Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer
Community Engagement
Lori Stevens, Chief Development and Community Engagement Officer
Wendy Moran, Director, Community Engagement
Cassandra Clark, Associate Director, Community Engagement
Jo-Ann Crank, Associate Director, Community Engagement
Tammie Meena, Associate Director, Operations and Training
Kevin Sims, Regional Associate Director, Community Engagement
Development
Pamela Acosta Marquardt, Founder
Rick Leonard, MBA, Chief Gift Officer
Christine Dittmer, Vice President, Major Gifts
Courtney Cohee, Director, Development
Government Affairs & Advocacy
Meaghan Slater, Associate Director, Advocacy
Marketing & Communications
Randy Hui, Director, Outreach and Digital Strategy
Mari Ramskill, MBA, Director, Marketing
Data Analytics, Operations and Finance
Abigail Winston, Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer
Sudheer Doss, PhD, Chief Data Officer
David Gonzales, CPA, Controller
Angel Montanez, Vice President, Operations
Human Resources
Sylvia Lewis, PHR, SHRM-CP, Associate Director, Human Resources
Office of the CEO
Jenny Isaacson, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Projects
Scientific & Medical Affairs
Lynn Matrisian, PhD, MBA, Chief Science Officer
Victoria Manax Rutson, MD, Chief Medical Officer
Donna DeDario Manross, Vice President, Scientific & Medical Affairs
Nicole Lise Feingold, Director, Patient Services
Cassadie Moravek, Associate Director, Clinical Initiatives
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) nationwide network of people dedicated to fighting the world’s toughest cancer. Founded by a group of pancreatic cancer survivors and caregivers in 1999, the organization relentlessly pursues its mission by implementing an aggressive and comprehensive strategy of research, patient support, advocacy and awareness. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is headquartered in Manhattan Beach, Calif., and also staffs a Washington, D.C and New York City office.
Julie Fleshman became the organization’s first full-time staff person and its first Executive Director in April 2000. Having lost her father to pancreatic cancer in 1999, she has made it her passion and commitment to change the course of the disease. In July 2004, the Board of Directors appointed Fleshman President and CEO. Under her leadership, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network has grown from a staff of one with revenues of $228,000 to a staff of over 140 with a budget of more than $38 million.
Today, Fleshman is a sought-after speaker with considerable experience addressing diverse stakeholder groups, including Congress, industry, patients, scientists, donors and volunteers. She has also been interviewed by national media such as The New York Times, CNN, Headline News and ABC News as well as local press throughout the country.
Fleshman has spearheaded the charge to ensure the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network achieves its goal to double pancreatic cancer survival by 2020. Her leadership has driven consistent excellence and innovation throughout the programs and services of the organization, including introducing precision medicine service Know Your Tumor® and Precision PromiseSM, the first large-scale adaptive clinical trial for pancreatic cancer. At the same time, she has steadily increased revenue growth and the organization’s impact. Under her direction, the organization has greatly expanded and attracted leading researchers from prestigious institutions around the country to study pancreatic cancer.
During Fleshman’s tenure, advocacy and grassroots efforts have expanded to over 60 affiliates nationwide and yielded a $130 million increase in federal funding for pancreatic cancer research. The organization has awarded 159 pancreatic cancer research grants totaling over $40 million to researchers at institutions around the country. And more than 165,000 pancreatic cancer patients and their families nationwide have been served by the organization’s patient services program.
Fleshman holds her JD and MBA degrees from Santa Clara University and a BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She also studied abroad at Oxford University and in Tokyo, Japan. Fleshman has been honored for her leadership and dedication in the fight against pancreatic cancer by many organizations. She serves on the boards of several cancer care and research committees and organizations, recently completing her term as a patient advocate on the National Cancer Institute’s Pancreas Task Force, and she has been published in multiple research journals. Most recently, she was asked to join the FasterCures Patients Count Leadership Council and to serve on the NCI Council of Research Advocates to provide advice to the NCI Director with respect to promoting research outcomes that are in the best interest of cancer patients. In addition, Fleshman is the Chair of the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition, a coalition of more than 60 pancreatic cancer organizations representing 27 countries around the globe.
Cassandra Clark oversees strategic execution, leadership and oversight of our volunteer affiliates in select regions, including leading internal cross-functional teams to execute national and regional priorities. Clark ensures affiliates are on track to meet goals and objectives, and she is responsible for the overall volunteer experience, local engagement and affiliate success.
Clark brings more than six years of volunteer management experience to the organization and a wealth of organizational knowledge, as she has worked for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network since 2010. She has served in various management positions for the organization, including most recently Program Manager, Events.
Clark holds a BA in communication and psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Courtney Cohee oversees the direction, management and implementation of the organization’s individual-giving fundraising activities, including major gifts and principal gifts, mid-level giving, planned giving, direct response, donor engagement and foundation giving.
Cohee has a successful track record of building and sustaining fundraising programs. Previously, she held the position of Director of Development for New Roads School, where she led the school’s fundraising efforts. Cohee also served as the Director of Donor Services and Donor Relations at the John Wayne Cancer Institute (JWCI). In this position, she directed JWCI’s major annual giving program and direct mail program and managed the Donor Relations team. In addition, Cohee worked for the Colburn School and the Barlow Respiratory Hospital/Barlow Foundation.
Cohee earned a BA from Penn State University and holds a Certificate in Fundraising from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Jo-Ann Crank provides the necessary vision, leadership and support to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s Community Relationship Managers to successfully recruit, manage and support a strong volunteer base. She ensures the organization can deliver mission-related programs, increase awareness and raise funds through signature programs.
Crank has 19 years of experience offering strategic direction, leadership and support for staff and volunteers. She has overseen and directed all aspects of fundraising, as well as volunteer and mission activities, managing a successful $10 million income portfolio.
After volunteering at the American Cancer Society for 15 years, Crank became employed at the organization and held numerous positions. She served as the Ohio Division, Relay for Life Lead, while successfully managing a regional staff of 32 members and 13 volunteer boards. She also fulfilled the roles of Regional Vice President, Senior Director of Relay for Life, Executive Director and Planned Giving Director. Crank also worked as a Trust Officer at the Second National Bank of Warren, Ohio, managing estates, trust accounts and investments.
Crank is a member of Associates of Fundraising Professionals.
As Vice President of Major Gifts, Christine Dittmer and her team help to accelerate the groundbreaking work of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network by partnering with generous philanthropists across the nation.
Dittmer has 30 years of experience in leading development efforts for nonprofit organizations. She has served as the senior vice president, Philanthropy, senior vice president, Corporate Relations and most recently the senior vice president of Board and Volunteer Relations for the 10-state western region of the American Heart Association (AHA).
While at the AHA, Dittmer also held the position of national Chair of the Individual Giving Task Force and led the creation of a major gifts road map for the organization. She worked on the national Go Red for Women Cause Marketing Task Force and the national planning committee, which created and launched the AHA’s top fundraising event for the last two decades, Heart Walk.
Dittmer has received numerous AHA awards, including the National Major Gifts Excellence Award, National Total Growth in Outright Gifts Award, National Impact Award and Distinguished Performance during a Campaign Award. She finds joy in building relationships to advance life-changing causes and supporting teams to reach new heights.
Dittmer holds a BA from California State University, Fullerton with majors in Communications and American Studies.
Sudheer Doss, PhD, is responsible for creating the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s data and technology vision and strategy and for leading all data-driven decisions. He oversees a team responsible for data organization-wide, including health and corporate.
Doss previously worked as director of the precision medicine practice for Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC). For more than a decade, he led PwC consulting engagements to develop and execute strategy and improve operational efficiencies. Doss’ educational background in science -- specifically genomics and bioinformatics -- and his professional experience in strategic and operational initiatives in precision medicine, make him a natural fit in the non-profit healthcare space.
Doss is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, where he received a PhD in human genetics and bioinformatics and a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and molecular genetics.
As Director of Patient Services for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Nicole Lise Feingold oversees the Patient Central call-in center and the organization’s education events.
Previously, Feingold worked for more than 10 years at the Alzheimer’s Association, where she served as Director of Clinical Outreach for the California Southland Chapter, supervising over 150 volunteer facilitators, staff and consultants. Her experience with the organization, including securing major gifts, grant management, program outreach, marketing, facilitating trainings and case management, is extensive. Feingold has also held key positions at the Palmcrest House, a residential care facility in Long Beach, and the John Wayne Cancer Institute of Santa Monica.
She received her BA in community studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz and her MA in clinical psychology from Antioch University. Her clinical background includes providing individual and group psychotherapy as well as facilitating educational workshops at the Cancer Support Community – Benjamin Center.
David Gonzales administers all day to day financial and accounting operations as Controller of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to efficiently achieve the goals of the organization.
A Certified Public Accountant, Gonzales began his professional career in public accounting and gained more than 20 years of experience with an emphasis in nonprofit accounting. Previously, he served as Director of Finance for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers in Industry, Calif. Gonzales also held leadership positions at Maryvale/Los Angeles Orphan Asylum and Cathedral High School of Los Angeles as well as volunteered his services to various nonprofit organizations.
He earned his BS from California State University, Los Angeles and his Certificate in Financial Planning & Management of Nonprofit Organizations from California State University, Fullerton. Gonzales is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Randy Hui leads the digital marketing and communications strategy for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. He is responsible for maximizing the organization’s reach and influence across digital platforms and channels as well as overseeing digital outreach, acquisition and engagement strategies.
Hui has over 17 years of experience in digital marketing strategy and project management. Previously, he served as Associate Director, Digital Media, at City of Hope, Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he directed all social media marketing, email marketing and helped oversee more than 25 websites and microsites. He also developed the organization’s award-winning social media program and network of news blogs.
Additionally, Hui held the position of Account Supervisor at Javelin Direct, an Omnicom Group Agency in Dallas, where he led account strategy and management of interactive initiatives for the agency’s primary account, AT&T Communications. He also developed and managed integrated consumer and business marketing programs at Sprint/Nextel in Dallas.
Hui earned his BA in Design & Media Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles
Jenny Isaacson is the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Projects, Office of the CEO. She is responsible for cultivating and managing strategic partnerships and accompanying projects that align with the organization’s priorities and growth strategies, under the direction of the President/CEO.
Isaacson brings more than 20 years of experience in development, marketing and communications and volunteer management to the organization. She has a strong background in strategic planning, as well as building and maximizing corporate partnerships and developing cause-related marketing and national fundraising promotions, having held key positions at Starlight Children’s Foundation.
Isaacson received her BA from the University of East Anglia, Norwich, Great Britain, where she graduated with honors. She has served on the board of My Friend’s Place, a Los Angeles resource center for homeless youth, as well as the Silverlake Independent Jewish Community Center at a time when the Center was threatened with imminent closure. Now a thriving family education and community gathering space, the Center was saved because of the passion and commitment of local families and community members. It was this experience that convinced Isaacson that idealistic commitment can lead to great success in overcoming the seemingly impossible.
Rick Leonard directs all of the development activities of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network as Chief Gift Officer, including principal gifts, major gifts, strategic partnerships and operations.
Prior to this role, Leonard worked for more than 15 years at City of Hope, where he served as Associate Vice President, Development. He helped lead the strategic cultivation of donor relationships including the development and implementation of grateful patient programs, collaboration with science and medical professionals for clinical and basic research programs, identification of prospects and development of donor recognition opportunities. Leonard also held leadership roles in the communications and publishing industry at Agenda Communications, Mirage Editions and Knapp Communications.
Leonard has been an active participant in a number of community activities as an elected member of the Encino Neighborhood Council, as a Trustee of Temple Judea of Tarzana and as a board member of weSpark Cancer Support Center. He earned his BA in economics from University of California, Los Angeles and his MBA from the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business.
As Associate Director of Human Resources, Sylvia Lewis supports people-related activities for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, with an emphasis on staffing and selection, employee onboarding programs, compliance and HR administration.
Lewis has more than 10 years of experience in personnel management and most recently served as Manager of Human Resources for Shields for Families. She also held the positions of Assistant Director of Human Resources at Woodbury University and Human Resources Employment Supervisor for Hallmark Aviation. Her extensive experience spans many areas in the field including: recruitment, onboarding and retention, employee relations, performance management, policy, training and development. She also has special training in the subjects of compensation and benefits, California labor and employment law and communication.
Lewis holds a BA in Sociology and Afro-Ethnic Studies from California State University, Fullerton.
As Chief Medical Officer, Victoria Manax Rutson provides strategic direction and operational oversight to the organization’s high-priority clinical initiatives, with particular emphasis on the Precision Promise initiative and its Clinical Trial Consortium. She works closely with our Chief Science Officer, clinical cancer research institutions and biopharmaceutical companies to build a productive and collaborative team that will accelerate progress toward the goal to double pancreatic cancer survival by 2020.
Manax Rutson comes to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network from Celgene Corporation, most recently serving as their executive medical director and gastrointestinal therapeutic lead in U.S. Medical Affairs.
Manax Rutson received her M.B. BCh B.A.O (MD equivalent) from University College Dublin. She completed her medical training at St. Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin and University Hospital Galway. Following her training in Ireland, she embarked on a career in the biotech industry at Abraxis Bioscience. She joined the Celgene team in 2010 to focus on the solid tumor program. Manax Rutson was involved in the development and approval of the drug Abraxane for multiple indications and served as the global medical lead for the launch of Abraxane in pancreatic cancer.
The Dallas Business Journal named Manax Rutson as one of the leading individuals in “40 Under 40” in 2010 and as part of “Who’s Who in Healthcare” in 2013.
As VP, Scientific & Medical Affairs, Donna DeDario Manross plays an integral role in the strategic direction, implementation, assessment and continual improvement of initiatives and operations within Scientific & Medical Affairs. She provides leadership, guidance and oversight to the Research Grants, Patient and Health Care Professional Services, and Clinical Initiatives departments. Manross has previously served as Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and established meaningful and mutually beneficial corporate, industry and institutional alliances through initiatives aligned with the goals of both the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and the partner organizations. Throughout her career in nonprofit, corporate and agency positions, she has secured and managed successful alliances with dozens of Fortune 500 companies and also has strong experience providing media and communications services professional services organizations, retailers, hospitality companies, hospitals and nonprofits.
Manross earned her BS in journalism from the University of Georgia, Athens with a focus on women’s studies.
In 1996, Pamela Acosta Marquardt lost her mother to pancreatic cancer following a six-month battle. After discovering there was no organization that dealt with pancreatic cancer, Marquardt became determined to do something to ensure that patients and families had a place to turn to for information, resources and hope. In November 1998, she produced the An Evening with the Stars gala in Beverly Hills, by rallying and bringing together celebrity families who had lost loved ones to the disease. The gala was the first-ever major fundraising event for pancreatic cancer. Event proceeds funded the first early detection lab for pancreatic cancer at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. In February 1999, she founded the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network with the goal of it becoming a beacon of hope for those touched by the disease.
Marquardt served on the board of directors of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network prior to joining its staff full time in 2007. A devoted advocate and tenacious leader within the pancreatic cancer community, she is also a highly regarded public speaker, regularly addressing the organization’s mission and its goal of creating a brighter future for pancreatic cancer patients.
Previously, Marquardt was Executive Director of the American Heart Association in the Inland Empire area of Southern California, where she oversaw fundraising and development. She also served in a vice president capacity in various industries, including industrial metal recycling, where she developed marketing strategies and operational systems for a leading scrap metal company, and in fashion, where she oversaw private-label management and design, as well as site procurement and store design.
As Chief Science Officer, Lynn Matrisian brings extensive experience and a passion for cancer research, combined with business training, to lead the organization’s Scientific & Medical Affairs teams as they strive to reach the goal of doubling pancreatic cancer survival by 2020.
Prior to joining the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Matrisian put her scientific training to work for 25 years leading a research laboratory dedicated to understanding cancer metastasis. She has published more than 220 original scientific articles and trained more than 30 young scientists who have gone on to join the fight against cancer in the academic, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, government and nonprofit sectors.
Matrisian was the founding chair of the department of cancer biology in the School of Medicine at Vanderbilt University, the president of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and a special assistant to the director of the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. She was elected to the AACR Academy, which recognizes and honors distinguished scientists whose major scientific contributions have propelled significant innovation and progress against cancer.
Matrisian received a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Arizona and an MBA from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University.
Tammie Meena oversees strategic execution, leadership and oversight for our volunteer affiliates in select regions, including leading internal cross-functional teams to execute national and regional priorities. Meena ensures affiliates are on track to meet goals and objectives, and she is responsible for the overall volunteer experience, local engagement and affiliate success.
Meena brings more than 10 years of development and event management experience to the organization with expertise in the nonprofit and healthcare industries. With a wealth of organizational knowledge, she has served in various leadership positions since 2010, including most recently, Associate Director, Signature Events. Previously, she served in a leadership position at The Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric Aids Foundation and worked for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Meena holds a BA in marketing and management emphasis from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
Angel Montanez plays an integral role in building and sustaining the growth of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network as Vice President of Operations by directing the operational efficiencies of the organization, optimizing data-driven tactics and overseeing the framework for annual planning and project implementation. Previously, she has served in various leadership roles for PanCAN, including Senior Director of Operations, Senior Director of Development Operations and Director of National Affiliate Relations & Strategy.
Montanez has more than 20 years of nonprofit operations, data management, program development, fundraising, human resources and volunteer management experience. She has held a variety of key roles in organizations such as Starlight Children’s Foundation, Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking and UCLA UniCamp.
She earned her BA in sociology with a minor in women’s studies from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Wendy Moran provides vision and strategic leadership for PanCAN’s Community Engagement team. The team works to successfully recruit, partner with and support a strong national volunteer base to enable delivery of PanCAN’s mission-related programs, increase awareness and raise funds to achieve the organization’s goals.
Moran offers more than 20 years of experience directing successful volunteer-led, staff-supported community engagement and fundraising programs for nonprofits. Prior to joining PanCAN, she served as Director of Constituent Events for the Alzheimer’s Association, where she developed nationwide strategies and implementation tactics to support the growth of the organization’s DIY event, The Longest Day.
Previously, Moran was the Managing Director of Strategic Direction for the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) Relay for Life Program nationwide and globally. During her 17-year tenure with ACS, Moran also held the position of Director of Celebration on the Hill, where she was the staff lead in a joint Relay for Life/advocacy event on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Moran studied communications at the University of Alabama.
Cassadie Moravek oversees the organization’s Clinical Initiatives, including the Know Your Tumor® precision medicine service, Clinical Trial Finder and the Patient Registry. In close collaboration with Patient Services, Moravek ensures that the programs are offered to the appropriate patients and that the services are easy to use and effective. In addition, Moravek and her team collect, analyze and publish data to disseminate our findings and contribute to best practices in the field.
Moravek received her BS degree in biology from Pepperdine University. She joined the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in 2010 as a Patient and Liaisons Services (now Patient Central) Associate. She has since been promoted to manager, senior manager and now associate director.
She represents PanCAN in several advisory roles, including serving as a Patient Advocate on the Pancreas Task Force, Patient Advocate on review panel for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Guidelines and Patient Advocate for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancer Guideline Advisory Group.
As Director of Marketing, Mari Ramskill oversees all marketing content initiatives for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Ramskill brings more than 20 years of experience in marketing and operations to the organization including creative and content development, digital marketing, integrated campaigns, advertising, brand development and PR.
Her most recent employment was as Vice President of Marketing Strategy for We Design LA, a boutique digital marketing firm, where she led both technical and creative teams in developing insights-based marketing, advertising and PR solutions. Previously, she served as Director of Marketing at Pacific Theatres and ArcLight Cinemas, where she directed the marketing, advertising and PR group responsible for developing and building the ArcLight Cinemas brand.
Ramskill earned her BS from the University of Southern California and her MBA from Loyola Marymount University.
As the Associate Director of Advocacy, Meaghan Slater is responsible for creating, developing and implementing the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s Advocacy program. She executes a wide range of strategic, analytical and campaign tactics to deliver results, including engaging current constituents and recruiting new constituents to advance the organization’s public policy and legislative agenda. She also manages National Pancreatic Cancer Advocacy Day.
Slater has 10 years of experience in the nonprofit advocacy space, most recently serving as Senior Manager, Grassroots Advocacy and previously as Political and Field Director for the National Association of Letter Carriers. At the organization, she established, led and delivered issue-based campaigns to promote the organization’s legislative priorities. She also has a proven track record of moving volunteers up an engagement ladder, building programs that bridge online and off-line volunteer activities to deepen their relationship with the organization and influence policymakers.
Slater holds a BA in political science with a minor in philosophy from the Catholic University of America.
Kevin Sims delivers leadership and support to PanCAN’s team of Community Relationship Managers who successfully recruit and manage a strong volunteer base along the East and Gulf Coasts. Together, they ensure PurpleStride events are successful and volunteers can make an impact on the organization’s mission.
Prior to joining PanCAN, Sims was Senior Director of Community Development for the American Cancer Society, responsible for the income and volunteer recruitment for Washington, D.C., Maryland, Delaware and northern Virginia. He also worked as an Assistant News Director and Morning News Anchor for WTVC-TV in Chattanooga, Tenn., and as a Lead Evening News Reporter for KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Sims earned his BA in broadcast journalism from the University of Oklahoma.
As Chief Development and Community Engagement Officer for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Lori Stevens drives strategy, management, leadership and implementation of the organization’s fundraising efforts and volunteer engagement activities.
She brings extensive nonprofit and corporate sales experience to the role, along with a successful track record in revenue growth, strategic planning, team management and special event execution.
Most recently Lori served as Senior Vice President for the Western States Affiliate of the American Heart Association, where she was responsible for Division revenue and mission impact in alignment with both affiliate and national goals and priorities.
Stevens also served as Vice President, Field Operations of the Western Division for the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for eight years, driving $33 million in revenue. Throughout her 20-year tenure with ADA, she held progressive roles from Regional Corporate Development Director to Senior Executive Director.
Stevens holds a BS in business administration from the University of Southern California.
Abigail Winston brings more than 20 years of experience to her position as Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer, including 15 years of nonprofit accounting experience. She is responsible for the operational and financial strategic leadership of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and is charged with maintaining sound logistical and fiscal management of the organization. Winston and her team ensure that optimal financial, technological and human resources are in place to fulfill the organization’s key objectives.
Prior to joining the organization, Winston worked with Portland, Oregon-based College Housing Northwest and the Alpert Jewish Community Center in Long Beach, California. She started her career in public accounting and also worked in distribution and manufacturing before finding her passion in finance for nonprofit organizations. Winston earned her BA in accounting from the University of Arizona.
