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

Brian Cowart

Brian Cowart

Chief Development Officer

Fueled by faith and family. Driven to improve others' lives. Dallas Cowboys and motorcycle riding fanatic.

Tina Zeff

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

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

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

Dionne Christopher

Senior Manager of Prevention Programs

Georgia peach loves to laugh and whose passion is to help others.

Ambar De La Cruz

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

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

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

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

Alex Guevara

Analytics & Reporting Manager

Blue Devil who will probably encourage you to listen to your gut more often.

Eric Hargis

Eric Hargis

Consultant of Advocacy

Committed to ending colorectal cancer within our lifetime.

Kimberly McNeil

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

Kim Newcomer

Director of Volunteers

Adventure enthusiast and survivor who is willing to climb any mountain for young-onset awareness.

Marianne Pearson

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

Monica Riedesel

Volunteer Manager

Lover of nature, laughter, and simple pleasures. Believes empathy and connection can create magic.

Angele Russell

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

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

Stephanie Whitney

Certified Patient & Family Support Navigator

Committed to deliver personalized navigation to patients and their family during their time of need

Rochelle Woods

Rochelle Woods

Certified Patient & Family Support Navigator

Family is where love flourishes. Dedicated to empowering patients with knowledge and support.

DEVELOPMENT

Kristen Cagadas

Kristen Cagadas

Senior Manager of Development

A creative Wisconsinite with a passion for disability advocacy, positivity, and ending cancer.

Abbie Early

Abbie Early

Individual Giving Manager

Motivated by the mission, and coffee. Eager to be part of the solution to ending colorectal cancer.

Chelsea Edwards

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

Karina Flores

Development Operations Manager

Continuously pushing myself to improve for others and myself. Here to back the Alliance's mission.

Adina Frazier

Adina Frazier

Senior Director of Special Events

An ally at the Alliance, aiming for a colorectal cancer cure. Loves ice cream therapy!

Katie Gholson

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

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

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

Mackenzie Romenesko

Individual Giving Manager

Motivated by supporting families facing colorectal cancer. Loves the midwest, cats, and coffee.

Jennifer Rosenblatt

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

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

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

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

Phoebe Stringer

Senior Coordinator of Special Events Operations

Passionate about curating memorable experiences to help spread awareness and end colorectal cancer.

Jamee Telford

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 CCA

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

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

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

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

Amy Ganderson

Senior Director of Digital Strategy

Digital leader, dedicated to working for causes that I care about.

Nana Kufuor

Nana Kufuor

Project Manager

Audiophile. Yogi. Holistic health nut. Wandering and wondering. Mad about ending colorectal cancer.

OPERATIONS

Sonja Gillespie

Sonja Gillespie

Accounting Manager

Next best thing to eating cookies is ending this disease one bite at a time.

Melvin Photo

Melvin Guerrero

Technology Specialist

Hoping to make a positive impact at Alliance through technology!

Heidi Jaafar

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

Amanda Mihalke

Operations & HR Manager

Avid home cook, museum enthusiast, and fan of to-do lists. Honored to support this cause.

Shelin Wing

Shelin Wing

Executive Assistant

Inspired by the hope that we can help end this disease.