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Staff

Cheryl Shaw
Executive Director

Gail Lapasin
Director of Development

Mai Nguyen
Director of Finance and Operations

Elisa Del Rosario
Director of Grants, Education and Advocacy 

Jim Clune
Communications Manager

Heidi Rogers
Special Events Manager

Jamie Newbold
Race for the Cure Manager

Juli Cross
Office Administrator

Mary Kay Talbot
Database Administrator

Jennifer Teeler
Volunteer Coordinator

Shannon Smith
Development Coordinator

Taylor Storslee
Communications Specialist

Silvia Kennedy
Hispanic Project Coordinator

Cheryl Shaw 
Executive Director
206-633-0303 ext. 101 | cheryl@pskomen.org

Cheryl joined the Komen Puget Sound staff as the Executive Director in June 2009. Cheryl has worked in the nonprofit sector for over twenty-five years during which she has held leadership roles to promote healthy living in minority communities, advocacy for health, education and economic disparities and developing community collaborations to address critical needs.  She served as the Regional Director for United Negro College Fund in their Pacific Northwest office, Managing Director for East Bay Center for the Performing Arts and Executive Director for Capital Unity Council in Sacramento California.  Additionally, Cheryl worked in Public Broadcasting for eight years as the Associate Director of Development for KQED TV/FM in San Francisco and as a development consultant for eight public broadcasting stations across the country. 

Cheryl attended the MBA program at Golden Gate University in San Francisco and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from University of California, Berkeley and additionally received an Associate Degree from The Fashion Institute in Los Angeles.  Cheryl has two children, a daughter attending Clark Atlanta University and a son who previously attended Howard University and now resides in Washington DC.

 

Gail Lapasin 
Director of Development
206-633-0303 ext.108 | gail@pskomen.org

Gail joined the staff of the Puget Sound Affiliate in August of 2004 as the Events Manager and transitioned into the Special Events Director and now as Director of Development.  As the Director of Development, Gail oversees all fundraising activities and donor relations for the Affiliate, which includes the Puget Sound Race for the Cure and Grace Notes, the Affiliate’s signature gala.  Prior to joining Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Gail was an independent business owner and also spent 10 years in the hospitality industry working in Dallas, Fort Worth, Chicago and Los Angeles. 

Gail is a native of Michigan, with a BBA from Western Michigan University.  She calls Seattle her home, having lived in the Northwest for over 20 years, is married, and has a son and daughter both in college. When Gail is not involved in Komen activities, she enjoys golfing, cooking and entertaining, and lots of outdoor time with her black lab, Magic.

 

Mai Nguyen 
Director of Finance and Operations
206-633-0303 ext.104 | mai@pskomen.org 

Mai joined Komen Puget Sound in June 2008 as the Director of Finance and Operations.  She oversees finance, human resources, IT, and general operations of the office.  Prior to joining Komen, Mai held leadership positions at the City of Seattle, Department of Neighborhoods, Annie E. Casey Foundation, King County Housing Authority, Seattle Housing Authority, and the International District Housing Alliance.  Mai holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and Masters in Public Administration from the University of Washington.

Mai is keenly interested in and dedicated to activities that improve community well-being.  She is currently the Chair of the Fundraising Committee for  the Asian Community Leadership Foundation and serves as a committee member on the Dinner and Auction Committee  for the Denise Louie Education Center, a Head Start Preschool.  Mai comes from a large family of four brothers and four sisters.  In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her husband and 3 kids, read, cook, travel, and entertain her families and friends. 

 

Elisa Del Rosario 
Director of Grants, Education and Advocacy
206-633-0303 ext.105 | elisa@pskomen.org

In May of 2009 Elisa joined the Komen Puget Sound staff as the Program Manager and has since transitioned into the role of Director of Grants, Education & Advocacy. For more than twenty years, Elisa has worked in non-profits in health and human services, focusing on underserved and diverse populations.  She has worked for United Way of King County, the Human Services Roundtable and Asian Counseling & Referral Service (ACRS) in Seattle. Prior to joining the Puget Sound Affiliate, she was Capital Campaign Director and Development Director for twelve years at ACRS. 

As a breast cancer survivor, she feels fortunate to have the opportunity to be a passionate voice and advocate for women battling breast cancer and to further the mission of Susan G. Komen for the Cure --to save lives and end breast cancer forever. During treatment, Elisa rediscovered the healing powers of art.  In her spare time, she does arts & crafts projects, volunteers for local galleries and attends art fairs, shows and exhibits, especially those promoting emerging artists from diverse communities.  Elisa received her Bachelors of Arts degree in Sociology from Occidental College.  She enjoys entertaining with her husband/chef Michael, raising their high school-aged kids, Christopher and Beija, and taking care of their dog, Paco.

 

Jim Clune 
Communications Manager
206-633-0303 ext.116 | jim@pskomen.org

Jim joined the staff as Communications Manager in November 2011. Jim is responsible for overseeing communications across all channels: print, broadcast, collateral, PR and social media. Jim brings to this position extensive non-profit communications experience gained from 13 years as the Chief Communications Officer for the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association. Prior to CASA, Jim held supervisory positions with a number of national advertising agencies in Seattle and Los Angeles, managing advertising and promotions for clients that included Bank of America, Starbucks and Pizza Hut. Jim holds a Master Degree from the University of Oregon, School of Journalism and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

Jim feels deeply honored to be a part of the Komen cause. “Every guy out there knows a relative, a friend, a loved one, a co-worker, etc. whose lives have been touched by breast cancer. I welcome this opportunity to work with a fantastic staff towards raising positive awareness of Komen Puget Sound, increasing education and early detection of breast cancer and bringing the number of people who die each year from this disease down to zero.”

 

Heidi Rogers 
Special Events Manager
206-633-0303 ext.110 | heidi@pskomen.org

In May of 2008, Heidi joined the staff of Komen Puget Sound as the Special Events Coordinator and has since transitioned into the Special Events Manager. In this role, she produces the Lunch for the Cure, the Power of a Promise Luncheon, Grace Notes, and assists with third party fundraising efforts. Before joining Komen, Heidi worked in marketing and planned large scale events and conferences for a local real estate firm. Heidi thoroughly enjoys her interaction with the affiliate’s amazing volunteers, donors, sponsors and a fellow staff that make her job a true pleasure.

Heidi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington State University. She greatly enjoys volunteering for the Dassels Darlings Guild that benefits uncompensated care for Seattle Children’s Hospital and Medical Center and the Junior League of Seattle. Heidi likes spending her free time with her friends and family, discovering what is best about living in Seattle.

 

Jamie Newbold 
Race for the Cure Manager
206-633-0303 ext.102 | jamie@pskomen.org 

Jamie joined the staff of Komen Puget Sound in June of 2009,  after volunteering with the organization for 4 years and serving as the 2009 Race for the Cure Co-Chair.  Before coming to Komen, Jamie owned a small business development company for nearly 10 years that had a focus on commercial and residential lending.  She is currently the Puget Sound Race for the Cure Manager and works in tandem with the amazing Race for the Cure Volunteer Committee.

Jamie enjoys hiking, snowboarding and cooking and is an avid foodie who enjoys tasting Seattle’s finest cuisine whenever possible.  She lives in Seattle’s Greenlake neighborhood with her husband Adam, their two daughters Molly and Charlotte, and their Bernese Mountain Dog, Benson.

 

Juli Cross 
Office Administrator
206-633-0303 ext.100 | juli@pskomen.org 

Juli joined the staff of Komen Puget Sound in January 2012 as the Office Administrator. In this role, she supports the Affiliate Senior Team, as well as the Board of Directors. Juli received her education at Cornish College of the Arts and Everett Community College. Prior to joining the Komen team, she spent almost 20 years in the medical field, in hands-on patient care and administration.

An avid participant in cancer research fundraising and support, Juli has been involved in the 3-Day, the Mercer Island Rotary Half Marathon, and several other 5k and 10k events. Juli enjoys spending time with her partner Jeff (a chef), who is a cancer survivor, and their children, Devin and Andrew. Together they enjoy kayaking, hiking, cooking, and sampling all of the amazing food that Seattle has to offer.

 

 

Mary Kay Talbot 
Database Administrator
206-633-0303 ext.109 | marykay@pskomen.org

Mary Kay joined the staff of Komen Puget Sound as Database Administrator in January of 2011. Mary Kay began volunteering for Komen in 2001 after losing a friend/co-worker to breast cancer. She has served on the race committee in many roles, including 2004 race chair; on the affiliate board of directors, and on several grant review panels.  She has spent most of her professional life in academia, working as a staff research scientist in oceanography at the University of Washington, and in horticulture at Edmonds Community College. Mary Kay has a BS in Oceanography from the University of Washington and an ATA in Horticulture from Edmonds CC. 

Mary Kay and her husband, Dave, live in Woodinville and are both Seattle natives and UW alumni. They enjoy boating, traveling to warm sunny places, including their vacation home on Priest Rapids Lake in eastern WA, and are season ticket holders for both the UW Huskies and Seattle Seahawks football teams. Mary Kay also volunteers with the Snohomish County Master Gardener program and does fundraising for the Seattle Aquarium.

 

Jennifer Teeler 
Volunteer Coordinator
206-633-0303 ext.103 | jennifer@pskomen.org 

Jennifer became the Volunteer Coordinator for Komen Puget Sound in February of 2011. Her prior employment includes ten years coordinating volunteer and neighborhood programs for the City of Federal Way and working as a Police Service Specialist for the Renton Police Department for eight years. Jennifer holds a BA from Western Washington University in Business Marketing with a Minor in Communications. Reading, craft projects and pickleball are some of Jennifer’s favorite activities. She also enjoys travelling with her husband and three teenagers.

Being a breast cancer survivor herself, Jennifer has a special passion for Komen’s mission – “a world without breast cancer.” She feels blessed to be able to connect with other survivors while working toward eliminating this disease for future generations.

 

Shannon Smith 
Development Coordinator
206-633-0303 ext.115 | shannon@pskomen.org

Shannon joined the staff of Komen Puget Sound in March of 2011 as the Development Coordinator. Shannon supports all aspects of Affiliate development including donor cultivation, special events, and third party relationship building.  Prior to joining the Komen team, Shannon was an AmeriCorps VISTA at the University of Washington where she coordinated community-based learning programs and acted as a liaison between the university and community. She is thrilled to work on the Komen team and in the development field while enthusiastically embracing the mission and passion of this organization.

Shannon is a native Floridian and received her Bachelor of Science in Family, Youth & Community Sciences from University of Florida. In her spare time, Shannon enjoys spending time with friends, the arts, seeing the Seattle sights and exploring the Pacific Northwest outdoors.

 

Taylor Storslee 
Communications Specialist
206-633-0303 ext.107 | taylor@pskomen.org

Taylor joined the staff in March of 2010. As Communications Specialist, Taylor supports all aspects of Affiliate communications including email campaigns, website management, and social media. Prior to joining the Komen team, Taylor worked for a technical consulting company where she held roles in human resources and marketing communications. Though she values her time spent in the for-profit sector, Taylor feels like she has really found her niche working in the non-profit world. “I love the passion I see in our staff, volunteers, and donors. People are truly invested in this organization and its mission. It is such an honor to be a part of it all.”

Taylor received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Western Washington University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Taylor has kept close ties with her alma mater and is now a member of the Board of Directors for the Western Washington University Alumni Association. In her spare time, Taylor enjoys exercising and spending time in the beautiful Pacific Northwest outdoors. 

 

Silvia Kennedy 
Hispanic Project Coordinator (part time)
206-633-0303 ext.118 | silvia@pskomen.org

Silvia Kennedy joined the Komen Puget Sound staff in May 2011. Silvia coordinates the La Mujer Hispana Project. Funded by Yoplait Save the Lids to Save Lives ®, La Mujer Hispana (The Hispanic Woman) aims to increase breast cancer awareness and screening among Hispanic women in King and Pierce Counties. A Mexico native, Silvia speaks fluent Spanish and is able to use her knowledge of the Hispanic culture to make special connections with women in our community, encouraging them to speak openly about and take charge of their breast health.

Silvia lives in Kirkland with her husband and two children.