Southern California Chapter Leadership

Lauren Christ joined Breakthrough T1D in May of 2018. As Senior Development Manager, Lauren will oversee the Breakthrough T1D Fore the Kids Classic and Corporate Sponsorships for the OC One Walk. Lauren has many years of experience working in the non-profit community in Orange County under her belt, and is truly excited to be part of the Breakthrough T1D team.

Catrina Cooper joined Breakthrough T1D in October 2021 as a Senior Development Coordinator of the Southern California Chapter. She has a strong background in sales, marketing and development in Non-Profit Outreach, Division I Intercollegiate Athletics and Residential Sales. Her motivation for turning Type One into Type None is her niece, Madeira, who was diagnosed at the age of 6. Through her niece’s brave journey, she was introduced to the phenomenal T1 community in San Diego and the inspiring efforts of Breakthrough T1D. Catrina is passionate about helping the T1D community and the Breakthrough T1D mission to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. Along with her husband, Wes, a retired Naval Aviator, they are proud parents of daughters Anissa and Caley. She has her MA from CSU Long Beach and a BS from CSU San Bernardino, where she played collegiate softball.

Elisabeth Fleshler has been working at Breakthrough T1D since 2014.  She started as a volunteer and Walk team captain after her son Isaac was diagnosed with T1D at 18 months.  His sister Ava was diagnosed 2 years later at the age of 5.   Elisabeth joined the Breakthrough T1D LA ride team in 2019 and continues to train and ride.  Elisabeth has a BA from NYU and an MA from the University of Texas at Austin and has been working in non-profit administration for over 18 years.

Jane Gagne joined Breakthrough T1D Southern CA in August 2014 after relocating from New York City.  Her motivation and inspiration is her husband Dave, who has successfully been living with T1D for over 40 years.  She has a B.S. from Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island.  Jane lives in Oceanside with Dave and their 2 sons.

Jen Haber joined Breakthrough T1D Southern California in July 2023. She will be working on the San Diego Gala and supporting other Chapter events in her role as Development Manager. Jen has 25 years of nonprofit fundraising experience and is passionate about raising awareness and funds for important causes. She has friends with T1D and has glimpsed how challenging it is to live 24/7, 365 days a year managing the disease. She is eager to get to know the San Diego Breakthrough T1D community and work together on our shared mission to improve lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications.

Jen has lived in San Diego since 2001, having moved here from her hometown in the Washington, DC area. She lives in Encinitas with her husband Dave and their 10 year old son Charlie. Jen has a B.A. in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia. She began her fundraising and event career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Poland in the late 1990’s.

Alex Hines joined Breakthrough T1D Southern California in August 2022 as a Development Manager for Signature Events. She has a B.A. in Business Administration with concentrations in both Marketing and Entertainment & Tourism Management from California State University, Fullerton. Alex has a background in nonprofit event planning, as well as business and relationship management, and is honored to utilize her experiences while working alongside the driven SoCal team. Although she does not have any personal connection to type 1 diabetes, she has become passionate about accelerating Breakthrough T1D’s mission to improve lives and, eventually find a cure. Alex lives in Fullerton with her husband and Mini Australian Shepherd.

Tarah Kennedy joined Breakthrough T1D in February 2025 as the Development Manager for Signature Events in Los Angeles. With over 20 years of experience in commercial production and 7 years in fundraising, volunteer management, and event coordination, Tarah is dedicated to advancing Breakthrough T1D’s fundraising goals while fostering meaningful community connections. Her passion for supporting Breakthrough T1D’s mission is deeply personal, as her brother-in-law was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes later in life. This connection drives her commitment to improving the lives of those living with T1D.

A Los Angeles resident for over 20 years, Tarah is originally from Florida, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from the University of South Florida. She then relocated to New York to launch her production career, where she met her husband. Together, they have since built a life in Pasadena with their two young boys.

Marcela Pallete joined Breakthrough T1D in January 2020 as a Development Coordinator after previously working in TV commercial production. She was a member of the Young Leadership Committee as a volunteer and participated in the One Walk prior to working at Breakthrough T1D. She is excited to continue to support the YLC and Youth Ambassadors. She was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2004 at the age of 12. She has found an awesome community through Breakthrough T1D and is excited to continue to meet and work with new families. She is a graduate of Gettysburg College, where she earned a B.A. in Psychology and played collegiate volleyball.

Sue Pietrzak is the Development Director of the Southern California Chapter. In this role, Sue works closely with the staff and Breakthrough T1D’s network of amazing volunteers. Sue has been with Breakthrough T1D since 2013 and her love and passion have been the Breakthrough T1D One Walk.

Sue has a strong background in Sales and Marketing as a Regional Manager and began her career in the non-profit world with the American Cancer Society. An opportunity came to her with Breakthrough T1D and she has never looked back.

Judy Parra is a Senior Development Manager at the Breakthrough T1D Southern California Chapter. In this role, Judy works with the Peer to Peer team on Walk, Ride, and Run events and leads the Spanish Community in their T1D journey.

Judy has a very strong knowledge base and understanding of Breakthrough T1D’s mission, goals, systems, our T1D community. Before assisting our chapter as a temp, Judy was the Office Manager for the Breakthrough T1D LA Chapter for over five years. Community building and development come naturally to Judy; she brings new skills to the role that help increase engagement with our Peer to Peer programs and achieve our Chapter’s goals.

Judy says, “I love meeting new people and helping them along their Breakthrough T1D journey, whether it’s connecting them with another T1D family, introducing them to a new program or helping them reach their fundraising goal. At the end of the day we all have the same goal and that’s to create a world without T1D.”

Outside of work Judy likes to craft, travel and spend time with her family, especially her five nieces and nephew.

Michelle Popoff is Executive Director of the Breakthrough T1D Southern California Chapter.  In this role, Michelle works closely with our staff, Board of Directors, our strong volunteer base, and our type 1 diabetes (T1D) community. Michelle has been with Breakthrough T1D since 2005, when she was brought on board in Orange County to start the chapter’s outreach program.  Since then, the program has grown extensively and provides many resources, events and connections for the T1D community, including the Bag of Hope, annual Community Summit, T1D Care Kit, Research Updates, Youth Ambassador program and more.  Michelle has served a variety of roles within the organization, including Outreach Manager, Senior Development Manager, Outreach Captain for Breakthrough T1D’s West Region, Executive Director of the Orange County chapter and her current role as Executive Director of the Southern California chapter.

Michelle was diagnosed with T1D at the age of 11 and is passionate about helping the T1D community and the Breakthrough T1D mission to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications.  She is the proud mom of her son, Jake, who was her inspiration to get involved with Breakthrough T1D when he was born.  Michelle graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Communications and is a die-hard Bruin!

Akane joined the Southern California Chapter of Breakthrough T1D in November of 2022 as a Development Assistant. She has her B.A. in Communications, Public Relations from California State University, Fullerton with a background and focus in social media management.

Akane was introduced to Breakthrough T1D at the age of 5, during her stay in the ICU when she was newly diagnosed with T1D in 2005. Having had T1D for nearly her whole life, she is driven to help find the cure. She is very passionate about her sense of community and working for Breakthrough T1D has only strengthened her commitment to aiding others.

Chelsee Schipper joined Breakthrough T1D in September 2023 as a Senior Development Coordinator for the Southern California Chapter. Chelsee originated from Murrieta, CA and moved to San Diego, CA after playing Division 1 soccer for University California Riverside and graduating with her bachelor’s degree in Sociology. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 18 and is motivated more than ever to help find a cure for T1D.

Rachel Spidell joined Breakthrough T1D in August 2022 as a Senior Development Coordinator for the Southern California Chapter. She supports many of the Peer 2 Peer fundraising events (Walk & Ride) and works closely with volunteers in the Los Angeles area. She has held various roles in different non-profits throughout her career and loves being part of the Breakthrough T1D SoCal team. Rachel holds a Masters in Music from California State University Long Beach, and a Bachelors in Music from The University of Arizona. She is originally from Colorado but made the move to Southern California in 2013 and currently resides in Los Angeles.

John, along with his wife, Barbara, and children, Matt and Tommy, have been involved with Breakthrough T1D since Tommy was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2006. John also has diabetes on his father’s side of the family, and his mother and several of his siters were type 1 diabetic.

John has been practicing law for more than 20 years in Orange County and is currently a financial services partner at Stoner Fox Law Group, LLP. He has participated in numerous fundraising campaigns for the Boy Scouts, including raising money for the Sea Base and for the Outdoor Education Center.

John has a bachelor of Business Administration/Marketing (cum laude), University of Texas at Arlington, and a J.D. degree from Southern Methodist University.

Dr. David Ahn is an Endocrinologist and Program Director of the Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. He trained at UC San Diego and previously worked as an Assistant Clinical Professor at UCLA. Dr. Ahn’s primary clinical interest is health technology, especially relating to Type 1 Diabetes. Until there’s a cure, his mission is to empower patients to live their fullest life while minimizing the mental, financial, and emotional burden of this chronic condition. He is a proud father to a 2 year old (Matthew), and is an avid LA sports fan (especially the LA Kings).

Preston is deeply committed to making a difference in the fight against diabetes. With a passion for community service and a personal connection to the cause, Preston looks forward to being a part of the effort to find a cure for T1D. As a Financial Advisor for the past 26 years, Preston recently opened his own practice under Watermark Wealth Strategies LLC, in Irvine, CA. Preston works with individuals, families, and business owners. His areas of focus are wealth accumulation, asset protection, and retirement planning. Preston has the privilege of joining individuals and families on their road to financial independence by way of all-encompassing, tailored strategies.

Preston and his wife, Wendy, moved to Orange County in 2011 and have developed numerous friendships in the Southern California Region. Most notably, during the past 12 years, Preston and his family have become close friends of the famed Breakthrough T1D Wine Guys and their families. Preston looks forward to the day that diabetes is a distant memory for all.

With a distinguished 35-year career at Toyota Motor North America, Rose possess versatile skills in leadership, organizational change management, project management, and supply chain logistics. Her academic credentials include a Master of Business Administration from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Missouri – Columbia.

Beyond her career, she has actively supported Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation since 2011, serving as a Board Member for the Dallas Chapter  and the Orange County Chapter. During her tenure, she has made substantial contributions in finance, nominating, advocacy, outreach, and so much more, demonstrating her unwavering dedication to the pursuit of a cure for type 1 diabetes.

David Brownstein is an audit partner at Haskell & White LLP with over 15 years of experience in public accounting. He specializes in guiding public, private, and nonprofit organizations across Southern California through complex financial reporting and audit challenges.

Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 16, David is deeply committed to supporting research and advocacy efforts aimed at improving the lives of those living with T1D.

He lives in Mission Viejo with his amazing wife, Lindsay, his Diabetic Alert Dog, Noodle, and their two other non-working pups. Together, they enjoy spending time outdoors, barbecuing, and staying active.

Tracy Buchholz is a passionate supporter of Breakthrough T1D’s mission to find a cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D). She is an active member of the Breakthrough T1D Southern California chapter, serving on the Orange County Dream Guild Board of Directors and participating in various fundraising event committees.

Touched by the courage of those that struggle with this disease and the families that support them, Tracy is inspired by the organization’s commitment to finding a cure and supporting those living with the disease. She is impressed by the effectiveness of Breakthrough T1D in achieving its mission. Tracy’s commitment to Breakthrough T1D is unwavering, and she dedicates many hours and resources to support the organization’s efforts to improve the lives and find a cure for those with T1D.

Tracy works as a controller for SaaS-based businesses in the local business community and is a big four accounting firm trained Certified Public Accountant. Tracy was raised in Orange County and currently lives in Laguna Beach with her husband, Brad, who joins her in her support of Breakthrough T1D.

Haley Giddings serves as an Experiential Marketing Lead at Capital Group, where she curates high-impact, purpose-driven brand experiences for clients and stakeholders within the Financial services industry. With a passion for blending creativity and strategy, Haley brings events to life through thoughtful storytelling, immersive environments, and seamless execution. Her work amplifies Capital Group’s mission by transforming brand touchpoints into meaningful, memorable moments that engage, inspire, and drive results.

Additionally, Haley was diagnosed with T1D at the age of 11 and has been involved with Breakthrough T1D, formerly JDRF, for many years, fundraising and spreading awareness of the disease through friends and family. Haley’s parents, Lara and Tom, have shown unwavering support to find a cure and were the honorees of the 2014 Breakthrough T1D Dream Gala.

Aside from supporting Breakthrough T1D, Haley enjoys riding horses, playing golf, and traveling in her free time.

Andrew Guarni is an Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Hoag. In this role, Mr. Guarni oversees all hospital accounting, including general accounting, payroll, accounts payable, and treasury for Hoag. He is responsible for the finance and accounting, supply chain, materials management, revenue cycle, risk management, health information management, cyber security, contracting and contracting.

Throughout his 38-year career in healthcare finance and administration, Mr. Guarni’s experience includes tax exempt and asset-based financing, hospital consolidation and closure, M&A (hospital and physician practice), turnarounds, revenue cycle enhancement, physician practice management, fundraising, strategic planning and asset purchase agreements.

Mr. Guarni has served as chief financial officer for integrated delivery systems with $1 billion in annual net revenues. He has led revenue cycle improvements which have tripled daily cash collections and reduced Days in AR to AA benchmark levels. He has also led hospital system and physician practice acquisitions from initial discussions to post acquisition integration, including the recent acquisition of the largest provider of Emergency Room Management services in Los Angeles County by a Northern California company.

Mr. Guarni has a Bachelor of Science from West Chester University in Pennsylvania, is a Certified Public Accountant, and a fellow in the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

Julie graduated from Cal State University Fullerton. She sold pharmaceuticals for Merck for 10 years. She and her husband Michael have 3 children: Ryan, Brennan, and Katherine. Katherine was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 4 and Brennan was diagnosed with type 1  at the age of 12. Her involvement with Breakthrough T1D began in 2007. Julie has previously served on the Breakthrough T1D Orange County Chapter Board, has been the Dream Guild President and Board Member, and has also served as Gala Chair twice and on the Gala Committee each year. She looks forward to once again joining the Chapter Board.

Kristan has been a Breakthrough T1D volunteer since her daughter Kalee was diagnosed in 2013.  Over the years, Kristan is a regular volunteer at many Breakthrough T1D events including, helping with Youth Ambassadors, speaking at Type One Nation and participating in One Walk annually.  She currently serves as a member of the Outreach Committee and as Coordinator of the MOD Coffee Club.  Through her involvement, her knowledge and interest in Advocacy has grown and she is excited to serve as ATC and the opportunity to advocate for our T1D community to Congress.

Marie Hogan, along with her family, has been committed to finding a cure for T1D since her daughter, Mckenzie, was diagnosed in 2016 at the age of 2.  Breakthrough T1D gave Mckenzie’s family hope that T1D will be cured one day – and Breakthrough T1D would be leading the charge in making that happen.  Marie has been involved with Breakthrough T1D since her daughter’s diagnosis, participating in Galas and Walks, co-chairing very successful 2019 and 2023 Galas, and now currently beginning her term as the 2023-2024 Dream Guild President.

Mike is an experienced Private Wealth Advisor and a passionate leader of the firm. He partners with families, entrepreneurs, and their outside legal and tax advisors to create and implement customized personal and professional financial plans that support clients for multiple generations, utilizing the expertise and resources of DJM Financial at each step along the way. With his holistic approach, Mike’s aim is to alleviate his clients’ stress about their finances and provide confidence in their future. His favorite moments during the planning process are deploying new concepts and strategies that can significantly impact the long-term legacy of his clients’ assets.

Mike began working at Northwestern Mutual in 2000 after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in economics and a minor in business institutions from Northwestern University. In 2006, he partnered with Private Wealth Advisor Kevin DuPree, and together they established DJM Financial. From the start, the founders have focused on building a firm composed of highly experienced and credentialed individuals. They have also fostered a culture where team members can reach their highest potential and become the best versions of themselves, to successfully lead clients through life’s major decisions and events.

Mike grew up in Mission Viejo as a competitive swimmer, ultimately completing his career as a co-captain of his collegiate team. He now lives in Irvine with his wife, Christa, and their two daughters. Outside the office, he loves cheering his kids on during swim meets and soccer games. He also enjoys sharing his passion for ocean sports and snowboarding with his children.

Mike is a supporter and advocate for Breakthrough T1D, a nonprofit organization that funds Type 1 diabetes research, and first got involved with the organization after his daughter was diagnosed with the condition. His family also supports the PADRE Foundation, a local organization for Type 1 diabetes education and outreach.

James “Marty”  Jaques has worked in the IT industry for the past 35 years in global sales executive roles for HP, Dell and Gartner leading teams supporting companies in the Media & Entertainment, Health Care, Semiconductor industries and the U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories.  James is also an accomplished musician having been the Assistant Principal Cellist for Orange County’s Opera Pacific Orchestra from 1993-2008.  As a member of local Breakthrough T1D “Wine Guys” he has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars since the inception of the wine auctions as part of the Gala in 2006.  James has been married to his wife Chris, since 1986, and they have lived in Laguna Niguel since 1989.  They are parents of three adult children.  They enjoy traveling, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.

Julie’s connection to Breakthrough T1D began in 2004, just after her son, Robby, was diagnosed with T1D at age 11.  Julie has been involved by volunteering to assist the chapter with many events, has ridden in two Ride to Cure Diabetes events (alongside Robby), is an outreach committee member and past Advocacy Team Chair.

Since Robby’s T1D diagnosis, Julie has seen incredible advancement in T1D treatments and technology.  She is hopeful and confident in Breakthrough T1D’s mission that one day, through their extraordinary commitment to research, a cure for type 1 diabetes will be a reality.

Born and raised in Orange County, Julie resides in Newport Beach with her husband, Robert.  They have two children, Robby and Amanda.  Robby and wife Tina recently added to their family with baby Blake, Julie’s first grandbaby and she couldn’t be any more smitten with him.  Daughter Amanda is pursuing her dreams in Tennessee.  Julie is a successful Realtor serving Orange County communities and beyond.  Her passion for real estate was instilled in her at a young age by her dad, who she claims is the “original property flipper.”

Samantha became involved with Breakthrough T1D after her diagnosis in 2014. She has been a One Walk family team coach, T1D Connections volunteer, Outreach Committee member, and now serves as the Outreach Committee Chair. Advocating for improvements in therapies, quality of life, and ultimately, a cure for T1D, is a key piece of Samantha’s personal and professional objectives. She is a Mayo Clinic-trained, National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach that specializes in working with people living with T1D. As a coach, author (“Type 1 Diabetes Caregiver Confidence”), and speaker, Samantha works to help people living with diabetes thrive. She manages her private wellness practice, GraceMark Wellness & Lifestyle Coaching, and also serves as the Health & Wellness Coach at the Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center at Hoag Hospital.

Brian was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes over 25 years ago.  He earned his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry in an effort to better understand the disease.  He then went on to get a graduate degree in analytical chemistry under a Nobel Prize winner studying exhaled human breath in an effort to determine blood glucose and reduce finger sticking.  Brian also earned his law degree and is now a patent attorney at K&L Gates.  He works on many diabetes-related technologies, including much of the intellectual property for Mannkind’s Afrezza inhaled insulin.  He also serves on the Executive Council for UC Irvine’s Diabetes Center and says he is “all in for diabetes!”

Mark lives in Irvine, California with his wife Stacie and three sons, Tyler, Evan, and Andrew. Evan was diagnosed with T1D when he was six years old.

Mark has been involved with Breakthrough T1D since Evan’s diagnosis. Evan and his team (Evan’s Evangers) have been active fundraisers for Breakthrough T1D Orange County’s OneWalk, raising over $100,000 over the last five years. Evan is also a Youth Ambassador and had the honor of representing Breakthrough T1D in Washington, D.C. as a Children’s Congress Delegate in 2017.

Mark has also done some pro bono consulting work for Breakthrough T1D’s former Chief Human Resource Officer based in New York when he was in his consulting role at Aon.

Rupali Pai was born and raised in Newport Beach, CA.  She graduated from Chapman University with a BA and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of California, Irvine. Before becoming a full-time homemaker, Rupali was the head marketing executive for Taco Bell International while living in London.  She was responsible for the vision, strategy, and international expansion of Taco Bell in Europe.  Her passion for Breakthrough T1D began in 2022 when her six-year-old son, Rian, was diagnosed with T1D.  Rupali would be honored to be on a board with others who are equally passionate about finding a cure and prevention of T1D as she is.  She hopes that one day no child will have to suffer from this relentless disease.

Jenny Behrstock Rodriquez grew up in Newport Beach and currently lives there with her husband Jesse, her son Dylan, and her daughter Sophie.  Jenny has volunteered and supported Breakthrough T1D for many years – her brother was diagnosed with T1D at age 11, followed by her niece at age 5 and her daughter at age 3.

Born and raised in Newport Beach, Claire is a dedicated advocate for type 1 diabetes research and a seasoned professional in real estate and finance. She holds a degree in Urban Planning and Real Estate Development from the University of Southern California and brings over 20 years of experience in real estate development, finance, analytics, and strategic operations.

Claire began her career during the real estate downturn in the mid-2000s, gaining hands-on insight into market resilience and development analysis. She later spent over a decade in auto finance at CIG Financial, where she led key initiatives in business analytics and project management. Her tenure culminated in being a key person in the acquisition of CIG Financial by AutoNation, a Fortune 150 publicly traded company. Her contributions to the M&A process were a key factor in Claire remaining with AutoNation, working directly with the President during the transition and integration, where she led several initiatives, including the company’s first asset sale to a direct competitor.

Driven by a desire to return to her roots, Claire re-entered the real estate development space and launched Abode Design + Build in 2022. The company specializes in high-end residential development, and she is currently managing projects totaling over $30 million. She has completed two developments, with three more underway.

Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 19, Claire has been a passionate supporter of JDRF, now Breakthrough T1D, for over two decades. Her involvement has included participating in the Walk, volunteering at and supporting galas, visiting labs working on a cure, attending her first Mission Summit, and serving with the Dream Guild. In 2024, her family was honored at the One Night Gala in recognition of their longstanding commitment to the cause.

As a mother to daughters Gracen and Leighton, Claire’s investment in a future without type 1 diabetes fuels her dedication. She firmly believes that a cure is not a matter of if, but when, and is honored to support Breakthrough T1D during such a pivotal time in its mission.

Ann Winthrop has been personally committed to finding a cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D) since her daughter, Marisa, was diagnosed with T1D in 1995 at the age of 8. Along with her husband, Marc, she has been intimately involved with the Breakthrough T1D Orange County Chapter for years, volunteering at many levels, including holding two terms as chapter Board President, OC Walk Chair, Gala Chair and Dream Guild President.  She also served as a Regional Chapter Services volunteer supporting 14 chapters in the western region.

Professionally, Ann has worked in the Human Resources/Employee Relations area for companies in the pharmaceutical, automotive and technology sectors.  She has also worked as a professional fundraiser.

Tony Marks is an Attorney at Law at Bryan Cave LLP, and his son, Jonah, has TID. He has served two terms on the BOD. His family has had a walk team The Mark’s Family Marchers and has raised over $185K for the Walk. His wife Lori has been a family coach for nine years as well as an outreach volunteer.

Casey Adams is a Co-Founder and Principal of Excelsior Partners, LLC, where he focuses on acquisitions, asset managemen,t and leasing activities for the company. Before forming Excelsior Partners, Casey worked at Marcus Adams Properties, where he has been a Principal since 2001. At Marcus Adams Properties, Casey managed leasing activity for the company, sourced new acquisitions to grow the portfoli,o and had direct involvement with the asset and property management of the portfolio. Casey also serves on the Board of Directors of Morgan Adams, Inc., a family office and asset management company founded in 1977. Before his work with Marcus Adams Properties, LLC and Morgan Adams, Inc., Casey was with Grubb & Ellis Company in its Office Services Group and closed numerous lease and sale transactions for institutional owners of office properties. He has a total of 27 years of continuous, hands-on experience in commercial real estate in both the office and industrial sectors and is a licensed California Real Estate Broker.

Casey served on the Board of Trustees of Hollenbeck Palms for eleven years, which has provided residential living, assisted residential living, and skilled nursing services for seniors in the Greater Los Angeles area since 1890. Casey also previously served on the Board of Directors of Five Acres, formerly known as The Boys’ and Girls’ Aid Society of Los Angeles County, which is a family services agency founded in 1888. Five Acres provides residential, educational, mental health, foster care, adoptions, and domestic violence prevention services for over 7,500 children and families annually.

Casey earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Real Estate Finance and Entrepreneurship from the University of Southern California and has a Master’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Corporate Finance from Loyola Marymount University.

Casey’s son, Henry, was diagnosed with T1D as a teenager in 2021. Since Henry’s diagnosis, Casey and his family have walked & fundraised with their team, Henry’s Home Team, sponsored and attended the One Night Gala, and attended the LA Community Summit each year.

Austin Basis was born & raised in Brooklyn, NY. He is an actor, writer, producer, and celebrity ambassador for JDRF, having lived with type 1 diabetes for almost 40 years. Shortly after graduating The Actors Studio Drama School with an MFA in Acting, he became a lifetime member of The Actors Studio.

Austin played Alvin Blank in the 5th & final season of the Emmy-winning show, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. He is most known for his role as J.T. Forbes on the People’s Choice Award winning series Beauty And The Beast. He was also a regular on the drama Life Unexpected and was a lead in the web series GHOSTFACERS. Austin has appeared on numerous other TV shows including Curb Your Enthusiasm, Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS, Homeland, How To Get Away With Murder, Lucifer, Little Fires Everywhere, Supernatural, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Casual, and LAW & ORDER: Criminal Intent. He can also be seen in Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty on HBO Max and in Reasonable Doubt on Hulu. His film credits include J. Edgar, The Other End of the Line, My Sassy Girl, American Zombie, Boxboarders!, Re-Cut, Dead End Drive, Dorian Blues, and First Oscar. His most recent film projects include Kanashimi, Daruma and The Last Take – which are all making the rounds in this year’s festival circuit.

Austin has continued to write & develop ideas with his production company “Behind the Bag!” Productions, through which he executive-produced, wrote & starred in the short film The Fear We Share and he’s currently in pre-production on his next project, SEIZURE – a horror story about diabetes.

In addition to his acting work, Austin has a podcast (ActorSpeak) and he also wrote & published a superhero comic book series in 2018, an epic tale called The KINETIX, about kids with disabilities & chronic illnesses who turn their perceived weaknesses into their greatest strengths. Austin also published a book of poetry in 2011 called An Actor Without An Audience: Poetry for Artists, Lovers & Everymen. His first children’s book, Zoo’s On First, is his latest release.

As a teacher, Austin has taught acting at the New York Film Academy – LA Campus, Arizona Actors Academy and Coaching By Camille, along with an on-camera masterclass with his wife, Colleen Basis, at the Raue Center School for the Arts in Crystal Lake, IL. He’s also an adjunct professor at Southeast Missouri State University and guest-lecturer at Mizzou. Finally, Austin was honored as a distinguished alumnus of Mark Twain Intermediate School For The Gifted And Talented in Brooklyn, NY and inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2023.

Austin was diagnosed with T1D at the age of 8 and has lived a healthy life with the help of innovations & technologies developed thanks to JDRF research. As an actor in the public eye & a celebrity ambassador for JDRF, Austin hopes to be an inspiration & role model for kids & other adults with T1D. Advocating at Children’s Congress, participating in the One Walk or using his voice & platform to have a positive influence in making the world an easier place for those with T1D are all ways Austin has given back to the community. He hopes to continue his philanthropic engagement & influence as a member of the JDRF LA Board of Directors.

Jeff graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and has had over thirty years of experience in the entertainment field as a professional actor. He is also passionate about teaching acting and improvisational theatre and has taught both privately and at institutions such as Pepperdine, Savannah College of Arts and Design, USC, and UCLA.

Jeff’s life took a turn in a new direction when his daughter Eily was diagnosed with T1D in 2020. Witnessing the physical and emotional struggles of Eily and other T1D warriors, Jeff was moved to volunteer with JDRF as an Outreach Ambassador. He now hosts monthly Zoom meetups for parents of newly diagnosed kids and participates in the annual One Walk with his family’s team, The Walking Heads.

In addition to his acting and volunteer work, Jeff is also working on launching his own T1D non-profit for teens. Project Lemon Drop aims to provide youth with T1D an outlet for self-expression through improv and other various art forms. Jeff hopes to have instructors with T1D to teach art and inspire those living with the condition.

Philip Dear was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1995 at age 6. Originally from Connecticut, where he grew up attending Breakthrough T1D Walks, auctions (where his parents graciously bid on and won a DVD set of early seasons of South Park – then his favorite new TV show – autographed by Matt Stone and Trey Parker) and various other fundraising and awareness-spreading events, he eventually moved to Los Angeles to attend law school at USC.  He is currently practicing securities/capital markets law, helping private and publicly traded companies raise capital, at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in Los Angeles. He is excited to leverage his broad personal and professional network in So Cal to help drive fundraising, awareness, and participation initiatives for Breakthrough T1D.

Philip is a passionate advocate for technological advancement in type 1 diabetes treatment and will be a dedicated resource for the Breakthrough T1D organization and the broader T1D community in So Cal and beyond. He is currently serving on the One Night Los Angeles Gala Committee and plans to be involved in every way he can, including coffee chats, serving as an Outreach Ambassador, participating in the TypeOneNation Summit in Pasadena, the Walk and the Gala.

Philip currently lives in Santa Monica with his fiancé, Liz, a healthcare management consultant at BCG with a similar passion for technological advancement in diabetes care and keeping Philip’s blood sugar between 70 and 120.

Greg lives in Woodland Hills with his wife, Barri Worth Girvan, and their three children, Mila, Leah, and Caleb. He is a lifelong resident of the San Fernando Valley.

Greg’s interest in Breakthrough T1D arose in August 2021, when Leah, then 15 months old, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Leah was in severe DKA when she was diagnosed. During eight long days and nights in the pediatric intensive care unit, the Breakthrough T1D network spung into place to assist Leah and the entire family at the start of an unexpected journey of life with T1D.

Since Leah’s diagnosis, Greg and his family have been committed to giving back to the organization that helped so much during a time of profound need. Greg and Barri have participated in the annual Breakthrough T1D run, secured sponsorships for the annual Gala, and attended the local Type One Nation Summit.

Professionally, Greg is a Certified Family Law Specialist, and partner at Feinberg, Mindel, Brandt & Klein, LLP. His practice exclusively focuses on family law including divorces, contested child custody proceedings, drafting and negotiating prenuptial agreements, and litigating domestic violence cases.

Greg earned a law degree from Loyola Law School, and completed his undergraduate studies at UC Davis.

Chris Hayre has been a sports anchor and reporter at KCAL News since 2019. His over two-decade career in sports includes stops at the Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Chargers.

Chris is a Northern Virginia native who moved to Los Angeles in 2006. He spent nine seasons with the Lakers, where he was director of corporate partnerships.

In conjunction with the Chargers’ move to Los Angeles in 2017, Chris launched the team’s first-ever podcast entitled “Chargers Weekly” and joined the organization as the team’s reporter.

Chris received his undergraduate degree from James Madison University and his master’s from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

In 2009, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Chris has several family members living with T1D and is passionate about inspiring others who are affected by this disease — and eventually finding a cure.

He resides in the Los Angeles area with his wife and twin girls.

Maura Hudson is Senior Vice President of JLL, a leading provider of commercial real estate strategy, services and support to organizations around the globe. Ms. Hudson is responsible for sales and marketing operations for its Corporate Solutions organization, representing over a third of total fee revenue and more than 4 billion square feet of managed properties and facilities. Maura and her husband Gerry Speirs are the parents of Miranda, 10, diagnosed at age 3 with Type 1 Diabetes, and Quinn (5). In addition to her LA board relationship, Maura also serves as Walk Chair for the Long Beach OneWalk, supports the Outreach Committee, and actively visits local congressional representatives as part of Government Relations Advocacy. Her direct volunteer efforts have contributed to over $400,000 in fundraising for a cure and better management of T1D.

Dr. Kaiserman currently works with children and adolescents living with type 1 diabetes in private practice at SoCal Diabetes in the LA area. Prior to entering private practice, Dr. Kaiserman was Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Director of the Clinical Diabetes Program at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. Dr. Kaiserman earned his medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk and completed his internship and residency in the Department of Pediatrics and his fellowship in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Kaiserman is a member of the American Diabetes Association and the Pediatric Endocrine Society and was on the LA Board of the American Diabetes Association and Breakthrough T1D, as well as the Board of the Diabetes Education and Camping Association. Dr. Kaiserman is active at his local diabetes camp, Camp Conrad-Chinnock, where he serves as the camp medical director and member of the Board. Kevin was honored at Breakthrough T1D LA as Diabetes Champion, 2012 and has helped raised funds for the APP.

Dr. Kaiserman serves on the Breakthrough T1D Los Angeles Board with his current term beginning in 2015.

Michael Kromnick has three decades of brand building experience. As COO, CFO and CEO he has had the ability to evaluate complex business situations in all verticals of an organization. This has allowed him to successfully participate in a multitude of company transactions, including raising capital, debt financing and selling enterprises.   He has been pivotal in structuring strategic growth initiatives in various size companies with his broad range of industries.

Michael’s ability to link Brands with their fans and increase their bond has been key to his success.

Michael has extensive experience with business valuations and reorganizations.   He earned his MBA from Pepperdine University in Strategy and Implementation, and a BA from The George Washington University in Corporate Finance.

Michael was diagnosed with T1D almost 50 years ago at age 11.  His mother was an early board member of JDF shortly after Lee Ducat founded it in Philadelphia.  He has seen firsthand how the supported research has dramatically improved the lives of people with T1D worldwide.  More recently, Michael’s 12-year-old son was diagnosed with T1D.  Over the last two years, he has learned, that it is easier to have T1D himself, than to be the parent of a child with T1D.

When Michael was diagnosed, the only blood glucose tests were administered in a hospital lab, and they received the results a few days later.  Now both he and his son wear a Dexcom CGM and an Omnipod Dash and they loop.  It is the dedicated researchers and the Breakthrough T1D funding that make this possible.

Morgan Rector, President of the Comerica Entertainment Group, is a veteran of the production scene and one of the most respected names in independent film financing.  During the past two decades, he has arranged the financing for more than 750 independent feature films.

Morgan began his career at City National Bank, where he was responsible for managing the portfolio of commercial clients within the bank’s Entertainment Lending Division.

In 1989, Morgan was hired as vice president by Imperial Bank to start the  new Entertainment Group, and became its President five years later.  Under his leadership, the division became the most prolific financier of movies and television in the world.

In 2001, Detroit-based Comerica Bank acquired Imperial Bank and named him president of the combined Entertainment Banking groups.  Comercia Entertainment Group is a leader in global entertainment finance, with clients ranging from independent film producers to film/television production and distribution companies.  Recent notable films range from Oscar winner, “Crash,” to “Iron Man”.

In 2004, Morgan was named Regional Manager for Comerica’s Los Angeles and Ventura County Wealth and Institutional Management groups, assuming responsibility for the area’s private banking, brokerage, trust and investment management staff.

Born and raised in Carson, California, Morgan graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Economics, and received the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1990.

Dr. Christina Reh is a pediatric endocrinologist who practices in Westwood and Calabasas locations. She is the Clinical Director of the Pediatric Diabetes program and specializes in diabetes care for children and adolescents. She has vast experience in many types of diabetes including type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, steroid-induced diabetes, and cystic fibrosis related diabetes. She in well versed in diabetes technology and has been involved in many clinical trials related to advancing diabetes care and monitoring.

Dr. Reh is committed to quality medical education and has been mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows in pediatric endocrinology for over 15 years.

Dr. Reh earned her undergraduate degree from UC San Diego and graduated Magna Cum Laude. She received her medical doctorate from the Loma Linda University, School of Medicine. She then completed her pediatric medicine residency at Children’s Hospital Orange County and pediatric endocrinology fellowship at Childrens’ Hospital, Los Angeles.

Dr. Reh is an associate professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and clinical medical director of the Pediatric Diabetes program at Westwood and surrounding UCLA centers. She is also a member of the American Diabetes Association and the Pediatric Endocrine Society.

Dr. Rhinehart presently serves as the Senior Medical Director for the Global Office of Clinical Research and Medical Science at Medtronic Diabetes. Before joining Medtronic in 2020, he had served as the Chief Medical Officer at Glytec, an enterprise software company specializing in diabetes therapy management, since 2015.

Before making the transition to industry, Dr. Rhinehart was in clinical practice for 20 years serving for seven years as Program Director and Diabetologist at the Johnston Memorial Diabetes Care Center in Abingdon, Virginia, which is part of Mountain States Health Alliance (now Ballad Heath), the region’s largest health system at the time with 13 hospitals. During that time, he also served as Physician Champion for the health system’s Inpatient Glycemic Control Initiative. Before his time at the Diabetes Care Center, he worked as a primary care physician in various settings, including outpatient, acute care, intensive care, and long-term care.

Dr. Rhinehart received his doctorate from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and completed his residency at East Tennessee State University. Although trained in internal medicine, Dr. Rhinehart was inducted as a fellow of the American College of Endocrinology due to his expertise in the field of endocrinology. He was a longtime member and past chair of the American Diabetes Association’s Primary Care Advisory Group, and has served previously on their Professional Practice and Prevention Committees. Dr. Rhinehart was the first physician board-certified in advanced diabetes management (BC-ADM) and has served as a content expert for the BC-ADM Exam and sat on the BC-ADM Exam Oversight Committee. He has been a certified diabetes care and education specialist since 2008, and as a physician CDCES, he has served on the 2012 and 2017 National Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Standards workgroups. Dr. Rhinehart has been awarded recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance Diabetes Physician Recognition program for providing high-quality care to persons with diabetes from 2002 until leaving clinical practice in 2015. He is also a co-inventor on a number of patents related to diabetes therapy management software.

Paul Shapiro has over 30 years of experience in financial and accounting services, and is a California CPA. A specialist in providing accounting and business consulting services to start-ups in the tech industry for almost 20 years. As of 2014, Paul joined a division of Verizon after they acquired his long-term client, EdgeCast Networks, Inc.

Paul came to Breakthrough T1D after his daughter Jessica was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2002. He has been on the Board of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Breakthrough T1D since 2006, and has served in executive positions and multiple committees for the Board. His family walk team – Jessica’s J-Walkers – has raised almost $450,000 for Breakthrough T1D in 13 years.

Paul is a native of New Jersey and a graduate of the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. He moved to California to marry his college sweetheart Janice. He is also a former board member of the LA Chapter of the California Society of CPAs and past chairman of the LA Members in Industry Committee. He also sits on the Advisory Board for Santa Monica College’s Business department and for 20 years, he volunteered with KCRW-FM’s Morning Becomes Eclectic.

Cary Walker and his wife Laura Mecoy have been active with Breakthrough T1D for more than two decades. They became involved with the organization in 2000, shortly after learning that their 7-year-old son Ryan had type 1 diabetes. Ten years later, their daughter Grace was diagnosed with the disease.

Today, both Ryan and Grace are successful young adults who have benefited from the scientific advances funded by Breakthrough T1D.

Cary is a skilled communications strategist specializing in change management and corporate communications. For more than three decades, he has been advising CEOs, business leaders and government officials, helping them to articulate growth strategies, define their social impact, solve problems and achieve success.

In the United States and abroad, Cary has helped major organizations through significant changes caused by rapid growth, landmark mergers, executive transitions, technological change and corporate restructurings. He has extensive crisis communications experience, and has worked with companies facing pandemics, workplace violence, cyber-attacks, regulatory action, closure and liquidation.

Cary combines public and private sector experience and has written hundreds of high-profile speeches for CEOs, governors and U.S. Cabinet officials.

For 20 years, Cary was senior vice president and director of corporate communications and investor relations at City National Bank, where he provided senior management with strategic counsel and directed the company’s media relations, executive speech writing, employee communications, market research and government affairs.

Cary helped to advance the company’s strong reputation, even during the 2008 financial crisis that hobbled hundreds of financial institutions across the United States. He oversaw the bank’s internal and external communications, including its quarterly earnings presentations and annual reports, the announcements of more than a dozen corporate acquisitions, an $11 billion community lending and investment initiative and the company’s 2015 merger with the Royal Bank of Canada. Cary also managed City National’s communications during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lina Pitesa Waage is an influential leader in the philanthropic community, recognized for her extensive work and dedication to various charitable causes. With a strong background in leadership and community service, she has made significant contributions to numerous organizations and initiatives aimed at improving the lives of others. Her commitment to making a positive impact continues to inspire and drive meaningful change within the community.

Charlotte Blanck is a parent whose journey took an unexpected turn when her daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. In the face of this challenge, she found strength, purpose, and a deep commitment to making a difference. She became deeply involved with Breakthrough T1D, an organization dedicated to turning Type 1 into Type None. Simultaneously, Charlotte entered the diabetes industry, recognizing an opportunity to leverage her professional skills to drive innovation and positive change. Her work is now not just a profession but a calling—a chance to contribute to advancements in diabetes care, support, and ultimately, the quest for a cure.

Beyond her shift in professional direction, Charlotte and her family have become advocates, raising awareness and funds for research initiatives. Theyy feel privileged to be a part of a larger movement working towards a future where no family has to face the uncertainties of Type 1 Diabetes alone.

At the age of nine, Adrienne was diagnosed with T1D. She has been golfing since age 11 and played Division I golf in college. While maintaining a single-digit handicap and excelling in the sport, her true passion lies in combining golf with her commitment to finding a cure for type 1 diabetes and helping others.

For the past few years, Adrienne has served on the committee for the Breakthrough T1D Orange County golf tournament and has been an active volunteer at the event. She is now playing a key role in launching the inaugural Breakthrough T1D San Diego golf tournament in Fall 2025.

Adrienne also serves on the Operation Game On committee, helping combat-wounded veterans use golf as a therapeutic tool for physical rehabilitation and mental wellness.

When not golfing or giving back, Adrienne works in Digital Marketing at Bank of America Corporate, where she has been for nearly 20 years.

Evan has been living with Type 1 diabetes since 1998. He began his involvement with the San Diego chapter of Breakthrough T1D in 2021. Evan is a San Diego native and currently lives in Rancho Santa Fe with his wife and four kids. Evan is a Managing Director with Virtu Investments.

Katherine Griswold currently serves as Vice President of Philanthropy and Community Engagement for the regional nonprofit Community HousingWorks (CHW), overseeing fundraising, marketing, and communications for the organization. With more than 18 years of nonprofit experience, Katherine has spent her career working with organizations that focus on health-related issues and fund research, but also place strong emphasis on public education, programming and policies that positively impact the communities served. Prior to CHW, Katherine served in leadership roles at two national health nonprofits and has a consistent record of revenue growth, strategic planning, and staff development. At the Parkinson’s Foundation Katherine served as Vice President of Individual Giving where she built the national major giving program and was instrumental in increasing fundraising revenue by more than 60% during her tenure. Throughout her 13 years with Breakthrough T1D Katherine served in the local San Diego chapter as well as the regional leadership team, focused on expanding volunteer involvement and increasing revenue through events, corporate development, grants, and major gifts.

As part of the T1D community since the age of two, Katherine has long been a passionate champion for research, better care, and outcomes, and improving the quality of life for those living with T1D. Her family’s Walk Team, “Cure in Motion” has participated in 18 of the San Diego Walks, raising funds and awareness across the country.

Katherine holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Transylvania University and a Master of Arts in Communication from the University of Texas. She also received a Graduate Certificate in Women in Politics and Public Policy from the University of Massachusetts. Katherine currently sits on the NeighborWorks America Resource Development Advisory Committee and serves as a Mentor for the Alford Group Women’s Mentor Program with the National Association of Fundraising Professionals. She lives in San Diego with her husband and their three children

Nick is married to his wife, Amy, and they have two daughters, Allyson and Hailey.  Ally was diagnosed with T1D in October 2020 and Nick decided he wanted to do his part to raise awareness about T1D and help find a cure.  Nick played Major League Baseball for 12 years (for the Padres, Rockies, Giants, A’s and Orioles) before retiring in 2020.  He is now Team Freedom Director for a nonprofit organization fighting human trafficking called International Justice Mission and also works in the front office for the Texas Rangers as assistant to the general manager.

Matthew Jaime has been living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) since 2012. As a sophomore in high school, he realized his mission in life was to obtain the education necessary to help others improve their relationship with food & nutrition, and he’s been working towards that mission since. While in Fresno for his education, Matthew found ways to connect to the diabetes community and play his part in increasing diabetes awareness by founding the Diabetes Coalition at Fresno State and co-founding the Central California Type 1 Pricks. In 2019, he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Food & Nutritional Science – Dietetics & Food Administration with a minor in Gerontology (the study of aging). He went on to complete his 1200 hours of supervised practice as a Dietetic Intern at UC San Diego Health, graduating in April 2020. Soon thereafter, Matthew sat for the national board registration examination by the Commission on Dietetic Registry, passed and received the medical credential, “Registered Dietitian.”

Kirsten’s involvement with Breakthrough T1D began with a deeply personal turning point: her son’s type 1 diabetes diagnosis at the age of four. Witnessing her son navigate the challenges of T1D sparked a commitment to ensuring that Oliver, and everyone living with T1D, can live a life unburdened by the disease. Just months after his diagnosis, Kirsten discovered the Breakthrough T1D Walk, a great opportunity to channel her energy into fundraising for a cure. The overwhelming support she and her family received during that walk, particularly for Oliver, moved her. This experience led her to become a dedicated supporter of future Breakthrough T1D Walks and to actively engage with the T1D community. Recognizing the strength in unity, she cares deeply about fostering a strong and supportive network where individuals with T1D and their loved ones can connect, share, and strive for a brighter future.

From a successful career in account management and sales in the software industry to active family life, Kirsten enjoys dancing flamenco, exploring new places, and connecting with loved ones over good food.

Danica was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 13-years-old. Her mother, Beverley Lawrence was diagnosed when she was only 6 years old. Her mother worked hard to control her own T1D for 57 years before she died in January 2018 after suffering from a sudden heart attack. Her mom always said to Danica, “There might not be a cure in my lifetime but there will be in yours.” Danica believes her mom is working hard from heaven to make that wish come true. Danica has been an advocate for T1D awareness since she was a teenager and worked hard to raise money to find a cure. Danica has volunteered with other Breakthrough T1D chapters across the country for over a decade, and she was a Communications Board Chair at Breakthrough T1D Mountain Valley Chapter for two years in Utah. During her time there she emceed several fundraising events, including but not limited to the Breakthrough T1D One Walk, research summits and their chapter’s inaugural 2018 Hope Gala. Her husband, Jeff McAdam also emceed the gala with her and her father attended and donated in honor of his wife, Danica’s mother, Beverley. Danica has spent her career as a TV news anchor and reporter across the country for more than 13 years. She has covered major events from politics, natural disasters to military reports, local weather and even light-hearted lifestyle segments. Since the birth of her son, Danica has transitioned into a public relations role as an account executive based in the San Diego area, giving her more time with her family. She and her husband have a one-year-old son named Landon Luck McAdam and a new baby daughter is on the way! Danica hopes her passion to help other families struggling to understand T1D and volunteering to help fund research to cure T1D influences her own children to find their passion and give back to their communities one day.

Kathy and her husband David have been involved with Breakthrough T1D since 2000, when their daughter, Erica, was diagnosed with T1D at age 16. Since then Kathy has worked on various Breakthrough T1D committees and activities, and in 2020 joined the Breakthrough T1D San Diego Board of Directors.

Kathy worked as a vice-president for Human Resources with a major company prior to her retirement. These days, in addition to her work with Breakthrough T1D, she enjoys tutoring grade schoolers in reading, studying Spanish, and international travel.

Steve Pollack is an accomplished business leader with over 20 years of experience in strategic planning, business development, and operational excellence across multiple industries, including real estate, manufacturing, and hospitality. He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer at Pacific Rim Real Estate Services, where he oversees operations and strategic planning.

Before joining Pacific Rim, Steve held senior leadership roles at Tyco International and Tokheim Corporation, where he led major transformation projects that resulted in significant revenue growth and organizational efficiency. Steve is known for successfully developing and executing sales strategies that align with business objectives, fostering new markets, and enhancing revenue growth. A passionate mentor and leader, adept at building productive teams and delivering measurable results in dynamic, fast-paced environments.

Steve holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and business administration from UCLA. He is a licensed real estate broker and is in the process of attaining his Certified International Property Specialist designation.

In addition to his professional roles, Steve is a passionate advocate for diabetes research. Steve served on the boards of directors for JDRF-San Diego Chapter and ADA-Los Angeles Chapter. He enjoys spending time with his wife (Gaby), traveling, and attending his son’s (Lucas’) golf tournaments and practice rounds.

Dr. Sam Reif received her M.S. and PhD from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.

She has completed advanced training in the application of Behavioral Medicine and Cognitive Behavior Therapy to both medical and mental health issues at Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and The University of Chicago Hospitals.

Sam recently moved to the San Diego area after raising her two children in the suburbs of Chicago. She was involved in the Breakthrough T1D Chicago chapter during her time there, supporting her son Cooper, who was diagnosed when he was 12-months old.

Carole Ross became involved with Breakthrough T1D when her son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at five years of age. Carole was grateful to be paired with formal and informal Breakthrough T1D mentors who helped Carole and her family navigate through the early stages of managing the diagnosis. She attended Breakthrough T1D walks and parent coffees, led by caring volunteers. Carole and her husband, Steve, have attended the Breakthrough T1D Gala since her son’s diagnosis. She and Steve served on the Breakthrough T1D Gala Committee for several years, helping to secure live and silent auction items to help fund a cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

Carole graduated from UCLA School of Law more than 30 years ago and began practicing employment law. When Carole’s son was diagnosed, she had been working at a large, international law firm for almost 20 years. After the diagnosis, Carole resigned from her law firm and began her own law practice so she could be more available to help care for her son. For the past ten years, Carole volunteered her time supporting a non-profit organization, the Association of Workplace Investigators. She has served on the board of the Association of Workplace Investigators since 2022. Now that Carole’s son is off to college to study aerospace engineering, she is ready to spend more time and effort supporting her other passions, including JDRF.

Neeta Sharma, MS, is the vice president of global regulatory affairs at Dexcom. She oversees all regulatory affairs activities for Dexcom’s continuous glucose monitoring technology. Neeta has over 15 years of strategic and executive regulatory leadership experience at leading medical device companies, including Philips, Edward Lifesciences, and Medtronic, and across multiple fields, such as diabetes management and cardiovascular.

At Dexcom, Neeta and her team are responsible for securing product approvals of Dexcom’s CGM systems globally. Neeta’s most notable accomplishment includes working with FDA to secure the clearance of the first iCGM device (G6 CGM) and helping usher a new era of interoperability of diabetes devices. In her role, Neeta understands the needs of people with diabetes, works with urgency with regulators and internal teams and helps to bring new technological advances to those who greatly benefit from them.  Neeta has a deep-rooted connection to diabetes. She knows how devastating the disease can be since the unfortunate early passing of her mom due to uncontrolled type 2 diabetes coupled with lack of appropriate glucose monitoring technology available in an affordable manner. Neeta herself was diagnosed with gestational diabetes during her two pregnancies and found it extremely challenging to maintain her time in range and normal blood glucose levels as recommended by her endocrinologist. During this time, her appreciation for continuous glucose monitoring technology for use in gestational diabetes greatly increased. In fact, her love for continuous glucose monitoring technology goes back to her graduate studies at University of Southern California where she personally worked on developing continuous implantable glucose sensors and making them easy to use.

Neeta is an avid exercise enthusiast and a runner who believes that exercise and diet are the key to a long happy, healthy life. She is married and has two children.

Randy and his wife, Tish, are the parents of Lexie—who was diagnosed T1D at 8 months in 1997—and Bailey.  The family was involved with Breakthrough T1D throughout Lexie’s childhood with active participation in the San Diego chapter’s support group for T1D families, Breakthrough T1D One Walk, local conferences, and other fundraising events.  As part of his cross-country bike trek in 2022, Randy raised more than $21,000 for Breakthrough T1D and increased T1D awareness via media coverage in multiple cities across the U.S.

Randy spent his career leading the conception, development, and execution of product strategies at large data and analytics firms in the technology and real estate sectors.  Prior to retiring in early 2022, he was the senior vice president of product management at Green Street, a research firm that provides insight to large commercial real estate investors and stakeholders. In this role, he guided the firm’s product development and mergers & acquisitions strategies. Prior to Green Street, Randy held similar positions at CoreLogic, DataQuick, and Harte-Hanks. He holds a B.A. in psychology from Penn State and an M.B.A. from San Diego State University.

He currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Alumni Society of the College of Liberal Arts at Penn State which focuses on career preparedness and alumni engagement.  He’s also a mentor for current Liberal Arts students.

An accomplished endurance athlete, Randy has completed a full Iron Man and 15+ marathons.  Randy and Tish also travel extensively, enjoy the arts, and remain passionate about Nittany Lion football.