Kansas and Missouri Chapter Leadership

Staff

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Sherri Lozano, MPA

Executive Director

Bio

Sherri Lozano, MPA

Executive Director

Sherri joined JDRF in 2011 as the Associate Executive Director and moved into the Executive Director role in April of 2016.  She has more than 20 years’ experience in fundraising and nonprofit management.  She holds a B.S in Business Administration – Marketing & Finance and an M.P. A. – Nonprofit Management from UMKC Bloch School.  She is a lifelong Kansas City area resident.
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Tori Freeman

Development Director

Bio

Tori Freeman

Development Director

Tori joined the JDRF in 2012 and is currently the Development Director for the Kansas and Missouri Chapter. She began her career with JDRF in Des Moines, IA where she lived and worked for 4 years before moving back to her hometown of St. Louis and joining the local chapter there. She first became involved with JDRF as a volunteer and fundraiser with her family after she was diagnosed with T1D at the age of 10. She earned a BS-BA Degree in Management and Marketing with an emphasis in Non-Profit Management at Drake University. She lives in the St. Louis area with her husband, Mike, and two dogs, Watson and Scout.
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Chris Reilly

Community Engagement Manager

Bio

Chris Reilly

Community Engagement Manager

Christina began volunteering and fundraising with JDRF shortly after her 4 year old daughter’s diagnosis in 2003.  She “officially” joined the staff team in 2006.  While the title has changed several times, all 15 years she has served the chapter as an Outreach/Community Engagement Manager.  A major component of this role is working closely with newly diagnosed families, teens and adults to make sure they receive education and support throughout their life stages with T1D.  Christina was also diagnosed with T1D at the age of 45 and now has a new diabetes perspective in addition to mom and JDRF employee.
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Marlo Martin

Community Engagement Manager

Bio

Marlo Martin

Community Engagement Manager

Marlo joined JDRF in 2015.  She volunteered for years before that when her youngest daughter Kara was diagnosed with T1D in 2011 at the age of 9.  She loves to meet and support newly diagnosed and experienced families with everything JDRF has to offer.  She also loves learning about all of the latest T1D technology and research.  Marlo attended the University of Kansas and earned her B.S. degree in Biology.  She and her husband Trevor live in Shawnee and both of their daughters attend KU.
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Kayla Taszarek

Development Manager

Bio

Kayla Taszarek

Development Manager

Kayla joined the JDRF Kansas & Missouri team in 2019 as a Development Coordinator and moved into the role of Development Manager in 2021 where she now leads the One Walk program. Kayla is passionate about JDRF’s mission as both she and her mom have type 1 diabetes. She attended Maryville University where she earned her B.S. degree in Business Administration and is currently working on her M.A. in Nonprofit Administration through Lindenwood University. Kayla currently resides in St. Louis, MO with her husband, John, and two cats, Kuzco and Pacha.
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Becky Smith

Development Manager

Bio

Becky Smith

Development Manager

Becky’s involvement with JDRF began soon after her son Hunter was diagnosed with T1D in 2014 at the age of 8.  As a volunteer she has been active in supporting One Walk, Dream Gala and various events and community advocacy, often helping families navigate sports with T1D.  Becky has a background in product development, B2B and B2C marketing and joined the staff in May 2022 with a focus on corporate development. Becky attended the Ohio State University and earned her B.S. in Retail Operations and Marketing.  She, her husband Andy, son Hunter and crazy snoring dog Shell-belle live in Kansas City, MO and her son attends Rockhurst High School.
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Rachael Wernsman

Development Manager

Bio

Rachael Wernsman

Development Manager

Rachael joined the JDRF Kansas and Missouri chapter in 2022 as a Development Manager. Before her role at the chapter, she worked on the JDRF National Fundraising Programs team for 2 years, providing support to chapter teams around the country. Although Rachael does not have a direct type 1 diabetes connection, she fell in love with JDRF’s mission and has met some of the most courageous T1D champions during her time at the organization. Rachael grew up and attended college in Central Illinois, but now resides in St. Louis, MO.
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Madison Mueller

Development Coordinator

Bio

Madison Mueller

Development Coordinator

Madison joined the JDRF Kansas and Missouri Chapter in 2021 as a Development Coordinator. She feels very connected to JDRF’s mission as her younger sister, Morgan, was diagnosed with T1D in 2012 when she was 8 years old. Madison attended the University of Alabama where she earned her B.S. Degree in Finance and led volunteer fundraising programs for non-profit research organizations. She is originally from the Chicagoland area, but now resides in Kansas City, MO.
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Carlie Hurtt

Development Assistant

Bio

Carlie Hurtt

Development Assistant

Since her Type 1 Diagnosis at 14 years old, Carlie has supported JDRF as an advocate and volunteer within the Wichita, KS community. After joining the JDRF staff as a Development Assistant in 2023, Carlie relocated to Kansas City with her husband and cats. She is currently pursuing a B.S. degree in Integrated Marketing Communications at Wichita State University and plans to graduate from The University of Kansas.
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Ashley Rusch

Finance & Data Specialist

Bio

Ashley Rusch

Finance & Data Specialist

Ashley was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska where she graduated from Omaha Central High School.  Prior to joining the staff, Ashley served on the gala and walk committees for JDRF before becoming the Office Manager is 2016.  Ashley spent nearly 10 years in residential and commercial property management and has earned certifications in management both locally and nationally.  Ashley and her husband Adam reside in Council Bluffs, IA, and they have two children; Caleb and Natalie.

Kansas City Community Board of Directors

Caleb Herbst

President

Kathy Young-Adams

Cathy Baier

Global Mission Board Member

Colby Brown

Blake Cooper, M.D.

Melissa Cooper

Advocacy Team Chair

Tim Cowden

Leanne DeShong

Richard Dinkel

Brandee Faille

Clinical Trials Education Volunteer

Amy Fauss

Immediate Past President

Lance Gorsuch

Bob Hulsey

Joseph Hyde

Hunter Johnson

Zach Jones

Doug Krtek

Rachel Lupardus

Anthony Matthies

Erin Merrill

Erin Murphy

Sarah Osborne

Jaclyn Penn

Kelsey Walsh Perry

Stacie Prosser

R. Brooks Sherman Jr.

Greg Swetnam

Chris Vaeth

Corporate Development Committee Chair

Becky Wiseman

St. Louis Community Board of Directors

Matthew Copeland

President

Mark Cagwin

Clinical Trials Education Volunteer

Jacob Childerson

Nominations & Board Development Chair

Robin Diedrich

Brooke Eggleston

Katherine Frierdich

Corporate Development Committee Chair

Jeff Giles

Tyler Glynn

Tom Jung

Elizabeth Kurowski

Advocacy Team Chair

Scott Meyer

Jason Miles

Stacy Moots

Nick Piazza

Dan Reynolds

Andrew Serkes

Lisa Van Fleet

Kansas City Community Board of Chancellors

Lisa Auer

Rick Austin

Becky Bergman DeNight

David Claflin

Mark Clements, M.D., Ph.D.

Reed Garrett

Brett Gordon

Jim Hipps

Sarah Jury

Michele Kilo, M.D.

Judy Krtek

Craig Kuckelman

John Martin

John Moffitt

Dean Newton

Bret Pilney, Sr.

Kevin Pistilli

Sandy Russo

Keith Tate

Brent Vander Ark

Julie Wellner