Lara DurnaLara is the mother of two teenaged boys, both of whom have different forms of neurodivergence. One child was diagnosed in early elementary school with a complex set of neurologic syndromes and the other was diagnosed in middle school on the autism spectrum. She was drawn to WABT because it offered genuine and warm acceptance to women and their families who live in a world few people fully understand. Lara’s drive to find connections with other moms stems from her work with cancer survivorship and knowing the importance of shared experiences and camaraderie. In her day job, she works as an adult medical oncologist and hematologist. She has also held several administrative positions and has participated in multiple medical committees including being the prior chief of her department. Her current administrative work includes chairing a regional breast cancer steering committee and acting as a principal investigator over cancer and blood disorder clinical treatment trials that focus in bone marrow, immune system and breast cancers. She also participates in epidemiology and public health research related to quality of life and survivorship of breast and lung cancer patients. Lara saw the strength of outreach and compassion in her work with a strong, vulnerable and often misunderstood group of people and hopes to help apply this kind of education, awareness and support for special needs families.
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Fryda GonzalezFryda Gonzalez, born in Guatemala, and raised in Southern California, has worked in the toy design and development field for the last fifteen years. Her passion has always been to mentor or guide others, through compassion and awareness. Throughout her career, she has spent over five years working at a young women’s transitional home, providing guidance and life skills to young women who have aged out of foster care and are transitioning into independent living. Fryda enjoys anything fitness, dogs, and time with her family and friends.
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Anthony RivelloAnthony Rivello brings We Are Brave Together a combination of Madison Avenue marketing experience with an interpersonal approach that shapes his current career as a Personal Mentor supporting children on the spectrum for autism.
As an advertising executive at New York's leading agencies for over a quarter century, Anthony's career has focused on a range of clients, from not-for-profit and grass roots services to health care and government. His experience in strategic planning, program development, implementation and metrics tracking of direct marketing communications has been the driver for national and local campaigns ranging from patient education and engagement to loyalty and sales performance. For the past five years, Anthony has taken his unique personal experiences and re-established himself as a provider of personalized mentoring to young people on the spectrum for autism. Through an approach of individualized attention, he channels his direct communications background to provide social and academic support that is designed to empower self-esteem and social competency in a supportive relationship that is non-clinical or pathologized. Anthony lives in New York City with his teenage son and their 20-something year old tortoise, Bob. |
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Lora AckermanNLora Ackermann is a single mom who hails from the whole west coast having lived in Oregon, Washington, and now California (for the past 11 years). She has extensive experience participating on non-profit boards and with a multitude of organizations throughout the whole west coast, most recently including two years on the local PTA Board, two years (1st VP and President) of Cornerstone Elementary School Board in Rancho Palos Verdes, and she is currently on the board of Kiwanis Club of Rolling Hills Estates, a division of an international organization that supports children in need around the world and locally. Lora is a master educator who writes and implements specialized curricula as well as grants for education and engagement experiences. In addition, Lora brings over 18 years of leadership development training, a background in art, communication, team-dynamics, innovation and stress-management to our organization. Her WABT journey began when her daughter, now 15, was diagnosed at age seven with several ‘hidden’ special needs, including OCD, ADD, GAD, and recently Cyclothymia, and her son, now 13, was diagnosed with ADHD at age six. Lora has a passion for empowering people through connection, art, the written word, and interactive experiences and she is truly honored to be a part of this WABT community.
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Stephanie FLECKStephanie Fleck, originally from southern California, though with a short stint in New York, currently lives in Rancho Palos Verdes with her husband, Richard and her two teenage children, one of whom was diagnosed with an intellectual disability at age six. She’s worked in the refurbished environmental equipment industry for the past 30+ years and, yet, still found time to volunteer for several organizations including five years on Miraleste Intermediate School’s Booster Club Board, one year on their PTSA Board, seven years with Girl Scouts of America, five years as Committee Chair for her local Cub Scouts, two years as secretary of their HOA, and nine years on the Mira Catalina Elementary School PTA Board. Stephanie’s dedication to her community and the education of her children earned her the rare Golden Oak Service Award from the PVPUSD Parent Teacher Association. When she can, she enjoys cooking, music, dancing and reading. Stephanie is honored and touched to be a part of this wonderful and helpful WABT organization.
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Other Team Members: |
Support Group Facilitators: |
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CPA: Rick Lavezzari
Bookkeeper: Erin VanDerVeen Podcast Editor/Producer, Marketing: Madeleine Inskeep, M.A. Support Group Facilitator Trainer/Mentor: Kimberly Kooy, MMFT Volunteer Assistant: Debby Tomlinson Website: Andrew & Mollie Wilkinson Administrative Assistant: Noel Heaney |
Alabama: Joye Madden
Arizona: Wendy Burkhard Florida: Carrie Hunsucker Kansas: Kelly Roberts and Haley Ward Los Angeles: Susanna Peace Lovell San Diego: Angie Robinson Tennessee: Kimberly Kooy Utah: Madeline Cheney |