Leadership

Cathy Chisholm

Executive Director

JDRF’s Cathy Chisholm has served as Interim Executive Director – Field Development since 2016. In this role, Cathy supports transitioning chapters – their staff, board leadership, volunteers and subsequent new Executive Directors – and works to prime them for future success. Some of her assignments to date include the Georgia, Florida Suncoast, Central Ohio, Greater Western Carolinas, Washington, D.C., Maryland, South Central Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Central Florida chapters.

Cathy joined JDRF as Executive Director of the Hampton Roads chapter in 2011 and led a dedicated volunteer/staff partnership to achieve significant year over year growth via a pipeline of renewable major gifts and mission focused, donor centric fundraising.  During her tenure there, the chapter was recognized for its consistent net income growth and audit compliance.

Cathy began her voluntary health agency career in 2004 with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) where she served as Executive Director of mid and large market chapters in Pennsylvania and Virginia. Prior to LLS, she owned two education-based franchises in Houston, Texas and served as Executive Director at Seton Home, a social services agency in San Antonio.

She holds a BA in Communication Arts/English from James Madison University and a MS in Organizational Leadership and Development from Shippensburg University.

In her personal time, Cathy and her husband, Bruce, enjoy exploring the world, reading, walking the beach and spending time with their seemingly ever-expanding family. They live in Virginia Beach, VA.

Lindsay Fortese

Executive Director

Lindsay Fortese, who has been with JDRF for over 12 years serving the T1D community in a variety of roles, has been promoted and will be the new Executive Director of the Greater Delaware Valley Chapter.

Lindsay attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX before starting her career in the retail space as a Store Manager for Starbucks Coffee Company in Dallas, Texas.  She entered the nonprofit sector in 2008 as the Special Events Coordinator in JDRF’s Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter.  Over the next nine years, Lindsay was promoted four times resulting in her becoming the chapter’s Associate Executive Director in 2017.  In her time with JDRF, Lindsay built many strong relationships with staff and volunteer leaders.  She has provided strategic direction for fundraising initiatives and events, including Gala, Ride and Walk, and has cultivated and developed donor and corporate relationships across the chapter territory.

Lindsay is excited and honored to continue serving the T1D community as the Executive Director of the Greater Delaware Valley Chapter.  Her years of experience, organizational knowledge, strong relationships and passion for the JDRF mission will allow her to transition into her new role quickly and seamlessly.

Lindsay resides in Downingtown, PA with her husband, Jimmy, their two sons, Jake (4) and Zach (1), and their loyal dog, Garth.  Lindsay enjoys reading, relaxing in Long Beach Island, NJ, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Melissa DeFreece

Development Director

Melissa comes to JDRF with over 16 years in the nonprofit sector. Her love for helping people and being a voice for others has been the driving force behind her being an effective fundraiser. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. In 2017, she received her MBA from Temple University.

She has had the opportunity to move around and has lived in the Poconos, Dallas and Boston. Her non-profit experience includes nonprofits from the NPR/PBS station (KERA) in Dallas, One Family, Inc. and working at Tufts University in Boston. Recently, she worked at Broad Street Ministry in Philadelphia and spent four years at Liberty Lutheran in Ambler. Over the years, her roles varied from program development, volunteer management to fundraising and development.

Melissa loves being in Philadelphia but still loves going home to the Bronx, NY where she was born and raised. In her spare time, Melissa spends time with her family and friends and loves to travel.

Julie McKeever

Outreach Manager

Julie McKeever joined JDRF in 2019.  Prior to joining JDRF, she was an Events Manager for 16 years at The ALS Association, Greater Philadelphia Chapter. Julie spent a short time in the veterinary industry before getting back to her roots in the nonprofit sector. Her father, Ted, had type 1 diabetes, so the JDRF mission is near and dear to her heart.

Julie earned her B.S. in Health and Human Development from The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA. WE ARE… !!!!

A lifelong resident of Montgomery County, Julie lives in Plymouth Meeting with her husband, Andrew; their son, Nicholas; and a house full of furry friends! She is passionate about anything DOG, animal rescue and special needs dogs. In her free time, she enjoys doing therapy dog work with two of her boys, Prime and Dutch, and spending time with family and friends.

Allison Tropea

Senior Development Manager

Allie is the main lead overseeing the South Jersey Gala, the Greater Delaware Valley Chapter Ride teams, and our new annual local bike ride called the “South Jersey Ride to Type None”. Allie has always been drawn to working in a field that helps people and where she can give back to the community. After spending seven years at another nonprofit, she decided to join JDRF. Her motivation every day is her husband, Anthony, who was diagnosed with T1D eight years ago.

Sara Smith

Development Manager

Sara joined JDRF in the summer of 2019 as a Development Manager, working to oversee One Walk Bucks County, Lehigh Valley and Northeast PA. Prior to joining the JDRF team, Sara worked at two nonprofit organizations managing fundraising events from concept to completion, including walks, rides and runs.

Sara earned a B.A. in Public Relations in 2015 from Penn State University, minoring in Political Science and Business.

Sara grew up in Fallsington, PA, and currently resides in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia. When she’s not hanging out with her cat, Ron, Sara enjoys kayaking, spending time on the beach, reading and hiking.

Mikaila Ryan

Senior Development Coordinator

Mikaila came to JDRF with a vast volunteer background, most actively with the JDRF Delaware office starting in 2012. She is an award-winning competitor in the Miss Delaware Scholarship Organization, where she made JDRF her platform, advocating at both local and state levels for the cause.

Mikaila started with JDRF in 2016 as an Outreach Manager for the South Jersey office. In 2017, she moved to the Sr. Development Coordinator position, managing the school walk program, TypeOneNation Summit, and South Jersey golf tournament. Mikaila moved back “home” to the Delaware office in September 2019, where she now manages the gala and ride program.

Mikaila earned her Bachelors in Arts degree from the University of Delaware in 2015, continuing her studies by finishing a business credential program with Harvard Business School Online.

Megan Dougherty

Development Coordinator

Megan Dougherty joined JDRF in 2019. Prior to joining the staff, she worked for a local vineyard as an office assistant, as well as the manager of their wine bar, wholesale distribution, and wine club. While finishing her senior year at the University of Delaware, she became an intern at a Delaware company where she ran life and social skill groups for children with developmental disabilities. This led to a full-time job after college, where she continued to teach social classes on nights and weekends and worked as a paraprofessional in schools during the day. 

Megan is a Newark, Delaware, townie and a graduate of the University of Delaware with a B.S. in Human Services. She now lives in Philadelphia with her boyfriend and two cats, Dunkin D and Ginger Snap. Megan enjoys traveling, going to concerts, volunteering, and visiting new restaurants! 

Megan was diagnosed as a child with T1D in 1998, and she has been an active participant in JDRF activities and fundraising for many years.

“JDRF has been a part of my life since the beginning of my journey with T1D,” Megan shares, “and it has continued to remain a big part of my adult life. From the Bag of Hope to Children’s Congress, being a walk team captain and to an avid volunteer—I am so thankful to JDRF and all of its wonderful staff and volunteers!”