- Livestrong announced it has hired four new officers for its leadership team. These are the details.
Livestrong — a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation that is on a mission to develop programs and services that improve the daily lives of cancer survivors — announced it has hired four new officers for its leadership team:
1.) Suzanne Stone as Chief Strategic Solutions & Programs Officer
Stone is joining Livestrong from Susan G Komen where she collaborated with community leaders, board members, staff, and volunteers for saving lives locally and fight breast cancer globally. At Livestrong, she is going to lead the development of innovative and patient-focused programs and services that improve the daily lives of cancer survivors. Stone has more than 25 years of experience overall and has led local non-profits in Texas like Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and the Children’s Miracle Network.
2.) Adam Disler as Chief Development and Marketing Officer
Disler is joining Livestrong from the National MS Society where in his role as National Associate Vice President, he led a team of directors that built strategic relationships with Fortune 500 companies. And at Livestrong, he will oversee organizational fundraising and oversee corporate partnerships to advance the foundation’s efforts to solve gaps in cancer care for survivors. Disler has about 15 years of experience in fundraising, volunteer management, strategic planning and staff management for non-profits.
3.) Keith Peterson as VP of Marketing and Communications
Peterson is joining Livestrong from Red Bull where he held several leaderships positions in branding and consumer marketing, most recently as Global Brand Integration Manager. And at Livestrong, he will lead strategic creative direction, transform content production, and optimize channel marketing to empower emotional, powerful brand storytelling that moves people to act. Peterson has more than 15 years of experience working for lifestyle brands and recently completed a certificate in Disruptive Marketing at Harvard Business School Online.
4.) Traci Walker as VP of Finance
Walker is joining Livestrong with an aggregate of 16 years of experience in accounting and finance, including more than 7 years of experience in non-profit leadership and management. And she is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a BBA in Accounting. At Livestrong, she will provide financial thought leadership and structure the foundation for surpassing its financial goals, scale solutions, and impact as many cancer survivors as possible.
All four of the individuals will work out of the foundation’s headquarters in Austin, Texas.
“In 2020, Livestrong announced an evolved mission develop disruptive, breakthrough ideas to improve the everyday lives of cancer patients and survivors,” said Livestrong President and CEO Greg Lee. “Individually and collectively as a leadership team, these four individuals will play an instrumental role in seeing that we accomplish Livestrong’s new goals and positively impact as many lives affected by cancer as possible.”
This year, Livestrong is investing in new three new areas: Solutions Grants, Innovation Conversation Events, and the Livestrong Cancer Innovation Center. The Foundation is continuing to invest in the great work being done at the University of Texas Dell Medical School’s Livestrong Cancer Institutes, created by a $50 million pledge by Livestrong in 2014. And Livestrong also offers impact funding through two types of grants, totaling $5-$6 million each year:
– one-year acceleration-oriented grants that focus on solving everyday problems survivors face and
-multi-year transformational grants focused on the comprehensive quality of life services, patient education, streamlining systems and care, and post-care
Another major new initiative involves a series of “Innovation Conversations.” This series of virtual gatherings around the country allows the organization to bring together the brightest minds to focus on new and innovative solutions to address the complex healthcare issues we face today.
The first of this series iCON Global, focused on cancer issues that are common around the world. And the most recent virtual conversation iCON EQ focused on disparities in care for the black community.
The upcoming iCON Midwest will focus on pediatric cancer issues. And this series will culminate with a grand finale – National Innovation Symposium, broadcasting from Austin, Texas.
Plus Livestrong is planning a Cancer Innovation Center in partnership with the City of Austin Innovation District and the University of Texas Dell Medical School to craft a centralized home for like-minded organizations, both non-profit and for-profit. And with over 3 million square feet of office and clinical space already planned, this initiative puts Livestrong in the center of the Innovation District, bringing the brightest minds and best solutions to help them solve complex healthcare issues.
Livestrong has served and supported over 8.5 million people. And the organization has engaged and mobilized over 90 million people in support of cancer initiatives. Plus the Foundation has invested over $580 million in 576 cancer programs and services. More than 12,000 survivors have been served by Livestrong Fertility with over $65 million saved in fertility preservation costs. And over 77,000 patients have regained their strength through Livestrong at the YMCA, which is offered nationwide at 809 locations across 42 states.
