MEET PHA’S TEAM

President & CEO

Matt J. Granato, LL.M., MBA

President & CEO x741

Matt has more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit and health care associations. Before his leadership role at PHA, Matt was CEO of an obstetrics medical society focused on high-risk pregnancies. During his tenure, Matt worked to increase the organization’s influence in the obstetric space to meet the needs of providers and their patients. His accomplishments included a new strategic plan that emphasized advocacy, research and provider and patient education. He doubled the organization’s revenue, increased resources for patients and specialists, and focused on diversity and inclusion to fill volunteer leadership opportunities and new professional staff positions. Matt also has experience in member services, marketing, and program and service expansions from his 13-year tenure at a transfusion medicine trade association. Matt worked in government relations, international law and human rights before dedicating his professional life to nonprofit associations. Matt has a bachelor’s in international relations, a master’s in law and a master’s in business administration.

Executive Team

Azalea Candelaria

Vice President, Development x767

Azalea got her start in fundraising in 1998 at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and went on to hold national and regional leadership positions at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, March of Dimes and the American Occupational Therapy Foundation. She has a strong track record in fundraising strategy and execution, and extensive experience in partnering with volunteers. Azalea leads PHA’s development efforts including individual giving, events, corporate and foundation grants and planned giving programs.

Lauren M. Lefkowitz

Vice President, Human Resources & Operations x802

Lauren Lefkowitz leads the human resources department and manages recruiting, employee relations, training, benefits and compensation. She also oversees the office management functions for PHA. Lauren’s prior experience includes human resources management in the financial services and retail industries, as well as pro-bono work and board service with a variety of non-profit organizations.

Karen Smaalders

Vice President, Communications & Marketing x750

Karen leads the Communications and Marketing department, which manages the PHA brand, web, print, social media and e-communications, as well as PHA’s marketing and advertising efforts. Karen started her career as a journalist, working for newspapers and magazines. Since then, she has directed communications and marketing for a variety of nonprofit organizations and higher education, including the International Association for the Study of Pain, the American Diabetes Association, the University of Washington and Seattle University. She holds a B.A. in mass communication from the University of California, Davis, and a Master in Nonprofit Leadership from Seattle University.

Elizabeth Joseloff, Ph.D.

Vice President, Quality Care & Research x759

Elizabeth leads PHA’s efforts to promote quality care and advance research through PHA’s accredited Comprehensive Care Centers, patient registry and research initiatives. Her department oversees health care professional and community educational programming. Before joining PHA, Elizabeth was the director of Integrative Biology at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, where she managed basic research and industry-sponsored drug development programs. Her prior experience includes scientific research at biotechnology companies and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She received a doctorate in cancer biology from the University of Arizona.

Tess Esposito

Vice President, Finance x751

Tess provides strategic oversight and collaborative leadership for PHA’s finance and accounting functions. She leads the finance department and is responsible for financial management, budgeting, investments, treasury, accounting systems, information technology, contracts and grant management. Her 20-plus years of experience as a chief financial officer for U.S. and international nonprofit organizations includes financial and grant management for the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs. Tess has Bachelor of Science in accounting and a Master’s of Business Administration in international management from Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University.

Advocacy & Treatment Access

Katherine Kroner

Senior Director, Advocacy & Treatment Access x749

As PHA’s Senior Director of Advocacy and Treatment Access, Katie advocates on behalf of the PH community with federal policy makers, coordinates PHA’s grassroots advocacy network, and works to ensure that individuals living with PH have access to the specific PH therapies prescribed by their physician. She is the first point of contact for PH community members with insurance challenges and for anyone interested in fighting back through advocacy.

Communications & Marketing

Linda Busche

Publications Editor
x760

Linda Busche is editor of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association’s flagship publications, the weekly newsletter PHA News, and the quarterly magazine, Pathlight. She manages digital and print content creation and strategy, including patient education materials, campaigns and other publications. A seasoned communications professional, she is a former journalist who covered health care, business, education and government. In her previous roles at nonprofit organizations, she has launched several websites and set the direction for external communications to various audiences. She lives in Washington, D.C.

Alanna Coogan

Design & Publications Coordinator x774

Alanna creates a variety of print and web materials for PHA, including brochures, posters, social media graphics, postcards, and PHA’s quarterly magazine, Pathlight. She loves the broad reach of visual marketing and hopes that her designs, whether in doctors’ offices, patients’ homes, community centers or online, effectively raise awareness of PH and inspire people to join the PH community.

Lauren Intrieri

Digital Communications Associate x780

Lauren plans, crafts and monitors content on PHA’s social media platforms and email campaigns. She collaborates with the communications team to create and execute campaigns with the goal of informing and helping the online pulmonary hypertension community, as well as spreading awareness.

Jim Wetherill

Web & Communications Manager x742

Jim manages PHA’s websites, email campaigns and other online communications. He supports all PHA departments to use web communications tools to meet their needs. Jim has prior experience in building and managing web communication projects for nonprofit health care organizations.

Development

Mira Kruger

Development Coordinator x810

As a member of the Development team, Mira leads PHA’s general membership, workplace giving and monthly donor programs. She also manages a number of nationally branded O2breathe events that support PHA’s educational, support and research programs. Mira’s grandmother was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in 2004, and Mira volunteered with PHA from 2008-2012. She feels lucky to have the opportunity to work for an organization that has made such an impact on her life, as well as her family members’ lives.

Finance

Karen Jackson

Associate Director, Finance x747

Karen is responsible for managing PHA payroll and accounts payable functions and supports the VP of Finance with general accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting processes. Prior to joining PHA, Karen worked for over 20 years for the Montgomery County Government Department of Finance as well as Public Accounting and Professional Services firms. Karen is a CPA, licensed in the State of Maryland.

Randall McLeod

Associate Director, Database & Finance x748

Randall oversees PHA’s donor database, The Raiser’s Edge. Randall serves PHA by ensuring all data is entered in a timely and accurate manner, and maintaining accurate records for all constituents. Randall assists the staff with any issues related to the database, and trains staff on how to use the database to serve their needs most effectively.

Leonard Schneider

Finance & Data Entry Associate

Leonard works with the PHA’s finance team to maintain its donor database. He ensures that constituent information, relationships and merchandise orders are up to date. Leonard also assists with monthly financial reporting and reconciliation.

Meetings

Pat Reilly

Meeting Planner x803

In his role as a Meeting Planner, Pat manages full logistics for PHA On the Roads, Corporate Committee, Board, Scientific Leadership Council, and the PHCC/PHPN committee meetings. He also manages exhibits for the Biannual Conference as well as the Conference/Symposium mobile apps. Pat also partners with the Senior Manager, Meeting & Conference Planning on a variety of other logistics.

Chanel Ricks

Director, Meetings x779

Chanel Ricks’ primary responsibilities include site selection and contract negotiation for PHA meetings and conferences. The meetings team manages planning and onsite logistics for PHA’s major education events, symposia and committee meetings. She has experience planning meetings and conferences throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada. Her events have ranged from 50 to 1,500 attendees. Before joining PHA, Chanel worked at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) in Washington D.C.

Operations & Administration

Bianca Woodard

Office Administrator x746

Bianca is PHA’s first line of communication, connecting patients, caregivers and health care professionals from the pulmonary hypertension (PH) community with PHA’s staff. From answering PHA’s phone lines to managing store orders and helping with mail donations, she answers any questions that come her way or will direct callers to the appropriate staff member. She has a passion for helping others, takes pride in her work and loves the fact that she can truly make a difference here at PHA.

Patient & Caregiver Programs

Michael Knaapen

Director, Patient & Caregiver Programs x758

Michael oversees PHA’s patient and caregiver programs. These programs ensure PHA’s patient and caregiver constituents are empowered to manage their health, develop resilience, connect to others and contribute to the PHA community in ways their health and interest allow. The department works with more than 400 community volunteers to provide peer support in person, online and by phone, as well as other resources to improve and extend the lives of people affected by PH. His team also supports PHA events like Conference and PHA on the Road, PHA’s international programs, Lantos Awards and more.

Abby Sickles

Patient & Caregiver Programs Program Manager x777

Abby connects patients and caregivers to PHA’s educational and support resources. She manages PHA’s support resources, including in-person support groups, telephone support groups, email mentors, support line and Facebook groups. Abby works to grow these programs to provide support to community members across the country. Abby also assists in planning programming for PHA’s Biannual Conference.

Seker Anderson

Program Associate, Patient & Caregiver Programs x757

Seker Anderson provides administrative support within PHA’s Patient & Caregiver Programs department. He also resources PHA patient/caregiver outreach events.

Quality Care & Research

Zan Laughlin

Professional Education Program Manager x776

As Professional Education Program Manager, Zan manages PHA’s live and online continuing education programs for health care professionals, including PHA’s largest biannual signature events, PHA’s PH Professional Network Symposium and PHA’s International PH Conference & Scientific Sessions. As well, Zan manages all content for PHA Online University, PHA’s online CME/CE platform. Zan works to ensure that PHA creates and delivers high-impact educational opportunities to PH-treating health care professionals to increase the knowledge and competence in treating pulmonary hypertension.

Cynthia L. Martin

Program Director, PHCC Accreditation Program x804

Cynthia manages Pulmonary Hypertension Care Center (PHCC) accreditation and PHA Patient Registry (PHAR) operations to improve quality care for people with pulmonary hypertension. Her responsibilities include implementing and managing PHCC accreditation/re-accreditation processes and site enrollment for the PHAR. In her prior roles at the National Committee for Quality Assurance, Cynthia managed recognition and accreditation programs.

Jill Zajac

Patient Education Program Manager x744

Jill manages PHA’s patient education programs, as well as the development of print and online educational resources. She works closely with PHA’s volunteer committees to create and update resources and to ensure that patient-centered information regarding disease state awareness and education materials supplied to medical clinics and patients are accurate and relevant for the populations affected by PH.