Northern California Chapter Leadership

Erin Durfee currently serves as President on the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter Community Board. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and attended UC Berkeley where she earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research. She began her career consulting for Accenture in the US, Europe, and Asia. She then returned to San Francisco and joined two early-stage Software-as-a-Service companies managing customer and partner success. At Salesforce she was a Customer Success leader and also developed an engaged global T1D employee community. She later took the role of VP Customer Success at Intellimize leading Success, Support, and Professional Services. Today, Erin is VP Product Success at SAP.

Erin was diagnosed with T1D in 2010 and became involved with Breakthrough T1D shortly thereafter. Erin lives in San Francisco and is an avid runner, cyclist, skier, equestrian, and world explorer.

Jason Skeoch currently serves as President on the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter Community Board. He previously served on the Breakthrough T1D Bay Area Chapter Board as Chair of Corporate Development and Chair of Finance. Jason became involved with Breakthrough T1D when he and several Chico State buddies formed Active Charity in 2005. They created the East Bay golf fundraiser Summer Classic to benefit Breakthrough T1D every year through 2021raising more than $4 million dollars. Fifteen years after Jason was introduced to Breakthrough T1D, his own son was diagnosed with T1D.

Jason was the Co-Founder and CEO of All Systems Broadband, a company that manufactures fiber optic solutions for broadband companies.  In 2018, after the sale of All Systems Broadband, Jason entered the Real Estate industry.  As a member of Arrive Real Estate Group, Jason puts his years of running a tech company into helping his clients with their Real Estate needs.

Dave Akers serves as a member on the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter Community Board. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in 2005 at the age of 27. He became involved with our organization to help propel research and improve lives of those affected by T1D. He is an active volunteer outreach partner and a dedicated participant in our NorCal Walk each year.

Dave is a seasoned healthcare representative dedicated to aiding patients and doctors with treatment solutions, particularly in diabetes management. He excels in driving value to doctors’ offices and navigating managed care, ACOs, and account selling. Currently, Dave is a Senior Territory Business Manager at MannKind Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company focusing on innovative therapeutic products and devices for people living with endocrine and orphan lung diseases. His previous roles include Territory Manager at Johnson & Johnson and Animas Insulin Pumps, and Senior Sales Representative at Sanofi. Dave holds a BA in Communications from the University of California, Davis. He lives in Monterey.

Dr. Marina Basina serves as a member on the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter Community Board. She is a Clinical Professor at Stanford University Medical Center, Division of Endocrinology, Gerontology, and Metabolism with a special clinical and research interest in type 1 diabetes, diabetes technology, and diabetes in pregnancy. She has a busy clinical practice at Stanford Hospital and Clinics seeing patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She serves as medical director of inpatient diabetes service at Stanford. Dr Basina received numerous teaching awards and a Stanford Hospital award for excellence in patient care, as well as a Master teacher award. She is an active member of medical advisory board for several community type 1 diabetes organizations, gives educational talks for patients on a regular basis, Data Science Committee chair of Type 1 Diabetes Exchange, and Breakthrough T1D Physician Council Chair.

Sara Diamond serves as a member on the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter Community Board. She also serves as Co-President of our NorCal Chapter Young Leadership Committee (YLC). She is involved with the NorCal Walk and co-leads the annual chapter YLC Walktoberfest that helps kick off the NorCal Walk each year. Sara was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) a month before her 2nd birthday and is passionate about making a difference in the lives of others affected by it, raising awareness and funds for a cure for T1D.

Sara is a Creative Producer specializing in immersive and realtime animation. Over the last decade, Sara has worked at the intersection of art and technology in Augmented and Virtual Reality production at Google and Nexus Studios, leading pioneering projects for clients including Adobe, Netflix, and Niantic. Sara is currently at Meta’s Reality Labs exploring emerging uses for Augmented and Mixed Reality. She has played key roles in industry events and initiatives, producing impactful summits and leading the Realtime Society Interactive Storytelling SIG. She holds a BFA in Fine/Studio Arts from Tufts University and a BFA in Photography from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. A longtime resident of San Francisco, she loves exploring and photographing the city.

Debra Dommen serves as a member on the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter Community Board. She and her husband Mark Dommen – an award-winning Bay Area chef – have been involved with Breakthrough T1D since their daughter Riley was diagnosed with T1D as a young girl in 2019. The whole family gets involved with the prestigious HALL Cabernet Cookoff in St. Helena and chooses Breakthrough T1D as their charity to benefit from prize winnings, including first place in 2023. Debra is a passionate Breakthrough T1D volunteer, serving on the Hope Gala committee and as a Breakthrough T1D Advocate. They regularly donate items to the NorCal chapter live auction events.

Debra is Vice President, Government and Industry Affairs for Treasury Wine Estates and was previously Executive Director at Winegrowers of Napa County. 

Kim Fisher currently serves as Chair of Research on the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter Community Board. She is also a volunteer clinical trial educator for Breakthrough T1D where she works to ensure patients and families have the opportunity to learn about important clinical trials for T1D. She became involved with Breakthrough T1D when her daughter Nina was diagnosed with T1D in 2019.

Professionally, Kim is the Director of Programs at the UC Davis Innovation Institute for Food and Health, working to connect food science research with industry to enable people to have healthier, happier, and longer lives. She also runs executive education programs in Product Management at UC Berkeley. Prior to this, she served as Executive Director of The Women’s Technology Cluster (WTC), a San Francisco business incubator, where she helped over 50 companies raise over $350 Million in Venture Capital and grow significant revenue. She also raised over $25 Million to build a 60- person company and one of the first “podcasting” businesses. Kim has a BS from Wharton and an MBA from UC Berkeley. As a leading female CEO, she has been featured in five books and has appeared on the cover of US News & World Report. In addition to the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Community board, Kim has also served on many Advisory Boards including the Haas School of Business and Nokia Innovent.

For fun, Kim does yoga, Sprint and Olympic distance triathlons, and enjoys multi-country bike rides with her husband John and with her daughters Nina and Lila.

Melissa Kruse (Goleb) serves as Chair of Community Engagement on the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter Community Board. Her family became involved with our organization shortly after she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at the age of five. She has been an active member of our NorCal Chapter Young Leadership Committee (YLC) as well as a volunteer and participant of our NorCal Walk. In addition, she is a member of the non-profit organization Diabetes Sports Project as an Elite Team athlete. She ran her first Boston Marathon in 2024 and has competed in ultramarathon races.

Melissa’s extensive experience spans across different industries and leadership roles. She is passionate about technologies and medical devices that make healthcare easier and allow people to live their healthiest lives. She is currently Director of Supply Chain at Mendaera. She has a diverse background in Operations and Engineering roles, working previously at Teladoc Health, Apple and Verizon Wireless.

Melissa holds a MBA in Strategy and Management of Organizations from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a degree in Bioengineering from Lehigh University. She lives in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland, CA.

Hale Johnston serves as a member on the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter Community Board. He was diagnosed with T1D as an adult in 1987. He is Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer at Berkley Enterprise Risk Solutions (a Berkley Company), a boutique provider of personalized insurance and risk management solutions for large employers.

Hale has over 30 years of leadership experience in the commercial insurance industry. He came to the Bay Area from Kansas City where he served that Chapter Board until 2000. Hale now lives in the East Bay.

Karen Jordan became involved with Breakthrough T1D when her daughter Ali was diagnosed with T1D in 2008. She is a member of the International Board of Directors and Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee. She serves on the T1D Fund Board and the Northern California Chapter Community Board. She is also a member of the Joint Steering Committee for the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Center of Excellence at Stanford and UCSF. She is the inaugural recipient of Breakthrough T1D’s John Brady Award for Innovation.

Karen serves on the Stanford Healthcare Board and is the recipient of the Stanford University Governors’ Award. She is also a board member of Stroke Onward. Her previous non-profit work includes service on various boards including, among others, Stanford Medicine Community Council and the Portola Valley School District.

Karen earned her B.A. in Economics-Business from UCLA, her MBA from the Stanford University GSB, and a certificate from Stanford’s Genomics and Genetics Program. She is a member of Forward Global and has worked as an investment banker and with the Mayor’s Office in Los Angeles.

Steve Park serves as Chair of Board Development on the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter Community Board. Steve is a Senior Vice President of TRI Commercial, a commercial real estate agency specializing in the sale and leasing properties. Steve has been involved with Breakthrough T1D since 2008. His wife Jennie has T1D, giving him a personal connection to Breakthrough T1D’s efforts to find a cure. For the past several years, Steve has been actively involved in Breakthrough T1D’s events including One Walk, Greg Vaughn Celebrity Golf Tournament, especially the One-Party Gala, where he served as the Chair three years in a row and currently co-hosts with his wife the annual Wine About Diabetes-Driving Fore A Cure Golf Tournament. Steve previously served on the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Inland Chapter Board, as past President and Chair of Nominating & Board Development. Previously as the Chapter’s Nominating Chair, Steve led the efforts on post re-org of the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Community Board consolidation process.

Patrick Peña serves as a member on the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter Community Board. He also serves as Co-President of our NorCal Chapter Young Leadership Committee (YLC). He is involved with the NorCal Walk and co-leads the annual chapter YLC Walktoberfest that helps kick off the NorCal Walk each year. Patrick was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at age 26 and is passionate about raising funds for research and building community for fellow T1Ds. 

Patrick is originally from Texas and holds a B.S. in Kinesiology and Sports Management from The University of Texas at Austin. He has spent the last 8 years at Meta in a product marketing role where he launched and scaled new products, managed cross-functional teams, and developed go-to-market strategies for Product Support. Patrick has also held roles as an infrastructure program manager and a vendor program manager at Facebook, supporting engineering and operations teams. With strong skills in operations, social networking, and CRM, Patrick excels in creating value for users and stakeholders. He has lived in San Francisco for the last 7 years and enjoys hiking, music and exploring all of what the Bay Area has to offer.

John Salter serves as a member on the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter Community Board. He also serves on the Breakthrough T1D Game2Give Advisory Council. John is a Co-Founder and Partner of Raine. John is responsible for Raine’s digital media and gaming practice. Prior to Raine, John was Global Head of Digital Media at UBS Investment Bank where he had worked for over eight years in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications Group in San Francisco. Prior to UBS, John worked in the Internet and New Media group at Volpe, Brown, Whelan & Co. in San Francisco.

While at Raine, John has worked on a variety of advisory assignments, including Epic Games’ $1.25B capital raise, the sale of Playtika (a unit of Caesars Interactive) to a consortium led by Shanghai Giant Network Technology, SoftBank’s sale of its majority stake in Supercell to Tencent, the sale of Double Down Interactive (a unit of International Game Technology) to an affiliate of DoubleU Games, Legendary Entertainment’s sale to Wanda and SoftBank’s investments in Legendary Entertainment and Supercell, among other transactions. John is on the board of directors of DraftKings, Zumba Fitness, Huuuge, and Beachbody, all Raine portfolio companies.

Larry Schlenoff serves as a member of the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter Community Board. He has served on the boards of multiple for profit and nonprofit organizations. Larry, whose daughter lives with T1D, has been involved with Breakthrough T1D for many years. Prior to his current service on our Chapter Board, Larry was a Board Member and Donor Relations Officer with the then Greater Bay Area Chapter of JDRF. Larry was also a Donor Relations Officer for the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the CEO of the NPJC in Foster City, the COO of Semio Corporation, the CFO of Zitel Corporation, and held various executive (and non-executive) positions at IBM. Larry holds a BA in Mathematics from The Johns Hopkins University and an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School.

In addition to his work with Breakthrough T1D, Larry is the Founder & Treasurer of Teach with Africa, a nonprofit organization empowering students and teachers in an exchange of teaching and learning in Africa and the U.S.

Chris Tapio currently serves as Chair of Advocacy on the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter Community Board and as an Advocacy Team Chair for the Chapter. He previously served as member of the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Inland Chapter Board. Chris became involved with Breakthrough T1D when his son was diagnosed with T1D in 2017. With a background in legislation, strategy, and public affairs he quickly became a District Champion for Breakthrough T1D’s Advocacy efforts. He is currently President of I Street Public Affairs in Sacramento and formerly worked in the California State Assembly. As an Advocacy Team Chair, Chris helps secure T1D research funded by the Federal government and builds grassroots support for health and regularity policies that benefit the T1D community.

Hans ten Cate currently serves as a member on the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter Community Board, having previously served as President. He was the Chief Operating Officer of and is now advisor to Tilt Five, an augmented reality technology company that aims to bring holographic experiences into homes. Hans has been an executive in the video game industry for over 20 years, serving in multiple creative and business roles at Electronic Arts and Sony PlayStation. His daughter, Tabitha, was diagnosed with T1D at age 8. He quickly became involved with Breakthrough T1D and helped initiate the launch of Breakthrough T1D Play in 2019. His goal as Chair of Breakthrough T1D’s Play Advisory Council is to connect gamers, gamer makers, and entertainment to work toward a cure for T1D.

Jenny Williams serves as Chair of Development on the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Community Board. She previously served as Chair of Leadership Giving and Chair of Breakthrough T1D Walk and has been involved with the Chapter’s Tee to Table and Hope Gala events. Her family attended their first Walk in 2007, after their daughter was diagnosed at age 7. On a local  level, Jenny served on the Silicon Valley Branch Board, and participated in various roles such as outreach and research volunteer.

Community service is a priority for Jenny. She was a member of Stanford Hospital’s Ethics Committee for several years, and served on the PTA Board and held other leadership positions within her community of Los Altos.

Jenny has held principal roles in the finance industry, lastly as Director of Finance at B Braun, Inc., until 1998 focused on the pharmaceutical and medical device industry.

Dan Wright serves as a member on the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter Community Board. He is CEO of DataRobot, where he sets the strategic direction and manages the company’s fast-growing business operations around the world. DataRobot is the leader in enterprise AI, with the vision of enabling all organizations to use AI to solve their hardest challenges. Prior to joining DataRobot, Dan served as Chief Operating Officer at AppDynamics, the leader in application performance management (APM). In 2018, he was the Corporate Chair of the San Francisco Breakthrough T1D One Walk.

Dr. Dessi  Zaharieva serves as a member on the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter Community Board. She lives with T1D and is an Instructor at Stanford, working with Dr. David Maahs. She completed her PhD at York University in Toronto, Canada. Her PhD research was focused on strategies to reduce hypoglycemia around exercise in adults with T1D. She holds many honors and awards, including: ISPAD-Breakthrough T1D Research Fellowship, International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) (Dec 2020), and Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, CIHR (2015-2018).

Kellee Hearn is the Executive Director of the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter. She joined the chapter as Development Director, Community, in 2015, and served as Associate Executive Director from 2019 through 2021. Her nonprofit career began at Breakthrough T1D (then JDRF) in 1998 as a Walk Coordinator for the East Bay Walk and Inaugural Monterey Walk. Initially, she was introduced to Breakthrough T1D as a participant of a corporate Walk team. “The organization resonated with me as my mom was diagnosed with T1D when I was a child,” she says. In 2001, she became the Branch Manager for Breakthrough T1D’s Silicon Valley office. What inspired her to come back to Breakthrough T1D? “The passionate and collaborative Breakthrough T1D community, whether it be volunteers or staff,” she says.

While Kellee was away from Breakthrough T1D, she worked with various nonprofits in roles of development, communications and program expansion. Most recently, she was the Development and Communications Director at Girls Inc. of the Island City, successfully increasing both outreach and visibility in the community, as well as income for the organization through various fundraising strategies. She was lead staff on several committees and was heavily involved in volunteer engagement and board development. Previous to that, she was Development Director at the Northern California National MS Society, leading the development team with a focus on staff development and an emphasis on peer to peer fundraising. Kellee holds a B.S. in Business Administration from San Francisco State University.

Frank Bitonte joined the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter in 2009 after a friend introduced him to the organization. He was very impressed with the commitment of the staff, volunteers and donors, and so the decision to accept the position of Development Director overseeing social events was easy. Before joining Breakthrough T1D, Frank’s career was spent designing jewelry and tabletop accessories, which have been featured in retail stores, galleries, and museum stores around the country. He also volunteered extensively for The Community Health Project, now Called Lorde Community Health Center, in New York, which sparked his interest in non-profit work. He has a B.F.A. in Jewelry Design from SUNY, New Paltz, and an M.F.A in Painting from Bard College.

Frank is inspired by his friends who have T1D, one of whom has been living with the disease for 37 years. “I also thoroughly enjoy working with the volunteers who are very active within the chapter. I tend to be very goal oriented so raising as much money for research as possible is the bottom line,” he says.

As an artist, Frank finds himself immersed in creative projects during his free time. He tries to get to the studio as often as possible and is always searching for the perfect design piece at local flea markets.

Maria Burns, CFRE, joined the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter in 2025 as a Development Manager for our Peer-to-Peer programs, focusing on the Breakthrough T1D Walk in Silicon Valley, awareness/sports events, and corporate development support. Maria brings extensive experience in strategic planning, fundraising, and communications. She has led development initiatives at organizations such as Friends of HMB Parks and Recreation, Peninsula Jewish Community Center, and Stanford University Medical Center, and San Diego State University, driving donor engagement and community partnerships. As the founder of ImpactFlicks, she has also used media to support nonprofit storytelling. Maria holds a B.S.S. in Communication Studies from Emerson College.

Maria says, “I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in my 30s, and my mother also had T1D for 45 years. I’m inspired to make a difference each day in my work with the Breakthrough T1D NorCal Chapter.”

Outside of work, Maria serves on two boards in Half Moon Bay where she lives – Friends of Half Moon Bay Parks and Recreation and the Sea Crest School Board of Trustees. She also enjoys spending time by the ocean with her husband, three boys, dog Lila, and two kittens, Queenie and Kingsley.

Kelly Hautau is a Sr. Development Manager, overseeing the Tee to Table event for the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter. Kelly has worked for Breakthrough T1D on and off for over 10 years. She was the Development Director for Pixar, Summer Classic, and Spring Fling before it became Tee to Table, as well as the Breakthrough T1D Walk program. Kelly has a wealth of knowledge and experience with the organization and our supporters. She holds a B.A. from University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication.

“To be a part of an organization that is changing the lives of those living with T1D is truly inspiring. I am motivated daily by the Breakthrough T1D community and all that is accomplished by the dedicated volunteers, staff, researchers and beyond.”

Kelly, a mother of 3, enjoys spending her free time with her family. When she’s not on the sidelines of her children’s sporting events, Kelly enjoys hiking, travelling, and catching up with friends.

Shelly Jensen has been working with the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter for more than ten years, first as a volunteer and now as Sr. Development Manager, Marketing & Communications and Advocacy. She has over twenty-five years of experience in marketing and communications. Over the course of her career she has directed marketing efforts and led teams for high profile architecture and design firms, art dealers and galleries. She graduated from the University of Dayton with a B.A. in Philosophy and then from Kent State University with an M.A. in Art History.

“I have T1D and so it has felt very empowering to work with this great organization,” says Shelly. “I know that Breakthrough T1D will lead us to cures.”

Shelly has two children and is very active with their schools. She is a member of the choral group, Singers Marin, and enjoys family beach outings, hikes and picnics on the weekends.

Seth Lowe joined the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter in 2025 as a Sr. Development Manager for our Peer-to-Peer programs. With over eight years of experience in peer-to-peer fundraising, donor engagement, and team leadership, Seth brings a wealth of expertise to his role. Previously, he served as a Community Engagement and Development Manager at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, focusing on peer-to-peer fundraising and community engagement, particularly for the AIDS/LifeCycle events. Before that, he worked as a Project Coordinator at Green Environment Management.

Seth holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and an A.A. in Journalism from West Virginia University.

Outside of work, Seth enjoys exploring his city, traveling, pottery, and staying active at the gym. He is inspired by Teddy Roosevelt’s words: “Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is a chance to work hard at work worth doing.”

Kimberly Meininger joined the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter as a Development Manager, Mid-Level Gifts, in 2022. Kim comes to us with extensive experience in nonprofit fund development, project management and volunteer management. Most recently, Kim served as Marketing, Communications, and Fund Development Associate at Parisi House on the Hill in San Jose. Before that, she was a Fund Development Associate at Chamberlain’s Children Center, Inc. and Resource Development Assistant at Asian Americans for Community Involvement. Kim holds a B.A. in English and Comparative Literature with a Minor in Child Development from San Jose State University.

Kim has been involved in database management, donation processing, tracking, reporting, managing campaigns and appeals, planning events, and all manners of donor and entire audience communication and grants management. She says, “I am excited about working more directly with donors and our T1D community. Getting to meet other parents during my time here has been especially rewarding.”

Kim’s son Derek was diagnosed with T1D in 2018. She says, “Never in my wildest dreams did I anticipate working for a nonprofit whose mission has so personally impacted my own family. As part of the Breakthrough T1D team, I am blown away to learn that Breakthrough T1D has played a role in every advancement that made the treatments my son uses to manage his diabetes possible. Breakthrough T1D won’t stop until a cure is found, and I am thrilled that I get to contribute to a cause so closely aligned with the passion in my heart.”

Outside of work Kim enjoys spending time with her family in Morgan Hill. She is a Rotarian in the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill and is involved in her kids’ school and sports activities. “I am also a total beach bum, love trying new foods, and traveling, hiking, or otherwise adventuring,” she says.

Paola Reynoso joined the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter as a Development Assistant in 2023. Previously, she served as Chair of Outreach on the Chapter Community Board. She has been involved with Breakthrough T1D since her son Damian was diagnosed with T1D at the age of three in 2016.  Her family participates in the Breakthrough T1D Walk each year as “ANT1DOTE Team Damian” and Damian has served as Fund A Cure speaker for our 2021 Summer Classic and 2022 Tee to Table events. Damian was also a 2023 Children’s Congress Delegate.

Paola is a passionate and tireless volunteer and has partnered with Breakthrough T1D National to develop a new Spanish Bag of Hope and additional Spanish resources. She also hosts our monthly Spanish E-meet & Greet Zoom gatherings. Paola has also published a children’s book about living with T1D in both English and Spanish. Paola continues to work on expanding the community and is passionate about bringing more awareness and resources to our surrounding communities locally and internationally.

Anna Van Noort joined the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter as a Development Coordinator in 2024. In this role, she supports the Executive Director and Associate Executive Director in Chapter operations, board and donor engagement, and our Young Leadership Committee.

Anna has extensive experience in philanthropic services. Prior to joining Breakthrough T1D , Anna was a Senior Donor Services Associate, Grants at Silicon Valley Community Foundation, as well as a Student Outreach & Recruitment – Office Assistant and Recruitment Ambassador at San Jose State University. She holds a BA in International/Global Studies from San Jose State University.

Stephanie Vidulich is the Associate Executive Director of the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter. She joined the staff in 2014 as a Development Coordinator and has held the roles of Outreach Manager as well as Sr. Director of Operations. She brings with her a spirit of collaboration and proactivity. Prior to working for Breakthrough T1D, Stephanie was a physical therapy aide at ValleyCare Health System in Pleasanton, CA. She graduated from University of Arizona with a Bachelors of Science in microbiology and chemistry.

Stephanie has been living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) since she was eight years old. Her endocrinologist suggested she connect with Breakthrough T1D. “From the moment I attended my first Walk I was hooked!” she says. As a result, Stephanie has been attending events and fundraising for Breakthrough T1D for over 24 years. “As I grew up, I became a Youth Ambassador as well as a volunteer. I feel so honored to be part of the Breakthrough T1D staff now. I have found my perfect career, where I am making a difference in the lives of many who go through the daily struggles of T1D and working toward a day when we can say there is a cure,” she says.

Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her family. She also likes to do home improvement projects, travel, and experience new cuisines.

Fiona Weaver joined the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter in 2025 as a Development Manager for our Peer-to-Peer programs, with a primary focus on the Breakthrough T1D Walk in Sacramento. Prior to this role, she served as a Development Coordinator with the Pacific Northwest Chapter, where she led fundraising efforts for the Walk, Community Summit, and Spring Gala. Fiona also gained technical experience at the fundraising software company Greater Giving, where she worked as a Client Services Representative. She contributes a strong background in nonprofit fundraising, donor stewardship, volunteer engagement, and event planning to the team. Fiona holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from University of California, Santa Cruz.

Fiona says, “Through the community I’ve met via Breakthrough T1D, I’ve come to understand the daily challenges faced by those living with T1D, and I’m truly honored to be part of the mission to cure type 1 diabetes.”

Outside of work, Fiona enjoys discovering new coffee shops in the city, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Marcus Wonacott is a Development Manager overseeing the San Francisco Hope Gala at the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter. In this role, Marcus partners with volunteer leadership, donors, committee members, and constituents in fundraising efforts for this flagship event.

Marcus has been involved with Breakthrough T1D for the past 13+ years. From 2011 to 2015, he served as a Development Manager, delivering strategic communication solutions across multiple platforms for the Chapter. He then worked as Assistant Manager at the Central Office of the San Francisco and Marin Intergroup (AA). During this time, Marcus continued to collaborate with Breakthrough T1D on special projects, including graphic design, screen and signage presentations, event tech production as well as overseeing volunteer management for chapter Special Events.

Marcus says, “I am so grateful to be back home with Breakthrough T1D. The foundation of my career path is “being of service.” I am keenly aware of the challenges that type 1 diabetes (T1D) brings to one’s life, and I deeply care about contributing to raising awareness, engagement, and funds for research and development, as well as providing practical care for those facing the disease on a daily basis.”

Outside of work, Marcus is committed to supporting others through 12-step programs. He says, “Supporting those in need warms my heart and soul.” He is a dedicated practitioner of daily meditation.

Qiana Wylie joined the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter in 2020, shortly after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) as an adult. She is currently a Development Director focusing on the chapter’s corporate development and institutional giving efforts. Prior to this role, she led the strategy for the chapter’s Peer-to-Peer fundraising programs including the Breakthrough T1D Walk, the Breakthrough T1D Northern California Ride Team, Team Breakthrough T1D challenge events, Breakthrough T1D Your Way third party fundraisers, and the Breakthrough T1D NorCal Young Leadership Committee (YLC). Qiana has many years of experience in nonprofit, community outreach, and fundraising. Before Breakthrough T1D, she was the Institutional Giving Manager at The Marine Mammal Center, working with corporations and foundations and stewarding strong partnerships that supported the organization. Prior, she was the Corporate & Community Engagement Specialist at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. Qiana holds a B.A. in Sociology – Comparative Studies and World Development from the University of California, Davis.

Qiana says, “I feel incredibly honored to grow my career at Breakthrough T1D and use my experience to help create a world without type 1 diabetes. I’m thrilled to be part of a team that continues the great legacy of Breakthrough T1D programs while expanding their impact across Northern California.”

Qiana was diagnosed with T1D in July 2019 and knew very little about the disease at the time. She says, “When I got the call from my doctor, I thought this diagnosis meant that I would be limited and unable to do many of the things I enjoy – camping, traveling, snowboarding, eating pizza – all of which I’ve done since!” Seeking community and support, she reached out to Breakthrough T1D, learned about the organization’s important work, joined the Young Leadership Committee, and participated in the 2019 San Francisco Walk. She says, “Within a few weeks, I knew that I wanted to be more involved.”

Outside of work, Qiana enjoys exploring San Francisco by foot, visiting national parks, hiking to a good view, finding the best gluten-free food around (she also has Celiac!), and spending quality time with friends and family.