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Executive Staff
President & CEO
Julie Fleshman
Director of Patient and Liaison Services (PALS)
Anitra Engebretson
Director of Government Affairs
Megan Gordon Don
Director of Corporate Relations
Brian Doremus
Director of Research and Scientific Affairs
Michelle Duff
Director of Marketing and Communications
Lisa Gilmour
Chief Financial Officer
Rena Hayami
Director, Information Technology
George Hsing
Director of Community Outreach
Mary-Jo Kennedy
Founder & Director of Donor and Corporate Relations
Pamela Acosta Marquardt
 President & CEO
Julie M. Fleshman, JD, MBA, Los Angeles, California
Julie Fleshman serves as the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s President and CEO. In 1999, Julie lost her father to pancreatic cancer and is committed to change the course of this disease. She became the organization’s first full-time staff person and Executive Director in April 2000. In July 2004, the Board of Directors appointed Julie as President and CEO of the organization. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network has grown to a staff of over 50, with offices in Los Angeles, CA and Washington, D.C and is providing programs to people across the country.
Under Julie’s leadership, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network has laid the groundwork to make true inroads on this disease. The organization’s advocacy and grassroots efforts have led to a 400% increase in federal funding for pancreatic cancer research and the organization has funded researchers from around the country. Over 35,000 patients and families have been served through the Patient and Liaison Services program. Its grassroots network has grown to 75 volunteer affiliates, and in 2006, its first international affiliate in Japan opened.
Julie graduated from Santa Clara University School of Law and Leavey School of Business in December 2000 with a JD/MBA degree. Julie graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1997 with a B.A. in Law & Society and was awarded most outstanding graduating senior in the Law & Society program. She also studied abroad at Oxford University and in Tokyo, Japan.
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 Director of Patient and Liaison Services (PALS)
Anitra Engebretson, Los Angeles, California
Prior to taking on her current position as Director of Patient and Liaison Services (PALS), Anitra worked in a number of capacities within the PALS program. Most recently she worked as the PALS Manager of Operations. In this role she was responsible for managing and overseeing the PALS call-in program, training new team members, and ensuring the high quality of the information provided by PALS Associates. In her current and previous roles, Anitra has been committed to providing pancreatic cancer survivors and their loved ones with the best service possible.
Anitra graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Spanish Studies. Before joining the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, she gained a tremendous amount of experience working and volunteering in a number of health related capacities. Also, as part of her studies for the College of Biological Sciences Honors Program, Anitra worked in a thoracic oncology laboratory where she conducted research for a thesis project.
Anitra's interest in oncology began as a child after losing several close family members and friends to various cancers. Her interest grew throughout her studies and research work and she has embraced the opportunity to continue in this field with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
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 Director of Government Affairs
Megan Gordon Don, Washington, DC
Megan Gordon Don leads our public policy and advocacy activities and heads our Washington, DC office. She and her Government Affairs team members work to educate Members of Congress and the Administration about pancreatic cancer and the need for more federal funding for pancreatic cancer research as well develop and implement our national grassroots advocacy program.
Megan has extensive experience in developing advocacy programs for non-profit patient associations and working with the cancer and broader public health policy communities. She came to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in July 2006 after working as an independent consultant focused on helping clients such as the Parkinson’s Action Network and the National Health Council with government relations activities. Her previous experience also includes working as a senior lobbyist at the American Cancer Society (ACS), a healthcare legislative aide to U.S. Representative Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), the Director of Socioeconomics and Quality Management for the Dallas County Medical Society and as a healthcare industry analyst for Andersen Consulting (now known as Accenture).
Megan received her B.A. in Modern European Studies/Economics from Smith College, and her Master's in Health Policy & Management from Johns Hopkins University.
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 Director of Corporate Relations
Brian Doremus, Los Angeles, California
Brian Doremus brings nearly twenty years of business development, client relations, marketing, sales and operations management experience to our organization. Prior to joining the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Brian served as a business development consultant and producer for the creative agency, Synthink, where he managed two multimedia production studios and played a key role in the development and expansion of the agency’s robust brand development portfolio and suite of creative services.
Brian‘s previous work experience include business development and management positions for three corporate icons - Pitney Bowes, Xerox and Time Warner. Brian’s extensive client relations and account management experience include an array of enterprise-wide marketing and business development projects in entertainment, sports, health and fitness, professional and financial services, automotive and retail.
Brian first joined our organization as a volunteer and his passion to find a cure stems from the death of his mother-in-law to pancreatic cancer in December, 2004.
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 Director of Research and Scientific Affairs
Michelle Duff, DPT, Los Angeles, California
After serving nearly seven years as the Director of Patient and Liaison Services (PALS) & Medical Affairs for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Michelle Duff has stepped into a new role for the organization. She brings her knowledge of the disease and the medical/scientific community to the position of Director of Research and Scientific Affairs.
Michelle studied at Georgetown University for her Bachelors degree in psychology and biology. She went on to work in a physical therapy clinic in Washington, DC, and ultimately pursued a Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from the University of Southern California. She left physical therapy practice for oncology upon learning about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's tremendous work in the field.
During her time as Director of PALS & Medical Affairs, Michelle saw the PALS program grow from serving an average of 50 patients and families each month to nearly 750 patients and families each month. Cumulatively under her leadership, the PALS program provided almost 30,000 patients and families with information and resources to face this disease.
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 Director of Marketing
Lisa Gilmour
As our Director of Marketing and Communications, Lisa brings more than 20 years of experience in the area of strategic marketing and planning, marketing programs and marketing communications from the high tech industry. Having worked for two of the largest and most successful high tech companies, Symantec Corporation and Microsoft, Lisa brings a wealth of marketing and management expertise to the position. Her marketing and management skills have brought her many awards throughout her career. Lisa completed her education at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Lisa’s passion to create effective marketing and communication programs to help raise national awareness about this disease, stems from the death of her brother from pancreatic cancer in 2002.
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 Chief Financial Officer
Rena Hayami, MBA, CPA (inactive), Los Angeles, CA
Rena Hayami is a CPA (inactive) who brought with her over twenty-eight years of public and private accounting experience when she joined the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in 2006. Rena earned her BS Accounting and MBA degrees, magna cum laude, from the University of Southern California where she actively participated in the Trojan Marching Band and its management. After eight-years with Deloitte and Touche, one of the Big Four CPA firms, Rena left public accounting to raise the first of three children while providing independent accounting services to clients. Various accounting roles in both small and large corporations in a variety of industries has provided a breadth of experience necessary to address the challenges and requirements of expanding organizations. Rena joined Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, prompted by a desire to use her experience and energy to benefit a not-for-profit organization whose mission and vision are compelling. Rena lost her father and all but one of his relations to various cancers.
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 Director, Information Technology
George Hsing, MBA, Los Angeles, CA
George has over 20 years of experience in the technology sector. He received his B.S. in Computer Science from Cal. State University Northridge, and MBA from Cal. Lutheran University. Prior to joining at Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, George took on positions at Prudential Insurance and Metlife Investors as programmer, network administrator, and technology manager.
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 Director of Community Outreach
Mary-Jo Kennedy, Los Angeles, California
Mary-Jo comes to us with over 10 years of experience in the Non-profit sector. Her background includes organizational and community program development, strategic planning, fundraising, volunteer management and training. She is skilled at identifying and championing opportunities for change and growth with the desire to drive organizational efficiencies through planning, training and leadership.
Before joining the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network she served as Affiliate Strategy & Planning Manager for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a national breast cancer organization where she managed 10 of the top Affiliates as well as co-developed a five-phase curriculum to strengthen an Affiliates’ Volunteer Program focusing on recruitment, succession planning, board development, training and retention. Her career also includes Director of Marketing and Group Sales, Executive Director, and Director of Volunteer Services. She has been on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Healthcare Director’s of Volunteer Services and other organizations.
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 Founder & Director of Donor and Corporate Relations
Pamela Acosta Marquardt, Los Angeles, California
Pamela Acosta Marquardt, who lost her mother to pancreatic cancer in 1996, is the primary founder of Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and the original creator of the An Evening with the Stars gala.
Marquardt comes to us from her position as Executive Director of the American Heart Association in the Inland Empire area of Southern California. She was responsible for overseeing the generation of more than $10 million dollars of local revenue raised during her tenure, to assist the organization in achieving their mission of reducing death and disability due to heart disease and stroke.
Formerly Vice President of Ontario Metal Recycling, in Ontario, California for 12 years. Her responsibilities included developing the company’s marketing strategies, operational systems for efficiency, and media and advertising efforts. Prior to that, she was the Vice President of Property Development for a chain of West coast clothing stores for 12 years, handling site development, lease negotiation, and the design and construction of more than 30 retail clothing operations.
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