 We are here to help you. We invite you to learn more about our full- and part-time staff members: | |||
| The IMF was founded in October of 1990 by Susie Novis, her late husband, Brian Novis, and Prof. Brian G.M. Durie. as a means to advance myeloma research, and to develop and implement patient and physician educational programs in the area of multiple myeloma. Susie was elected Executive Director of the IMF in 1992 and today holds the title of President of the Foundation. Under her direction the IMF has continued to experience impressive growth. Programs that she developed have become models for other organizations around the world. Susie's deep personal commitment to the myeloma community continues to drive the IMF forward -- towards a cure for myeloma. | ||
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| David Girard has an eclectic background in international business, post-secondary education, oncology office management, retail management, and government work. He was recruited to assist the IMF with the administration of the CDC grant and the IMF's extensive publication list and his responsibilities have grown to include many areas within the internal and external operations of the foundation. David is fluent in several languages and spent a total of nine years living and working in Mexico City. | ||
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| Diane Moran, RN, MA, EdM is an experienced nurse with advanced degrees in education and organizational management, and a highly accomplished healthcare executive with more than two decades in the pharmaceutical industry prior to joining the IMF in April 2006. Diane is the Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning for the IMF and reports directly to the president and Chairman of the Board. dmoran@myeloma.org | ||
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| Heather Cooper Ortner brings 15 years of professional experience to the IMF beginning in marketing and moving to development ten years ago when she began working at AIPAC, The American Israel Public Affairs Committee. From there she went to the Venice Family Clinic, the largest free clinic in the nation, and subsequently became director of the Western Area Development Center of Hadassah, where she directed major gift activities in 16 western states. In her most recent position at Brandeis-Bardin, she created a major gifts program and increased proceeds from an annual event by more than 60%. hortner@myeloma.org | ||
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Jennifer Scarne manages the daily financial operations of IMF. She is a Certified Public Accountant with over ten years of accounting and finance experience. Jennifer previously served as the Controller of Morgan Creek Productions. Prior to joining Morgan Creek, Jennifer was a Manager in Ernst and Young?s internal audit entertainment practice, representing such entertainment clients as The Walt Disney Company, AOL Time Warner and USA Networks. She has also served as line producer on an independent film, and volunteers her time serving as the Vice President of Finance on the Board of The Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women and Children. jscarne@myeloma.org |
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| Mirna Arevalo (Betty), a recent LVN graduate of Marian College Health Careers, came to the IMF in July 2006. Betty's responsibilites include database entry, preparation of information packs and inventory control. She has also worked as a caregiver in several health facilities. Her goal is to continue her education to get her BSN. Her passions include taking care of disabled patients and patients with chronic health problems. She enjoys cooking, spending time with her family, and her little dog, Minnie. | ||
| After years as a dedicated caregiver to a family member with cancer, Arin Assero decided to change her career path to the nonprofit sector. Previously, Arin enjoyed a long and successful career in restaurant and catering management, establishing a reputation as a reliable provider of solutions in the challenging and competitive Los Angeles food service industry. aassero@myeloma.org | ||
| Sylvia Baca holds a degree in Business & Finance and a Masters Degree in Accounting & Finance. She has worked for the IMF since 2005, after leaving her twenty-year career as a bankruptcy, estate planning and civil litigation paralegal to become an accountant. She also holds a position as Director of Finance and co-partner at Affinity Accounting Corporation, where she oversees the staff in production and fiduciary accounting. Her interests are tennis and her little dogs. Sylvia wrote and published the "Caregiver Daily Journal" in 2007, based on an idea she developed after being a caregiver for her parents for several years. | ||
| Suzanne Battaglia joined the IMF in January 1997, bringing with her 20 years of experience in theatrical and event production. As Producer of Special Events, Suzanne spearheaded the IMF's first four Ribbon of Hope Anniversary Galas and the Robert A. Kyle Lifetime Achievement Award dinners, as well as creating the successful ?Mail For The Cure" campaign. In addition to working on the IMF annual events, she works specifically with patients, family members, and their supporters on grassroots fundraisers around the country. These smaller, local events raise awareness, help fund myeloma research, and enable members to become pro-active in the myeloma community. If you are interested in joining the IMF in its commitment to improving the quality of life of myeloma patients while working toward prevention and a cure, please contact Suzanne. | ||
| Nancy Baxter received her undergraduate degree from Oberlin College in Ohio and her J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law. After practicing law in New York and California for 5 years, she made a major career change. Nancy helped start UCLA?s Cancer Information Service in 1985. She was trained through the National Cancer Institute?s CIS training program and worked as a senior information specialist for 15 years until the NCI?s consolidation of CIS programs closed the UCLA office. She then spent 2 years at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as the Patient Services Manager and Outreach Coordinator. Nancy brings all of these professional experiences to her job at the IMF as one of the two Hotline Coordinators. The Hotline Coordinators answer questions from patients, family members and friends, the general public and health care professionals about all aspects of myeloma: from diagnosis and treatment to resources available to patients and their families. | ||
| Debbie Birns came to the IMF after years as a cancer information specialist for the National Cancer Institute?s Cancer Information Service. When that office closed, she moved to the Clinical Research Unit at UCLA?s division of hematology/oncology, and helped set up and coordinate cancer clinical trials at UCLA. Although the work was interesting, she missed having contact with cancer patients and their families, and was delighted when she heard that the IMF was searching for professionals to man their hotline. In her current capacity as co-coordinator of the IMF hotline, she is one of the three knowledgeable and friendly voices who will address your myeloma-related questions and guide you through the maze of myeloma information. Debbie?s past experience with clinical trials enables her to research and update the IMF?s Myeloma Matrix, a compendium of the many studies with new drugs and combinations of drugs currently in clinical trials for myeloma patients. She is also the IMF?s in-house editor and proofreader. Debbie is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Stanford University, and did her graduate work in comparative literature at UCLA. In her past life, she was a manuscript editor for the University of California Press. | ||
| Greg Brozeit | ||
| Rachael Coffey holds a degree in Public Health Education. She has worked for the Northern Michigan Hospital Community Health Education Center and has served as an Executive Assistant in the Department of Medical Affairs at Aptium Oncology Inc. in Los Angeles. In July 2007, Rachael joined the IMF as an Administrative Assistant. She is in the office part-time as she is currently working on a Master?s degree in Nursing at UCLA. At the IMF, Rachael assists David Girard with the Bank On A Cure? project by helping to manage the database, prepare weekly updates, perform survey intake, coordinate mailings, and answer questions from callers. She also works with Lisa Paik on submissions of manuscripts for publication. For the IMF Patient & Family Seminar program, Rachael prepares the attendee materials. | ||
| Kelly Cox works closely with the more than 90 support groups around the country, bringing the IMF?s mission directly to those affected by myeloma. Kelly brings enthusiasm and energy to myeloma awareness and outreach wherever he travels for personal visits, as well as via phone calls and emails. Under his direction, the Southwest Symposium, an outreach project in Arizona, has grown to become a key source of information about myeloma in the region, as well as a unique forum for healthcare professionals, patients, and others. Kelly worked for Warner Bros. International Television for 3 years prior to arriving at the IMF. He specialized in the marketing, product management and international placement for shows such as Friends, E.R., Smallville, and over 41,000 hours of Warner Bros. Television and Films. Prior to this Kelly was involved with fund raising for specialized research into the diseases of the retina, including Macular Degeneration and Retinitis Pigmentosa. | ||
| A graduate of The Goodman School of Drama at De Paul University in Chicago, Paul Hewitt joined the IMF in September 2001. He served as IMF's in-house database manager, overseeing the uploading and downloading of data onto the system until December of 2004. In January of 2005, Paul joined Debbie and Nancy on the IMF?s hotline where he has really enjoyed being in closer contact with patients and family members. Paul balances his commitment to the IMF with his life as an actor. He has appeared in many movies, television series, regional theatres, and on Broadway. | ||
| With an extensive history in event planning, Spencer Howard is responsible for ensuring that IMF Patient & Family Seminars, clinical conferences and scientific think-tanks run smoothly. He oversees the planning of each event, ensuring that all logistical details meet the high standards set by the IMF and its team. | ||
| Marya Kazakova oversees the design and development of the IMF's quarterly newsletter, Myeloma Today. Her involvement with the many publications of the foundation has helped create the robust selection of patient and professional education materials available today. | ||
| After several years working in education management at UCLA Medical Center and Pepperdine University School of Law, Missy Klepetar started out as the IMF?s Development assistant in August 2006. She processed donations and supported the day-to-day needs of the Development department, in addition to taking over registration duties for all the IMF?s Patient and Family Seminars. In May 2008 she made the transition to Hotline Associate and started to work on the Hotline, helping to answer patients? questions about multiple myeloma. She has a B.A. in English Literature from Reed College. mklepetar@myeloma.org | ||
| Leslie Lauten is the newest member of the IMF team. She assists the Development Department and handles various data entry tasks. She is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in school counseling and marriage & family therapy. She is proud to work at the IMF with the dedicated and passionate team. | ||
| Andy Lebkuecher lives in Atlanta. Born in New York, he moved his family to Atlanta in 1979. He has three grown children and one grandson. Andy?s previous occupation was in aerospace electronics. His last position was Group Manager of a Wireless Division. Andy began his association with the IMF 10 years ago after his late wife, Cathy, was diagnosed with MM. They attended their first Patient and Family Seminar in Virginia in 1994. Cathy and he started the Atlanta Area Multiple Myeloma Support Group in August of 1997. In the years since his first P&F Seminar, he has attended about two seminars a year and has helped out where he was needed during the weekends. He has been heard to say ?this new position is a blessing and something I?ve longed to do for a long time.? His goals are to serve the support group community, improve communication with support groups, and make sure hospitals and clinics have the information their patients need to make informed decisions about their disease. | ||
| Kemo Lee assists the IMF in implementing and coordinating the many specialty member services that the IMF offers as well as conducting outreach on behalf of the IMF to the local community in concert with key IMF programs. | ||
| Randi Liberman joined the IMF in June of 2007 as Development Associate. Previously, Randi served as development coordinator at The Brandeis-Bardin Institute and as special events coordinator at the Motion Picture and Television Fund Foundation. Her years of experience in data management help the Foundation to better serve the myeloma community. Randi also manages the IMF's direct mail campaign and helps with special events and other projects. "I am thrilled to be working with a dedicated team that is deeply focused on continuing the IMF?s efforts in myeloma research, education, and patient care," said Randi. | ||
| Kerri Lowe joins the IMF after assisting the fundraising efforts of AIDS Walk Los Angeles and the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation. She supports the Development department, processing donations and maintaining the IMF?s database of patients, friends, and family members, as well as maintaining the IMF?s listing as an international charity. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor?s Degree in Psychology at UCLA. | ||
| Colleen R. McGonigle joins the IMF with an extensive background in member services, record keeping, and database management. She moved to Los Angeles in January of 2005 from North Carolina where she managed the data and education reservations for the Museum of Life and Science in Durham. She also worked for organizations such as the Carnegie Science Center in Pennsylvania, and the J. Paul Getty Villa and the Autry National Center in California. As Data Specialist at the IMF, she is responsible for maintaining accurate data entry and record keeping for IMF patients, friends, and family members. | ||
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| Jim Needham is responsible for assisting the IMF with graphic design and production of the IMF's vast array of printed materials. He was born and raised in Southern California, graduated from UCLA in Design, and has worked in that field ever since. He is experienced as an art director, graphic designer, illustrator, photographer, copywriter and copy editor, and has done a wide range of projects in a spectrum of industries. After joining the IMF staff, he exclaimed, "Over the years I've done a lot of work to help companies successfully sell products and make money. In 2005 I had a strong desire to use my experience, skills and talents to help people who needed help. I wanted to work for a non-profit organization, and marvelously, this job at IMF has made my wish come true." | ||
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| Lisa Paik joined the IMF in June 2001 as Director of Meeting Services. In September of 2000 Lisa moved to Los Angeles from Washington, DC where she worked as an Account Executive with Ogilvy Public Relations. While at Ogilvy Public Relations, she was assigned to various accounts; including Consumer Education programs and disease-awareness campaigns. She brings traditional PR experience and special events planning to the IMF. Lisa oversees the IMF's research grant awards process, as well as all of the Foundation's CME & CE programs. She is the point person for the Health Medical companies accrediting clinical meetings and coordinates workshops for the Myeloma Working Group. | ||
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| Abbie Rich is responsible for assisting IMF VP Mike Katz in maintaining the IMF web site and for producing the Myeloma Minute, the IMF's email newsletter. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University with a BA in English, she was a senior copywriter and publicist for Macmillan and Praeger Publishers in New York. Since moving to California, she has been the senior administrator at a professional school for jazz musicians and head writer on a television show. She was Associate Director of the Southern California office of the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service (CIS) and developed public health campaigns for underserved communities as the Chair of the national CIS's Outreach and Promotion Task Force. Abbie is a co-founder of the Southern California Cancer Pain Initiative, and served as Senior Producer for the Internet community GirlSite before founding her own web development and consulting firm, One Banana Media. | ||
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| Robin Tuohy worked as a paralegal for over 10 years at a Fortune 500 company before marrying Michael, who was diagnosed with myeloma in 2000, and having children Ally and Mikey. She became involved with the IMF and attended Advocacy Days in Washington DC in 2001, and then began the first support group for myeloma patients in Connecticut with the help of the IMF. She feels her experience as Michael's caregiver gives her a unique perspective on myeloma. The Tuohy family carried their message of life after diagnosis across the country in 2007 on the Myeloma Mobile. You can read her blog about the trip at http://myeloma.org/MyelomaMobile. Robin's motto is "The purpose of life is a life of purpose," and she hopes that she is able to help others dealing with multiple myeloma. | ||
