Our internal team is made up of a diverse group of professionals with a wide range of expertise in nonprofit management, fund development, program development and evaluation, financial management, technology solutions, communications strategies, and more. Together, we aim to provide responsive programs and services of the highest quality to the spondylitis community.
Want to join the team? View our career page and see if there’s an opening!
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Cassie is the office innovator. Since her initiation, Cassie has conceptualized a majority of the new programs and ideas that are currently being implemented, including the most important one - the office Halloween potluck.
Favorite place on Earth: Any tropical island or exotic locale
Describe SAA in one word: Supportive
Favorite thing about your job: Love working with volunteers at all levels of the association. The ability to hear the needs of our members and patients and our ability to respond quickly in most situations.
What do you do for fun: Swimming, cycling, hiking (when it’s not snake season), international travel
Something most people don't know about you: I’ve climbed Mt. Fuji twice while living in Japan in the ‘80s
Chief Mission Delivery Officer
Richard is the office networker. If he's not in the office, he's probably in Vegas meeting with Imagine Dragon's lead singer Dan Reynolds or hosting a yoga class/support group meeting. As an AS patient, he is our goto for any AS-related information and correspondent for conferences. Richard is the point person for pharma relations, research, and advocacy. He also spearheads novel initiatives.
Favorite place on Earth: Any with family and friends
Describe SAA in one word: Supportive
Favorite thing about your job: Love working with people at all levels of the association. The ability to hear the needs of our members and the broader spondylitis community and our ability to respond quickly in most situations.
What do you do for fun: Cycling, hiking, gardening, international travel, and of course practicing yoga
Something most people don't know about you: I played rugby in college, my first contact sport!
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Diann is the office comedian. She’ll often have chats with coworkers that are overheard and will shut work down for a few minutes while everyone else cracks up, but pretends to be laughing at something else.
Favorite place on Earth: The next place I visit
Describe SAA in one word: Life changing. And if I had to describe myself in one word – Can’t Follow Directions.
Favorite thing about your job: We get to help make things better for some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Plus, we have TWO microwaves in the break-room!
What do you do for fun: Travel -- 30+ countries and counting. (Attention International Members – do you have a couch to spare?)
Something most people don't know about you: Wouldn't you like to know!
Director, Brand Experience & Public Affairs
Jason is the office jack of all trades. He is a Marketing Strategist with a passion for digital and as one of the new kids on the block, his areas of focus are brand identity, media relations, and message amplification.
Describe SAA in one word: Supportive
Favorite thing about your job: It’s a challenge to understand the science and the intricate details of spondylitis and to tell a compelling story about it.
What do you do for fun: Writing & Travel
Something most people don't know about you: I was on the rowing team for a year during undergrad, but no one was aware that I couldn’t swim.
Director of Member Engagement
Sean is the office extrovert. A day does not go by without hearing Sean's infectious laugh and lighthearted remarks resonate throughout our halls. If you have contacted our office lately, chances are he's been on the receiving end. If you have questions about SAA membership, automobile donations, volunteering, planned giving, corporate giving, special events, or just want to chat – he’s your guy!
Favorite place on Earth: Iceland
Describe SAA in one word: Rewarding
Favorite thing about your job: I really enjoy talking with our members and learning their life story.
What do you do for fun: Hikes with my partner and my dog, travel and exploring offbeat Los Angeles culture.
Something most people don't know about you: Many people don’t relocate very often in their lives. As of today, I have moved 25 times!
Director of Programs
Melissa is the office brainstormer. Her mind is always going, thinking of new and creative ways to implement programs that will positively impact the spondylitis community. She has returned to SAA after a 12-year hiatus and is eager to rejoin the amazing team at SAA!
Favorite place on Earth: Maui, among the painted trees.
Describe SAA in one word: Purposeful.
Favorite thing about your job: Being part of a diverse team that strives every day to have a positive impact on the spondylitis community.
What do you do for fun: Create, create, create! I also love spending time with my family (including my sweet dogs), being a Nana, watching football, swimming and barbequing!
Something most people don't know about you: I have an unnatural fear of frogs, especially pond frogs.
Associate Director of Programs
Kristine is the office early bird. She went from being an Accountant to going back to school to get her Masters in Public Health so that she could help make a difference in people's lives by addressing, assisting and advocating for the health and well-being of individuals and communities affected in our country.
Favorite place on Earth: At a lake side cabin away from the city
Describe SAA in one word: Compassionate
Favorite thing about your job: Having the opportunity and means to help others, through innovative and creative programs. Looking forward to being a part of the Spondylitis Community.
What do you do for fun: On my free time I enjoy spending time with my 7 year old son. He is the love of my life and nothing makes me happier than seeing him smile.
Something most people don't know about you: I was Brittney Spears’ assistant for two weeks and got to live
Senior Manager of Member Engagement
Manny is the office jock. In addition to lifting extremely heavy weights, he is a former aerospace professional and ever since he found his passion for helping others, he hasn’t worked a day since. Since then, he has been very fortunate to have been able to help the lives of children, victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, the developmentally challenged, and now, families and individuals affected by spondyloarthritis. He is also the point person for our robust network of support groups.
Favorite place on Earth: The open road.
Describe SAA in one word: Relentless
Favorite thing about your job: The daily interactions with people from every walk of life.
What do you do for fun: I lift heavy things, punch people in the boxing ring, volunteer with animals, play my guitar, work on cars and motorcycles, go on off-road adventures, homebrew my own beer, shoot some pool, and purposely get lost on my motorcycle.
Something most people don't know about you: When I was a kid, John Elway refused to autograph a football for me. I tossed my ball at him and I told him “Troy Aikman is a better quarterback than you anyways.” Go Cowboys!
Director of Operations
John is the office smileaholic. Rumor has it, in the entire time he has been at SAA no one has ever seen him frown. Keeping the office running smoothly and assisting staff members with various administrative needs are his key priorities. There are many facets to his job, which is just fine with John as it keeps him on his toes. He is a people person for sure and he enjoys being the first in line to receive calls from our fantastic constituents.
Favorite place on Earth: Iceland
Describe SAA in one word: Encouraging
Favorite thing about your job: Feeling that I am part of a greater good.
What do you do for fun: Travel around the world as much as possible, as well as exploring all the wonderful sights and sounds of Los Angeles which became my new home in June 2017. I am currently working on my own Youtube show: stay tuned!
Something most people don't know about you: I have been an actor for almost 30 years (that part people do know) and was humbled and honored to be part of a Chicago produced feature film that had 3 showings at the 2014 Chicago International Film Festival (it was a bit nerve-wracking seeing myself on the big screen, but eventually I got used to it and would love to see it happen more often!). I also have two tattoos and have been on two game shows: The Price is Right in November 2005 and Wheel of Fortune in February 2020.
Manager of Publications and Programs
Esi is the office storyteller. She writes and edits for our publications, including eSUN, Spondylitis Plus, and our website. She first became acquainted with SAA as a person living with spondyloarthritis, and she's proud to now contribute to the mission of an organization that has been supportive and informative during her own diagnosis journey.
Favorite place on Earth:
Brooklyn, NY
Describe SAA in one word: Welcoming
Favorite thing about your job: Learning so much from reading about the experiences of our community members
What do you do for fun: Read, write, cook, watch TV, and spend time with my family, especially chasing after my two young sons.
Something most people don't know about you: I write novels and creative nonfiction.
Manager of Advocacy Programs
Lisa is the office Liaison. As our Manager of Advocacy Programs, she spends her time and considerable skills finding new ways to increase public awareness, improve access to health care, increase federal research funding to cure spondylitis, and influence public policies that impact the spondylitis community.
Favorite place on Earth:
Anywhere there are a lot of TREES (preferably near lakes and/or the ocean) for hiking and walking.
Describe SAA in one word: Dedicated!
Favorite thing about your job: The sense of community and the opportunity to be of service.
What do you do for fun: A lot of reading, movies, and spending time with my family and rescue dogs and cat.
Something most people don't know about you: I helped run a publishers’ association for 16 years, but initially wasn’t a big reader. Two years later, the staff went on a retreat in Northern CA where there was no TV or wi-fi and zero cell reception. I read a huge novel in three days and have been hooked ever since. Now I give myself yearly reading challenges. My record so far is 25 books and I’m still trying to beat it!
Manager, Website Development
Ken is the office technophile. He was born and raised in Southern California but enjoys colder weather. He’s fascinated with technology and machinery. As part of the SAA web development team, he focuses on user-driven experiences and has a passion for creative work. Ken is also a licensed commercial real estate agent that envisions a future of sustainable smart cities.
Favorite place on Earth:
York, UK
Describe SAA in one word: Kindness
Favorite thing about your job: Love connecting with everyone and you feel a natural affinity for members in our association.
What do you do for fun: Travel, Art Museums, Stargazing, and see Live Music.
Something most people don't know about you: I used to play the saxophone.
Membership Associate
Helene is the office memory book. Out of the thousands of donating members that visit our site, she knows each one's name and ID number by heart as well as their favorite food and the car they drive. She also does a great job ordering food for us.
Favorite place on Earth: Wherever my family is
Describe SAA in one word: Supportive or Life-Changing
Favorite thing about your job: Interacting with our members and trying to make things better for them
What do you do for fun: Walking the malls, swimming, and spending time with my family
Something most people don't know about you: I used to be a pretty good bowler
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