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Jennifer Merschdorf, Chief Executive Officer
With over 15 years of experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, Jennifer brings a new voice to philanthropy. She excels at creating and implementing strategic growth plans, promoting an atmosphere of teamwork and ensuring proper organizational financial management.
Jennifer has the ability to merge traditional business strategy and large-scale nonprofit training with fresh and innovative thinking that utilizes new technologies and builds on the strategic planning of an organization. In merging her leadership skills, strong strategic planning, finance background and passion for nonprofit innovation, Jennifer embodies a new style of nonprofit leadership.
Jennifer strives to be a strong voice for all young women facing breast cancer, ensuring that they know they do not need to face this disease alone. As a breast cancer survivor herself, Jennifer understands the importance of ensuring all young women have access to YSC’s unique resources.
Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Jennifer began her career in the corporate world of marketing and sales. After several years, she transitioned her skills to the nonprofit community, driven by her desire to create social change. She began her nonprofit career with the national Sierra Club, where she became a Director of Operations & Finance, and later served as the Director of Development for New Yorkers for Parks after she met her husband and relocated to New York City. Most recently, Jennifer was the Director of Finance for Soliya, an innovative international nonprofit.
Jennifer holds an MBA from the University of San Francisco and a BA from Washington State University. She serves on the Board of Directors of the North Star Fund, a New York City-based community foundation, and the Hudson Opera House, a multi-arts center and New York State's oldest surviving theater. Jennifer splits her time between New York and the Hudson Valley, where she is working to restore a historic home with her husband, Jeffrey Talley Gannon.
Learn more about Jennifer and view her Welcome Message here.
Stacy Lewis, CHES, Chief Program Officer and Deputy Chief Executive
Stacy bolsters YSC’s ability to serve its constituents, bringing over 12 years experience creating, developing and running services and programs for those with special healthcare needs. She leads programs effectively and delivers a rewarding product to YSC’s constituents. Stacy has big goals for YSC: enhancing our ability to run rewarding programs while leading new initiatives—including programs that address the needs of young women from diverse backgrounds and those living with metastatic disease.
For five years, Stacy served as the deputy director and director of programs for SHARE: Self-help for Women with Breast or Ovarian Cancer. Before that she served as the community executive and director of breast health for the American Cancer Society, Eastern Division. Stacy graduated from William Paterson University and earned credentials as a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) from the National Commission For Health Education Credentialing, Inc.
Heather McGrew, Chief Operating Officer
Heather brings over 20 years of professional experience, eight of those years in nonprofit leadership, to YSC. During her career Heather has played an integral role in helping creative, entrepreneurial organizations to effectively bring new solutions to the market place. She has worked in both the private and social sector in a wide range of positions including marketing, sales, strategic planning, finance and management.
Prior to joining YSC, Heather was the Vice President of Fellow Programs for Echoing Green, an international nonprofit that, since 1987, has provided seed funding and support to nearly 500 social entrepreneurs with bold ideas for social change launching groundbreaking organizations around the world. At Echoing Green, Heather and her team were responsible for developing and delivering technical assistance to the Echoing Green fellow and alumni community. A Virginia native, she received both her BA and her MBA from the University of Virginia.
Jenna Glazer, Director of Development
Jenna’s roots with YSC run deep: A seven-year breast cancer survivor herself, Jenna started with YSC as an active volunteer, donating her time for several years before becoming director of development. With a passion for breast cancer advocacy and awareness, Jenna has brought our voice to Capitol Hill and Albany. She also volunteers on the SHARE hotline, giving the gift of support and understanding to newly diagnosed women.
Jenna holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and graduated cum laude from Brooklyn Law School. She also earned certification from National Breast Cancer Coalition's Project LEAD®, an educational course for breast cancer advocates. In addition, Jenna brings years of law experience as a commercial litigation attorney. She is thrilled to be supporting a cause so important to her and many of her closest friends.
Lori Atkinson, Affiliate Development Director
A 13-year breast cancer survivor, Lori has dedicated her time and efforts to YSC as a volunteer for six years before becoming a staff member in 2005. Lori started the first YSC affiliate in Indiana and has since focused her energies on spreading YSC’s circles of support to locations across the country. She works on the organizational structure of the YSC's volunteer and local groups, manages the YSC's 27 affiliates and is at work on a growth strategy so new affiliates can reach out to even more young women. She has served on the affiliate task force, volunteer steering committee and worked on YSC's strategic planning. Lori brings expertise as a graduate of the National Breast Cancer Coalition's Project LEAD® and Clinical Trials LEAD® educational courses for advocates. She lives in a small town outside of Indianapolis.
Mary Ajango, Volunteer Program Associate
Mary has a passion for women’s health and comes to YSC with nine years of nonprofit experience in research, education, programming and volunteer management. She studied Journalism and Political Science at Indiana University and, after an internship in Washington D.C., chose to earn her Master’s in Public Affairs with an emphasis on Nonprofit Management at IUPUI. She has worked for the Indiana Coalition on Housing and Homeless Issues, Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity and The Stacey Toran Foundation. Mary is excited to fill the new role of Volunteer Programs Associate and help strengthen YSC’s volunteer programs. Mary and her husband love traveling and Colts football and live in Indianapolis with their two dogs.
Suzanne Beckmann, Communications Consultant
Suzanne earned a BA in Psychology from S.U.N.Y. Stony Brook and worked as a mental health counselor at nonprofit organizations before transitioning to a career in public relations in 1998. She then spent the next 13 years developing and implementing strategic communications programs for Fortune 500 and other companies such as Honeywell, Supervalu, Pentair, Deloitte, Daiichi Sankyo, Nixon Peabody LLP, AlixPartners, Ernst & Young, Lasair Capital, TJ Maxx and Albertson’s (the former $55 billion grocery chain). Suzanne’s well-rounded communications background includes proactive media relations, internal communications, reputation management, executive positioning, thought leadership, crisis communications and media training and coaching. She’s held senior-level positions at award-winning firms such as Hill & Knowlton, Burson-Marsteller, Robert Marston and Associates, Peppercom and ASC Advisors. Armed with a strong desire to merge her communications expertise with her personal interest in advocacy for young women diagnosed with breast cancer, she joined YSC in 2011.
Suzanne’s mother, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 36, just celebrated her 73rd birthday.
Kristen Buckler, Events Associate
Kristen joined YSC in 2011 as the Events Associate. She brings extensive event planning and project management experience to YSC. Kristen’s main role at YSC is planning and executing YSC Tour de Pink East and West Coast rides. She focuses on participant engagement and retention. Kristen graduated from Union College with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Previously, she worked in Corporate Relations at the Darden School of Business.
Courtney Bugler, Associate Director of Development
Courtney is a young breast cancer survivor, diagnosed a month after she turned twenty nine years old. After treatment, Courtney began her advocacy work in earnest, attending both the Young Survivors conference and NBCC’s Advocacy conference from 2007–2010. Courtney is a trained hotline counselor for Y-ME, a member of the Cancer Survivor Leadership Council of Georgia, the Southeastern Regional Chair of I’m too Young for This! and is the youngest member of the Shades of Pink Breast Cancer Survivor gospel choir—the only one of its kind in the country.
After volunteering as the chair of Young Survival Coalition’s Atlanta affiliate, Courtney gave up her career as a television scriptwriter to devote herself full time to helping young women affected by this disease. She now serves as the Executive Director of the Atlanta office. Courtney is a graduate of NBCC’s Quality Care project LEAD and the Project LEAD Institute. She has attended the Livestrong Summit and is a graduate of the Harold Freeman Patient Navigation Institute. She is a trained research grant reviewer for both the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Research Program and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. In 2009, she gave birth to her first post breast cancer baby, Aidan. In her free time, what’s left of it, Courtney spends time with her husband Alan and their four very large dogs.
Alane Davis, Duluth Program Manager
This year, Alane celebrates the 13-year anniversary of her original cancer diagnosis at age 31. Like so many of our constituents, Alane has worked with YSC to turn her diagnosis into something positive. After hearing she had cancer, Alane felt isolated and alone—but then she found Young Survival Coalition online and discovered a supportive network of thousands of women like her who had been told they were "too young for breast cancer."
For the past five years, Alane has worked to welcome other young women to our network of support, bringing the YSC to northern Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. This began as the YSC's first Community Volunteer Group but has grown into the full-fledged YSC Duluth Affiliate. Alane now serves as the Duluth Affiliate’s program manager. She proudly works every day to bring the YSC to all newly diagnosed women in Minnesota so they know they are not alone. Alane holds a bachelor’s degree in art that adds creativity to her fundraising projects and helps her create new programs to better serve young women.
Michelle Esser, Philadelphia Program Manager
Diagnosed in 2006 at age 37, when her children were three and six years old, Michelle understands especially well the challenges of young mothers facing breast cancer. She has played a key role in bringing YSC’s supportive programs to Philadelphia since that affiliate’s inception, chairing the education and outreach committee and acting as the group's secretary, co-chair of communications and grant coordinator—all as a volunteer.
Michelle developed and continues to maintain a YSC Greater Philadelphia newsletter, sharing the stories of young women living with breast cancer in her city. She also served as assistant chair of Philadelphia’s inaugural In Living Pink event. In 2008, Michelle received YSC's Lisa Muccilo award for excellence in volunteering. Michelle completed the National Breast Cancer Coalition's Project LEAD® and Quality Care Project LEAD® training and serves as team leader for Pennsylvania on Lobby Day. Michelle has also acted as a consumer reviewer for the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program. Michelle holds her law degree as well as an MBA from Villanova University.
Virginia Falces, Website Manager
Working to amplify the voices of YSC and its constituents, Virginia manages our website and its content. She brings over 13 years of experience crafting effective messages as a writer, editor, technical editor and, most recently, website editor and producer. Virginia has developed her abilities in the for-profit world with Office.com, JPMorgan and Qualcomm Inc., as well as with non-profits as a volunteer at Gilda's Club and as a press officer and editor for various United Nations NGOs while living in Geneva, Switzerland. Virginia, who is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, is glad to be working for a cause that has affected both family members and close friends. Virginia lives in Valencia, Spain, with her husband and two children.
Naomi Gewirtz, Northern New Jersey Executive Director
Naomi joined the Young Survival Coalition in 2008 as the executive director of the northern New Jersey affiliate. Naomi has dedicated herself to nonprofit programming and management for the past 10 years, both nationally and locally. She brings experience in strategic planning, event planning and programming, volunteer management and fundraising. YSC’s constituents benefit from Naomi’s experience helping smaller organizations develop and maintain their membership by enhancing their publications, websites and communication techniques. Naomi holds a BSW from Indiana University and an MSW with a concentration in administration, policy and planning from Rutgers. Passionate and excited about YSC, Naomi has the experience and skills to help make our organization even stronger. Naomi lives in northern New Jersey with her husband and two daughters.
Dana Griffin, Communications Manager
Dana brings over 13 years of communications and public relations experience to the mission of making YSC’s voice strong and clear. She began crafting meaningful messages at Save the Children, working on the international and domestic health and educational needs of women and children. Inspired to work more hands-on with children in need, Dana joined IKEA as a public relations and community marketing specialist. Focused on the educational needs of children in the Tri-State area, she helped create improved library spaces for inner city youth. Continuing to devote herself to children, Dana joined the March of Dimes and helped over 50 chapters nationwide promote the importance of women’s health and the needs of premature babies. Her dedication to women’s issues brought Dana to YSC, where she continues to build awareness and create powerful messages about the unique health needs of women.
Annie Hiller, Atlanta Development Associate
Annie joined YSC Atlanta in 2010 as the Development Associate. She brings 10 years of development experience with an expertise in direct marketing and retention of donors and event participants. Annie graduated from Clemson University with a bachelor’s degree in History and Georgia State University with a Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and daughter.
Krysti Hughett, SurvivorLink & MetsLink Specialist
Krysti is a metastatic survivor of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), first diagnosed in March 2005 after a misdiagnosis. Even with IBC in both breasts, her mammogram showed nothing, and there wasn't a lump. Since then, she has made it her mission to inform women and medical professionals about IBC. Thanks to her breast cancer journey, Krysti became an employee of YSC and facilitates our national SurvivorLink and MetsLink programs along with medical reporting and other special projects. Krysti received extensive training through the Research Advocate Mentor Program at IU Breast Cancer Center of Excellence and Project LEAD® Institute. She attends ASCO and SABCS as a patient advocate and does grant review for Komen National and the Department of Defense.
Dedicated to making connections with other survivors even outside of YSC, she is a founding member of the Indy SurviveOars Dragon Boat Team and an Indiana Casting for Recovery Team Member. She also serves as a speaker's bureau member for both YSC and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. She is co-founder of the Indianapolis Cancer Research Advocacy Community, and she personally helped improve research on breast cancer in young women by participating in five clinical trials. Krysti is blessed to have her husband Bill, who "wears pink,” and three wonderful daughters.
Jennifer Johnson, Kansas City Executive Director
Jennifer first became involved with Young Survival Coalition in 2002, when the Kansas City Affiliate was formed. Jennifer was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999 at the age of twenty-seven while five months pregnant with her first child. She subsequently underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy during the pregnancy, delivering a health boy the day following her last chemotherapy treatment. Proving that life does go on after a breast cancer diagnosis, she and her husband welcomed a daughter in April 2003. Jennifer is a co-author of the book, Nordie’s at Noon: The Personal Stories of Four Women “Too Young” For Breast Cancer and has travelled extensively as a speaker.
Jennifer is a graduate of Project LEAD®, enjoys lobbying for important breast cancer issues and is also is a trained YSC SurvivorLink volunteer. She has been honored nationally for her advocacy efforts as a Lifetime Television Breast Cancer Hero and a Yoplait Champion for the Cure. Jennifer spent most of her career in various marketing strategy and operations roles at a Fortune 100 wireless company and is thrilled to now focus on her passion full-time as the Executive Director for Young Survival Coalition Kansas City. Jennifer graduated from Baker University with bachelor of science degrees in business marketing and fashion merchandising. She lives in suburban Kansas City with her husband and two children.
Megan McCann, National Program Manager
Megan joined Young Survival Coalition in 2011 with a background in public health and nonprofit management. She brings a passion for women’s health to her work at YSC, as well as direct experience in educational programming, community outreach, strategic planning and health communications.
Megan graduated with a BA in Psychology from Emory University in 2002 and a Master’s of Public Health from The George Washington University in 2005, when she relocated to New York City. Here, Megan worked with the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center providing free primary care and family planning services to under-served youth and with a small health consulting firm, Rabin Martin Partners, where she helped to launch adolescent depression screening programs across the country.
Dana McCaw, Development Manager
Following a brief career as a professional ballet dancer and after earning her BA in art history from Hunter College, Dana McCaw began working for meaningful causes with positions in nonprofit administration and fundraising at several arts-related organizations. Dana has extensive experience planning and managing large-scale fundraising events, individual donor relations, as well as educational and community outreach. Dana is thrilled to have made the transition into the healthcare sector with an organization as worthwhile and inspiring as YSC. Dana lives in Manhattan with her husband, William Lane.
Kari Nesbitt, Atlanta Affiliate Assistant
After graduating from Auburn University in 2007, Kari began working for the YWCA Central Alabama in Birmingham. After two years with the YWCA, she moved to Atlanta to begin a new career. Kari is devoted to women’s issues and, after learning more about YSC, she was instantly drawn to YSC's mission and dedication to young women facing breast cancer. Kari and her husband live in Atlanta with their two dogs.
Jennifer Owens, Administrative Coordinator
After graduating from Boston University in 2004, Jennifer Owens worked for the Boston Foundation on its Boston Indicators Project. After three years, Jennifer moved to New York City to explore new opportunities. She subsequently worked in a variety of sectors but always wanted to get back into nonprofit work. She is happy to contribute as much as possible to YSC’s mission.
Jean Rowe, Atlanta Program Manager
Jean brings to YSC a long career as a licensed clinical social worker and a certified oncology social worker as well as a Master of Social Work from the University of Georgia. Previously, Jean was with the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University as an oncology social worker. During her five and a half years there, she provided counseling and support to patients surviving breast and other cancers; crafted, launched and facilitated support groups and an expressive, therapeutic writing support group called Just Write; and assisted in the organization and launch of Winship’s formal peer program for survivors and caregivers: Peer Partners.
Jean is the 2011 recipient of the Dennis Roth Neuro-Oncology Social Worker of the Year award and has presented at many conferences including the Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer. Jean is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Association of Oncology Social Workers, the Georgia Social Work Oncology Group and the International Association of Journal Writing. Jean is a Journal to the Self® certified instructor and is in training to become a Certified Journal Therapist through the Center for Journal Therapy. With these skills, Jean leads continuing education journal writing programs for mental health professionals and nursing professionals, addressing compassion fatigue and burnout, and journal writing workshops in the community.
Nirmala Singh, Program Coordinator
Nirmala has a background in the community health/public health arena within various nonprofit organizations in the Northeast. Her endeavors in this field started in Boston, MA, during her undergraduate studies at Northeastern University. She was actively involved in health policy initiatives for organizations such as Healthcare for All, and as a Legislative Assistant for a Massachusetts state representative within The Boston State House. Her passion continued when she returned to New York after college and pursued her career at other health-directed nonprofits, some of which included the New York Academy of Medicine, The New York State Health Foundation and Lenox Hill Neighborhood House. She subsequently decided it was time to pursue her Master’s in Public Health, with Community Health as her primary focus. In May 2011, Nirmala graduated with her Master of Science in Community Health. She has since continued to commit herself to the field, working on individual research initiatives with her former professors and local hospitals. She is passionately dedicated to her position at YSC and looks forward to continuing her professional and personal growth.
Nicole Taylor, Affiliate Manager, Seattle
Nicole Taylor came to YSC first as a constituent, then a volunteer and, as of January 2011, she now serves as the manager of the Seattle affiliate. When Nicole was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at the young age of 34, she felt so scared, alone and isolated that she vowed to turn that awful experience into something positive by helping other young women navigate their journey. She began her career as a teacher and then gained experience in volunteer management in the nonprofit setting at Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Nicole is more dedicated than ever to serving our constituents and making a direct impact in their lives while continuing to spread the word about YSC. One important lesson she’s learned through this experience was—life is what you make it—and she intends to make hers count!
Virginia Walters, Database Coordinator
From starting an environmental nonprofit to working with patients at a women’s health clinic, Virginia Walters’ five years of post-collegiate nonprofit experience has spanned almost every kind of nonprofit position. However, her specific role at YSC began taking shape much earlier than that: when she was just a wee child. As a young girl in Chester, Virginia, she reveled in problem solving games and puzzles, eventually becoming an active member of the Future Problem Solvers of America. At YSC, she applies these long-cultivated skills in an operations setting, processing the organization’s revenue while streamlining inefficiencies in technology use and ferreting out errors along the way. In an unofficial capacity, she also typically bakes cakes in celebrations of coworkers’ birthdays. Virginia hails from a long line of breast cancer survivors, and, as a BRCA-2 positive high risk woman, her commitment to YSC is written in her genes. She is currently studying to become a physician, and her great life hope is that she lives to see the Singularity.
Jennifer Whaley, Central Ohio Affiliate Manager
Jennifer brings over 17 years of management and leadership experience to YSC. She has a strong background in nonprofit administration having worked for The American Heart Association, The Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Jennifer applies her passion for helping others to her work at YSC, with the goal of making sure no young women in Central Ohio is left to face breast cancer alone.
Pam Whyte, Northern New Jersey Program Manager
Pam joined YSC Northern New Jersey in May 2010 as a Program Manager. She is working within the community to promote YSC’s Newly Diagnosed Resource Kit (NDRK) program helping to bring awareness of the resources available through YSC to health providers in New Jersey. Pam brings to the organization a background in program management, fundraising and meeting planning. In addition to her work with YSC NNJ, Pam is an active volunteer in her local community and lives in New Jersey with her husband and three children.
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