The People of IMF

Betty Arevalo is a licensed vocational nurse (LVN). For three years prior to joining the IMF, she provided patient care at CHA-Presbyterian Medical Center and at a convalescent home for disabled and subacute patients in Los Angeles. At the IMF, Betty helps maintain the computer database and stock inventory and prepares materials for all IMF meetings, seminars, and conferences. In addition, she answers Spanish-language IMF Hotline calls, assists Spanish-speaking participants at IMF Patient & Family Seminars, and coordinates Spanish multiple myeloma support group meetings.

Becky has been an Oncology RN since 2006, including professional roles as an inpatient bedside nurse, healthcare informatics, as well as Transplant Nurse Coordinator, navigating Myeloma patients through the Transplant process. She has facilitated a Myeloma Support Group as a volunteer since 2018 and has been involved with the IMF for several years, attending ASH and SGLS several times. Her professional role at the IMF includes educationally supporting 50 Support Groups across the US. She is passionate about her daily work with Myeloma patients and care partners and feels blessed to be a part of a team at the IMF that is just as passionate.

Becky lives in Pennsylvania with her large, blended family and values her quality time with them, including being actively involved in their children’s soccer, baseball, softball, theatre, band, and chorus activities.

Brittnay Brandon joins the IMF after 12 years of hospitality in hotels where she was involved in the planning and execution of many events from small medical meetings to large scale social galas.  She has a background in planning many social events outside of the hotels including weddings, fundraisers, and personal parties.

Brittnay was raised with a “heart of service” which included volunteering at many community events, being a mentor to youth through the Tarik Glenn Foundation (Dream Alive).  Also heavily involved in community outreach and social justice forums Brittnay hopes to continue her service at IMF.  Brittnay lost her father to Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in January 2014 and currently has an aunt battling Multiple Myeloma so the IMF’s mission resonates with her. 

Nancy Bruno has been active in Support Groups since shortly after her husband Mike was diagnosed with mulitple myeloma in late 1998. What began as comprehensive note-taking during support group meetings led to her becoming a writer for the group’s newsletter. When Andy Lebkuecher’s wife, Cathy, died in December 2006, Andy asked Nancy to lead their local Atlanta group temporarily, "and I haven’t stopped." Her energy and commitment will continue as Director, Support Groups.

Sarah Chambliss holds degrees of Bachelor of Sciences and Master of Arts from Florida State University in Spanish, German, and Multicultural and Multilingual Education.  Her background in the Event Marketing field consists of 12+ years with management and event planning experience.  She is currently working on the Meetings team within the IMF and is looking forward to helping to bring in-person meetings back to a reality.  She has a passion for the outdoors, hiking, yoga, and music festivals.

Kelly Cox spearheads IMF’s Regional Community Workshops, events that bring the most cutting-edge research and top multiple myeloma doctors to patients, caregivers, and healthcare workers across the country. Kelly also works closely with 40 support groups nationwide, carrying the IMF’s mission directly to those affected by multple myeloma. Kelly brings enthusiasm and energy to multiple myeloma awareness and outreach wherever he travels for personal visits, as well as via phone calls and emails.

Kelly worked for Warner Bros. International Television for three years prior to arriving at the IMF. He specialized in marketing, product management, and international placement for shows such as “Friends,” “E.R.” and “Smallville,” among others. Prior to this Kelly was involved with fundraising for specialized research into diseases of the retina, including macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.

Danielle Doheny joined IMF after a six-year career on Capitol Hill where she worked as an adviser to two members of Congress. As a Congressional staffer, Danielle’s primary focus was on healthcare and issues related to energy, the environment, science, and technology. In her role with the IMF, she advocates on behalf of the multiple myeloma community to the executive and legislative branches of the federal government. Danielle’s father is a multiple myeloma patient, and she has a unique passion for her work on behalf of patients and their families. Danielle graduated cum laude from Thiel College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History.

Serdar joined the IMF in September 2018 with seven years of experience in the non-profit sector, specializing in corporate communications and development. For the prior four years, he was part of the business development team at the Educational Volunteers Foundation of Turkey (TEGV). Earlier in his career, Serdar spent more than 15 years working with global corporations. He is the co-founder of Living With Myeloma Initiative and Cancer Survivors Association that has organized patient and family seminars in several cities in Turkey. Serdar is also a journalist, translator, editor, content provider, and musician.

Jon Fitzpatrick worked with the IMF for several years as a volunteer before joining our team as the Support Group Coordinator. He is excited to turn his passion for helping others into a career. Jon’s interest in working closely with multiple myeloma patients and caregivers was sparked as a result of his experience in the field of emergency response.

Lauren joined the IMF as a recent college graduate from Arizona State University and has a degree in Business Tourism. She has previous experience with various travel agents and a passion for sustainable tourism within the industry. Lauren is developing her professional role as an Administrative Assistant with a focus on Travel and Registration for the meetings department at the IMF. She enjoys spending time with her family in Wisconsin and reading in her spare time. She is excited about working alongside the strong IMF team towards the future of Myeloma.

Sherrie Guerrero, SHRM-SCP is an accomplished business executive who has held leadership roles in both the private and nonprofit sector.  She has an extensive background in communications and specializes in human resources with a senior certification from the Society of Human Resources Management. 

Prior to her career in non-profit, Sherrie served as vice president of international distribution working in the entertainment industry where she developed a strong aptitude for building productive relationships. She believes that positive work environments are built through effective communication and serve as the foundation for a happy and rewarding work experience.  Sherrie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Cal State University, Fullerton and a Certificate of Cultural Studies from the University of Granada, Spain.

Paul Hewitt joined the IMF in 2001 and has been one of the IMF's InfoLine Coordinators since 2005. Paul is dedicated to helping patients and caregivers focus on putting a game plan in place to cope with life with multiple myeloma. That structure, coupled with the information the InfoLine provides, can alleviate fear and give confidence to those affected by multiple myeloma. Paul finds this work to be very satisfying. In addition to his work at the IMF, Paul maintains an active acting career. He has starred on Broadway and in many movies and TV shows. Paul is a graduate of the Goodman School of Drama at DePaul University.

Kevin’s responsibilities include offering individualized website assistance to the large network of IMF-affiliated multiple myeloma support groups. He graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a degree in Business – Computer Information Systems. Kevin has diverse hobby interests, including the culinary arts. He is also in L A Jin Yin, a martial arts organization that studies and participates in Dragonboat competitions and Lion dancing during Chinese New Year celebrations. He is an avid runner, completing the Los Angeles Marathon in 2014 and 2016.

Katie joined the IMF in early 2023, bringing in a strong background in event planning and client management. Katie was born and raised in Iowa, competing in many sports starting at a very early age. This led to a successful soccer career at the collegiate level, where she also studied communications and digital media. She is the mother to an amazing boy named Jaxon and spends a lot of her free time with him and traveling to new places. Katie loves what the IMF stands for and can’t wait to continue to be a part of the further education of all Myeloma patients and families.

Marya Kazakova is the Senior Director, Editor-in-Chief of Publications.

Ilana Kenville became one of the IMF's first volunteers when the IMF was first founded. When the IMF supported the establishment of Myeloma UK, Ilana traveled to Scotland to work with Eric Low on launching that new organization. Ilana joined the IMF Staff in 2014 to work alongside Suzanne Battaglia in the Member Events Program. Ilana specializes in challenge events where she combines her passions of being active and fundraising in unique ways for the IMF. She holds a degree in Liberal Studies from National University, San Diego, CA. and resides in Phoenix, Arizona.

Missy Klepetar graduated from Reed College. She joined the IMF in the fall of 2006 and became part of the InfoLine team during the summer of 2008. Missy says that working on the InfoLine is the most rewarding thing she has done in a professional realm, and she feels privileged to be able to help patients and caregivers in this capacity. She understands the importance of imparting the latest and best information regarding treatment options, as well as discussing the complex issues surrounding multiple myeloma.

Missy also assists the IMF by proofing content for all IMF publications, including Myeloma Today.

She enjoys Colorado Avalanche hockey.

For six years, Sapna Kumar served as the IMF's Manager, Marketing and Communications. She brings editorial expertise from the publishing industry, from roles at companies including McGraw-Hill, Pearson Education, and Encyclopedia Britannica. In 2021, she served as a Digital Learning Manager with the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, where she worked with medical professionals to develop Continuing Medical Education courses. She holds a B.A. in Writing from Purdue University and certificates in digital marketing, Google Analytics, and web-based communications. In the fall of 2022, she rejoined the IMF team to return to focusing on mission-driven work, always with the patients, caregivers, and the myeloma community at top of mind.

Phil Lange brings over 20 years of accounting experience to IMF. He graduated from Loyola Marymont University in 1979. Phil has extensive accounting experience, working for a wide variety of companies in entertainment, commercial real estate development, banking, manufacturing, publishing, non-profit, and healthcare. Phil is excited about working with the incredible team at IMF. Phil and Steve, his life partner of 18 years, were legally married in California on July 24, 2008. This year, they rescued a pair of American Rat Terriers named Jocko and Oreo.

With over 7 years of experience in marketing and communications, I am currently leading the development and execution of effective marketing and communications strategies at the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by multiple myeloma. I have helped grow tent pole campaigns to a reach of 40+ million across 46 countries, raising awareness and funds for the organization's mission and programs.

My core competencies include creating compelling content that engages and informs target audiences, producing and editing various digital media content, including video series, webinars, and social media posts, and building strong relationships with stakeholders, partners, and donors. I am also Google Analytics certified and skilled in WordPress and digital strategy. I am passionate about storytelling and creating impactful marketing and communications strategies that help organizations achieve their goals. 

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 nonprofit organization, and marvelously, this job at IMF has made my wish come true."

Meghan joined the IMF in 2019, bringing with her a strong background in administrative work in the healthcare sector, coordinating patient care with physicians and nurses. Meghan lives in Rhode Island and works at the local IMF Meetings Department office in Barrington, RI. She is the mother of an amazing 12 year old son, Brennan, and enjoys spending time with her family. Meghan’s grandmother lost her life to myeloma in May 2013, and Meghan is honored to be part of a team that supports the IMF’s mission.

Selma has spent more than 25 years working in the non-profit sector for organizations providing humanitarian services nationwide. She joined the International Myeloma Foundation in 2009 and is currently the Director of Operations. Selma is a native Californian, a mother, loves animals and enjoys helping others.

Annabel Reardon has previously worked with the IMF Events team on planning their various events and meetings. From floor plans to menu selections and restaurant reservation, she ensured that each event ran smoothly and all logistical details were taken care of. In 2013, she decided to work full-time for the IMF as its Meeting Coordinator. Aside from planning and managing the multiple year-round national and international meetings the IMF holds and attends, she also manages the auction of the IMF's Annual Gala.

She holds a degree in International Hospitality Management from Northern Arizona University and studied International Management at the London Metro University.

Joy’s background in the field of entertainment includes working in client services at BFM Digital and at Shapeshifter Inc. She is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti with a degree in Film Studies and a minor in Art. She is an avid reader, writer, singer, and hiker.

Cecilia joined the IMF in April 2023 as a member of the Support Group team. She brings more than 10 years of experience in project management and is passionate about keeping projects, programs and initiatives running smoothly through effective processes and procedures. Her prior positions have been in higher education with a focus on improving the health and wellbeing in the communities we serve. She is excited to join such a passionate team focused on improving the quality of life of myeloma patients while working toward prevention and a cure.

She holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science from Arizona State University and resides in Phoenix, Arizona.

Miko Santos has extensive experience in mass media and news organizations. A graduate of De La Salle University, he holds a dual degree in Marketing and Behavioral Science. He started out as a photojournalist for Manila Times and Sun Star, covering everything from community events to coups d'etat and eventually becoming the New Media Editor for Asian Journal, one of the largest Filipino-American news organizations in the US. He has also worked as a stringer for Philippine-based broadcast networks ABS-CBN and GMA-7. No stranger to the cancer cause, he once biked a thousand miles for three weeks around the Philippines with the Cancer Warriors Foundation to raise awareness and funds for children afflicted with cancer.

As the Senior Research Project Coordinator, Narmeen Shammami facilitates all aspects of contract management and research projects. Narmeen's diverse experience as Director of Operations in digital media enhanced her leadership roles within research and development. She specializes in innovative medical strategies.

Narmeen earned her Master of Science from Barry University, where she graduated cum laude, and obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Women and Gender Studies from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

A Los Angeles native, with the IMF for over 5 years. Work in both the Accounting and Distribution departments doing a variety of tasks. Assist with financial analysis, payables, invoices and many other financial operations to ensure all details and activities have been accounted for and allocated correctly.  In addition to fulfilling daily order requests, assist in distribution preparing shipments, deliverables and materials necessary for IMF’s larger meetings and events throughout the year. "I am a proud member of team IMF and could not be happier for all the success and growth the foundation has seen over the years." 

Rafi Stephan comes to the IMF from the world of entertainment, where he last served as an executive assistant in International Television Distribution at Warner Brothers. He was at Warner Brothers from 2006 to 2014, during which time he also served as special events director for the business resource group Network for Asian Pacific Americans (NAPA). Rafi’s film industry experience includes being a producer and production manager for independent films, including Sundance selection Must Be the Music and Gus Van Sant’s Speedway Junky. He is a graduate of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth with a degree in Film/Television and a minor in History.

Based in St. Petersburg, Florida, Daria Tabota joins the IMF with a wealth of digital marketing, social media, and public relations experience. As the IMF’s MarCom Coordinator, she is responsible for helping manage the organization’s digital assets and works with the MarCom team on social media and email campaigns. Daria also helps coordinate MarCom projects with a variety of stakeholders to support timely delivery.

Jonathan enjoys one-on-one interaction with patients and caregivers, both over the phone and at IMF seminars and community workshops. His background as an entrepreneur includes more than 22 years as owner and operator of an independent pet supply business. He is an avid collector of vinyl records, and has traveled across the United States, visiting record shops and collector trade shows. He also loves attending live concerts by legendary pop and R&B vocalists