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Lisa McLaughlin, President
(Lisa McLaughlin - MOCA President, right, pictured with Merle Rosenberg formerly MOCA Co-President)
Lisa McLaughlin's life was touched by ovarian cancer in October of 2000, when her step mom, Jane Franczyk, was diagnosed with the disease in stage IIIC. Her step mom battled the illness for 14 months with the love and support of her family, before her death at age 54. Since that time, Lisa has worked with MOCA to spread awareness about the warning signs of ovarian cancer and the need for a reliable screening test. Lisa’s memories and love for her step mom keep her dedication to this disease close to her heart.
Lisa is a first grade teacher in the school district of Wayzata. Lisa was recognized in Minnesota Monthly magazine in 2005 for Heart of the Event Award, and in 2007 was awarded Twin Cities Woman of the Year recognizing her extraordinary commitment to MOCA. Lisa also serves as the Chair of Calling All Angels and the Co-Chair of the Silent No More Walk/Run.
Lisa feels blessed to be living in Minnesota where she can be close to her family and friends. Lisa is very active and her hobbies include running and mountain biking. Lisa is honored to be serving as MOCA's president and feels that MOCA can make a difference in her community.
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Sarah Noonan, Vice President
Sarah Noonan was diagnosed with Stage IC ovarian cancer (endometrial Adenocarcenoma) on June 3rd, 2003 at the age of 31. She discovered MOCA when she was introduced to another young survivor shortly after her diagnosis. Since then she has been actively involved in the Young Survivor Network, Ovarian Cancer Survivors Training Medical Students at the University of Minnesota, and other awareness & advocacy activities through MOCA. Because of her early stage diagnosis and excellent prognosis, she is grateful everyday for the gift of life and wants to do what she can to help other women fight this terrifying disease. In her free time, Sarah enjoys doing house projects, golfing & camping with her husband Mike, and she treasures spending time with her family and friends.
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Janice Born
Janice Born is a Senior Sales Executive for Hewlett Packard with 20+ years of experience in sales and marketing in the technology industry, at various hardware and software companies. She has won numerous achievement awards for sales excellence over the years. Janice has been involved with MOCA since 2000. For the past several years, she has served as co-chair of the Silent No More Walk Run. Janice enjoys her work with MOCA and supporting her friends who are fighting ovarian cancer. Hobbies include spending time at her cabin, boating, golfing and spoiling her dog, Darby.
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Joseph R. Cade
Mr. Cade is an attorney who helped his wife, Molly, form Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance, Inc. [MOCA] in 1999 and has provided legal advice to the organization since its inception. He was born in St. Paul and currently resides in Lakeville. Since his admission in 1976, he has practiced law in several Minnesota communities, primarily in litigation, both criminal and civil. He is currently a shareholder in the law firm of Eastlund, Solstad, Cade & Hutchinson, Ltd. He has served on numerous community based non-profit boards and has been a member of the MOCA board since 2004. His wife, Molly, who died in December, 2003, was the first President of MOCA. Mr. Cade has two children and four stepchildren.
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Kevin Cade
Kevin Cade is an accounting professional in the Minneapolis area. He has been actively involved with MOCA since the organization was formed in 1999, and joined the Board of Directors in 2010.
In 2003, Kevin lost his mother, Molly Cade, to ovarian cancer. Kevin understands the impact that MOCA has in providing support for women and their families who struggle with this disease. He has a deep sense of urgency for early detection and finding a cure. Like his mom Molly, Kevin will always be dedicated, positive, and energetic in everything he does and especially in the fight against ovarian cancer.
Kevin and his wife Jilleen, live with their two children in South Minneapolis, less than a mile away from MOCA's office.
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Patty Dunn
On Jan. 2, 1998 which should have been one of the most exciting days of her life, Patty Dunn gave birth to twin boys, and was told her she had an early stage of ovarian cancer.
Fortunately her cancer was caught early, and with three months of chemotherapy, she has remained cancer-free.
Patty and her husband of 17 years, John, live with their sons in Southwest Minneapolis. She was introduced to MOCA in 1999 by co-founder Molly Cade and participates in the 5K run at the Annual Silent No More Walk/Run.
She is passionate about MOCA because it’s an organization that has always been able to get things done. She marvels at how well-run the events are. “You can see Molly’s influence even today,” she said.
Originally from Long Island, N.Y., Patty holds a degree in journalism from St. Bonaventure University in western New York. She has worked with Goff & Howard, a St. Paul public relations/public affairs agency, for 14 years. Before that she worked for the Skyway News in Minneapolis, the Minnesota Women’s Press, and daily newspapers in New York State.
In her free time, she enjoys taking walks around nearby lakes and spending time with her family.
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Ellen Kleinbaum
Ellen Kleinbaum was diagnosed with stage IIIc ovarian cancer July 29, 1991 at the age of 42. She recurred in 1993 and 1994. Her cancer has been found to be genetic. Ellen volunteered at the University of Minnesota weekly with a social worker providing support to other ovarian cancer survivors and their families. She is pleased to be serving on the MOCA board.
Ellen has a BA in accounting and is the controller at the Minneapolis Jewish Federation, a non-profit organization serving the Jewish community here and abroad. During her free time she enjoys her 4 grandchildren, practicing yoga, reading and traveling. She has been to Israel 5 times since her diagnosis.
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Susan Kushner
Susan was diagnosed with a stage IIIC, grade 3 Ovarian Cancer in March of 1997. After many recurrences and close to 150 treatments, she still takes an active part in MOCA and everyday life. She is one of the founding members of MOCA and was treasurer for 3 years. Susan has always been an active volunteer and has been on the board of directors of the Sisterhood of Temple of Aaron in St. Paul for many years and volunteers on a weekly basis in their gift shop. She is also on the board of directors of the Chai Aviva branch of the St. Paul Chapter of Hadassah. Susan and her husband Barry have been the co-chairs of the MOCA golf shootout since its inception. Through Susan and Barry's friendship with Michael Patterson of King Solutions, they brought the annual Golf Shootout to MOCA. It has been a huge fundraiser for MOCA for many years.
Susan is thankful for her wonderful husband Barry, their two adult children and other family and friends for all their support through this journey.
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Carol Luukkonen
Carol is a three year ovarian cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer in 2005. Following surgery, she was in chemotherapy for 1 ½ years and is happy to say she has been cancer free since then. She has been married to Tom for 40 years and lives in Bloomington. They have three grown children and five grandchildren. She & her husband have participated in many of the “Silent No More” Walk/Run events, as well as the Molly Cade golf events, working hard to give their family and friends an opportunity to support MOCA through their contributions. Although Carol graduated from Augsburg College, she has spent most of her married life as a stay –at –home mom. She is an artist and paints in acrylics. She has had 6 of her paintings made into note cards with the profits going to MOCA. She has been an active volunteer all of her life. Besides painting and grandchildren, Carol loves to travel, play golf with Tom and spend time with family and friends at their cabin near Park Rapids. She is very impressed with the passion and dedication she sees in everyone associated with MOCA and is honored to be a part of the board.
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Dona Maki, R.N., B.A.N., O.C.N.
Dona started in Gyn-Oncology nursing in 1981 at the University of Minnesota. She has worked in different positions - staff nurse, Assistant Nurse Manager, and the last 10 years as a Program Coordinator in Women’s Cancer at Fairview University Medical Center. Dona is a member of the Society of Gynecological Nurse Oncologists [SGNO] and the local chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society. Dona completed her BAN in 1977 from the College of St. Catherine, has been an Oncology Certified Nurse [OCN] since 1992 and has been a Cancer Chemotherapy Provider since 2001.
Dona’s hobbies include traveling, bridge, fishing, golf and the Green Bay Packers. Dona and her husband live in Minneapolis and are grandparents of three.
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Susan McIntyre, M.N., A.N.P.
Sue McIntyre started as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Gynecologic Oncology in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at the University of Minnesota in May 1983. She joined Doctor John Savage in his private practice in August 1988. She presently serves as president of the Society of Gynecologic Nurse Oncologists and is active in the Metro Minnesota chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society. Sue completed her BSN at St. Olaf College in 1976, her Masters degree in Nursing at UCLA in 1982, a certificate program in Enterostomal Therapy at USC in December 1981, and the nurse practitioner program at the College of St Catherine in June 1987. Sue's hobbies include scuba diving, canoeing, hiking, cooking and sewing.
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Tripp Snyder
Tripp Snyder is a practicing attorney and the President of Snyder Hotel Group, a company engaged in the ownership and operation of larger mid-market hotels. He has 30+ years experience as an attorney, and over 25 years experience as a hotel owner and operator. His legal work deals primarily with real estate development of hotels and senior housing projects. In addition to his legal and real estate activities, Tripp has been an advisor to, and Board member of, several high tech start up companies over the last 10 years. As a corollary to his work with start ups, he has been an Adjunct Professor at the University of St. Thomas, teaching Venture Finance to final year MBA students.
Tripp took the place on the MOCA Board of his wife Raine, who died in May of 2006, 3 ½ years after her Stage IV diagnosis. She had been misdiagnosed by six different doctors for the five years prior to that. Tripp also heads the Raine Snyder Fund for MOCA, a foundation established in Raine’s memory to spread MOCA’s Awareness Program beyond women with symptoms and Ob/Gyn physicians to all physicians treating women, so that the mis-diagnosis Raine had will not happen to other women.
Tripp has three children and two grandchildren. He competes in duathlons, and is an active sailor and tennis player.
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Joy Wetzel
Joy Wetzel was diagnosed with Stage IV epithelial ovarian cancer in January 2001 at the age of 57. After a second look surgery, she continued with an additional 6 rounds of chemo and was in remission until December 2005. After another surgery, carboplatin and taxol got her on the road to recovery again. She is currently on a clinical trial to again lower her CA 125. She continues to be optimistic with the advances that are being made medically.
Joy is most concerned that there be a more adequate test for earlier detection for her sisters, nieces and friends. MOCA’s mission is exactly what is in her heart… awareness of symptoms, money for research, and camaraderie for survivors and caregivers. She is a retired teacher and a volunteer Guardian ad Litem for Hennepin County. She is active in MOCA events with her husband, John, who is the “chairman” of a great support system. The "vice chairman" is Jackson, her Golden Retriever.
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Christie Wick
Christie has been an active member of MOCA since her diagnosis of stage IIc ovarian cancer in November 2004. She was diagnosed at age 34 and has found great support from MOCA's Young Survivor Network. Christie feels fortunate for the strength and wisdom she has gained from MOCA members and is honored to serve on the board of directors.
Christie holds a master's degree in counseling psychology and is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She and her husband, Jon, and son, Jasper, live in South Minneapolis, where they enjoy canoeing, biking, cross-country skiing, gardening, and spending time with friends and family.
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