February, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tiffany Dutes
Phone: (954) 454-4156
Email: tiffany@floridabreastcancer.org
FBCF Proudly Announces New Board Members
Hallandale, FL (February 2ND, 2009) – Florida Breast Cancer Foundation (FBCF), is on a mission to end breast cancer through advocacy, education, and research. Today, FBCF announces the appointment of new members to its Board of Directors and Officers, which is made up of a diverse group of dedicated individuals who are committed to continuing the organization’s mission. FBCF purpose is to raise awareness and mobilize the population of Florida to ensure sufficient government and public funding for breast cancer research, quality health care for all without fear of discrimination, and an environment free of carcinogen. FBCF is the non-profit grassroots organization behind the Florida End Breast Cancer specialty license plate.
FBCF is pleased to announce our new officers:
Kathy Durham (MIAMI/REGENT BANK) has been appointed as the Vice President of FBCF. She is the market manager of Regent Bank. She began her career in Operations, Mortgage in 1973 and has gone on to work in the areas of business development, marketing, customer relations, and soliciting prospects to increase market share. She was appointed to the South Broward Hospital District Board of Commissioners and serves as Secretary/Treasurer. Kathy is past president of the David/Cooper City Chamber of Commerce and Past President of North Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Durham is a breast cancer survivor.
Lowell Rush (MIAMI/BIJOUX TURNER) has been appointed as treasurer for FBCF. Mr. Rush is a seasoned and successful CFO with more than 25 years of financial management experience, driving corporate financial strategies, operational systems and organizational direction. He is a CPA with an MBA degree, Big-4 accounting firm experience, as well as financial management positions in such firms as Knight-Ridder, Burger King, Sunglass Hut, Rewards Network, Little Switzerland, and currently, Bijoux Turner.
The new FBCF Board of Director members are:
Amy Brito (SUNNY ISLES/PPE ADVERTISING) President/CEO of PPE Advertising Inc., a full service advertising agency based out of Hallandale Beach, FL. Amy’s experience spans more than 23 years in the advertising and marketing industry. Her strong background in broadcast TV, cable, newspaper and radio has allowed her to become a true consultant to businesses in need of buying advertising. Amy has a Master’s Degree in Marketing from Florida International University (FIU). When Amy started her firm, she had a vision of creating an advertising agency to fill the desperate need businesses have when buying advertising. In 2005, she co-founded PPE Advertising Inc., with years of experience in advertising industry in the East and West Coast.
Leslie Cohen (WEST PALM BEACH/RUDEN MCCLOSKY) is an attorney with the law firm Ruden McClosky. She is a 2006 graduate of Nova University Law Center, and received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from City University in New York in 1986. Leslie is a tireless professional with a background in financial and human resource management. Being a woman, Leslie has a natural passion for FBCF’s cause. While she has not been personally touched by breast cancer, Leslie has a family history of the disease.
Dr. Shahla Masood, MD, FCAP, MIAC (JACKSONVILLE, SHANDS/UF) is a Persian-born physician, who currently holds the position of Professor and Chair of the Department of Pathology at University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville. She is also the Director of the Pathology Residency training, as well as Cytopathology and Breast Pathology Fellowship programs. An internationally recognized expert in breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis, Dr. Masood has fostered the concept of an integrated multidisciplinary approach in breast cancer care, research and education. She is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Breast Journal. She is also a member of the board of trustees of “National Consortium of Breast Centers.” Dr. Masood is a patient advocate, a partner in community affairs and an accomplished artist and gourmet cook. She is the mother of two accomplished physicians, Dr. Ali Kasraeian, an urologist, and Dr. Sina Kasraeian, an orthopedic surgeon in training. Dr. Masood was inaugurated as the President of “The World Society of Breast Health” during the first week of June 2008 in Paris, France.
Scott E. Mears (TAMPA/MOFFIT CANCER CENTER) is a seasoned professional with more than fifteen years of management experience in the nonprofit, human services field including effective writing/documentation skills, along with exceptional communication and interpersonal skills. Since January 2006, Scott has served as Senior Research Administrator at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute in Tampa, FL. He is a graduate of Siena College in Loudonville, NY, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s in Political Science. He is an extraordinary individual and very involved with the community. Some of his additional volunteer activities include: pro bono grant/proposal writing for various non -profits, serving as treasurer for a local condominium board, and being a Miles for Moffitt volunteer. Scott does not have a direct link to breast cancer; however, he does admire FBCF’s important work and is excited about joining the fight against breast cancer as the organization grows and expands statewide.
Dori Murkow (COCONUT CREEK /ROCKET VENDING) for the past seventeen years, Dori has owned and operated her own accounting company. Dori's mother, Beth Liotta, a nurse, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and then went through two months of daily radiation therapy. Fortunately, her cancer was caught in the earlier stages, so her prognosis remains optimistic. Dori began to pursue a venture to create a breast cancer awareness vending machine as a way of honoring her mother and to help fund breast cancer research, awareness and advocacy. Dori remains actively involved in numerous breast cancer charity events. You can be sure that Dori, her office staff, and some of her distributors are always ready, willing and able to lend a helping hand when it comes to being involved with anything having to do with raising funds or awareness for breast cancer.
Jennifer Pates (ORLANDO/HARTFORD BOND CENTER) In February 2008, Jennifer attended the YSC Conference in Jacksonville, FL. At that time she was looking for a specific type of cancer she could “get behind” and become involved with. She had contacted many different cancer awareness-related groups and was not getting the response she wanted. Jennifer has always been interested in Breast Cancer, as her best friend’s mother was a two-time survivor, and two of her good friends, Courtney Zinszer and Stefanie LaRue, were both young adult breast cancer survivors. She met FBCF’s CEO at a meeting in Jacksonville, and after speaking briefly with him, she felt FBCF was the group she wanted to support and “get behind.” On April 26-29, 2008 Jennifer’s advocacy skills were put to the test when she was given a scholarship by FBCF to attend the Conference and Lobby Day on Capital Hill in Washington, DC, as a representative of FBCF. This is where she felt she finally was making a difference, not only for the people around her but also to all who are affected by breast cancer in the State of Florida.
Dr. Judith Samuels, M.D. (MIAMI BEACH, Mount Sinai MEDICAL CENTER) graduated Magna Cum Laude from Wellesley College in 1984 with a Bachelor’s and honors in chemistry, and later with an MD from Tufts University in 1988. She completed a residency in Therapeutic Radiology at Yale-New Haven Hospital in 1992, where she was chief resident. She then became an assistant professor of radiation oncology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine from, with a clinical practice at MetroHealth Medical Center and University Hospitals of Cleveland. Dr. Samuels received board certification in radiation oncology from the American Board of Radiology in 1993. Since 2001, she has been a radiation oncologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach. She is the medical director of The Cancer Lifeline of Mount Sinai Medical Center and is on the advisory board of Women Beyond Cancer, a nonprofit organization providing retreats for women cancer survivors.
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About the Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Research Foundation
The Florida Breast Cancer Foundation (FBCF) is a 501 (c) (3) grassroots organization with the mission to end breast cancer through advocacy, education, and research. FBCF works statewide to raise awareness and mobilize Floridians to ensure sufficient public funding for breast cancer research, quality health care for all without fear of discrimination and an environment free of carcinogens. We are the only organization in the State of Florida with the end breast cancer license plate. All monies raised stays in the State of Florida to support advocacy, education, and research programs for Florida residents.
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