What is
sPECial?
Sarcoma and PEComa Investigation and Action Leadership is committed to research, education, advocacy, and support for those diagnosed with sarcoma cancer.
Our Advisory Board
MARGARET MAY DAMEN CFP, CLU, ChFC
Founder and President
Margaret May Damen, CFP®, CLU, ChFC, CDFA, empowers women to create their public and private wealth legacy unique to their passion and purpose to make a difference in the world.
She began her focus on women's financial issues in 1990 with the publication of her book, Money$ense for Women. Today, her renowned workshop series, "The Life you Live is the Legacy You Leave," transcends traditional estate planning and empowers women to resolve existing psychological or emotional barriers that inhibit meaningful individual and family philanthropic giving.
Mrs. Damen retired as a Senior Financial Advisor and Managing principal with American Express Financial Advisors after a successful 18 year career. Her career in finance began in the mid-70s when she was a Vice-President for Development and Fundraising for Boston University. She received her Bachelor and Masters Degrees from Boston University. She was an instructor in investment and money management at Florida Atlantic University's continuing education department and is Past President of the Treasure Coast Planned Giving Council. Mrs. Damen is a member of the Stuart/Martin County Estate Planning Council, the Institute of Certified Financial Planners, Advisors in Philanthropy and Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties Estate Planning Core Group.
Mrs. Damen is listed in "Who's Who in Finance in America" and is a recipient of the Brandeis Women of the Year award and the Executive Women of the Palm Beach's Leadership Award.
Margaret May Damen is an accomplished trainer and public speaker. Her financial expertise, her experience in estate planning, philanthropic giving and her ability to speak from the heart. Allow her to bring a unique perspective to her clients and audiences. Her latest book will be published by John Wiley & Sons in Spring 2009.
MALCOLM ITKIN
Malcolm J. Itkin, BS, MS served as the Patient Services Coordinator of The sPECial Fund until his passing in October 2009. In March of 2008, Malcolm was diagnosed with a Malignant Solitary Fibrous Tumor (Sarcoma). As a result of his journey, Malcolm came to realize many BLESSINGS that have come to him. Malcolm's story is one of faith and attitude; he learned to trust in his gut because no one knows him better than he does. Malcolm believed that a strong mental attitude and faith have made a significant difference in the quality of his life. Some people view the "glass as being half empty while others always see it as half full." People live longer with the "half full" attitude. Stress and how you deal with it can influence your quality of life. Malcolm spent his life as an educator and leader. He has been a college professor, camp owner, business owner and lecturer. Malcolm was an inspiration to others because of his quiet courage and optimism. Malcolm's wife and their three children live in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Read his story.
BARBARA S. JEREMIAH
Executive Vice President - Chairman's Counsel
Pittsburgh/New York
Barbara Jeremiah was named executive vice president, Chairman's Counsel for Alcoa in May 2008. She had led Alcoa's corporate development activities for ten years, which include growth initiatives, supporting the businesses as they expand through acquisitions and/or joint ventures, finding opportunities that cross business lines, and divestitures. Key transactions during her tenure include the acquisitions of Cordant Technologies, Fairchild Fasteners, Rusal's fabricating assets in Russia, and Alcoa's investment in Chalco. Regarding Alcoa's portfolio, she led the creation of the SAPA extrusion joint venture and the divestitures of Alcoa's packaging and consumer group, Alcoa Home Exteriors, Integris and Thiokol among others. Barbara was elected an executive vice president in 2002. She is a member of the Alcoa Executive Council, the senior corporate leadership group that provides strategic direction.
Barbara joined Alcoa in 1977 as an attorney, and subsequently held a number of management positions in the Legal Department. She was elected assistant general counsel in 1992 and one year later elected secretary, where she was responsible for Alcoa Board of Directors meetings and related board matters. She was elected vice president of Corporate Development in 1998.
She serves on the Boards of Directors of Equitable Resources Inc. and Alcoa Foundation and the Board of Trustees of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Virginia Law School Foundation and the Business Advisory Council of the University of Virginia School of Law. Barbara is a member of the Committee of 200. She previously served on the Board of Trustees of Duquesne University, the Women's Center National Council at the University of Virginia and the Women's Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh.
She holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Brown University and a Juris Doctor degree in law from the University of Virginia. Barbara is married to John Wilson, retired Alcoa Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, and has two daughters. She was born January 9, 1952, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
CHRIS LAUB
Christopher L. Laub, BS, MT(ASCP) serves as a research coordinator of the sPECial Fund. He is the son of Phyllis A. Domm, the director of the sPECial Fund. Chris contributed to the article recently published in Women & Cancer. "The Special One" By Phyllis A. Domm, with Ashley and Chris Laub. Chris received a B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Sciences and a B.S. in Biology from the University of Utah. He gained his research skills in the Neurobiology lab at the University of Utah where he wrote the article, "Sex-linked Chromatism in Thalassoma bifasciatum", April 2005, University of Utah. He currently works as a Medical Technologist in the Molecular Sequencing Laboratory serving the Infectious Disease Division at ARUP. ARUP is a national clinical and anatomic pathology reference laboratory and a worldwide leader in innovative laboratory research and development. Previously, Chris worked at Myriad Genetics as a Laboratory Technician for the biopharmaceutical company. He focused on Quality Control methods as well as CODIS databasing. Chris has served in many community organizations involving cancer patients, immigrants and at risk youth. Chris and his wife have one child and reside in Salt Lake City, Utah.
RAY LEVITRE, CFP
Managing director of Net Worth Advisory Group,
a fee-only financial planning firm, is an investment advisor,
Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP™), and a member of NAPFA.
Financial Management Experience Ray has gained a unique perspective of the financial services industry during his 16 years of industry experience. Early in his career Ray worked as a mutual fund representative for one of the nation's largest mutual fund companies (Fidelity); a bank investment representative at one of the nation's largest banks (Citicorp); and as an insurance agent at a reputable life insurance company (Mutual of New York-MONY). Before becoming independent, Ray worked as a stock broker at the nation's largest brokerage firm (Merrill Lynch) and managed an office. Because Ray has seen the industry from many angles, he understands the types of products and services commission-based companies offer. As an independent fee-only advisor Ray is in a unique position to help people evaluate the products and services they have been sold by other advisors and help determine if they were given sound advice or need to make changes.
Education and Designations
Designations: Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP)
Financial Education: College For Financial Planning, CFP Professional Development Program
Financial Education: The Merrill Lynch School of Advanced Financial Management, CFM Program
College Education: University of Utah, Bachelor of Science
WENDY LOMICKA
Director, Corporate and Marketing Communications
Wendy provides leadership to NOVA Chemicals' corporate and product marketing communications. NOVA Chemicals manufactures plastics and chemicals that are essential to everyday life. Wendy's career focus is providing marketing and organizational leadership in health and science organizations. Prior to joining NOVA Chemicals in 2008, she worked in diverse healthcare settings advancing the research, clinical and operational strategies of her clients. She is a graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh, past chair of the WQED Community Advisory Board and competes with the Three Rivers Masters Rowing Team. Wendy and her husband John have two sons and reside in Pittsburgh, PA.
DR. ABRAHAM SCHWARZBERG
Dr. Abraham Schwarzberg received his Medical Oncology and Hematology training at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and his Internal Medicine training at the Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston. With an ongoing commitment to academic medicine and clinical research, he currently is a Clinical Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and is a staff physician at the Massachusetts General Hospital in the department of Medical Oncology. Locally, he is the program director for clinical trials at the Cancer Center of South Florida. Dr. Schwarzberg is currently seeing patients with all types of cancer, with a focus on genitourinary cancers, melanoma and lung cancer. He and his wife have two daughters and they are involved in multiple community organizations. Dr. Schwarzberg is an advisory board member of the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation and has an active role within the JFK Hospital oncology program.
DR. TALYA SCHWARZBERG
Dr. Talya Schwarzberg received her Medical Oncology and Hematology training at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and her Internal Medicine training at the Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston. She is currently a Clinical Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a staff physician at the Massachusetts General Hospital in the department of Medical Oncology. She is devoted to genetic counseling for breast cancer and colon cancer patients and has established a local genetics program staffed by highly trained genetic counselors from the Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Schwarzberg is currently seeing patients with all types of cancer, with a focus on breast, ovarian and gastrointestinal cancers. She and her husband have two daughters and are actively involved in local organizations.
JOANN M. SHAW
Before joining Management and Marketing Solutions Associates, Inc., JoAnn M. Shaw served as Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer of BJC HealthCare, and in similar roles at University of Chicago Hospitals and Health System, Michael Reese Medical Center, Children's Memorial Hospital, and FMC Corporation. She has extensive experience in human resources administration with an emphasis on change management, talent acquisition, employee-labor relations, human resources re-engineering and developing corporate "universities" for employee education. JoAnn earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame de Namur, and a certificate in Employee Relations Law from the Institute for Applied Management and Law in California. Four times, she has received the American Hospital Association Best Practices Award. In 2007, JoAnn received the BEST Award from The American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) for creating a innovative corporate university in healthcare. The American Hospital Association and American Society of Human Resources for Health Care Administration (ASHHRA) also awarded her their Distinguished Service Award for outstanding leadership. As a result of her multiple appearances testifying before Congress, she received the Leadership Legislative Award from the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) in 2000. In 2001 she was named one of Chicago's "100 Women Making a Difference" by the city's Today's Chicago Woman, and in 2005, she was recognized as one of the 10 most influential women leaders by the St. Louis YWCA.
DR. ANDREW J. WAGNER, MD, PhD
A graduate of Swarthmore College, Andrew J. Wagner received his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Chicago in 1995, and his MD from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine in 1997. After completing his internship and residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital he was appointed a fellowship in Medical Oncology and Hematology through Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Care. His work focuses on developing novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of sarcomas. Dr. Wagner is the Director of the Ludwig Center for Cancer Research Laboratory at Dana-Farber, an Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and is an Ad-Hoc Reviewer of the Journal of Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology.
RON ZERA
Director, Office Mgr.
Dallas
Ronald J. Zera is Office Managing Director of Korn/Ferry International's Dallas office and a Senior Client Partner specializing in the Global Consumer Market.
With more than two decades of executive search experience, Mr. Zera is a specialist in the consumer arena. Additionally, he has deep expertise in the industrial, healthcare and higher education sectors.
Prior to joining Korn/ Ferry, Mr. Zera was with another major executive search firm for 16 years, where he specialized in the QSR/ restaurant segment of their Consumer Goods & Services Practice. He has worked with global companies, as well as entrepreneurial startup organizations and both franchise and non-franchise multi-unit environments.
Mr. Zera has developed the candidate specifications and conducted the recruiting for senior managers in well-established public companies as well as in start-up firms.
These engagements have called for understanding the organization's unique situation, particularly its need for continuity or transition. Mr. Zera has recruited executives for companies requesting visionaries, world-class authorities, technocrats and seasoned executives.
Prior to entering executive search, Mr. Zera worked for Frito-Lay (a division of PepsiCo) and Nucor Corporation. He was also in an administrative role at Iowa State University for three years and has served on the President's Research Council at the University of Texas Southwestern Health Services Center.
Mr. Zera serves on the board of the Chiapas Project, an initiative of the Grameen Foundation that provides microfinance to impoverished women living in Mexico's poorest state. He is also on the board of OLPH, an inner-city school in Dallas.
He holds a master's of science in counseling psychology and a bachelor's of science in political science from Miami of Ohio University.