The HEAL Board
HEAL’s Board of Directors is managed by community members dedicated to fulfilling its mission. Our board members are:
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Lauren Daniels – PresidentLauren graduated from Arizona State University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science degree. She married her husband Sean the November after graduation. She enjoys raising her three children Kayli, Sam and Gracie . Lauren volunteers in many capacities from her children’s schools to her church community. She appreciates the simple pleasures in life due to a breast cancer diagnosis at the early age of 35. Her greatest joy comes from spending time with her family and friends. Her passion has always been helping others so it is very fitting that she has started the non-profit organization the Happily Ever After League which supports moms through their cancer treatment. |
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Sean DanielsSean graduated from ASU in 1990 and immediately started his career with American Express. He is currently a Director of Sales for the Western and has worked in many capacities for the organization. Sean has served on the philanthropic board for American Express. Sean married his wife Lauren in November of 1990. Together they have three beautiful children, Kayli, Sam, and Gracie. Sean has always taken pride in volunteering in his community and presently sits on the Board of Directors for Desert Mountain Lacrosse. His biggest accomplishment in life is raising his three children and seeing his wife through her battle with breast cancer. |
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Marie Cappa – TreasurerMarie is originally from Staten Island, New York. She has lived in Arizona for over 30 years and enjoys spending time with her family especially her son Luke. Marie is retired from American Family Insurance and finds it very rewarding to volunteer her time as Treasurer for HEAL. She has a love of cooking and enjoys trips back east New York and Florida to visit family and friends. |
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Ruth Anne Lefkowitz – VP CommunicationsRuth Anne is originally from New Jersey. She moved to Scottsdale in 1991, after marrying Michael, her high school sweetheart. Ruth Anne worked in the corporate world for 17 years prior to becoming a stay at home mom to their two children. During her corporate experience, she gained a wealth of computer, event, and marketing communications knowledge. Ruth Anne currently works part time in a CPA office. She has been an active volunteer in her children’s schools, serving on committees, on parent-teacher boards and in classrooms. In her spare time she loves photography, reading, and most importantly spend time with her family and friends. |
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Joanne Mattera – VP EventsJoanne moved to Arizona from New York in 1978. She is a breast cancer survivor and believes in living life to its fullest. She has a tremendous love of family and her greatest joy is keeping busy with 6 beautiful grandchildren. A highlight for Joanne is cooking for her family on Sundays, which is a tradition passed on from one generation to another and is enjoyed by all. She also loves entertaining and traveling with her husband Sal. |
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Jackie F. EvasiusJackie left the “corporate world” in 1995 and since then has thrown herself into volunteer work. Originally hailing from outside Philadelphia, Jackie and her loving husband Scott have been relocated through his work many times, finally landing in their dream home in Glendale. Since then Jackie has been active in community activities, presently serving in leadership positions at the local, district and state levels of the General Federation of Woman’s Clubs. She has also worked with Banner Health, Glendale Civic Pride and sits on the Board of the 500 Golf Club Women’s Association. In 2005, Jackie organized a charity golf tournament to raise breast cancer awareness and named HEAL a co-recipient of monies raised…and a wonderful relationship was born. When not enjoying time with family and friends, Jackie and Scott can most often be found on the golf course. |
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Dr. Neil Hay-RoeNeil spent his early years in Peru where he learned to Speak English and Spanish simultaneously which has been a great asset his entire life. His family also lived in Connecticut and he graduated high school in Calgary, Canada, then went to the University of Edmonton where he earned his M.D. He interned in Akron, Ohio where he met his wife Joyce then did his residency at USC and they lived in Santa Monica. After 11 years in Canton, Ohio which included the birth of their 3 children they moved to Scottsdale so Neil could work in the new Mayo Clinic Hospital in the E.R. One of 5 original doctors there in 1998 it has grown tremendously in the last 10 years. The move to Arizona was wonderful for many reasons and great new friends were made including Lauren and Sean Daniels. Working on the HEAL board is a great opportunity to experience community coming together for the benefit of others truly in need. |
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Veronica LeiperOriginally from Southern California, moved to Arizona in 1987. Lives in Scottsdale with her two children, Justin and Chelsea. Currently teaches science at Mountainside Middle School in the Scottsdale School District. Has a B.A. from California State University, Fullerton and a MAEd from University of Phoenix. Before going back to work, she held various volunteer leadership positions in Scottsdale Unified School District. She enjoys being active in the community and treasures time spent with her children. Began a relationship with Lauren through working together as PTO members and feels blessed to consider her a close friend. She admires Laurens commitment to helping others after turning her own battle with cancer into such a positive journey. |
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Candace Peterson-BarrickCandace is originally from Indiana. She moved to AZ in 1998. Candace received her Bachelor of Science Degree from Purdue University. She has her real estate license that is hung with Dan Schwartz Realty. Candace loves to run, hike and enjoys all that AZ has to offer. It is important to Candace to spend time with friends and travel to Indiana to see her parents and family. She becameinvolved with HEAL in 2007 and is honored to be a part of such a wonderful and giving organization and excited to do what she can to help make a difference. |
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Michelle PrestonOriginally from Southern California, Michelle came to Arizona in 1987 to attend Arizona State University and never left. After school she embarked on a management career first with Clinique cosmetics for 9 years then looking for a change she went on to Qwest Communications. If changing careers wasn’t enough she met her wonderful husband Steve the very first day on the job and in 2010 they celebrated their 10 year anniversary. Michelle was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 when her daughter, Ashley was 2. After surgery and treatment she was diagnosed a year later for a second time with breast cancer. She currently sports a IWON2X license plate and enjoys being a stay at home mom, traveling and volunteering at Ashley’s school. Fully recovered she loves this new found freedom to be the hands on mom and wife she has missed out on the past 3 years and looks forward to many new fun adventures the Preston family takes on. Michelle became aware of HEAL as a recipient and now as a cancer survivor she has turned her focus and time to give back to the organization that helped her family through all that cancer brings. |
Brad Johnson, Esq. – Advisor to the BoardAfter growing up in Illinois, Brad received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Arizona State University and Juris Doctor Degree from Creighton University. Brad is founding partner of the law firm Peterson Johnson. He has passionately represented accident injury victims for more than 15 years. Brad enjoys time away from the office with his wife Marla and their children, Alyssa and Jared. His greatest joy is watching his children perform. |