Meet our talented and hard-working Board of Directors:

Kathy Coursey-Boes

Kathy was originally diagnosed Stage II in August 2001. In December 2004 she was diagnosed with metastatic disease.

She wanted to help others with this diagnosis and felt empowered when she connected with MBCN in 2007. Kathy became involved in the 2008 campaign for recognition of Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, contacting Governor Sonny Perdue of her home state of Georgia. In 2009 she was a member of the MBCN Advocacy Team that traveled to Washington and successfully lobbied for House and Senate resolutions proclaiming October 13 as National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day.

She hopes her service as Board Member will help fulfill the mission that was envisioned by Nina and Jane.

Joani Gudeman

Joani was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer in 2004. In late 2008, Joani found out that the cancer had metastasized. She began volunteering with MBCN in late 2009 and worked on MBC Awareness day (Oct. 13th), and later on the October 2010 conference.

Joani is now the website's story editor and is member of the awareness/advocacy committee. She feels that her volunteer work with the network has enabled her to use her skills developed over a long career as a psychotherapist.

Although originally from the Northeast, Joani came to the Midwest to attend Lawrence University in Wisconsin and then to Chicago to attend the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago and the Illinois Institute of Professional Psychology. Joani, her husband, two young teenage boys and small yappy dog love living in Chicago. Joani enjoys attending local events, exercising, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Suzanne Hebert

Suzanne was diagnosed Stage IV in 2004, with no previous history of breast cancer. She became involved in MBCN in 2007 and has served in a number of leadership roles. Currently she is the Vice President.
Suzanne was featured in an article in the New York Times in January of 2011, entitled A Pink Ribbon Race, Years Long.

Ginny Knackmuhs

Ginny was diagnosed stage IV in April 2009 with a previous history of DCIS in 1992. She began volunteering with MBCN in 2010 and worked on launching the new MBCN website in December of that year.

She is the current volunteer webmaster and editor of Voices newsletter and is happy to be using her technical skills, developed during a career in I.T. for the health information and pharmaceutical industries. A native of upstate New York and graduate of Cornell University, Ginny has lived in New Jersey for the last 30 years. She is married and has three adult children. In addition to working on MBCN issues, she enjoys travel, reading and blogging.

Shirley A. Mertz

Shirley received a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer in 2003, twelve years after being treated for DCIS. After seeking training in the biology of breast cancer and political advocacy, she became a consumer reviewer for the DOD Breast Cancer Research Program and advocate for national health care reform. She joined MBCN in 2007, impressed with the scientific and treatment information she received at a MBCN National Conference and the passion of MBCN organizers. In 2008, Shirley personally asked Senator Evan Bayh to sponsor a Senate Resolution for MBC Awareness Day and then co-chaired the team that traveled to Washington to lobby for Congressional passage.

As a Board member, Shirley continues to focus on research advocacy, representing MBCN at conferences. She has also worked on the revision of MBCN's by-laws and on planning the national conference. In her professional career, Shirley was an educator and suburban high school principal. She enjoys attending classical music concerts and traveling. She is the proud mother of two adult sons

Ellen Moskowitz, Honorary Member, Past President

Ellen has been living with metastatic disease since 2002. She was MBCN President from 2006-2010.

Prior to her involvement with MBCN, Ellen had a diverse background of experiences. She was an assistant editor at McGraw Hill and Harcourt BraceJovanovich; had a small business designing and making gold and silver jewelry, soldering stones and doing wax castings; took cooking classes at every culinary institution in Manhattan; taught school and was the Early Literacy Facilitator for Community School District 1 in New York City; had 2 children's books published; traveled to numerous countries on 5 continents; completed 2 Buddhist datuns in Colorado; tried to learn sign-language; hiked trails in US National Parks and Canada; and made amazing pottery on the wheel as well as hand building. Since stepping down as President of MBCN, Ellen has been on a spiritual healing quest

Michele Przypyszny, President

Michele is the Executive Director of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's New York City Chapter. She has been volunteering for MBCN for the last three years in honor of her closest friend, Randi Rosenberg, who lost her life to metastatic breast cancer at the age of 44 and Kristen Martinez who also lost her life too young from metastatic breast cancer.

Michele has worked in the non profit sector for the last 21 years and has lent her passion to the Young Survival Coalition, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Michele lives in NYC and loves to travel, drink wine and play poker.

Debra Tincher

Debra was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer in 1997 that metastasized in 2009. As a teacher for 30 years, Debra found an outlet for educating people about metastatic breast cancer through MBCN. She is involved in organizing and planning the annual MBCN Conference, coordinating volunteer activities and posting news and events on the website.

Debra grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, where she earned her M.Ed. She now lives in Hamilton, Ohio and commutes to Indiana Simon Cancer for treatment. She is married with a grown son and daughter and an 8 year old grandson. At her small cabin in rural Ohio, Debra enjoys spending time with her family hiking, fishing and boating.