About Us » Board of Directors
2009 Board of Directors
Liz Keegan, President
Liz Keegan joined the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure in January of 2005. She served as co-chair of the Affiliate Governance Committee, recruiting talented and passionate new advocates. Liz also volunteers for the I AM THE CURE program, a rallying cry to motivate and educate everyone about breast health facts and how they can take charge of their own breast health. Liz is the current President of the Board, providing oversight of the Affiliate's many efforts and working towards the promise of ending breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality of care for all and energizing science to find the causes and cures of breast cancer. In her professional role, Liz serves at the Director of Education & Outreach for the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan. She can be reached at lkeegan@fhcwm.org. 
Cindy Brown, Vice President
Cindy Brown is an active member of the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. She is currently serving as co-chair of the annual Race for the Cure and as vice president for the Affiliate Board of Directors. Cindy's passion is to help raise money for education so that people are empowered to take charge of their health through awareness. Her mom is a 19-year breast cancer survivor and is the reason Cindy's devoted to promoting the Race for the Cure and motivates others to get involved with the organization to help save lives and end breast cancer forever. Cindy has 20 years of experience as a business professional in employee development and leadership, recruiting, sales and brand management, training and facilitation. She is currently working with the West Michigan Strategic Alliance as their Internship Initiative Project Manager. Cindy can be reached at cbrownski@aol.com.
Cheryl Wirsing, Secretary
Cheryl Wirsing is co-chair of the Susan G. Komen Grand Rapids Race for the Cure and serves as secretary of the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Affiliate. She has been actively involved in the Race since 1998, following her mother's diagnosis of breast cancer and continues as a way to provide a positive experience for all Race participants, especially the survivors, their friends and family members. As a Board member she has the unique opportunity to work with an equally passionate group of individuals to develop, implement and oversee activities which provide funding to local programs that assist women to overcome the cultural, social and financial conditions which prevent them from receiving breast health care and treatment. In her professional role, Cheryl is Executive Assistant to the President & CEO of Founders Bank & Trust where she has worked for 3 years. Prior to that time, she was Office Manager for a local general surgery practice for nearly 15 years. Cheryl may be reached at clwirsing@comcast.net.
Barb Robinson, Treasurer
Barb Robinson joined the Board of Directors in 2008 as the Affiliate Treasurer. She has been the treasurer for the annual Race for the Cure since 2000 and has now taken on the Affiliate side as well. Barb's mom is a breast cancer survivor of four years and has become the motivation to use her accounting skills to help eradicate breast cancer. In her professional career, she is the Financial Manager at Bos & Glazier PLC, a Grand Rapids law firm. Barb can be reached at brobinson22@charter.net.
Colleen App, MD FACS
Colleen App, MD, FACS is a dedicated Breast Surgeon and a proud member of the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. She is co-chair of the Education Committee, helping to empower women and their loved ones with knowledge, a critical component of the Komen promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever. Dr. App has dedicated her profession to making the care and treatment of women with diseases of the breast better and more humane; concentrating on the patient as a whole, including body, mind and soul. She has a passion for early detection of breast disease through enhanced screening and identification of women at risk. To see how you too can make a difference, Dr. App can be reached at breasthealth@mmpc.com. 
Deb Bisel RN, MSN, OCN
Deb Bisel is a member of the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. She has been chair of the Grants Committee since 2004, helping ensure that funds raised locally by the Affiliate are distributed throughout the community to programs and services that benefit the neediest people for breast health and cancer projects. In addition, Deb is a 19-year breast cancer survivor and is passionate about helping those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer to make informed decisions. Professionally, Deb has her master's degree in nursing and is an oncology certified nurse working as the manager of cancer program compliance at Spectrum Health. Please contact Deb at deb.bisel@spectrum-health.org. 
Michelle Essick
Michelle Essick has been on the Board of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Grand Rapids Affiliate since March 2006. She is events co-chair, helping to raise funds and awareness for the organization. Michelle is a breast cancer survivor with a passion for the Susan G. Komen promise to end breast cancer forever. She is a retired dental assistant. She is also involved in other volunteer opportunities in Grand Rapids. If you would like to get involved with Susan G. Komen for the Cure contact Michelle at michelleessick@comcast.net.
Tara Geror
Tara Geror is an active member of the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. She is co-chair of the Affiliate Marketing Committee, helping to promote the organization and its promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever. She is also co-chair of the Affiliate Governance Committee, cultivating new board and committee members who have a passion to make a difference. Tara's passion for the cure is driven by her mom - a one year survivor. In her professional role Tara is the marketing director at Saint Mary's Health Care in Grand Rapids, Michigan with over 12 years of marketing and branding experience. If you're interested in making a difference, Tara can be reached at gerort@trinity-health.org.
Andrea Hughes
Andrea Hughes is a member of the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. With years of experience in volunteer and community work, she is helping to spread its promise in order to raise support for the organization. Her passion for raising awareness in underprivileged communities about breast cancer, is the driving force for her involvement on the board. Andrea can be reached at andeewamilly@aol.com.
Sylvia James
Sylvia James joined the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure in 2006. She served as a member of the Affiliate Governance Committee, recruiting talented and passionate new advocates. Sylvia also volunteers for the I AM THE CURE program, a rallying cry to motivate and educate everyone about breast health facts and how they can take charge of their own breast health. In her professional role, Sylvia serves as the Manager of Talent Acquisition for Spectrum Health Hospitals in Grand Rapids, MI. Sylvia also serves as an adjunct professor at University of Phoenix and Cornerstone University. Sylvia can be reached at sylvia.james@spectrum-health.org.
Cara Jones
Cara Jones is an active member of the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Cara is committed to raising money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure so that the Grand Rapids community can help put an end to breast cancer forever. Professionally, Cara Jones is the Director of Development at Hospice of Michigan in Grand Rapids, Michigan. If you're interested in helping make a difference, Cara can be reached at cjones@hom.org.
Greg Kilby
Greg Kilby joined the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure in May 2008. Greg serves on the event committee and also lends his legal expertise to the Affiliate. Greg has a personal family connection to breast cancer and wants to do all he can to eradicate this disease forever. In his professional role, Greg is an attorney with Warner Norcross and Judd specializing in employment and labor law and as well as employment and securities litigation. Greg can be reached at gkilby@wnj.com.
Elaine Overlund
Elaine Overlund is a passionate member of the Grand Rapids Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. She is co-chair of the Affiliate Marketing Committee with an emphasis on marketing for the Komen Race for the Cure held every September. Professionally, Elaine is the Chief Financial Officer for Stevens Advertising, a local advertising agency. She can be reached at elaine@stevensinc.com.
Kathy Weglicki
Kathy Weglicki is a dedicated member of the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. She is chair of the Komen Shop, promoting and selling pink ribbon awareness merchandise, and is also the co-chair of the Events and Fundraising Committee. Kathy initiated the "Flowers for the Cure" project which was very successful as part of the 2007 and 2008 Komen Grand Rapids Race for the Cure. She serves on the Public Policy Committee with the Advocacy Alliance, where she has been a voice on Capitol Hill challenging legislators regarding breast health and cancer care. Kathy was voted as the Affiliate's Co-Survivor of the Year for 2008. Her sister, Sheila, is a 12-year breast cancer survivor, and is one of the reasons why Kathy is so passionate to find the cure. In her professional career, she is a Pension Analyst and Office Manager at Pension Concepts, Inc. in Grand Rapids, where she has worked with actuaries for over 14 years. She can be reached at KathyWeglicki@yahoo.com.
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