Speaker Listing

Below, learn more about the speakers who spoke at the 2025 West Coast Conference on Work & Cancer.

Nicole Jarvis, LMSW

Nicole Jarvis joined the CAC team in October of 2015. As Assistant Director of Programs, she oversees the Financial Assistance Grant Program, Technology Assistance Program, Cancer and Careers' two Regional Conference, and the Ask a Career Coach message board. Additionally, Nicole provides direct support and referrals to the many patients, survivors and healthcare professionals who reach out to the organization, assists with the national conference and webinars, and presents to patient audiences around the country.

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. Nicole currently resides in Denver, CO with her husband, two daughters and dog.

Ali Schaffer, LCSW

Ali is an expert re-framer, dot-connector and noticer. She has a private counseling practice in Nashville, TN, and provides individual and group therapy for adults navigating life transitions, coping with health challenges and desiring to live more fully. Since 2003, Ali has worked directly with people impacted by cancer across the cancer care continuum in various clinical settings. Prior to starting her private practice, Ali was a faculty member and clinician with the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) psycho-oncology team and the Manager of Patient and Family-Centered Care. Additional clinical social work experience includes working with at-risk youth and their families at an outdoor wilderness program and a residential psychiatric hospital.

In life and in her work, Ali is deeply influenced by nature and incorporates inspiration from the natural world along with her super power of noticing to help people make sense of their world and create meaningful change to build a life they love. She is a dynamic national speaker and contributes content for articles, online blogs, and webinars on a variety of health and wellness topics.

Scott Sinclair

Scott is a Senior Manager of Programs for Cancer and Careers. In his position, Scott oversees communications, including PR, social media and paid awareness efforts. He also manages CAC’s English website as well as the Balancing Work & Cancer Webinars — a 12-part series offering information and resources on targeted topics each month. Scott has been a member of CAC’s Young Professionals Committee since 2018, and regularly worked in a volunteer capacity supporting CAC's program initiatives before signing on as a full time member of the team. Prior to this role, Scott worked at CEW, Inc., where he supported Carlotta Jacobson, President of CEW and Founder of Cancer and Careers.

In a previous life, Scott worked on Broadway for five years on productions such as Kinky Boots and Evita. He earned his BA from Emerson College.