WELCOME TO THE COLD AGGLUTININ DISEASE FOUNDATION

Pat Watson – President, Board of Directors
Pat comes to CADF with a background as a Regional VP in the consumer-packaged goods industry. She has 40 years’ experience in strategic planning, leadership, executive training, and the design of sales and marketing programs. After retiring, Pat used her business background to transition into education as an adjunct college professor where she designs and teaches strategy, leadership, management, and other business courses and works on a team to develop additional bachelor’s programs for the Business College.

Pat earned her MBA, with a concentration in leadership and management, at Kennesaw State University in Georgia and was a member of the Honor Society Phi Kappa Phi. She holds certificates in Coaching, Quality Matters, Critical Thinking, and several online learning platforms.  

Pat enjoys her four grandchildren, and her interests include travelling with the grandchildren, genetic genealogy, history, archeology, and others.

Email: president@cadfcares.org

Jo Banta – Vice President, Board of Directors

Jo began her career as a Branch Manager for Kelly Services in Cincinnati, after earning her MBA from Miami University in Ohio. Jo quickly became involved in professional organizations, serving as an officer and board member of the Cincinnati Administrative Management Society. Through the years, Jo moved with her husband and two sons to Indiana, Illinois, and New York.  Throughout her journey, Jo's eagerness to explore new opportunities in each location led her to embrace unique roles. Jo made a difference in the field of education by developing and implementing an English as a Second Language (ESL) tutoring program. She dedicated her time to helping special needs young adults as a job coach and built master cohort programs for teachers as a Cohort Coordinator. Additionally, she gained valuable experience as an Administrative Assistant for the Naperville, IL Park District Planning and Development Department.

Now retired, Jo continues to contribute to society through her involvement with P.E.O., a women's educational charity group. Her commitment to empowering women is demonstrated by her active participation in providing grants and scholarships to women seeking post-secondary education. Her interests include gardening, hiking, fishing, and reading.

Jo was officially diagnosed with Cold Agglutinin Disease in January 2020, though she had symptoms for decades. From firsthand experiences, she understands all the challenges patients go through from receiving a diagnosis to lab results to obtaining the correct treatment.

Email: vp@cadfcares.org

Todd Chambley – Treasurer, Board of Directors
Todd is a Senior Vice President at Aon in Atlanta.  He has been in the executive benefits and insurance industry for over 28 years.  Todd runs Aon’s Executive Benefits Practice, including responsibility for executive benefit consulting operations, sales and marketing, legal and compliance, and client servicing. Since joining Aon, he has held positions such as consultant, IT project management/DBA, controller, and COO.   He is currently a member of Aon’s North American Health Solutions leadership team.   

Todd has an accounting degree from Lee University and has earned the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Fellow Life Management Institute (FLMI) designations. He also holds Series 6 and 63 securities licenses and life and health insurance licenses.   

Todd is married to Joy, who is a motivational speaker, trainer, and President of Moms with Swords. They have three children. Todd serves as a Board member for Engaging Leaders and volunteers as a coach and treasurer for the Atlanta Vipers Fastpitch Organization.   He lives in the Atlanta Metro area.

Email: treasurer@cadfcares.org

Cold Agglutinin Disease Foundation Staff: 

Bohdan Jarisz - Social Media/Web-designer/Graphic Artist

Bohdan is a marketing professional with 10 years of experience in web and traditional advertising, promotions, social media, and ad design concepts.

Colleagues know him as a highly creative marketer who can always be trusted to come up with a new approach. He knows that the client’s business comes first, and Bohdan never tries to impose his ideas on others. Instead, he spends a lot of time understanding the business and the audience before suggesting ideas. He can (and often does) work well alone, but he is at his best collaborating with others.  

Bridgid and Catherine Connolly - Media/Communication/Writers  
Bridgid and Catherine are sisters and medical doctors from Australia.

Bridgid is a Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Consultant, and Catherine is specialising in Pathology and Stem Cell Research.

The sisters became patient advocates for Cold Agglutinin Disease after a family member was diagnosed with the condition. In their spare time, Bridgid and Catherine enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, running, tennis and cycling.
 

Kathy Cary – Facebook Content Compliance Manager 

Kathy is a Certified Gemologist Appraiser. She has worked in this industry for 45 years and is currently employed by Skie’s Jewelry as a Diamond and Gemstone buyer. She is a graduate Gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America.

In her spare time, Kathy is the Administration Manager for Facebook groups. At present, she reviews for content compliance, not only CAD Foundation’s Facebook Group, CADdy CHATTER, and also manages two art groups. She enjoys painting with watercolors and does calligraphy. Kathy has two sons and is a dog lover. She has three dogs, named Grace, Suze, and Sally Popper, daughter of Susan Popper. She lives in Eugene, OR.

In 2003, Kathy was diagnosed with primary CAD.  

Dawn B. Diaz – Patient Advocate for the Newly Diagnosed

Dawn Diaz grew up in Albany, NY and graduated with a BA in accounting from Siena College. She then became a CPA for Coopers & Lybrand straight out of college until becoming Controller for a local builder. Dawn, subsequently, became Director of Internal Audit of Cablevision Industries and eventually, Assistant Direct of Internal Audit at Time Warner, Inc. in New York City and finished her career as a Director of Internal Audit at Ernst & Young,  and began volunteering her time soon after marrying Armando Diaz doing pro bono accounting work for local organizations. She lives in Englewood, NJ with her husband and two sons. 

Dawn was diagnosed with CAD in 2017 and is happy to share her experience having CAD with other patients and looks forward to helping them to be an advocate for themselves to get the best possible care throughout their disease process.