Our Team

Pierre Landaiche - CEO

Pierre Landaiche joined UMRF Ventures in September 2020. Prior to joining the company, he led the startup of the Memphis Sports Hall of Fame and for 22 years, managed the Renasant Convention Center – formerly the Memphis Cook Convention Center. He is a native of Baton Rouge and graduate of Louisiana State University. He is involved in various community boards including the former chairman of the Better Business Bureau Board of Directors, The Hospitality Hub, the Dorothy Day House and the Bridge Street Newspaper among others. He is a member and former President of the Rotary Club of Memphis. Pierre enjoys spending time with his wife of 31 years, Gay, and his daughter Caroline, a student at Spring Hill College. He also enjoys duck hunting, fishing, tinkering with his 1967 Mustang convertible, cooking and breaking bread with friends and family.

Sherita Johnson - Managing Director | Business Division A

Sherita Johnson joined UMRF Ventures in July 2017 and prides herself on being the first employee of the company. She currently serves as Managing Director responsible for business operations, strategic leadership, and IT support for several customers, including FedEx, Raymond James, and the City of Memphis. She manages an energetic and talented team of IT professionals who support employee development and manage the customer experience. Prior to joining UMRF Ventures, she worked for the University of Memphis IT department, where she acquired her love for student development, higher education, and supportive communication. She has more than 8 years of management and business operations experience. She graduated from the University of Memphis with a B.S. in Chemistry and is a magna cum laude graduate with a Master of Science in Computer Science with a concentration in Data Management and Analysis.

Jutta “JT” Schneider – Managing Director / Business Division B

Jutta “JT” Schneider joined UMRF Ventures in November 2019 as Director of Project Management and Corporate Initiatives, bringing over 25 years of experience in organizational development and customer service. She also lead the project to develop the strategic plan for the company. Since August 2023 she serves as Managing Director and is responsible for the business operations and strategic development of several clients, including FedEx IT Command Center and Sedgwick. A native of Germany, JT relocated to Memphis with her family in 2016. After earning a master’s degree in Information Science from Saarland University in Saarbruecken, Germany, she held several leadership positions in customer service, process improvement, and organizational structure. In 2009, she created her own management consulting firm with clients including an international online bank and a global telecommunications company. In her free time, JT enjoys spending time with family and cooking. Her German dishes are a favorite among friends and neighbors in Memphis. She is happiest juggling multiple home improvement projects at once. Training the family dog Maya is an ongoing “process improvement” project.

Jasmine Sankhon - Manager | ECS

Jasmine Sankhon joined UMRF Ventures in August 2017 and currently serves as Manager of the Level 1 and Level 2 Enterprise Common Services Desks for the company's venture with FedEx. She previously served as a Supervisor and Assistant Manager for Level 1 ECS. She is very proud of her contributions to the development of the training and quality programs used within the company today. Prior to joining UMRF Ventures, she was a Technical Lead for the University of Memphis's IT Support Desk and a Senior Phonathon Supervisor for the University of Memphis's Annual Giving department. She is a proud University of Memphis graduate with a B.A. in Anthropology with a minor in Biology. In her free time, she enjoys working out, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family.

LaShawn Willingham - Manager | Sedgwick

LaShawn Willingham joined UMRF Ventures in July 2018 and currently serves as Manager for the Sedgwick Support Center. She previously served as the Supervisor of the Sedgwick Support Center. Before her management role with Sedgwick, she was a Level 1 agent with the ECS Venture, where she was shortly promoted to shift lead as well as a Level 2 agent. She is a University of Memphis graduate with a B.S. in Health Service Administration with a minor in Public Relations. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, reading, and journaling.

Katy Higgins - Manager | FedEx Command Center

Katy Higgins joined UMRF Ventures in June 2018 and currently serves as Manager for the Systems Analytics and Information Security teams. She previously served as Operations Lead. Before her position with UMRF Ventures, she held a variety of different leadership positions in retail and academic research settings. She is a magna cum laude graduate with B.S. degrees in Psychology and German, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Information Systems and a master’s certificate in Business Project Management. In her spare time, she likes to read, paint, and ride her horse.