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 16 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 365,000 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 $4M to date in support of Cancer and Careers’ free programs and services. In addition to running the $3M 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 Inside Edition, Today.com, NY Daily News, Women’s Health, The Economist Intelligence Unit, Health Affairs, and Reader’s Digest, and broadcast on WCBS Health and Well Being, 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 has served on numerous committees and working groups over the years. Currently, she is on the steering committees for Workplace Transitions for People Touched by Cancer and Breast Cancer: A Story Half Told — Supporting Workplace Conversations, and the advisory committee for “Work Ability in Young Adult Cancer Survivors (WAYS): A Mixed-Methods Study,” at Wake Forest University.

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.”

PATRICIA DONINI, VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT

Email: pdonini@cew.org | Phone: 646-929-8048

Patricia Donini is the Vice President of Development at Cancer and Careers. Having served the nonprofit community for more than 25 years, Pat is committed to helping nonprofits achieve their organizational goals and strengthen their missions. Her diverse experience includes 17 years dedicated to development and communications, where she has been a frontline fundraiser, strategist and manager of teams.

Before joining Cancer and Careers, Pat launched Avail Consulting Services LLC, which provides nonprofits with a broad array of services designed to offer long-term benefits and positive effects on financial stability and mission impact. Prior to her transition into development, Pat dedicated seven years to new business development and was charged with framing and executing the strategic vision for various organizations.

With a background and training in clinical psychology, Pat has utilized these skills in her work with special populations. She holds a BA in psychology and an MA in clinical psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

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 BA 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.

NICOLE J. FRANKLIN, MPH, MANAGER OF PROGRAMS

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

Nicole Franklin is Manager of Programs at Cancer and Careers. In this role, she manages CAC’s Underserved Regions Initiative, which delivers in-service trainings and patient seminars to remote and underserved areas in the U.S. Additionally, she oversees Cancer and Careers’ online career coaching services, the expansion of awareness and outreach efforts through CAC’s social media platforms and public relations channels, and the production of the bi-monthly newsletter.

Prior to joining the CAC team, Nicole was Program Support Officer at Concern Worldwide Uganda, where she helped to develop and implement programmatic health and development activities. Before that, she worked at CMMB, an international NGO, as a key member of its programs team in Zambia and as Manager of its Global Volunteer Program in New York. Additionally, she has held various administrative, operational and programmatic roles in the nonprofit sector.

Nicole has a BA in African American studies from Oberlin College and a Master of Public Health degree, with a concentration in international health and development, from Tulane University.

NICOLE JARVIS, LMSW, MANAGER OF PROGRAMS

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

Nicole Jarvis joined the team in October of 2015 as a Manager of Programs. She is 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 provides 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, MPA, 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, comanages 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 received her Master’s of Public Administration degree from Baruch College.

GRACE BLUMBERG, MSW, PROGRAM COORDINATOR

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

In her role as Program Coordinator, Grace Blumberg supports all the activities and initiatives in the Cancer and Careers program portfolio. In addition to coordinating the Resume Review Service and overseeing the publications library, she assists with execution of the National Conference, including the scholarship application and distribution process, and contributes to the blog and Newsfeed.

Prior to joining CAC, Grace worked in food justice at Local Roots NYC, and while in graduate school she provided direct services to medically vulnerable populations as an intern at the ALS Association Greater New York Chapter and DOROT.

Grace holds a BA in sociology from University of Dayton and an MSW from Columbia University School of Social Work.

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.