KATE SWEENEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Email: ksweeney@cew.org

Kate Sweeney is the Executive Director of the CEW Foundation and the co-founder of the Cancer and Careers program. She began with a vision — to eliminate fear and uncertainty for working people with cancer. Now 15 years strong, Cancer and Careers is the recognized authority on work-related support for cancer patients and survivors. The pioneer program boldly leads the discussion on where life, cancer and work intersect.

Under Kate’s leadership, Cancer and Careers serves more than 325,000 people online, in print and in person each year. Program highlights include launching a first-of-its-kind interactive career coaching center for survivors to get personalized advice from professional coaches; bringing direct services to remote and underserved communities in the U.S.; partnering with Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) to offer company-wide support within the workplace; and collaborating with QVC to present “Beauty with Benefits,” a two-hour beauty-product fundraising telecast that has raised more than $3M to date in support of Cancer and Careers’ free programs and services. In addition to running the $2.5M CEW Foundation, Kate continues to serve as an expert on the issues surrounding cancer in the workplace. Kate currently lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her husband and twin sons.

REBECCA V. NELLIS, MPP, CHIEF MISSION OFFICER

Email: rnellis@cew.org

Rebecca Nellis is the Chief Mission Officer for Cancer and Careers. Since 2004 she has helped evolve the organization from early concept to national prominence.

Rebecca now oversees all mission-driven initiatives, including the long-term strategy and growth of Cancer and Careers’ many programs and services. As an expert on cancer-workplace issues, she travels the country speaking at national cancer conferences, leading hospitals and community events — more than 100 presentations to date — about the intersection of life, work and cancer. Rebecca also serves as spokesperson to the press, with recent interviews published in The ASCO Post, Everyday Health, NY Daily News, Women’s Health, and AOL Finance, as well as on NPR, NBC New York and CBS Salt Lake City.

Prior to this position, Rebecca served as Vice President of Programs and Strategy at Cancer and Careers. Under her leadership, the organization launched its National and Regional Conferences on Work & Cancer, accredited Educational Series for Healthcare Professionals, and library of Spanish-language resources. As an active member of the cancer community, she is currently on the steering committees for Workplace Transitions for People Touched by Cancer and Breast Cancer: A Story Half Told — Supporting Workplace Conversations, and has served on committees for the Livestrong Young Adult Alliance (now Critical Mass) and Stupid Cancer.

Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from New York University and a Master of Public Policy degree from Georgetown University. Her graduate thesis was entitled “Implications of Cancer Survivorship on Financial Assets, Work Productivity and Employment Circumstances.”

BECKY NELSON, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Email: bnelson@cew.org | Phone: 646-929-8019

Becky Nelson is the Director of Development & Strategic Partnerships at Cancer and Careers. A seasoned and passionate fundraiser with more than a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, she began her career in development and relationship-building as Director of Development for the City Bar Justice Center, the non-profit affiliate of the New York City Bar Association. As a Senior Account Executive at Susan Ulin Associates, Becky continued to hone her expertise by providing innovative leadership and fundraising strategy for a broad range of international, national and local non-profits.

Prior to joining Cancer and Careers, Becky was a Senior Development Officer at the American Red Cross. Directing all fundraising efforts for the Long Island chapter during Superstorm Sandy, she was a strategic part of the largest disaster response and fundraising effort ever to impact the Greater New York region.

Becky holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Law and Society from New York University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. Her passion for serving those in need extends beyond her professional endeavors, as she participates in many volunteer activities with children and other organizations serving the cancer community.

CHRISTINE Q. BRENNAN, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS

Email: cbrennan@cew.org | Phone: 646-929-8030

As Associate Director of Programs, Chrissy oversees Cancer and Careers’ annual national conference, expanding regional conference program and website, bringing to the role two decades of experience in communications, public relations, marketing and event management.

After spending 14 years in digital and print media focusing on women’s health and fitness, including staff roles at Health and Self magazines and at Lifetime Television’s website, Chrissy joined the Peace Corps in 2003, serving as a Health Education Resource Volunteer in Kenya. Upon her return from Africa she consulted for the National Geographic Society and the Wildlife Conservation Society and in 2006 joined the staff of Selldorf Architects as Marketing Director. In 2010, Chrissy became Account Manager at the boutique PR/marketing firm Maloney & Fox, part of Waggener Edstrom Communications, where she worked on the corporate citizenship campaign for a global real estate client. Prior to arriving at Cancer and Careers, Chrissy managed the 25th anniversary awards competition and gala for the non-profit Greeting Card Association in 2013, including a corresponding exhibit at the Javits Center.

ALICIA CHIN, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

Email: achin@cew.org | Phone: 646-929-8049

Alicia joined Cancer and Careers back in 2002 when the program was in its early stages. As Kate Sweeney’s first hire, her responsibilities ranged from copywriting, to fundraising, to external affairs, and she has held various titles throughout. When she left to pursue other non-profit work, she maintained consulting duties, continuing a relationship with the program that spans over 14 years. 

Alicia began her career at brand consulting firms Lippincott and Landor Associates. She has served as the Director of Research and Evaluation for Student Sponsor Partners, a scholarship program for at-risk high school students, and has consulted for HudsonWay, a Mandarin and Spanish immersion school in New York City. 

Alicia is a graduate of Duke University and Phillips Exeter Academy.

RACHEL BECKER, LMSW, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS

Email: rbecker@cew.org | Phone: 646-929-8031

As Assistant Director of Programs, Rachel’s responsibilities include oversite of Cancer and Careers’ 13 accredited webinars. She also provides direct support and referrals to CAC’s diverse audiences; co-manages the travel scholarship program for the National Conference on Work & Cancer; and works to ensure all programs meet the continuing education accreditation standards of various state and national accrediting bodies. Additionally, Rachel regularly presents on topics related to cancer and work at community-based events and cancer conferences around the country.

Before joining Cancer and Careers, Rachel was Head of Client Services at CarePlanners (cofounded by Dr. Nancy Snyderman), where she designed and implemented a technology-based infrastructure for delivering and monitoring support services. Prior to that, she completed a fellowship in psycho oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and worked in a clinical capacity at the Jewish Child Care Association and New York Methodist Hospital.

Rachel holds a B.A. from Rutgers University, and graduated summa cum laude with an MSW from NYU’s Silver School of Social Work. She is a member of NASW, AOSW and a proud recipient of the Zelda Foster Fellowship in Palliative and End-of-Life Care.

SARAH GOODELL, MANAGER OF PROGRAMS

Email: sgoodell@cew.org | Phone: 646-929-8023

Sarah Goodell is a Manager of Programs at Cancer and Careers. In her role she manages a range of programs and events, including the Underserved Regions Initiative and the Midwest Conference on Work & Cancer, as well as coordinating PR efforts and social media. She also manages the newsletter, online career coaching and research projects. Before joining the Cancer and Careers staff, Sarah worked in corporate social responsibility at the public relations firm Edelman. At Edelman she worked on communications strategies for a variety of organizations across a range of issue areas, from sustainable energy to children's oral health. Prior to Edelman, Sarah interned at SAP in their Corporate Social Responsibility division where she created a social media strategy for the group and assisted in the development of their global school partnerships program.

Sarah was also a fellow with the Hamilton College Alliance for Nonprofit Strategic Advancement and an intern at the Advocates for Human Rights, a non-profit organization in Minneapolis where she maintained their Stop Violence Against Women website and conducted research on a range of human rights related issues. She graduated cum laude from Hamilton College with a B.A. in Communications and World Politics.

NICOLE SHAFFER, LMSW, MANAGER OF PROGRAMS

Email: nshaffer@cew.org | Phone: 646-929-8043

Nicole Shaffer joined the team in October of 2015 as a Manager of Programs. She will be involved in the coordination and delivery of the Newsfeed, Professional Development Micro-Grants program and all 13 annual Cancer and Careers webinars, in addition to assisting with the regional and national conferences. Nicole will also be providing direct support and referrals to the many patients, survivors and healthcare professionals who reach out to the organization.

Nicole received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a focus on women’s health. While in Madison, she was actively involved with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin, pursuing work on legislative issues related to access to reproductive healthcare. Following graduation, she worked at Memorial Sloan-Kettering for four years in the chemotherapy unit and for a renal oncologist until attaining her Master of Social Work degree from Hunter College, in 2013. Nicole worked as a social worker in the child welfare arena, advocating for parents in family court prior, to joining Cancer and Careers.

MADELINE MEISLIN, ASSOCIATE MANAGER OF PROGRAMS

Email: mmeislin@cew.org | Phone: 646-929-8041

Maddy Meislin is the Associate Manager of Programs at Cancer and Careers. In her role, she manages the In-Service Training Program for Healthcare Professionals, co-manages the CAC Newsfeed and Blog and coordinates the National Conference scholarship program. In addition, Maddy supports the execution of all of CAC’s conferences, represents the organization at trade shows and manages the program’s community partnerships. Prior to Cancer and Careers, Maddy worked in community educational programming at Hospital for Special Surgery, in New York City, and has prior internship experience working with cancer survivors at nonprofit organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital.

Maddy graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Pennsylvania State University and is in current pursuit of her Master’s of Public Administration at Baruch College.

CHIOMA O. ONYEKWERE, MSW, PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Email: conyekwere@cew.org | Phone: 646-929-8040

Chioma Onyekwere is the Program Coordinator at Cancer and Careers. In this role, she is responsible for managing the Resume Review Service, Collective Diary, Resource Database and publication-order fulfillment. In addition, she provides support for all of CAC’s programs and initiatives, from outreach to the cancer community and responding to calls from patients and survivors to processing continuing education credits for healthcare professionals and coordinating travel scholarships for our National Conference.

Chioma has a B.A. in sociology and a minor in anthropology from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She recently graduated with an MSW from the University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration. During graduate school, Chioma interned at Rush University Medical Center, Health and Aging, where she managed administrative and clinical tasks for the Bridge Transitional Care team and the Health Promotion/Disease Prevention team. She also interned at the Alzheimer’s Association, in both the national office, in Chicago, and the public policy office, in Washington, DC. Prior to graduate school, Chioma was a Special Education Instructional Assistant, providing academic and behavioral support to high school students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

ROSS WEINER, MPA, DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

Email: rweiner@cew.org | Phone: 646-929-8021

As Development Coordinator, Ross supports the team in all areas of fund-raising, special events and board relations. His responsibilities include maintaining the donor database, collateral and development webpages; tracking sponsor benefit fulfillment; and coordinating the organization’s annual charity filings for all 50 states.

Prior to joining Cancer and Careers, Ross was a fellow at the All Stars Project, where he supported grassroots fund-raising efforts, volunteer recruitment and special event planning. Following that, Ross worked as a graduate assistant at Binghamton University, where he researched the effectiveness of social media use by nonprofit organizations.

Ross graduated from Binghamton University cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. Additionally, he holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the College of Community and Public Affairs at Binghamton. For his graduate capstone project, he developed an alumni network for the Development School for Youth at the All Stars Project, which focused on social media outreach and young professional networking events.