for the nonprofit organization Always B Smiling, Inc — "bringing joy, connection, and possibility to families of children and young adults with disabilities through inclusive, no-cost programs, dedicated one-to-one support, and a community that truly understands."

As vice president of marketing, communications and advocacy at St. Clair Health in Pittsburgh, Penn., Meucci was tasked with rebranding the organization's position within the healthcare industry. It was a herculean effort, and it ended with complete success.

That said, the former collegiate softball player said the lessons learned in sports teed up an initiative that was "extremely successful," and it has taken hold since its completion in 2021.

"We've done a lot of research to understand awareness and preferences for our health system since the rebrand, and it's really exciting to me when I see team members, especially internally, using our tagline or adhering to our brand guidelines," Meucci said. "After the rebrand we also redid our mission, and seeing people leverage the values, especially on giving each other feedback or recognition, is really meaningful to me."

She's no stranger to spearheading efforts, and credited her time in sports for how she leads in her professional life.

A lifelong Pittsburgh native, Meucci grew up idolizing some of college softball's brightest stars, including University of Arizona pitcher Jennie Finch and UCLA's Lisa Fernandez.

She played in high school and at the collegiate level at Allegheny College, then went to work for the NFL's Cleveland Browns on a marketing internship before ultimately starting her professional career in marketing and customer relationship management at Dick's Sporting Goods.

Meucci then moved into a similar role with the supermarket chain Giant Eagle, Inc., before joining St. Clair Health in July 2020.

That career progression – not to mention her dedication to the surrounding community – started with sports.

"A lot of what sports has taught me was, and is, about relationship building," Meucci said. "But, having been a pitcher, well, that's really a leadership role. You're involved in literally every play, but I think you learn early on that it's also not just about you.

"There's so many people on your team that help you succeed or not succeed, and it really is that team effort that you learn along the way."

In fact, she said her jump into healthcare, which was a foreign industry to her at the time, was aided by what she learned between the lines – especially now as her 9-year-old son is making his way through the Little League ranks.

"I'm trying to instill being coachable in my son, because it's not just about when you're nine and you're playing baseball; it's being coachable now in my 40s, too," Meucci said. "When I joined healthcare in 2020 I had a lot to learn about the industry, and so the idea of being coachable was beyond important. I might have been a marketing expert, but there was so much I didn't know, it was important to recognize that and work together as a team."

That mindset helped ensure a successful rebrand at St. Clair, which focused on connecting the organization to its patients by making services more personal, especially in a market that is also served by University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and Allegheny Health Network, two behemoths in the industry.

The end result was a successful rebrand that felt more personal, and set themselves apart in a market that was already dominated by larger players.

"Like sports, it was all about teamwork," Meucci said. "When you rebrand, there is a lot of effort across the entire health system, from working with legal teams, to working with the physicians and the providers to make them understand why we're doing it."

It should come as no surprise that Hauptman Amick is "widely regarded as the preeminent property tax assessment appeal attorney in Allegheny County."

After all, she was battling through scrums on the rugby field long before she learned to navigate the complex world that faces tax appeal attorneys. A native of Buffalo (and proud Bills season ticket holder!), Hauptman Amick graduated summa cum laude with honors from Binghamton University in 2008 before relocating to Pittsburgh and graduating from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2011.

She earned Partner at Flaherty Fardo Rogel & Amick in 2013, and became a named Partner in 2019. Hauptman Amick has been recognized by Pennsylvania Super Lawyers as a Rising Star for 13 consecutive years (2013–2025).

It should come as no surprise that sports played a huge role in establishing the habits that led to her overwhelming success.

"Sports are an experience that binds you together, and you are exposed to different types of personalities, different types of things, and that's such a good lesson for life because you're not always going to agree with everyone," Hauptman Amick said. "You're not always going to be the same, but it shows you that if you can be on a team, you can succeed in working towards a common goal."

She didn't just play rugby, as Hauptman Amick also played soccer and lacrosse. The message remained the same regardless of the field configuration – teamwork and accountability led the way for a successful season.

That love of sports also translates to the NFL, and the die-hard Bills fan has been a season ticket holder for her entire life. She regularly attended games with her father before he passed away in 2025, and said the shared experience of attending a game with the famed "Bills Mafia" is one that continues to carry immeasurable value today.

Those season tickets that her parents owned since 1980? You'd better believe Hauptman Amick still has them, and already has her seats secured for Buffalo's sparkling new $2.1 billion stadium that's set to open this upcoming season.

That's exciting on its own, even if it may create a little division in her current household, as temporary as it may be.

"My husband's a Steelers fan. I'm a Bills fan. The kids like both," Hauptman Amick said. "Honestly, I think people respect the fact that I wear my Bills gear. I'm a true fan, and people respect the loyalty."

It doesn't matter whether it's the rugby field, an NFL game, or in the courtroom, the prevailing theme in her life is clear, and has set the stage for a massively successful career.

"I think I'm good at what I do because I'm good at relationships, and I think that kind of goes back to sports teaching you to deal with a lot of different types of personalities, even in a work setting," Hauptman Amick said. "It teaches you a good way of going about life in the world. It teaches you so many things about yourself and strengths. I'm kind of a natural leader, and that brings it out in me, and that's helped me a lot in my professional career."

Meucci and Hauptman Amick met each other through their respective husbands, who have been friends since they played Little League. They hit it off immediately, and their friendship has carried on for decades.

Both are teaming up to run a leg of the Pittsburgh Marathon Relay, where they will also be pushing a local participant in an adaptive jogging stroller throughout the course. It's an effort to raise money for a local organization, Always B Smiling, which provides inclusive support, resources, programs and gathering spaces for families of children and young adults with disabilities and health challenges.

The fundraiser also raises money for Casey's Clubhouse – started by former MLB player Sean Casey – which "creates a welcoming and inclusive environment where individuals with disabilities can connect, grow, and thrive, with baseball as our foundation."

As for the training? So far, so good, and trending toward great.

"I'm not a big runner," Meucci said. "I hate running on a treadmill, so the Pittsburgh temps made it difficult to start training. That was the hard part.

"When I can get outside, I feel like I'm a lot stronger mentally than on a treadmill."

Hauptman Amick has previously run half marathons, but the relay is offering her an opportunity to get back into it.

"It's not anything crazy, but it's still six-and-a-half miles, so you can't just get up and go do that without training," she said. "Training has been great, especially with a good cause. Every time I'm feeling lazy, like I don't want to do this, I'm like, 'Come on, get your life together.'

"It's great motivation."

Meucci said the team hopes to meet up for the last mile, so they can all cross the finish line together. During the race, though, the team is especially excited about the experience they will give their young athlete, Addy Mae, who is participating in her second such marathon.

"These participants will get to complete something that they otherwise wouldn't be able to experience, which I think is fantastic, and quite frankly, that's what motivates me when I am struggling to run," Meucci said. "I'm grateful for the abilities that I was blessed with."

Meucci and Hauptman Amick have been training for the race in style, as well, sporting Goal Five gear. They both said the quality and comfort of the material has played a role in their training success, and they're looking forward to sporting it on raceday.

Meucci said she chose the Go Again Leggings over shorts as a personal preference, and has been impressed with how the activewear performs.

"To be honest, it's very comfortable," she said. "Everything fits so well. I think one thing that women especially deal with is the feeling of them rolling down at the waist, but the leggings are extremely comfortable. The material itself, I'm really impressed with, so I'm excited to get more and continue to wear it."

Hauptman Amick has been training in the Goal Five Foudy ½ Zip and Excel shorts, and recently completed a 5K.

“The stuff is great,” she said. “[It’s] high quality, and I especially love the top. It is a super soft fabric, and it has the cutouts for my thumbs, which is my favorite part of running gear. It is a great addition to my running closet.”

The task ahead remains daunting, but much like their experience in sports – and life – has shown, both Meucci and Hauptman Amick are ready to attack the race together. Training is nearly complete, and much like their successful career paths, teamwork and collaboration are leading the way.

“I've never done a relay for a cause,” Meucci said. “I think this will add another layer of satisfaction by knowing why you're there, feeling really good about it, and then finishing it.”