Colorectal Cancer Alliance team
The Colorectal Cancer Alliance is a comprehensive team that includes not only dedicated staff, but also the Board of Directors, advisory boards, and councils. Together, these groups collaborate to advance our mission to end colorectal cancer in our lifetime.
EXECUTIVE
Michael Sapienza
Chief Executive Officer
Driven by the past, motivated by the future, committed to ending this disease in our lifetime.
Brian Cowart
Chief Development Officer
Fueled by faith and family. Driven to improve others' lives. Dallas Cowboys and motorcycle riding fanatic.
Angie Lawry
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
Midwestern girl who loves her Packers, IndyCar racing, good bourbon, and getting to the point.
Melissa Lynch
Chief People Officer
Passionate about coaching others to accomplish extraordinary goals. Committed to live with purpose.
Tina Zeff
Chief Operating Officer
Kentucky gal loves bourbon, bluegrass and her service dog, Woodford Reserve Small Batch (a 5.2 pound Toy Poodle)!
Marc Mason
Senior Vice President of Data Intelligence & Technology
Igniting health equity and welfare through human ingenuity, efficient systems, and innovative tools.
PROGRAMS
Valerie Awad
Certified Patient & Family Support Navigator & Online Community Manager
My journey as the caregiver to my husband, a 14-year stage 4 survivor, ended when he passed away suddenly in 2018 - still cancer-free. As a certified patient and family support navigator, each day I honor the journey by paying it forward helping others survive and thrive as we were once helped.
Dionne Christopher
Senior Manager of Prevention Programs
Georgia peach loves to laugh and whose passion is to help others.
Ambar De La Cruz
Certified Patient & Family Support & Navigation Screening Specialist
Traveling foodie with a lifelong commitment to serving and making a difference one patient at a time.
Paige Edmonds
Certified Patient & Family Support Navigator & Screening Navigation Program Manager
Cat mom who believes that each person can make a difference and together we can make change.
David Fenstermacher, PHD
Senior Director of Research & Medical Affairs
Biomedical scientist committed to contributing to the prevention and cure of colorectal cancer in my lifetime.
Lindsey Glaspell
Patient & Family Support Clinical Navigator
Registered Nurse who is passionate to make a positive daily impact on patients' lives. Always remembering to choose kindness.
Alex Guevara
Analytics & Reporting Manager
Blue Devil who will probably encourage you to listen to your gut more often.
Eric Hargis
Consultant of Advocacy
Committed to ending colorectal cancer within our lifetime.
Kimberly McNeil
Prevention Project Director
Driver of change for those in need. Facilitator of cross-functional teams. Lover of good food, laughing with friends, and the spa.
Kim Newcomer
Director of Volunteers
Adventure enthusiast and survivor who is willing to climb any mountain for young-onset awareness.
Marianne Pearson
Senior Director of Patient Navigation
Committed to supporting patients, families, and this community every day. Grateful and honored to do this work.
Monica Riedesel
Volunteer Manager
Lover of nature, laughter, and simple pleasures. Believes empathy and connection can create magic.
Angele Russell
Senior Director of Partnerships & Health Equity
A southern girl with a heart for connecting people. Globetrotter. Dedicated to ending colorectal cancer.
Christin Sonneborn
Certified Patient & Family Support Navigator & Insurance and Financial Assistance Program Manager
Foodie. Dog mom. Georgetown Hoyas fanatic. Cinephile. Houseplant hobbyist. Expert hand-holder.
Stephanie Whitney
Certified Patient & Family Support Navigator
Committed to deliver personalized navigation to patients and their family during their time of need
Rochelle Woods
Certified Patient & Family Support Navigator
Family is where love flourishes. Dedicated to empowering patients with knowledge and support.
DEVELOPMENT
Kristen Cagadas
Senior Manager of Development
A creative Wisconsinite with a passion for disability advocacy, positivity, and ending cancer.
Abbie Early
Individual Giving Manager
Motivated by the mission, and coffee. Eager to be part of the solution to ending colorectal cancer.
Chelsea Edwards
Senior Director of Peer-to-Peer Giving
Problem solver, goal getter, and working mom just trying to make the world better than I found it.
Karina Flores
Development Operations Manager
Continuously pushing myself to improve for others and myself. Here to back the Alliance's mission.
Adina Frazier
Senior Director of Special Events
An ally at the Alliance, aiming for a colorectal cancer cure. Loves ice cream therapy!
Katie Gholson
Manager of Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Enthusiastic storyteller. Always up for a good adventure. Looking forward to helping build the community to end CRC.
Heather Gorse
Senior Coordinator of Industry Giving
Army wife. Boy mom. Little miss DIY. Wino. Fitness junkie. Trusting the journey even when I don’t understand it.
Melissa Worrell Matthews
Manager of Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Passionate about finding a cure in my lifetime. Florida State Nole. Raising strong daughters. Travel enthusiast and knowledge seeker.
Mackenzie Romenesko
Individual Giving Manager
Motivated by supporting families facing colorectal cancer. Loves the midwest, cats, and coffee.
Jennifer Rosenblatt
Senior Manager of Special Events Fundraising
Development guru who values special events. Jersey girl by marriage. Proud boy mom. Personally propelled to end CRC.
Megan Scotti
Manager of Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Fueled by tacos, coffee, and sunshine, this KC native is trying to put the FUN back in fundraising.
Kate Shin
Peer-to-Peer Operations Manager
1st Gen Korean-American, Yogi, Endo Warrior, Wellness Enthusiast, Ally #teamSunSHINe—here to serve the Alliance’s mission!
Steve Stocks
Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships
Driven by assisting others and developing sustaining corporate partnerships. Love of family, the beach, great food/wine and travel.
Phoebe Stringer
Senior Coordinator of Special Events Operations
Passionate about curating memorable experiences to help spread awareness and end colorectal cancer.
Jamee Telford
Director of Industry Giving
Can’t stop, won’t stop until we find a cure. Often heard talking about screening. Most likely to be found at a theatre.
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Francesca Arminio
Senior Manager of Email and Mobile Marketing
Circus artist. Fitness fanatic. Cupcake connoisseur. Making a difference, one day at a time.
Emily Blasi
Senior Director of Communications & Public Relations
Media maven on a mission to crush colorectal cancer. Will brake for coffee and chocolate.
Kaitlyn Bullard
Senior Manager of Social Media
Made my obsession into a career. Reader, runner, yogi, and washed up college mascot. Will not turn down cookies.
Steven Bushong
Senior Manager of Strategic Communications
The only thing better than drumming is saving lives. Can't decide about the Oxford comma.
Amy Ganderson
Senior Director of Digital Strategy
Digital leader, dedicated to working for causes that I care about.
Nana Kufuor
Project Manager
Audiophile. Yogi. Holistic health nut. Wandering and wondering. Mad about ending colorectal cancer.
OPERATIONS
Sonja Gillespie
Accounting Manager
Next best thing to eating cookies is ending this disease one bite at a time.
Melvin Guerrero
Technology Specialist
Hoping to make a positive impact at Alliance through technology!
Heidi Jaafar
Senior Director of Finance
Problem solver and spreadsheet lover crunching the numbers and hoping to make this world a better place. You can account for me being an Ally.
Amanda Mihalke
Operations & HR Manager
Avid home cook, museum enthusiast, and fan of to-do lists. Honored to support this cause.
Shelin Wing
Executive Assistant
Inspired by the hope that we can help end this disease.