Breakthrough T1D Northern California Chapter is thrilled to welcome our 2025 Breakthrough T1D Walk, NorCal Corporate Chairs!
Breakthrough T1D Walk Corporate Chairs play a vital role in advancing the Walk. Partnering with Breakthrough T1D staff and volunteers, they help accelerate corporate and community support for our NorCal Walks. In their leadership roles, they connect colleagues and business associates to the Breakthrough T1D mission, rally Walk teams within their workplaces, and expand our reach by recruiting more participants and supporters for type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Introducing our 2025 Breakthrough T1D Walk, NorCal Corporate Chairs:
2025 Breakthrough T1D Walk, Silicon Valley Corporate Chairs: Kara Andersen Reiter & Romain Denis from Intuitive! Kara is Senior Vice President of Litigation, Privacy, and Employment Law and Romain is Vice President of Global Regulatory Affairs and Commercial RAQA & Board Member of Intuitive Foundation
Kara says, “Three years ago, my daughter Millie was diagnosed with T1D just after her 15th birthday. Since then, we’ve had to navigate the relentless demands of managing a disease that requires constant attention—every meal, every activity, every hour of every day. Watching your child shoulder that burden is heartbreaking, but it’s also what motivates me to work toward a future without T1D.”
Romain says, “T1D has impacted our family twice, with nearly 15 years between diagnoses. The beginning was hard and isolating, and it has now been part of our lives for 20 years. Through it all, our two children inspire us daily with their courage and dedication. They give us hope for every family impacted by T1D. With research funded by Breakthrough T1D bringing real cures closer, our family is committed to building momentum through corporate engagement and leadership.”
Join Kara and Romain at the Silicon Valley Walk on October 19 at PayPal Park in San Jose. Register here!
2025 Breakthrough T1D Walk, Sacramento Corporate Chairs: Dominic Porrino, Owner, Principal and Attorney at Porrino Law, P.C. and Greg Gehlmann, SVP/General Counsel at Tri Counties Bank
Dominic says, “Our daughter’s T1D diagnosis changed everything overnight—sleepless nights, countless injections, and the constant fight to keep her safe. We walk with Breakthrough T1D to turn fear into fuel and hope into action—because every step brings us closer to a cure.”
Greg says, “It is an honor to serve as Corporate Co-Chair, and I look forward to working with our great business community to support the Sacramento Walk. Let’s all pitch-in to help find a cure!”
Join Dominic and Greg at the Sacramento Walk on October 19 at William Land Park. Register here!
2025 Breakthrough T1D Walk, San Francisco Corporate Chair: Pete Somerville, Vice President, Private Equity at Pantheon Ventures
Pete says, “Ten years ago, like so many others, my life was upended by my T1D diagnosis. I was fortunate to find strength and support through Camp Joslin, the T1D community, and organizations like Breakthrough that are relentlessly pursuing a future without this disease through advocacy and research. For the millions of people worldwide living with T1D, Breakthrough T1D is bringing us closer to a cure, and I am proud to contribute to that mission through this role.”
Join Pete at the San Francisco Walk on November 2 at the San Francisco Zoo. Register here!
If you’re interested in learning more about how you and your company can get involved with the Breakthrough T1D Walk, please reach out to Qiana Wylie at qwylie@bt1d.org.