 2011 - 2012 Board and Staff Please choose from the following Board members to learn more about them.
Heidi Chapman
Sponsorship
Heidi has 10 years experience in fund development which began at NO/AIDS Task Force in New Orleans, the oldest and largest AIDS service organization in the Gulf South. Heidi served as the Director of Development where she and the staff raised over 6 million dollars for vital services of the agency and another 3 million dollars of in-kind donations. Heidi holds an M.A. in Arts Administration/Non-Profit management and has donated her time to many other non-profit organizations by serving on their board of directors or on various committees. Her OC inspiration: "I lost my mother, Carlolyn Norris in May of 2009 after a 12 month battle with Ovarian Cancer. Losing my mother is tough enough but the fact that she may still be alive today, if diagnosed earlier is even more difficult. Having a reliable early screening test for Ovarian Cancer is critical. Being part of an organization that is helping support the research to find one is extremely rewarding." top...
Bethany Diamond
Founder
Bethany Diamond, well-known Atlanta fitness instructor and member of the Nautilus Fitness Academy, experienced a personal loss due to ovarian cancer. She envisioned an event that would revolutionize ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment by promoting research, while inspiring hundreds of people to become more fit and healthy as they contribute to the cause. Contact: bethany@ovariancycle.org top...
Carla Dunn
Member at Large
Carla Dunn is a senior manager with Accenture’s management consulting practice based in Atlanta. A native of Baxley, Georgia, Carla moved to Atlanta in 1999 after graduating from The University of Georgia and completing her MBA at The University of Alabama. She first got involved with non-profit work while in Athens, when she worked for several years with the Athens-Clarke County Clean and Beautiful Commission. Carla became involved with Ovarian Cycle in 2007 when a good friend, who was the new executive director at the Ovarian Cancer Institute, asked her to participate in the ride, and has been a member of the board of directors since 2008. Contact: carla.dunn@ovariancycle.org top...
Kelli Erbar
Rider Recruitment
Kelli is originally from the Kentucky / Ohio area and moved to Atlanta in April 2000 while in Sales with Delta Air Lines. She has over twenty years in the travel and tourism industry and her background includes Communications, Sales, Marketing and Business Development. Kelli presently serves as a Call Center Director and past experiences include creating three small businesses, content marketing management, and travel agency owner in Cincinnati Ohio and Executive Director of the Middletown (Butler County) Convention and Visitors Bureau. Her OC inspiration: Her mother, Deanna Baker Hardeman MacMullan, and her grandmother, Minnie Christian Baker, both died of Ovarian Cancer. She is passionate about our cause and in finding a cure for this Silent Killer. She wants to take steps in making a difference so she and her daughter and all those in our future do not have to suffer and undergo all those treatments her mother and grandmother did. Contact: kelli.hardeman.erbar@ovariancycle.org top...
Ellen Mezritch Fruchtman
President
Ellen, a native Atlantan, is a veteran Communications and Public Relations Executive. Her track record in building strategic communications platforms includes her most recent work with the national rebranding of Macy’s stores. As a graduate of University of Georgia and Pace Academy, Ellen has deep roots in the Atlanta community. OC Inspiration: My lifelong friend, Debbie Green Flamm, died of Ovarian Cancer in 2003. For years prior to her diagnosis, she experienced symptoms that were real, yet so vague that they went undiagnosed. By the time her illness was detected, her disease was advanced. Several years later, my aunt relived that same experience. I believe that Ovarian Cycle’s signature cycling events will help lead to the early detection of Ovarian Cancer Contact: ellen.mezritch.fruchtman@ovariancycle.org top...
Katherine McLeod Gurd
Event Manager
Katherine McLeod Gurd is a water resources engineer with Manhard Consulting, a civil engineering consulting firm. She has lived in the Atlanta area for the last 17 years and is a graduate of Georgia Tech. Having previously served in leadership roles with several local professional engineering organizations, she felt compelled to join a cause where she had more a personal connection. Katherine first rode in an Ovarian Cycle event in 2009 and has since become an active cyclist and triathelete. Her OC Inspiration: "I joined the ride in 2008 in memory of my aunt who passed after a 14-year battle with Ovarian Cancer. What I didn't expect was I became so inspired by the event itself! Each week, with every training ride, I felt physically stronger and more confident. The ride challenged me to a new level of fitness, and after my first ride I was not only hooked, but knew I had to get more involved with this organization." Contact: katherine.mcleod.gurd@ovariancycle.org top...
Lawrence Hahn
Secretary
Originally from Atlanta, Lawrence has been working in the public relations industry since graduating from The University of Georgia in 2007. After a brief stint in New York, Lawrence returned to Atlanta, where he currently lives with his wife and two dogs. Lawrence was inspired to join Ovarian Cycle two years ago as a participant and volunteer because of family and friends affected by all types of cancer, and he is excited to join the Ovarian Cycle board to continue the fight against one of the deadliest forms of this disease. top...
Rose Stransky Merrick
Art Director Mother of 2 beautiful girls, Cydney Leah and Brittan Taylor, Rose also started a successful promotional products company - Designables, Inc. One of her most popular designs, "The Rebel T" was created to honor her mother. "I love what I do, I love creating and selling and helping companies devise a creative marketing strategy. Other then my 2 girls, this is the greatest job I have ever had. Volunteering for OC - I do it for my 2 beautiful daughters." Her OC inspiration: Her mother, Cecile Leah Stransky who lost her battle to Ovarian Cancer in 1988. My mom was diagnosed in 1985, I had never heard of this cancer, I wasn't alone in that arena. Not until Gilda Radners' book "It's Always Something" was published did Ovarian Cancer cause a stir. In 2005 I heard about Ovarian Cycle and immediately it hit home with me. My first thought was I want to ride for the memory of my Mom.
Contact: rose.stransky.merrick@ovariancycle.org top...
Melissa Northrop
Marketing and Public Relations
Melissa currently serves as a Director of Development for Georgia State University. Prior to Georgia State, she worked for the University of Georgia and Emory University where she developed innovative programming to enhance institutional fundraising, networks, and engagement. She is an idea-generator who creatively leverages marketing and communications opportunities. Melissa is a 2003 graduate of the University of Georgia with a concentration in Advertising and Public Relations.
“My inspiration is my mother, Regina McConnell Northrop who passed away from Ovarian Cancer in 2010. You may think that after watching my mother battle this disease with everything she had and still lose, I would feel defeated. However, there's a fire that is lit inside me that refuses to go out until there's a cure. I refuse to be helpless. I made my mother a promise that I would continue on the fight even if she couldn’t.” top...
Chuck Rose
Treasurer
Cuck is a highly accomplished accountant with strong analytical skills and over 15 years of experience. He provides detailed operational and financial analysis and makes recommendations to the Ovarian Cycle board to help in achieving our objectives. Chuck has successfully developed and implemented systems which reduce costs while at the same time improving revenues for the Ovarian Cycle organization.
His OC inspiration: "My desire to be involved in community service." top...
Lauren Whitmore
Club Recruitment Lauren Whitmore was born in Virginia, raised in Ohio and attended Spelman College in Atlanta where she majored in Economics and Spanish. She is currently working towards a Master's degree in Human Movement and Kinesiology. She is a pharmaceutical sales rep and also teaches boot camp in Smyrna, Ga. She is also a fitness enthusiast and animal lover. With family that has been stricken with cancer, Lauren has a sincere commitment to being healthy in the big three: Mind, Body and Spirit. Her mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer a year ago and Lauren has been incredibly passionate about doing everything within her power to help put an end to this disease. She is excited to be a part of this Ovarian Cycle team in hopes of being a vessel for change. Contact: info@ovariancycle.org top...
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