Cathy Baier

Keynote Speaker

JDRF Volunteer and Advocate

Baier became involved with JDRF after her 9 year old son Blaise was diagnosed in 2004. For the last 15 years Baier has logged countless hours for JDRF and served on the JDRF Kansas City board where she was President in 2015.  In 2017 Baier joined the JDRF International Board of Directors and also the T1D Fund. She has chaired Corporate Development, Major Gifts, Nominating and Gala Steering committees over the years and been instrumental in raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for JDRF. She speaks often to chapters and organizations about the importance of JDRF’s mission and research. Today, Baier is most excited about the game-changing research JDRF is leading and is always ready to share her enthusiasm and experience.

Baier is an owner of US Federal Properties (USFP), a real estate development company which develops office buildings and medical clinics for the federal government throughout the United Sates.

Bonnie O’Neil

Keynote Speaker

JDRF Volunteer and Advocate

Bonnie O'Neil is a member of the board of the Eastern PA Chapter of JDRF, where she also serves as their Leadership Giving Chair. She has been actively involved with JDRF, both in Philadelphia and in London, UK, since her son Austin was diagnosed with T1D in 2002, at age 5. Bonnie first connected with JDRF through the Walk, forming their family team in 2003. She has since organized school-wide fundraising and diabetes education events, served as Outreach Chair, Gala Chair and Chapter President. She helped the London branch hold their inaugural Gala, and in 2011 she developed a charity partnership between JDRF and the Philadelphia Marathon. Having two siblings with T1D, Bonnie has been connected in some way with JDRF for most of her life, and is very excited about the current progress in research. She is passionate about sharing the progress and vision of JDRF with others, as well as speaking on the social and emotional impact T1D has on families and relationships.

Bonnie received her BA in Economics from Lafayette College and her MA in French Literature and History from NYU. She has lived in London and France and speaks fluent French. She lives with her husband and three children in the western suburbs of Philadelphia. A former banker, Bonnie spends more time now with words than with numbers. When not at her desk writing, she can be found raising funds for research to cure T1D.

Elizabeth Arnold

RD, CD, CDE

Liz is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator working in the Endocrinology Clinic at Ascension Medical Group in Wauwatosa. She has been living with Type 1 Diabetes for almost 10 years and has been gluten free for almost 8 years.  She wears both an insulin pump and CGM and is a Certified Pump Trainer. She loves to develop recipes and teach nutrition classes, focusing on cooking and baking gluten free with seasonal, whole foods. She has delivered presentations to many different groups on topics such as nutrition/carb counting, diabetes and insulin pumps/CGMs. She lives in Brookfield with her husband and two daughters and loves to bike and visit her local farmer’s market.

Amy Carletti

Advocacy Team Chair – Illinois Chapter

Amy Carletti currently serves as the Advocacy Team Chair for JDRF Illinois. She became involved in the T1D community in 2014 when her youngest son was diagnosed with type one at the age of two. Since that time, Amy and her family have been active with a myriad of JDRF chapter activities, including One Walks, Rides to Cure and advocacy-related efforts. Amy, her husband and their three children live in Deerfield, Illinois. Prior to her son being diagnosed, Amy was a litigator and health care attorney at McDermott Will & Emery LLP and Baxter Healthcare.

Matt Edwards

RD, CSP, CD

Clinical Dietitian

Matt has worked as a clinical dietitian at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin for the past 5 years Current areas of practice include diabetes, endocrine, feeding disorders and gastroenterology. Matt has a strong interest in community health and enjoys leading grocery store tours in the Milwaukee area.

Maggie Frederick

BSN, RN

Maggie Frederick has been a Registered Nurse working at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin for 11 years. She brings a unique perspective to the Diabetes Clinic, having lived with type 1 diabetes for most of her life. Maggie was diagnosed at age two and both her father and uncle were diagnosed with T1D at 25 years old. Maggie’s passion for nursing started as she grew up going to Children’s Hospital Diabetes Clinic. She graduated from St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She currently works at her dream job in the Diabetes Clinic at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Maggie has keen interest in technology and enjoys educating others on the advancements and options available to help manage T1D. She has been an avid supporter of JDRF, serving as a speaker at several Transitions Series Events, including Technology Night and Off to College, as well as past TypeOneNation Summits.

Kristie Kaplan

BSN, RN

Diabetes Nurse Educator

Kristie has worked as a diabetes nurse educator at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin for the past year-and-a-half.  Her previous nursing experiences include working for Milwaukee Public Schools for more than eight years as well as working in emergency departments in Iowa and Australia.  She is looking forward to attending the AADE (American Association of Diabetes Educators) conference this summer for the first time.

Mandi Kirby

DNP, ACNP

Mandi Kirby brings a wealth of medical knowledge, as well as her own personal experience living with type one diabetes, to the PEAK Program. Diagnosed at 19 while pursuing her nursing degree at Purdue University, she has now spent the past two decades learning to navigate the highs and lows that come with living with T1D. During that time, she earned her Master of Science degree in nursing from Marquette University and a doctorate of nursing from Duke University. She worked for 15 years as a nurse practitioner in cardiac surgery and heart valve therapy at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and currently serves as a Program Development Consultant in Structural Heart Valve Therapies for Medtronic. Mandi and her family have been actively involved with JDRF since her diagnosis, raising more than $160,000 for research through their annual fundraiser. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for JDRF Southeastern Wisconsin and recently completed her second JDRF Ride for a Cure, pedaling 100 miles alongside her husband Chuck in La Crosse, Wis.

Sarah Meidl

Advocacy Team Chair – Northeast Wisconsin Chapter

Sarah Meidl, Advocacy Team Chair for the Northeast Wisconsin Chapter, began her involvement with JDRF shortly after her daughter was diagnosed with T1D in 2008 at the age of 2. Since then, she has participated in countless One Walks, completed ten JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes, and advocated on Capitol Hill for renewal of the Special Diabetes Program, as well as lower insulin prices. Sarah is the Victim Witness Coordinator for Langlade county and enjoys spending time with her three kids (ages 13, 16, and 19), two dogs and husband.

Allison Nimlos

Marriage and Family Therapist, Diabetes Coach

Allison Nimlos is a licensed associate marriage and family therapist and diabetes coach. She has a private practice where she specializes in chronic illness, particularly type 1 diabetes, helping individuals and families with depression, anxiety, grief and loss, and family conflict. She also works online as a diabetes coach helping individuals overcome burnout, create an empowered mindset, and achieve their health and wellness goals through diabetes education and mentoring. Allison's passion for individuals and families affected by diabetes comes from her own experience living with T1D for 25 years. Prior to her work as a therapist and coach, Allison was Assistant Editor at DiabetesMine.com, and has been a freelance writer in the diabetes industry for more than a decade. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and 2-year-old son. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram at The Diabetic Therapist.