Michael Simoni

Executive Director

Michael has spent over 15 years working with nonprofit organizations including holding several leadership roles. He enthusiastically joined JDRF in April 2020 and is committed to partnering with our community to improve the lives of those living with T1D and fighting to find cures.

Michael manages a talented JDRF staff team and has oversight of all events, programs and volunteer leadership activities in the state. He is proud to join a dedicated board of directors and strong community of advocates working towards a world without type 1 diabetes.

Michael began his career in public relations working for food, high tech and advertising industry clients before identifying his passion for working in the nonprofit sector helping individuals and families in the local community. Prior to his current role with JDRF he was the Executive Director for March of Dimes and has also worked for Gompers Habilitation Center and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation here in Arizona. During his nonprofit career Michael has helped lead teams through full integration of mission and advocacy efforts resulting in record revenue and successful events.

Michael graduated Magna Cum Laude from the State University of New York at Oswego with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. For the last 12 years Michael and his family have been proud to call Arizona home.

Email: msimoni@jdrf.org

Phone: 602-224-1813

Celia Wheeler - Nevada

Market Director

Celia relocated to Las Vegas in May of 2018 to lead the JDRF Nevada market. Her youngest niece was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 14 and she had no idea that 6 years later her career as a non-profit leader would become so personal.

Celia came to JDRF with over 20 years of non-profit experience. She spent 10 years with March of Dimes in various management roles, most recently as Market Director in Sacramento, California. Prior to that Celia served as Executive Director of the McMinnville Chamber of Commerce in Oregon for 13 years. Her love of good food and Pinot Noir comes from those years promoting Oregon’s wine country.

Celia is proud to be part of such an amazing volunteer and staff team working together for one goal, to turn Type One into Type None.

Andrea Gonzalez

Development Manager

Andrea joined JDRF as a Development Manager in January 2022. Andrea is from Wisconsin and lived in the Midwest until moving to Arizona in 2022. Prior to JDRF, Andrea worked at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society focusing on cycling events. Andrea is excited about joining the JDRF team and hopes to cultivate relationships in the community, spread awareness, and help create a world without type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Andrea’s favorite food is any type of chips and dip, and her favorite show is How I Met Your Mother. When she’s not working, Andrea enjoys hiking, traveling, cooking, thrifting, and exploring the community.

Email: agonzalez@jdrf.org

Phone: 480-316-4898

Kristi Hahne

Senior Development Manager

Kristi jumped into the Type 1 world in 2014 when her son, Nick was diagnosed at the age of 10. Not sure where to turn a friend, who also has a son with Type 1, told her all about JDRF and Kristi quickly became a volunteer at the Galas, created Walk teams, and eventually joined the Board of Directors. Her first Gala filled her with hope and inspired her to volunteer with JDRF because she believes so strongly in the mission. Kristi is so proud to join the Desert West Chapter, as Senior Development Manager, to give others hope that we will put an end to Type 1.

Kristi has enjoyed a rewarding hospitality career in Sales and Marketing working in Washington DC, Chicago, Tucson, Las Vegas, and Scottsdale but is most excited to put that experience to work for JDRF cultivating meaningful relationships with the fulltime goal of turning Type 1 into Type None. Kristi and her husband Dale are officially empty nesters as Nick and his twin brother Andrew are freshman in college. More time to hike, travel and less time at the grocery store!

Sara Nicastro - Southern Nevada

Senior Development Manager

Sara moved to Southern Nevada in 2013 to join her extended family members living in the area. She quickly began volunteering with JDRF and accepted a position as a member of the full time staff in 2014.

Las Vegas has a unique relationship with Sara’s diagnosis with T1D. She was diagnosed 9 days before her 22nd birthday – while living in Southern California – and just days before a scheduled birthday celebration in Vegas. When the endocrinologist visited her hospital room and was asked if she could still go on her trip he said, “The way I see it – you can have diabetes here, or you can have diabetes in Vegas – go to Vegas!” That spirit has continued to shape how she lives life with diabetes.

Sara’s favorite food is the perfect mix of chocolate and peanut butter and usually has a baggie of Peanut Butter M&Ms nearby.

Her favorite quote is from Maya Angelou – “You did then what you knew how to do. Now that you know better, do better.”

Hayleigh Pahnke

Development Assistant

Hayleigh joined JDRF in March 2023 as the Development Assistant for the Desert West Chapter. JDRF has held a special place in Hayleigh’s heart since her diagnosis in February 2005.  Since then, she has been volunteering for every event and outreach opportunity she could as one of the first youth ambassadors in Arizona.

When she is not at work, she enjoys watching documentaries, spending time with her family, and making art. She is incredibly excited for the opportunity to work with the amazing staff here at JDRF Desert West and is looking forward to turning Type One into Type None!

Wendy Saindon - Southern Nevada

Development Coordinator

Wendy joined the Desert West Chapter as a Development Coordinator for our Southern Nevada location in September 2022. She is excited to officially join the JDRF team after volunteering since her daughter Emily’s diagnosis on New Year’s Eve 2014. As a volunteer, Wendy helped newly diagnosed families in the Southern Nevada community. Her goal to make sure no one feels alone, and the journey is easier with people who truly understand what we all go through.

Her favorite quote is – “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.”

Wendy loves comic books, Marvel, and “anything nerdy” and enjoys spending her free time with family and friends.

Siquem Serna

Senior Development Manager, Promise Ball Gala

Siquem began her journey with JDRF in the Los Angeles Chapter, where she worked for 6 years. When she and her husband moved to Arizona, after a year with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, she began working in the JDRF Arizona Chapter office in November of 2019. She believes strongly in the mission of the organization because she has many friends and family members who have type 1 diabetes (T1D). In her role, she hopes to educate people about the disease and encourage people to get even more involved in the T1D community.

When she’s not at work, Siquem loves spending time with her husband, her baby son, and their dogs, learning more about all that Arizona has to offer, and traveling back to California to visit family in Orange County.

Email: sserna@jdrf.org

Phone: 602-224-1819

Jayme Taylor

Development Coordinator

Jayme joined JDRF in September 2022 as the Development Coordinator. She is a newbie to Arizona having just moved here from California in March 2022. Prior to moving she spent 24 years working in the Los Angeles non-profit community but is excited to give back to her new community as a member of the JDRF Desert West team.

She lives by the quote “Be the change you want to see in the world” as she has been a volunteer in her local community for 30+ years, often volunteering with her husband and children.

When she is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family, playing bingo, crafting, and traveling to unfamiliar places.

Phone: 623.469-0081

Email: jtaylor@jdrf.org

Marlene TerBeest

Development Manager

Marlene joined JDRF in April 2020. As Development Operations Manager, Marlene oversees the Operations of the Chapter and supports the Promise Ball Gala. Marlene has spent the last 10 years working in the non-profit community and is truly excited to be part of the JDRF team.

The quote “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,” helps to shape the way that Marlene approaches her life and her work.

When she’s not at work, Marlene enjoys spending time boating, kayaking, hiking, and fishing.

Phone: 602-224-1800

Email: mterbeest@jdrf.org

Wendi Willock

Sr. Community Engagement Manager

Wendi joined the amazing staff of the Arizona Chapter as Outreach Manager in 2017.

JDRF has been an important part of Wendi’s life since the diagnosis of her younger daughter in August of 2006.  Just months after her diagnosis was the Walk for the Cure and the power of that event was all it took for Wendi to jump feet first into a lead volunteer role.  Over many of the next eleven years, Wendi volunteered as the Logistics Chair for the Walk as well as the Silent Auction Chair and on the Décor committee for the Gala.  Being part of the “JDRF Family” has meant so much to her in the hope of helping turn type one into type none in her daughter’s life and all the thousands out there with T1D!

Phone:  602.224.1829

Email:  wwillock@jdrf.org