Staff

Sherri Lozano, MPA Executive Director

Sherri Lozano, MPA

Executive Director

Sherri joined Breakthrough T1D in 2011 as the Associate Executive Director and moved into the Executive Director role in April of 2016.  She has more than 20 years’ experience in fundraising and nonprofit management.  She holds a B.S in Business Administration – Marketing & Finance and an M.P. A. – Nonprofit Management from UMKC Bloch School.  She is a lifelong Kansas City area resident.

Tracy Brees Market Director

Tracy Brees

Market Director

Tracy joined the Breakthrough T1D Kansas & Missouri team in 2024 where she leads the St. Louis market. Tracy is passionate about the mission as her daughter, Nicole, was diagnosed with T1D in 1998. She is incredibly excited to see all the advancements in that time and to be a part of ongoing breakthroughs.  Tracy has spent over 10 years in fundraising and many years prior in the financial industry. She is married to her husband, Bob, and has three amazing daughters and their families.

Chris Reilly Community Engagement Manager

Chris Reilly

Community Engagement Manager

Christina began volunteering and fundraising with Breakthrough T1D shortly after her 4 year old daughter’s diagnosis in 2003.  She “officially” joined the staff team in 2006.  While the title has changed several times, all 15 years she has served the chapter as an Outreach/Community Engagement Manager.  A major component of this role is working closely with newly diagnosed families, teens and adults to make sure they receive education and support throughout their life stages with T1D.  Christina was also diagnosed with T1D at the age of 45 and now has a new diabetes perspective in addition to mom and Breakthrough T1D employee.

Marlo Martin Community Engagement Manager

Marlo Martin

Community Engagement Manager

Marlo joined Breakthrough T1D in 2015.  She volunteered for years before that when her youngest daughter Kara was diagnosed with T1D in 2011 at the age of 9.  She loves to meet and support newly diagnosed and experienced families with everything Breakthrough T1D has to offer.  She also loves learning about all of the latest T1D technology and research.  Marlo attended the University of Kansas and earned her B.S. degree in Biology.  She and her husband Trevor live in Shawnee and both of their daughters attend KU.

Becky Smith Development Manager

Becky Smith

Development Manager

Becky’s involvement with Breakthrough T1D began soon after her son Hunter was diagnosed with T1D in 2014 at the age of 8.  As a volunteer she has been active in supporting One Walk, Dream Gala and various events and community advocacy, often helping families navigate sports with T1D.  Becky has a background in product development, B2B and B2C marketing and joined the staff in May 2022 with a focus on corporate development. Becky attended the Ohio State University and earned her B.S. in Retail Operations and Marketing.  She, her husband Andy, son Hunter and crazy snoring dog Shell-belle live in Kansas City, MO and her son attends Rockhurst High School.

Rachael Wernsman Development Manager - Peer to Peer

Rachael Wernsman

Development Manager - Peer to Peer

Rachael joined the Breakthrough T1D Kansas and Missouri chapter in 2022 as a Development Manager. Before her role at the chapter, she worked on the Breakthrough T1D National Fundraising Programs team for 2 years, providing support to chapter teams around the country. Although Rachael does not have a direct type 1 diabetes connection, she fell in love with Breakthrough T1D’s mission and has met some of the most courageous T1D champions during her time at the organization. Rachael grew up and attended college in Central Illinois, but now resides in St. Louis, MO.

Madison Mueller Development Manager

Madison Mueller

Development Manager

Madison joined the Breakthrough T1D Kansas and Missouri Chapter in 2021 as a Development Coordinator. She feels very connected to Breakthrough T1D’s mission as her younger sister, Morgan, was diagnosed with T1D in 2012 when she was 8 years old. Madison attended the University of Alabama where she earned her B.S. Degree in Finance and led volunteer fundraising programs for non-profit research organizations. She is originally from the Chicagoland area, but now resides in Kansas City, MO.

Carlie Hurtt Development Assistant

Carlie Hurtt

Development Assistant

Since her Type 1 Diagnosis at 14 years old, Carlie has supported Breakthrough T1D as an advocate and volunteer within the Wichita, KS community. After joining the Breakthrough T1D staff as a Development Assistant in 2023, Carlie relocated to Kansas City with her husband and cats. She is currently pursuing a B.S. degree in Integrated Marketing Communications at Wichita State University and plans to graduate from The University of Kansas.

Ale Vargas Development Coordinator

Ale Vargas

Development Coordinator

Ale (pronounced Ah-le) joined the Breakthrough T1D Kansas & Missouri team in 2024 as a Development Coordinator. She attended the University of Missouri where she earned her B.A. in Political Science. Her Type 1 connections are her mother and her grandmother. Ale currently resides in St. Louis, MO with her fiance, Derek, and their three cats, Oliver, Willow & Winnie.

Kansas City Community Board of Directors

Becky Wiseman Board President, FY 25-26

Becky Wiseman

Board President, FY 25-26

Board President, Kansas City Board of Directors

Kathy Young-Adams

Cathy Baier

Global Mission Board Member
Matt Benge
Kristin Carlson
Blake Cooper, M.D.

Melissa Cooper

Advocacy Team Chair
Leanne DeShong
Richard Dinkel

Brandee Faille

Clinical Trials Education Volunteer

Amy Fauss

Immediate Past President
Lance Gorsuch
Caleb Herbst
Angela Hoffman
Joseph Hyde
Hunter Johnson
Doug Krtek
Rachel Lupardus
Anthony Matthies
Erin Merrill
Erin Murphy
Sarah Osborne
Jaclyn Penn
Kelsey Walsh Perry
Stacie Prosser
R. Brooks Sherman Jr.
Grace Silverio
Greg Swetnam
Danny Weiss

St. Louis Community Board of Directors

Andrew Serkes

Board President, FY 25-26

Joe Boron

Honorary Member

Mark Cagwin

Clinical Trials Education Volunteer
Danielle Chi

Jacob Childerson

Nominations & Board Development Chair
Matthew Copeland
Jenny Crosby Wiemann
Robin Diedrich
Brooke Eggleston
Jeff Giles
Tyler Glynn
Tom Jung
Joel Lander
Scott Meyer
Jason Miles
Nick Piazza

Elizabeth Quante

Advocacy Team Chair
Dan Reynolds
Julie Wisbrock

Kansas City Community Board of Chancellors

Lisa Auer
Mark Clements, M.D., Ph.D.
Becky Bergman DeNight
Reed Garrett
Brett Gordon
Jim Hipps
Michele Kilo, M.D.
Judy Krtek
John Martin
John Moffitt
Dean Newton
Bret Pilney, Sr.
Kevin Pistilli
Sandy Russo
Keith Tate
Brent Vander Ark
Julie Wellner