Personalized Vaccine for Melanoma Shows Promising Results

BEFORE TAKING THE COURSE:

If you’re taking the course on a mobile device or tablet, please hold the device in landscape mode. It is VERY easy to miss critical steps or navigation buttons with the device in portrait mode.

Click here to get to the course!

Debbie Johnson

Director of Events and Fundraising

As the Director of Events and Fundraising, Debbie Johnson plays a vital role in driving IMPACT Melanoma’s mission forward by creating meaningful opportunities for engagement and support. Debbie is dedicated to planning and executing a calendar of diverse events that includes signature fundraisers and Team IMPACT’s participation in renowned marathons including Boston, New York, and Berlin. Her strategic approach to fundraising ensures that events not only generate critical funding to support our mission but raise awareness of melanoma prevention and education in communities across the country.

Debbie’s expertise in event management and fundraising is crucial to the success and sustainability of IMPACT Melanoma’s programs. By building strong relationships with donors, runners, and community partners, she ensures the organization has the resources needed to deliver its life-saving initiatives nationwide.

Debbie brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. She has held leadership roles in advocacy, policy, and development. Debbie believes that building strong relationships is essential to strengthening our communities.

When not organizing events and fundraising, Debbie enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors, and diving into a great book.

Tracy Sconyers

Office Manager and Volunteer Coordinator

Tracy Sconyers has been the Office Manager and Volunteer Coordinator for IMPACT Melanoma, since 2013. As a national non-profit, volunteers are an important and integral part of our prevention education programs and events. Tracy manages all incoming requests for volunteers seeking to Make a Difference including securing volunteers for health fairs and IMPACT Melanoma’s Events.

Tracy is a consummate team player and is active in the coordination and teamwork involved in the organization’s fundraising events and programs including the annual golf event, the Boston Marathon, and the Shades of Hope Gala. She is integral in the ongoing support of our Partners in Prevention and the successful management of their programs.

Tracy has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Advertising from Syracuse University.

When not working, Tracy loves watching football, enjoying the beaches on Cape Cod, going to concerts, and exploring the great outdoors.

Kelli Braga, LICSW, MSSW

Support Services Manager

Kelli Braga started facilitating IMPACT Melanoma Support Groups in 2007 and since 2018 has been the Support Services Manager. In this role, Kelli is instrumental in managing IMPACT Melanoma’s Support services which are an integral part of our mission to offer support for melanoma patients, their families, and caregivers.

As Support Services Manager, Kelli oversees all aspects of support services including monthly melanoma support groups and our Billy’s Buddies one-on-one support program which pairs survivors with current melanoma patients.

Kelli has worked at Beverly Hospital (part of Beth Israel Lahey Health) for over 20 years and currently facilitates a program for pregnant and parenting teens and young women.

Kelli is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW); she attended the University of Wisconsin where she earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in sociology and social work and earned her Master of Science in Social Work.

In addition to volunteering on two community boards, Kelli is a busy mother of three who loves watching her kids participate in their activities. She loves reading and travelling and spending time with family and friends.

Theresa Malcolm

Project Manager

Theresa Malcolm is a Project Manager at IMPACT Melanoma and is involved in the management of Partner in Prevention programs that include our Skinny On Skin certification program and Your Skin Is In prevention education program for middle school, high school, and college students.

Theresa is also actively involved in the planning and coordination of IMPACT Melanoma’s Events Calendar, which includes a busy calendar of fundraising events throughout the year to support executing our mission.

Team IMPACT is a vital part of our annual events as IMPACT Melanoma has teams running in world-renowned marathons including the Boston Marathon and the Berlin Marathon. Theresa’s project management skills are instrumental in recruiting runners, educating them about IMPACT Melanoma as part of supporting their fundraising efforts, and coordinating all the associated details for every individual on Team IMPACT.

Theresa has a Bachelor of Science in Sports/ Entertainment/ Event Management from Johnson & Wales University.

When not working, Theresa likes to hike, ski, travel, and dance.

Melissa Huette

Project Manager

Melissa Huette is the Practice Safe Skin Project Manager. This is an essential role for the successful ongoing implementation of IMPACT Melanoma’s anchor program. Melissa is the point person who coordinates and manages all program set up, coordination and integration with the Partner’s related initiatives, and ensuring a successful launch and ongoing implementation.

Melissa applies her experience and academic degrees in education and library information sciences to excel in her role. Her keen eye for details, data collection, and reporting are incredible assets to the organization.

Prior to joining IMPACT Melanoma in 2022, Melissa was Director at a public library and prior to that a school librarian and teacher. As an educator, she is passionate about the role that the prevention education programs have in increasing awareness, promoting early detection, and saving lives.

Melissa earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of New Hampshire and a Master of Library Information Sciences (MLIS) from Rutgers University.

Amy Mason

Events Manager

As the Events Manager for IMPACT Melanoma, Amy Mason plans and manages all aspects of the fundraising events for this national non-profit. Her role is instrumental in the execution of IMPACT Melanoma’s mission as these events fund patient support initiatives, prevention education programs, raising awareness of skin cancer risks and saving lives.
Amy manages the event calendar for IMPACT Melanoma that includes recruiting members for Team IMPACT who run and fundraise for the organization, participating in world-renowned marathons and road races. In addition, annual events include planning and managing the annual golf outing and the Shades of Hope Gala. Her expertise includes securing sponsors, building and maintaining committees, and hiring and managing event coordinators, auctioneers, speakers, and event vendors.

Amy has been with IMPACT Melanoma since 2007 and brings more than two decades of experience in event planning, program management, and community engagement.

Amy earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Marketing at the University of Maine.

When not working, Amy enjoys spending time with family, friends, and Jack, her Great Pyrenees puppy. She is on the Board of Directors for Neighbor Brigade, a 20-year rider with the Pan Mass Challenge, former chairperson of the Bedford PMC Kids Ride, and a long-time member of a book group.

Sara Goodman

Staff Accountant

Sara Goodman is the Staff Accountant at IMPACT Melanoma where her responsibilities include managing and maintaining the financials of this national non-profit organization.

Sara brings more than 30 years of experience in accounting to IMPACT Melanoma where she prepares monthly financial statements, manages payroll and accounts payable, and handles the tax and annual audit responsibilities. Sara is a member of IMPACT Melanoma’s Executive Finance Committee.

Sara earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Northeastern University.

When not working, Sara enjoys working out at Barre classes, reading, and getting together with friends and family.

Laurie Seavey

Director of Sales and Operations

As Director of Sales and Operations, Laurie Seavey is dedicated to building and maintaining Partners in Prevention, corporations and communities that are committed to education, accessibility of free sunscreen, and implementing and integrating sustainable programs that achieve their goals.

Laurie is passionate about the role that IMPACT Melanoma’s customized programs have in cities and towns across the country. Skin cancer and melanoma can be prevented by adopting the use of sunscreen, but the reality is that a large population do not have access to sunscreen or are unaware of the risks of not wearing sunscreen. Laurie’s passion is palpable as she speaks with community leaders, parks and recreation leaders, and corporations about Practice Safe Skin, the anchor program that Laurie was integral in creating and growing.

Laurie is vital to the success of IMPACT Melanoma and its expansion across the country. Before joining IMPACT Melanoma in 2018, Laurie was a Dermatology Practice Administrator for 20 years.

When not working, Laurie enjoys camping with her husband, grandkids and dog and playing the ukulele.

Deb Girard

Executive Director

Deb Girard is the Executive Director of IMPACT Melanoma. Since 2002, she has grown the organization from a start up to a nationally recognized non-profit dedicated to increasing awareness of the risk of the sun’s harmful UV rays, developing and managing prevention education programs to promote early detection and, as a result, saving lives.

Under Deb’s leadership, IMPACT Melanoma established Partners in Prevention, working with communities and corporations to customize and integrate award-winning programs across the United States. Partners range from leading hospitals to city parks and recreation departments to community leaders.

From infants to adults, IMPACT Melanoma’s programs reach new parents and caregivers, teenagers and college students, community developers, outdoor workers and clients of hair stylists, barbers, estheticians, and tattoo artists. Deb is passionate about the role that grass roots programs can have in increasing use of sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses as important prevention actions that are proven to prevent skin cancer.

Deb recently led the effort to launch IMPACT Shade which offers corporate sponsors and community leaders the short-term opportunity to provide portable shade in communities, particularly in urban areas. Her long-term vision is partnerships with architects, urban planners, and community leaders to incorporate shade into urban development projects and to link the impact of UV, heat, and climate change to the rising risk of skin cancer in our country.
Prior to IMPACT Melanoma, Deb was Vice President of Health Care Administration Harvard Pilgrim Health Care MA and Brockton Hospital, MA and active in Fundraising for a $5M Capital Campaign in Concord, MA.

Deb earned a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Assumption College and an MBA from Simmons College.