national Board of Directors

Jason Kuhn
Chairman of the Board

Stephanie R. Davis, JD, MA
Sherman Oaks, California

Tim Ennis
Immediate Past Chairman
Boca Raton, Florida and Lockport, New York

Julie M. Fleshman, JD, MBA
President and CEO
Los Angeles, California

Stevan Holmberg, MBA, DBA
Potomac, Maryland

Peter Kovler
Washington, DC

Laurie MacCaskill
Los Angeles, CA

Jai Pausch
Hampton Roads, Virginia

Cynthia Stroum
Founding Chairman
Seattle, Washington

Jason Kuhn
Chairman of the Board
Tampa, Florida
Jason Kuhn was born and raised in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and finance at Washington University in St. Louis, a law degree from the Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, and an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law.

After practicing for KPMG in New York City, Mr. Kuhn moved to Miami to enter the automobile business. In 1998, he formed Direct Automotive, which purchased a chain of car dealerships based in North and Central Florida. Jason currently serves as the President and CEO of Direct, which is headquartered in Tampa.

Jason was the youngest car dealer ever to be elected to serve on the board of the Florida Automobile Dealers Association, and continues to serve in the capacity of director. He has conducted educational seminars in automotive acquisitions, and strategic operations.

Jason is very involved in non-profit fundraising and sits on various local boards. In 2004, Jason lost his 62 year old father to pancreatic cancer, and since then has been active in the cancer community both locally and on a national level. He is working closely with Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa to eventually initiate a pancreatic cancer center of excellence.
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Stephanie R. Davis, JD, MA
Sherman Oaks, California
Stephanie Davis was born and raised in Sherman Oaks, California. She has remained a dedicated member of her community and has worked with various organizations to help the community strive and prosper. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater at California State University Northridge, a Law Degree from the University of La Verne, and a Masters in Psychology from Phillips Graduate Institute in Encino, CA.

Stephanie lost her mother, maternal aunt and grandmother to pancreatic cancer. She additionally lost her mother's maternal cousin and her paternal uncle to pancreatic cancer. She is absolutely dedicated to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Inc. and our mission.

She is a lawyer, mediator and psychotherapist. Admitted to the California State Bar in 1990, much of her time is spent working with various associations in helping to fulfill their missions. She has experience as a litigator, however her passion lies in the art of communication. She is a senior intern at the California Family Counseling Center in Encino, California, working with children, individuals, couples and families. She spent two years working with incarcerated youth in two of Los Angeles County's Probation Camps. She is currently studying for her MFT license.

She has embraced a variety of public and private organizations over the past many years. She served as adjunct faculty at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Museum of Tolerance, in Los Angeles. She was one of the first people recruited and trained by their "Tools for Tolerance" program as a facilitator and has trained numerous law enforcement agencies on issues surrounding diversity. Other organizations that have benefited from her talents include Bet Tzedek Legal Services, Dispute Resolution Services of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Los Angeles Valley College and our own Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Inc.

Stephanie has been married for 28 years and has two grown sons.
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Tim Ennis
Immediate Past Chairman
Boca Raton, Florida and Lockport, New York
Tim Ennis is the President and CEO of Montondo's Seafood, Inc., a major supplier of seafood to restaurants and institutions in the Western New York area. Tim has won numerous awards including the 1998 Niagara Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year and the 1992 Eastern Niagara Chamber Retailer of the Year. He sits on the Town of Lockport planning board, the Lockport Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, the Dale Association Senior Citizen Board, he is a member of the Partners in Pride Program with the Lockport School District and he is the Co-Chairman of the Lockport Memorial Hospital Modernization Project. He is a past member of the Town of Lockport Zoning Board.

Tim lost his wife, Barbara, to pancreatic cancer on March 7, 2000. His son, Christopher, is a chef working at The Argyle in West Hollywood, California.
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Under Julie’s leadership, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network has laid the groundwork to make true inroads on this disease. The organization’s advocacy and grassroots efforts have led to a 400% increase in federal funding for pancreatic cancer research and the organization has funded researchers from around the country. Over 35,000 patients and families have been served through the Patient and Liaison Services program. Its grassroots network has grown to 75 volunteer affiliates, and in 2006, its first international affiliate in Japan opened.

Julie graduated from Santa Clara University School of Law and Leavey School of Business in December 2000 with a JD/MBA degree. Julie graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1997 with a B.A. in Law & Society and was awarded most outstanding graduating senior in the Law & Society program. She also studied abroad at Oxford University and in Tokyo, Japan. 
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Stevan Holmberg, MBA, DBA
Potomac, Maryland
Dr. Stevan Holmberg was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tulsa and his MBA and Doctor of Business Administration degrees from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. He is a Professor in the Kogod School of Business at American University in Washington, DC and teaches in the area of strategic management; strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions; and entrepreneurship. He is Chair of the Management Department and former Acting Dean of the Kogod School of Business.

Dr. Holmberg became a member of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Board of Directors after losing his wife, Margie to pancreatic cancer. Margie was a sixth grade reading and English teacher in Montgomery County, Maryland. She lost her battle with pancreatic cancer on April 4, 2007. During the thirteen months of her illness, he conducted extensive research on alternative treatments and found the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s patient information resources extremely valuable and insightful.

Dr. Holmberg is very honored and proud to join the fight to enhance diagnostic and treatment research, encourage additional federal government funding, provide information and hope to patients and their families, and to encourage others to join in raising their voices to find a cure. He has participated in the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s annual gala, An Evening with the Stars, Patient Educational Symposium events, government relations advocacy, and assisted in fund raising.

Dr. Holmberg has been very involved with numerous medical and non-medical nonprofit organizations. He has assisted nonprofit organizations in developing and implementing strategic plans, building membership and funding, assessing member needs, developing effective organizations, formulating entrepreneurial and innovative ideas, and practical financial management tools and metrics.
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Peter Kovler
Washington, DC
Peter Kovler serves as the Director of the Marjorie Kovler Philanthropic Fund and as Chairman of the Board of the Blum-Kovler Foundation. He also serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Center for National Policy and is the founder of Chicago’s Kovler Center for Victims of Torture. With an impressive background in government affairs, Kovler previously worked as an award-winning documentary producer, as well as an acclaimed editor, speech writer and reporter. In 1970, Kovler lost his mother to pancreatic cancer; he now serves as a committed advocate to advancing research into the disease. He lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife, Judy.
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Laurie MacCaskill
Los Angeles, CA
Since she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2006, Laurie MacCaskill has served as a tireless volunteer and advocate for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. She and her husband, Paul, divide their time between Los Angeles and Aspen, Colorado. Passionate about furthering preventative health, wellness and nutrition causes, MacCaskill was one of the founding board members of the Aspen Center for Integral Health, volunteers with The Colleagues in Los Angeles, and serves as Chairman of the National Committee for the Performing Arts with the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. MacCaskill has an extensive background in the field of advertising, working with major publications including Time, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated and USNews and World Report as well as the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency. She also has co-owned a commercial design firm, was employed as a residential real estate agent, worked in a fine art gallery specializing in modern and contemporary masters, and trained Fortune 500 company executives on honing their communication skills.
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Jai Pausch
Hampton Roads, Virginia
Jai Pausch became an impassioned advocate promoting pancreatic cancer research following the death of her husband, Randy Pausch, PhD, acclaimed Carnegie Mellon University professor and author of the internationally best-selling book, The Last Lecture, who passed from the disease in 2008. Previously, Jai Pausch led the Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science Web team as the Director of Electronic Publications. She also served as Outreach Coordinator for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Department of Computer Science. Pausch holds a B.A. in French Language and Literature from North Carolina State University, and an M.A. degree in Comparative Literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Today, Pausch researches do-it-yourself instructional videos for home repairs and remodeling. She lives with her children, Dylan, Logan and Chloe, in Hampton Roads, Virginia.
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Cynthia Stroum
Founding Chairman
Seattle, Washington
Cynthia Stroum received her Bachelor of Arts degree in public relations/journalism cum laude from the University of Southern California. After graduation, Cynthia stayed in Los Angeles and worked in the film industry, eventually producing national television commercials. Returning home to Seattle, she became involved in community service, establishing two philanthropic foundations as well as handling her personal investments in start-up businesses (Starbuck’s being one of them). Cynthia was a Tony nominated producer for the 2004 Broadway production of A Raisin in the Sun.

After recently completing her maximum term as a trustee of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, she was appointed a member of the Senior Council. She has served on the boards of Pacific Northwest Ballet, Northwest School for Hearing-Impaired Children, Channel 9/KCTS (Public Television), the Jewish Television Network, University Prep (a private school in Seattle), The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, A Contemporary Theatre and The Shoah Foundation (founded by Steven Spielberg). She was a Washington State Arts Commissioner and also served on Senator Patty Murray’s (D-WA) and Senator Maria Cantwell’s (D-WA) executive finance and planning committees. Cynthia continues to be politically active and is on the Obama for America National Finance Committee.

Since her father’s diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in 2000 and subsequent death a year later, Cynthia has helped to bring greater visibility to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network as the founding Chairman of the Board. In addition to raising critical funding for research to fund a cure, she has played an important role in helping to move Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s legislative agenda through Congress. She also tirelessly speaks to families all over the country who are battling pancreatic cancer.
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