Volunteer Advisory Council

The Volunteer Advisory Council (VAC) is a group of Pancreatic Cancer Action Network volunteers who provide feedback and advice to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network with regard to the Community Outreach program, volunteer affiliate network and other initiatives of the organization.

Tammy Andries Tammy Andries is both a survivor of pancreatic cancer as well as the Affiliate Coordinator of the Madison Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Since her diagnosis in 2005, she has worked passionately for increased awareness, funding and research for this disease. In 2007 Tammy joined the local affiliate and has since served in various core role positions, including Event Coordinator, Volunteer Chair and Affiliate Coordinator. As Event Coordinator she began the affiliate’s Jazzed for Hope Gala with her sister, which has raised nearly $400,000 in the past four years. Tammy has received multiple awards from the organization including Event Coordinator of the Year and Affiliate of the Year. She also volunteers with the organization’s Survivor and Caregiver Network, where she is able to provide hope and support to others facing pancreatic cancer. Currently she lives in Waunakee, WI, with her husband and high school sweetheart, Brandon, and their three children, Jacob, Sophia and Claire. Previously, Tammy has worked in television and radio, public relations, marketing and event planning.

Todd Cohen After losing his father to pancreatic cancer in 2002, Todd Cohen made finding a cure to this insidious disease a priority in his life. He has served as the Media Representative of the Northern New Jersey Affiliate since the group’s inception in 2007 and was named the organization’s Media Representative of the Year in 2011. He has helped oversee an affiliate that has raised over $450,000 and was named the Large Market Affiliate of the Year in 2012. Todd received his B.A. in Political Science and Journalism at Rutgers University in 1998, and his Masters in Special Education in 2007 and certification as a Learning Consultant Teaching Consultant in 2011 at Kean University. Todd lives in Edison, New Jersey. He is a middle school special education teacher and freelance writer for several different media outlets. Prior to working as a teacher, Todd worked for Merrill Lynch for five years and as a staff member at Camp Harmony in Warren, NJ. Even though his dream of being a cast member on Saturday Night Live has not yet happened, he likes to use social media as a mechanism for raising awareness about this disease and, of course, making people laugh.

Brenda Coleman Brenda Coleman has served as the Affiliate Coordinator of the Twin Cities Affiliate for that past three years and is also a 10 year pancreatic adenocarcinoma survivor. Her diagnosis at age 44 caught Brenda and her family completely off guard and initially there were very few sources they could turn to for pancreatic cancer information and support. Today, Brenda’s passion for volunteering with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is the result of the resources, support, community and sense of hope offered to her through the organization. After celebrating seven years of survivorship, Brenda wanted to get involved in the fight against pancreatic cancer and accepted the Education & Outreach Coordinator role in the affiliate. Within the year, she stepped into the Affiliate Coordinator role and focused on building the affiliate and furthering its reach to other areas of Minnesota. Brenda worked as an engineer in the sales and marketing field of electronics and computer technology before becoming an active volunteer and stay-at-home mom for her four children. She has volunteered in a variety of non-profit settings, coordinating projects, leading groups, developing communications, facilitating planning and coaching other volunteers.

Mariann Cheney Since her husband Ralph’s diagnosis of stage III pancreatic cancer in January 2005, Mariann Cheney has served as a volunteer for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in a variety of roles. Currently she and her husband, an 8 year survivor of both pancreatic and prostate cancer, are Community Representatives in Hudson Valley, New York. A native of Sloatsburg, New York, Mariann received her B.A. from Ramapo College New Jersey and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Business Administration. She is the Human Resources Director for Occupations, Inc., Family Empowerment Council, Inc. and New Dynamics Inc.; all non-profit agencies that provide services and employment to people with mental health and developmental disabilities. She has served on the Advisory Board of Directors for the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley and is a member of the Society of Human Resource Professionals. She currently serves as President of the American Legion Auxiliary of Unit 73 in Monticello, New York where she and Ralph live on Swinging Bridge Lake.

Maija Eerkes As well as being a 6 year pancreatic cancer survivor, Maija Eerkes is the Advocacy Coordinator of the Puget Sound Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and a volunteer for the organization’s Survivor & Caregiver Network. After retiring in December 2005, she began to experience discomfort in her back and chest, which she assumed was the result of a past sports injury. After seeing her internist months later, Maija was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at age 52. After aggressive treatments, the tumor shrunk, and by 2007, could no longer be detected. As a survivor of pancreatic cancer, Maija was inspired to work on behalf of the cause. Her efforts include fundraising and creating awareness through local events, connecting people within the pancreatic cancer community, offering hope to newly diagnosed patients and their families, and lobbying legislators for increased emphasis on research and NCI funding for this disease.

Carol Foreman Carol became the Community Representative in Western Kentucky in October 2010, only two months after losing her father to pancreatic cancer. When he was diagnosed earlier that year, Carol’s life changed forever. From his first chemo treatment, to his last breath, she was at his side. In researching the disease, she came across the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Carol wanted to use her father’s name, “Minus John Leleaux,” his life and his illness to advocate and help find a cure for the disease that took him so quickly. She wanted to fight for a world “MINUS” pancreatic cancer in his memory. Carol is a Cajun girl from Southwest Louisiana. She is a Licensed Practical Nurse and loves all things outside as well as spending time with her husband, two daughters and seven grandchildren. Since becoming the Community Representative in Western Kentucky she has built a growing team of volunteers and has planned the first-ever PurpleLight in Kentucky.

Noila Johnson After losing a dear friend to pancreatic cancer, Noila Johnson began looking for more information on the disease and found the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. In 2011, she volunteered for PurpleStride New York City, where she was able to connect with volunteers from the local affiliate. Since September 2011, Noila has served as the Education and Outreach Coordinator of the affiliate, working to inform local healthcare professionals and the general public about pancreatic cancer. Through volunteering, Noila has met many pancreatic cancer survivors as well as those, like herself, who have lost someone to the disease. She is inspired by these opportunities to be able to talk to those who have similar experiences and share a message of hope. A native of Jamaica, Noila migrated to New York nearly 28 years ago. She received her Bachelor of Professional Studies in Business from Audrey Cohen College (now Metropolitan College of New York) and is currently pursuing her MBA in Healthcare Administration. Additionally, she has worked at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for the past 12 years. Noila has four daughters and seven wonderful grandchildren.

Melissa Mason Melissa is the Event Co-Coordinator for the Atlanta Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, which she joined in 2010. She works with a team of volunteers to plan PurpleStride Atlanta, which attracted over 1400 participants and raised nearly $200,000 in 2011 alone. In 1999, Melissa lost her Grandmother to pancreatic cancer. Ten years later her father was also diagnosed with this disease. He was healthy, active and young, but the statistics were against him. His cancer spread quickly and he passed just three months after diagnosis. Melissa grew up just outside of Milwaukee, WI. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Finance and International Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She currently works as the School Operations Manager at The Intown Academy, a K-8 charter school in Atlanta. Melissa’s father cared deeply about others and taught his children at a young age to always give back. It was his commitment to serving others that motivated Melissa to dedicate her time to raising awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer. She gains inspiration from her family, especially her Mom, who lost both her husband and her mother to pancreatic cancer. Melissa is hopeful that the statistics can change, and that together we can double the survival rate by 2020.

Lindsey McDonald Lindsey is the Event Coordinator for the Kansas City Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. She joined the affiliate in 2009 after losing her father-in-law to pancreatic cancer. Since then Lindsey has planned many fundraising events, including Night of Hope Kansas City 2010 and 2011, as well as PurpleStride Kansas City in 2011 and 2012. In early 2012, she was selected as the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s Event Coordinator of the Year. Lindsey graduated from the University of Iowa and enjoys trips with her family back to Iowa City to cheer for alma mater, the Iowa Hawkeyes. She currently resides in Shawnee, Kansas, with her husband Ryan and two children, Maddy and AJ. Lindsey also works full-time at ScriptPro, a pharmacy automation company in Mission, Kansas where she has worn many hats including Trainer, Project Manager and Workflow Analyst. She currently manages the Field Operations Configuration Management group which focuses on new product development, testing and release.

Greg Petrosewicz Known more commonly as “Greg P.,” Greg is the former Affiliate Coordinator of the Austin Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and a charter member of the organization’s Volunteer Advisory Committee. He has served in this role since the group formed in 2007. His passion for fighting pancreatic cancer comes as a result of losing his mother, Jane, in 2001, only 7 short months after diagnosis. In addition, he also lost a childhood mentor and four extended family members to this disease. Greg was born in South Carolina and has lived in Michigan, Ohio, Southern California and Texas. He is a graduate of the University of Texas and has been trained as a professional chef. His past careers include retail management, cooking class instruction, catering and real estate. Currently, he manages a local web and retail company called Dogstuff, which specializes in dog breed specific giftware and supplies, and he continues to work in real estate. Greg lives with David, his partner of 18 years, in Central Austin. They enjoy entertaining friends at home, watching cooking and home improvement shows and spending time with their two Boston Terriers.

Gael Sandoval Gael is the Affiliate Co-Coordinator of the Detroit Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. In 2006, nine months after her husband, Ricky Sandoval, was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer, she helped launch the Detroit Affiliate of the organization. The group quickly grew to become a very active and successful affiliate. Sadly, in July 2009, Ricky lost his fight with pancreatic cancer, further reinforcing Gael’s commitment to finding a cure for this disease. After graduating from Louisiana State University, Gael has had a successful career with over 20 years of experience in project and event management. She began in the hotel industry, before later moving into event planning. Highlights of her career include working on Super Bowls XXIX and XL as well as extensive experience in the planning and execution of medical conferences, media events and non-profit association management. She now uses her expertise on behalf of JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) where she manages the Foundation’s relationship with its top corporate partner. Gael resides in Royal Oak, Michigan.

Jay Stern Jay has volunteered with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network since 2009 when he started the Oklahoma Affiliate and still serves as the affiliate’s Affiliate Coordinator. His connection to pancreatic cancer is through his mother, Patsy Stern, and maternal grandmother, Janet Gallen, both of whom lost their battles with the disease. Jay received his B.S. in Marketing from Miami University in Ohio, and a Graduate Marketing Certificate from Southern Methodist University. In his professional career, Jay has spent the past 25 years in progressive sales, marketing and business development within the healthcare industry. Specifically, his experience has focused on starting-up, growing and turning around pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Most recently, he has served in Senior Management roles at Akorn, a specialty pharmaceutical company, and Pulsion Medical Systems, a medical device company. He is currently Vice President of Marketing for Pharmacy OneSource, a web-based healthcare information technology provider. He also serves on the Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center Board of Advocates located in Oklahoma City. Jay currently lives in Edmond, Oklahoma, with his wife, Amy, along with their children Rob and Rachel.

Nicole Trella After losing her mother-in-law, Carol, to pancreatic cancer five years ago, Nicole Trella began volunteering with the local Pancreatic Cancer Action Network affiliate in Northern New Jersey. Nicole had adored her mother-in-law and saw volunteering with the organization as a way to turn her anger about this loss into something positive. Prior to becoming the Affiliate Co-Coordinator in 2009, she had also served as a general volunteer and Education and Outreach Coordinator with the affiliate. Nicole received a B.S. in Nursing from William Paterson University and an MBA in Marketing from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She now works as a registered nurse in the clinical research field and lives with her husband and two children in Parsippany, NJ. In the years that Nicole has volunteered with the organization she has made many lasting friendships and had the opportunity to meet many truly inspiring people.