Through the commitment, innovation, and guidance of its Board of Directors, the Celiac Disease Foundation carries out programs of awareness, education, advocacy and research for celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and dermatitis herpetiformis.
Board of Directors
Officers
Marc Riches, President
Marc Riches was introduced to the celiac community back in 2003 when his daughter was diagnosed at 15 months old. In 2010, he was diagnosed as a celiac as well. Looking for a way to contribute towards future undiagnosed celiacs, Marc joined the Board of Directors in 2007 and became the Board President in 2010.
Marc attended the University of Southern California and graduated in 1991 with a degree in Communications. Currently, Marc is a Director of Leasing for a private equity firm that invests in commercial real estate throughout the western United States. He has been a commercial real estate broker since 1997. He lives in Westlake Village, CA with his wife Melissa and daughter Megan.
In his free time, Marc enjoys taking trips with his family, playing poker, watching movies and sporting events and playing golf.
Richard Tasoff, Vice President
Richard J. Tasoff is a senior partner in Tasoff & Tasoff, one of the oldest "AV" rated (highest Martindale-Hubbell rating) law firms in Los Angeles specializing in immigration law. Richard, a Certified Specialist in Immigration & Nationality Law (State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization) since 1988, specializes in assisting research institutions, technology firms, multinational corporations, and highly-skilled or net-worth individuals obtain temporary working visas and permanent resident status ("green card" status). Richard was honored as a "Super Lawyer" in immigration law for the Southern California region in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Richard attended the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Southern California School of Law.
Richard has a son and niece with celiac disease and other members of his family carry the genetic precursors. Richard has a science background and keeps abreast of the science related to Celiac Disease and the relationship of Celiac Disease to other autoimmune diseases. Richard’s goal is to dramatically increase public awareness of Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance.
Judy Thomas, Secretary
Judy Thomas is Vice President of HMC Surgical and has over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Ms. Thomas has specialized in strategic planning for healthcare companies; prior to her current role at HMC, she held management positions at Riker/3M Pharmaceuticals, Burton Medical and Waldmann-Derungs Lighting. She has been a Board Member of Healthcare Manufacturers Marketing Council and has been active throughout her career in in developing cooperative ventures among medical suppliers.
Ms. Thomas, a Los Angeles native, has a B.S. in Biostatistics from UCLA and received additional education in survey sampling and various market research techniques. While Ms. Thomas's home base has been Los Angeles for most of her career, she lived in Cincinnati for four years where she honed skills in health planning and consumer research for a division of Bristol Myers. After her move back to Los Angeles, Ms. Thomas joined Riker Labs as a Sr. Analyst responsible for interpreting secondary market research data for 3M Headquarters. At subsequent senior executive positions at Burton Medical and Waldmann-Derungs Lighting, Ms. Thomas's successful programs produced over forecast sales growth as well as a significant number of new product introductions. Business plans built on the development of new products based on various levels of market research – and campaigns to introduce these products through skilled sales forces – have been the focus of Ms. Thomas' career.
Christopher J. Holland, MBA, Treasurer
Christopher J. Holland is an Underwriting Officer at Platinum Underwriters Reinsurance, Inc. In this position he is responsible for the management, marketing, auditing, and underwriting of Treaty Reinsurance for worldwide customers. Before joining Platinum Re, Mr. Holland served as a Senior Underwriter at Zurich Financial Services, where he was responsible for a multi-million dollar portfolio of Domestic Casualty Insurance Products for Fortune 1000 customers, Private equity companies, and portfolio companies engaged in mergers, acquisitions or divestitures. Prior to 2010, he was an Underwriter in AIG's Risk Management division, where he developed customized risk management programs for Fortune 500 customers. Christopher got his start in the insurance industry working as a Claims Adjuster and took on roles of increasing responsibility.
Chris currently advises the Board of Directors of Hotbox Sports as an independent consultant. Christopher holds an M.B.A. in Finance from the Hagan School of Business at Iona College, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and represented Iona College in the NYSSA Investment Research Challenge. He holds a B.S. from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania. Mr. Holland currently is pursuing both Associate in Reinsurance and Associate in Risk Management designations. He is also a member of the John Street Insurance Association and The Society of Friendly Sons of St. Patrick in NYC.
Elaine Monarch, Founder
Over the span of 21 years, Elaine Monarch took Celiac Disease Foundation from a small group of celiacs seeking to support each other, to the leading national organization with over 144 chapters and support groups across the country. Founded in 1990 by Elaine, this amazing CDF network is supported by members and volunteers and continues to raise awareness, advocate for patient concerns and build a supportive community for patients, families and healthcare professionals.
Elaine was an honored nominee for Outstanding Award National Philanthropy Day for 1996 and 1998. She also received the Certificate of Recognition for distinguished philanthropic leadership of the Celiac Disease Foundation by the National Society of Fundraising Executives – National Philanthropy Day 2000.
Over the years, Elaine created the CDF Medical Advisory Board, with established relationships with NIH, NIDDC and the FDA. In 2004, the NIH held the first ever Celiac Disease Consensus Conference. Elaine served on the Planning Committee and was selected to speak at the Conference. It was this landmark event that put celiac disease "on the map" with the statement that celiac disease affects 1 in 133 people.
Elaine was a founding member of the American Celiac Task Force, which eventually became the American Celiac Disease Alliance. This group of nonprofit organizations, food manufacturers and health professionals united to form one voice for the celiac community. The passage of the FALCPA law in 2006 was due in large part to the efforts of the ACDA.
In May 2011, Elaine retired as Executive Director. In Spring 2012, Elaine accepted a lifetime appointment to the CDF Board of Directors. She continues to be actively involved with CDF, chairing the Celiac Children’s Camp Task Force, and sharing her vision for a better life for those with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
Directors
Sharri Lear Bandejas
Sharri Lear Bandejas graduated from Emerson College with a B.S. in Communication and a minor in Communication Law. She currently serves as a Vice President of International Marketing for Sony Pictures. Her day-to-day responsibilities include marketing movies in over eighty markets and twenty languages around the world. Prior to her current position, she worked at DreamWorks SKG for ten years overseeing the domestic marketplace. Ms. Lear has served as Vice-President of the MATES Foundation for the past three years. The non-profit organization enhances the educational vision of the Meadows Arts and Technology Elementary School, located in Thousand Oaks. Ms. Lear has focused on building a strong direct donation program to help fund big ticket items like the music technology lab, grants, beautification projects and Art at Lunch.
Raised in Kennebunkport, Maine, Ms. Lear now lives in Thousand Oaks, California with her husband and two children. Excited to be a part of the Celiac Disease Foundation, Ms. Lear is looking forward to a successful two year term!
Marvin O. Berman, AIA
Marvin Berman is a retired architect and a member of the San Fernando Valley Chapter of The American Institute of Architects. Marv has celiac disease and was drawn to the Celiac Disease Foundation - first for support and then as a board member to give back and support the mission of CDF. He served on the CDF Board as President for many years and continues to serve as a Board member contributing his personal time and energy to promote awareness of celiac disease.
Ruth Claire Black, JD
As Executive Director of the California State University online program initiative, Cal State Online, Ruth Claire Black leads efforts focused on creating, developing, marketing and administering fully online programs from the 23 campuses of the California State University System. The Cal State Online project is working to provide increased access to CSU programs, to ensure that the CSU is a leader in innovation and technology enhanced education and to provide marketing and outreach for the best possible online education to the broadest possible spectrum of society. Ms. Black works tirelessly to systematically create and improve access to formal and informal education options for students of all ages. "I am deeply committed to developing online course and program options designed to open up educational opportunities to new communities of learners that will benefit from a pathway to health, achievement and success as lifelong learners." Prior to joining the California State University System in December of 2011, Ms. Black spent ten years with Chapman and Brandman Universities where she served as Dean of Distance Learning and later as Associate Vice-Chancellor. Ms. Black has a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Irvine and a Juris Doctorate Degree from Vanderbilt University.
Carol Blymire
Carol Blymire is a public affairs professional in Washington, D.C. with expertise in strategic communications, media and public relations, and partnership development. Ms. Blymire has held communications management and spokesperson positions at MCI, Fannie Mae, Discovery Channel, e-centives, and Cone. Ms. Blymire began her career in the White House speechwriting office for President George H. W. Bush. A graduate of The George Washington University, as well as the Harvard-MIT Public Disputes Program, she is also an adjunct writing professor at Georgetown University and the Johns Hopkins University. An accomplished food and culture writer for The Washington Post, Saveur, Washingtonian magazine, and others, Ms. Blymire wrote the cookbook Crazy Good Italian with Chef Mike Isabella, as well as two award-winning, popular blogs: Alinea at Home and French Laundry at Home. Diagnosed with celiac disease in 2008, Ms. Blymire works with chefs and others in the hospitality industry to educate about issues related to food allergies and sensitivities.
Van Durrer, JD
Van Durrer leads Skadden, Arps' corporate restructuring practice in the Western United States and advises clients in restructuring matters around the Pacific Rim. He regularly represents public and private companies, major secured creditors, official and unofficial committees of unsecured creditors, investors and asset-purchasers in troubled company M&A, financings and restructuring transactions, including out-of-court workouts and formal insolvency proceedings. Mr. Durrer's representative restructuring and insolvency engagements include: Blue Bird Body Company; Catalyst Paper Corporation; Friedman's, Inc.; Indymac Bancorp, Inc. (Chapter 7 trustee); JELD-Wen, Inc.; Kmart Corporation; Spansion Inc.; and US Airways Group, Inc. He also has advised participants in the financial restructurings of AmericanWest Bank; ASAT Holdings Ltd., Co.; Benpres Holding Corporation; Calpine Corporation; Clift Holdings LLC; LBREP/L-Suncal Master I, LLC; New Century Financial Corporation; Pierre Foods, Inc.; Rock & Republic Enterprises, Inc.; SONICBlue Incorporated; Station Casinos, Inc.; and THCR/LP Corporation (involving the Trump Atlantic City casinos). Selected industries in which Mr. Durrer has provided restructuring advice include financial services, gaming, health care, hospitality, information technology, logistics, manufacturing, real estate, retail and telecommunications. Mr. Durrer consistently has been named as a "leading lawyer" by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business. He is included in Legal Media Group's Guide to the World's Leading Insolvency and Restructuring Lawyers; The Best Lawyers in America; PLC's Restructuring and Insolvency multijurisdictional guide; and appeared twice on Turnarounds & Workouts' list of "Outstanding Young Bankruptcy Lawyers."
Michelle Gasaway, MBA, JD
Michelle Gasaway is a Counsel in the Los Angeles office of the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Ms. Gasaway represents corporate clients and investment banks in a variety of transactions, including public and private offerings of equity and debt securities, mergers and acquisitions and other financing transactions. She also counsels corporate clients on an ongoing basis, assisting with corporate governance, securities law compliance and other corporate matters. Prior to joining Skadden's Los Angeles office, Ms. Gasaway practiced in Skadden's New York office. Ms. Gasaway holds a B.S. degree in biology (summa cum laude) and an M.B.A. (summa cum laude) from the University of Georgia and a J.D. from Harvard Law School (cum laude). Ms. Gasaway also serves on the Executive Committee of the Business & Corporations Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
Chad Hines
Chad was diagnosed with celiac disease in 1989, when he was 7 years old. After being misdiagnosed on several occasions, he has been living a healthy, gluten-free lifestyle for over 21 years. He attended the University of Southern California, where he majored in Policy, Planning and Development and received a minor in Business.
Currently, Chad owns an insurance brokerage in Mission Viejo, CA and also consults with small businesses on their marketing strategies in an effort to help them realize their full potential.
In May 2009, he founded a gluten-free social network - Gluten-Free Faces (www.glutenfreefaces.com) - where individuals can come together and provide support, information and guidance for one another.
Chad is also the Co-Founder of Gluten-Free Saver (www.glutenfreesaver.com), which provides consumers with customized deals on a variety of gluten-free foods and other products.
Aside from his professional life, Chad is an avid sports fan and golfer. Although his dreams of becoming a professional golfer might not be realized, he still enjoys playing a few rounds each month with his family and friends.
Bobbie Wasserman, MBA
As President of Wave2 Alliances, Bobbie Wasserman works with companies to build and leverage integrated communication programs that engage audiences and help build reputations using the full arsenal of today's communications tools and channels.
For the past few years, Ms. Wasserman has focused on building Public Relations/Communications departments for direct sales clients, including ViSalus Sciences and Arbonne International. Other clients include Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chevron, Covance, Environmental Law & Policy Center, GE Capital, Hewlett-Packard, and Pacific Gas & Electric Company. Ms. Wasserman is a veteran of global public relations agencies Fleishman-Hillard and Edelman, where she served as a vice president in the public affairs and the corporate reputation and crisis management practices.
Ms. Wasserman's public affairs experience includes a decade in politics highlighted by appointment to executive director of The White House Project, a national nonpartisan 501c4 organization. In addition to her operations role she served as a national spokesperson and guest lectured at Columbia and American Universities.
Ms. Wasserman earned an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Southern California and a B.A. in Economics from the University of California at Los Angeles. In addition to the Celiac Disease Foundation Board of Directors, she currently serves on the Advisory Board for The Luncheon Society and Edison Awards National Judge, Best New Products Division. Bobbie is a former board member for California Women Lead - Los Angeles, former Environment Commissioner for California Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (now Congresswoman) and county committee representative for California's 41st Assembly District.
Michael Weiss, MD
Dr. Weiss first contacted the Celiac Disease Foundation a few days after being diagnosed a celiac in November 2003. Although he was trained as a physician he had little knowledge of the condition, and was overwhelmed by his gastroenterologist’s comments that this condition would be life changing and would require adherence to a rigid diet. His first contact with Elaine Monarch reassured him that others had successfully managed the problem and he would be able to as well.
He was a physician by training and specialized in forensic psychiatry. He practiced in Van Nuys, California until he retired in 1986. He intermittently attended CDF board meetings as a guest but seriously considered joining the board after serving on a committee formed to select a new executive director. Inspired by the talents and dedication of the board members on the committee he thought that as a retired psychiatrist he would have special insight into how to engage physicians as the organization went about its educational outreach. After being an observer and committee member, he was pleased to finally become an official board member in 2011!
Deb Wheaton
Los Angeles native Deb Wheaton grew up on movie sets, and spent most of her career working on-camera before moving behind the camera to write/produce promotional and on-line training tools for non-profits. As president of the non-profit Actresses at Work, she also co-wrote and produced the original version of the documentary short film: "Invisible Women," which addressed the issue of ageism in the media.
In 2005, the diagnosis of celiac disease changed Ms. Wheaton's life and she left her forty year career in entertainment, public relations and marketing to pursue a new mission: to raise awareness about celiac disease. Since that time her efforts have taken many forms. In addition to being the author of the popular blog site Not Even A Crumb (www.notevenacrumb.com), in 2011, Deb worked closely with the Celiac Disease Foundation and California Senator Robert Huff's office to spearhead legislation which resulted in the passage of SR7, designating May as Celiac Disease Awareness Month in California. Ms. Wheaton also wrote and co-produced CDF's first Public Service Announcement for National Broadcast (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5Li-H360Gs). The PSA has been accepted by all of the networks, and has been shown on the GIANT Scoreboard at the San Francisco Giants' AT&T Park.
Most recently, Ms. Wheaton was commissioned by Quintet Publishing in the UK to write a 4,000 word introduction for their new cookbook: 500 Gluten-Free Recipes.
Ms. Wheaton continues to seize every opportunity to help raise awareness and increase diagnosis of the "#1 Disease You've Never Heard Of".
Through the commitment, innovation, and guidance of its Board of Directors, the Celiac Disease Foundation carries out programs of awareness, education, advocacy and research for celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and dermatitis herpetiformis.
