Our Staff & Board
Meet our Center Staff
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Chelsea sees her role as the Executive Director as equal parts solution finder, networker, mission cheerleader, and staff supporter. She is thrilled to support Cancer Connection thrive and grow to make a positive difference for even more people living with Cancer and their caregivers.
Chelsea S. Kline
CENTER DIRECTOR
Working in the Center Director role, Laura is deeply honored to be using her 22 + years of experience in organizing workshops and retreats to support Cancer Connection's mission and participants through innovating programming, support groups, and integrative therapies.
Laura Carboni
Cheri LeBlond
BEFRIENDER
As a cancer survivor, Cheri knows firsthand the compassion and resources Cancer Connection offers. Now as part of the Cancer Connection team, she hopes to use her many years of community service to give the same support to others. Often lost in a good book, and sometimes on the valley’s many trails, Cheri loves living in the woods and wandering area farmers markets.
Kendell Sweeney-Thomas
OFFICE AND OUTREACH MANAGER
Kendell is excited to lend his experience in non-profit and administrative work to the mission of Cancer Connection. He has always been drawn to supporting others and looks forward to bolstering the organization’s efforts in a variety of areas. Outside of the office, he enjoys sports, music, movies, and embarking on new adventures.
LEAD BEFRIENDER
Jo-Anna made her first visit to Cancer Connection as the primary caregiver for her mother who was battling cancer. Despite arriving overwhelmed, Jo-Anna left buoyed by the caring concern, listening, and encouragement that was given. Now, Jo-Anna has joined the Cancer Connection team and brings an extensive background in hospitality and care management. She is happy to have the opportunity to listen and give back to the community in her role as a Befriender. When away from Cancer Connection, Jo-Anna likes to spend time in nature with her rescue pup, Pepper. Jo-Anna also enjoys designing and creating jewelry and making art.
Jo-Anna Ross
BEFRIENDER
Recently retired from a career working as a college counselor, researcher, and teacher at universities around the country, Melissa knew that her next chapter would involve giving back to her community and she feels truly privileged to serve as a Befriender. Cancer Connection’s mission to support those navigating “the complicated cancer journey” speaks strongly to Melissa as she has informally served in a supporting role to many friends and family members who have either battled cancer or served as caregivers – or who, in some cases, were doing both at the same time.
Melissa Curtin
INTEGRATIVE THERAPIES SCHEDULER
Supporting community accessibility to healing arts therapists at Cancer Connection is right where Safara belongs. As a trauma-informed yoga teacher with a background in human services administration, she feels at home in this role and as part of the Cancer Connection team. Safara- derives from the Arabic word "safar" to travel. After she was born, her father became a diplomat, she traveled the world- go figure!
Safara Fisher
Liz Horn
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Elizabeth Horn (Liz) is delighted to join the Cancer Connection team as Development Manager. Liz brings more than twenty years of experience at nonprofits, including grant writing, fundraising events and campaigns, volunteer coordination and donor stewardship. Liz currently serves as President of the Northampton High School PTO, as a board member of the Northampton Education Foundation and on the Development committee of Girls on the Run of Western Massachusetts. Liz is excited to help Cancer Connection grow, expanding its programming to reach even more people impacted by cancer.
MEDICAL ADVISOR
Dr. Orion Howard has extensive experience in cancer treatment, cancer research and in teaching medicine, at Williams College, Dana Farber Cancer Institute/Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He has a specific interest in Lymphoma, and has contributed to several medical journals on the topic. He has been the recipient of the George Reader Prize in Public Health; Cornell University Medical College prizes in Internal Medicine; Obstetrics; and Pathology; and the Harvard Medical School Student Teaching Award for Pharmacology.
Dr. Orion Howard
MEDICAL ADVISOR
Dr. Siddiqui currently serves at the Medical Director of Medical Oncology at the Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital and as an Associate Professor of Medicine at UMass Chan Medical School.
Ahmad Daniyal Siddiqui, MBBS
Meet our Thrift Store Staff
THRIFT SHOP MANAGER
I was fortunate to join the Cancer Connection Thrift Shop team as Assistant Manager in 2014 and take on the role as Manager in 2018. It is an exciting and vibrant place to be! My background is in art, design and retail. I have lived and worked in the valley for over 20 years and I love the sense of community here, especially at Cancer Connection. When I am not at the Thrift Shop, I am usually found tinkering with my power tools or digging in the garden. I am drawn to any creative endeavor, and you will rarely find me sitting down!
Christine Quinn
THRIFT SHOP ASSISTANT MANAGER
I am proud to be the Assistant Manager at the Cancer Connection Thrift Shop since June 2019. It gives me the greatest feeling of satisfaction to be supporting a truly special mission. Every day is full of valuable work alongside the most incredible people in a wonderful environment brimming with positive energy! Prior to joining the Thrift Shop, I was part of the staff for the City of Northampton’s Senior Center. Now at the Thrift Shop, my varied career experiences allow me to contribute my passions of woodworking, baking and cooking and my ability to motivate and make people laugh.
Chris Rodriguez
THRIFT SHOP SALES AND SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
I was drawn to the Cancer Connection because I was searching for a job that would benefit my community and have a mission that I believed in. I am also a big advocate for sustainable shopping to preserve our environment. I have lived and worked in the area for most of my life and have always felt a sense of connection and community to the local establishments and people of the valley. I’m glad to have found a workplace that reflects that! When I’m not at the thrift shop, I like to play with my dog, decorate, and do DIY projects. I’m also a proud nerd and love to read comics, play video games, and listen to all types of music!
Olive Haynes
THRIFT SHOP SALES ASSOCIATE
My first contact with Cancer Connection was the result of a cancer diagnosis I received in 2007. I was warmly welcomed and soon joined an All Cancer Support Group, which I participated in for several years. This experience was a great comfort and resource for me. I worked as a massage therapist for many years and then later worked in a high school program for students with special needs. I was in transition when the Thrift Shop first opened and, eventually, I was hired as a part-time employee. I’ve been enthusiastically working at the Thrift Shop ever since. When I’m not working, I enjoy making collages, taking photographs, writing and binging Netflix®.
Wendy Gross
THRIFT SHOP SALES ASSOCIATE
A neighbor benefitted from Cancer Connection programs and has always said the Thrift Shop has a “great vibe”. How true! I began as a volunteer in late 2017 and was thrilled to become an employee in September 2019. I am a retired audiologist and former manager of the speech and hearing program at Holyoke Medical Center. I have also managed hospital speech and hearing programs in Boston and New York City. I like to cook, travel, and read. I also teach part-time at Springfield College.
Janice Walker
Meet Our Board of Directors
Sue Lowery
CO-PRESIDENT
Sue has been a volunteer with Cancer Connection since 2016, and is thrilled to join the Board. She's a retired family doctor who enjoys cooking, reading, film, and travel.
She’s camped out, done the Half Marathon in her wheelchair and is excited about the future of Cancer Connection.
CO-PRESIDENT
Jean Einstein joined Cancer Connection’s Board in October, 2019, beginning her association with Cancer Connection as a volunteer at the Thrift Shop in April, 2019 following her retirement and relocation from Chicago to the Valley in March, 2019. With several family members who have had cancer and a sister who is an active volunteer at the Thrift Shop, Jean applied to become a board member to help further Cancer Connection’s mission through her involvement, as well as to utilize what she has learned from her career as a corporate lawyer to benefit the organization.
Jean Einstein
MEMBER
I have worked in banking for many years. I am honored that I have an opportunity to apply my knowledge and skills to further benefit Cancer Connection. I meet new people every day in my line of work. Very often they come with stories of family, friends or themselves, whose lives have been forever changed by cancer. That is part of my story as well. Fortunately, my mother is a breast cancer survivor and an inspiration. Like many, I have lost loved ones, too. I am excited to be a new board member and to support Cancer Connection’s mission.
Mary Pomeroy
SECRETARY
After two decades of professional and volunteer work, Howard is turning his time toward helping Cancer Connection provide for survivors, patients, caregivers and all who are affected by cancer. He believes life hands us many challenges; some we overcome ourselves, some we overcome with the support of others. Howard finds meaning in sharing his own cancer story to empower others along their cancer journeys. He believes in the healing powers of integrative therapies, holistic treatments, and support groups. In his service as a board member, Howard intends to promote and advance the work of Cancer Connection throughout our community.
Howard Hanna
MEMBER
Saskia has been in the holistic health field for over 30 years. She teaches massage therapy, manual lymphatic drainage, is a holistic health consultant, and has served on the state board of massage therapy. She is excited to rejoin the board of Cancer Connection. “I have always loved the mission of helping people navigate through life with their cancer diagnoses. Cancer does not discriminate and neither does Cancer Connection. “
Saskia Cote
Megan Paik
MEMBER
Megan has more than 15 years of experience in private foundation grantmaking and grants facilitation, and she currently teaches nonprofit management at University of Massachusetts Amherst. She grew up in multilingual & transcultural communities and has witnessed the challenges for those with language, literacy, and knowledge barriers to receiving cancer screenings, diagnoses, and treatments. Megan looks forward to helping the Cancer Connection team expand the scope of and access to its excellent cancer support and wellness programs
MEMBER
Lindsay is a Westfield resident, but has been working at the Northampton branch of Greenfield Savings Bank for a little over 2 years. When the opportunity arose to join Cancer Connection’s Board, Lindsay jumped at the chance, especially since he deeply values becoming a part of the local community. It is a sad fact that nearly everyone has or will have a cancer story to tell, and it is impossible to overstate the importance of the work Cancer Connection does to support both those dealing with cancer themselves, and their caregivers. Lindsay is incredibly proud to be a part of an organization that not only brings awareness to the struggle, but directly provides incredibly important services to those affected as well.
Lindsay Allen
TREASURER
Michelle Cayo was born and raised in the Valley and has spent her career in commercial banking. She is currently the Vice President/Credit Risk Manager at Florence Bank. Many in her family have battled cancer, including her son that passed from brain cancer. In 2013, she was recognized by Western Mass Women magazine as Volunteer of the Year to recognize her work for children with pediatric cancer. Joining the Cancer Connection board is a way for her to give back to the community and help others impacted by the disease.
Michelle Cayo
About Our Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of Cancer Connection, Inc., a 501c(3) nonprofit Corporation, constitutes its governing body. The Board manages, controls, and directs the affairs and property of Cancer Connection and, subject to its bylaws, shall have all powers necessary to carry out the purposes of Cancer Connection, Inc. as permitted under the laws of the United States and Massachusetts. No compensation is given to members of the Cancer Connection Board of Directors for their services.
Are you interested in joining our Board?
Cancer Connection seeks enthusiastic individuals who care about our organization, our participants, our services, and our community. Join our Board of Directors, the governing body of Cancer Connection, that ensures the organization’s mission is fulfilled. This volunteer position works with a dynamic team of local, community, and business leaders to create a haven for people living with cancer, their families, and their caregivers.
Cancer Connection’s Board of Directors meets six times a year. Each Director serves on a Board Committee. Your commitment would be about 3-5 hours each month. If you are interested in this leadership opportunity, please complete the board member application (links below). If you have questions about joining our board of directors, please contact our Executive Director, Chelsea Kline, by phone at (413) 586-1642 or by email.
An application to join our Board of Directors can be found below: