WELLNESS HOUSE - Key Persons


Adam Schaeffer

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board

Alice Fillers

Job Titles:
  • Development and Marketing Assistant

Allison Wenclawski

Job Titles:
  • Support and Counseling Program Manager

Andrew Brickman

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Wellness House Board of Directors
  • Board Member / Xaloy Incorporated

Annie Hart

Job Titles:
  • Manager of Special Events and Annual Giving

Arpi Thukral

Job Titles:
  • Board Member / Radiation Oncology Consultants, Ltd.

Berger Schatz

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board

Beth Possley

Job Titles:
  • Program Associate

Blair Haarlow

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Wellness House Foundation Board of Directors
  • Secretary of the Board

Bradley Schafer

Job Titles:
  • Office Manager

Briana Brandt Murray

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board

Christy Hernandez

Job Titles:
  • Board Member / Ann & Robert H Lurie Children 's Hospital

Curtis Reed

Job Titles:
  • Board Member / JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Darlene Bingham

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Member of the Wellness House Board of Directors

Deb Kwiatt

Job Titles:
  • Marketing Communications Manager

Dick Burridge Sr.

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Wellness House Board of Directors
  • Board Member / RMB Capital Management

Earl King

Job Titles:
  • Oncology Support and Family Counselor

Elizabeth Sharp

Job Titles:
  • Board Member / Weber - Stephen Products LLC

Ellen Nieman

Job Titles:
  • Associate Director of Programs

Gaye E. Preston - CFO

Job Titles:
  • Director of Finance and Operations

Gina Pongetti Angeletti

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Wellness House Board of Directors
  • Board Member / Achieve Orthopedic Rehabilitation Institute

James Hallene

Job Titles:
  • Principal / Capitol Concepts Holdings LLC

Jamie Ott

Job Titles:
  • Courtyard Retail Manager

Jim McMahon

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Wellness House Foundation Board of Directors
  • Board Member / Centrust Bank

John Paro

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Member of the Wellness House Foundation Board of Directors

Kara Niekamp

Job Titles:
  • Oncology Education and Engagement Associate

Kate Fridholm

Job Titles:
  • Director of Development

Ken Julian

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Wellness House Foundation Board of Directors
  • Board Treasurer / Julian Electric, Inc.

Kevin Thilborger

Job Titles:
  • Board Member / Huron Consulting Group

LaToya McGhee

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board

Lauren Ferrara Houder

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board

Lauren Staniar Haarlow

Job Titles:
  • Community Leader
  • Member of the Board

Lizz Hawkey

Job Titles:
  • Volunteer Manager
  • HR and Volunteer Manager

Lori Naccarato

Job Titles:
  • Community Leader
  • Member of the Board

Mahrukh Hussain

Job Titles:
  • General Counsel & Corporate Secretary / United Natural Foods, Inc.

Marci Goldberg

Job Titles:
  • Participant Engagement Manager
  • Participation Engagement Manager

Meet Saige

Child and Family Specialist In her role as Child and Family Specialist, Saige assists in helping children and caregivers cope with a cancer diagnosis and… Read More »Meet Saige Spears, MS, CCLS

Mery Vieira

Job Titles:
  • Director of Marketing and Communications
As Director of Marketing and Communications, Mery is responsible for overseeing all marketing, public relations, media, and brand strategy at Wellness House. Mery joined the team in 2022 and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Rhode Island College and is a recipient of the Telly Award for advertising programming. Mery is moved by the tremendous support Wellness House offers its participants and aims to continue to amplify the message of hope and healing for all who call Wellness House home. A native of Cape Verde Islands who grew up in New England, Mery enjoys the beach, creative writing, and the performing arts.

Michael Williams

Job Titles:
  • Senior Oncology Support Counselor
  • Senior Oncology Support Counselor / Development & Marketing

Monte Henige

Job Titles:
  • Board Chair / Tru Fragrances, LLC

MT Sobek

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board

Rick George - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman of the Board
  • Member of the Wellness House Foundation Board of Directors

Rush Copley

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board

Sean E. McCarthy

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board

Stephen Smith

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board

Tami Cartensen

Job Titles:
  • Courtyard General Manager

Thomas Cranmer

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Wellness House Board of Directors

Thomas D. Grusecki

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board

Tracy Lester

Job Titles:
  • Director of Programs
As Director of Programs, Tracy oversees strategic initiatives that further the Wellness House mission. Tracy joined the Wellness House team in 2011 and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Science degree in Exercise Physiology from Illinois State University. She is a Certified Cancer Exercise Trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine and American Cancer Society. She is also an American Council of Exercise Health Coach and Registered Yoga Instructor. Tracy is thankful to work with the exceptional team of staff and volunteers to deliver high-quality programs to the inspiring participants of Wellness House. In her free time, Tracy enjoys running, yoga, and spending time with her family.

William Blair

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board