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| Birthmarks.com Staffers |
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| Board of Directors | Medical Advisory Board |
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 Michael Steffano, Executive Director & Founder: In addition to thinking he is funny and helping run Birthmarks.com, Michael spends his time working on various entreprenuerial startups, tickling his youngest daughter and fretting about his teenage daughter (he's awfully proud of both), cherishing his lovely wife, riding his mountain bike and struggling with yoga. He tries to appreciate the blessings in his life every day: health, family, friends, and the opportunity to have created Birthmarks.com. |
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 Estelle Schweizer, Editor & Director of Content Development:: Estelle is mom to two beautiful girls, Sophia (4.5) and Eleanor (3), and became involved in the Birthmarks.com community after discovering Eleanor was born with a facial PWS that extends from her right eye to her lip. Estelle turned to Birthmarks.com for their wealth of information, as well as the advice, hope, and kind words from those who knew what she was going through.
Recently, Estelle and her husband, Patrick, packed up their house and moved their family to Massachusetts in search of new experiences and adventures. They now live just north of Boston, in Andover, MA. In addition to loving her primary job as a stay-at-home mom, Estelle works as a freelance writer and editor for educational publishing. When she’s not plunking away on the computer, you can find her lounging on a New England beach, exploring city life in Boston, snuggling with her girls, and on Wednesday nights, she often day-dreams she’s a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance. Estelle is excited to join the Birthmarks.com team and is looking forward to creating new friendships within the community.
If you have an idea for an article, or are interested in writing an article about your birthmark story, please e-mail Estelle: editor@birthmarks.com. |
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 Joie Davidow, Dir. of Makeup & Skincare: Joie Davidow was born with a port wine stain covering most of the left side of her face and eye. Her memoir, Marked for Life (Crown/Harmony, 2004) is the story of growing up with a facial difference, which she hid, like a guilty secret, behind the mask of makeup, until she ultimately learned self-acceptance. She is also the author of Infusions of Healing (Fireside/Simon and Schuster) and with Esmeralda Santiago, the co-editor of two story collections: Las Mamis and Las Christmas. She was a founder of the LA Weekly and founded LA Style and Sí magazines. She currently spends as much time as possible in her little apartment in Rome where she is working on a novel and having way too much fun. |
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 Stephanie Cale, Contributing Editor: Stephanie is a former Editor and Director of Content Development of our organization. These days she writes articles and contributes to the strategic direction of Birthmarks.com. |
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 Stephanie & Charlie Cale, Newsgroup Administrators: As the first couple to have met and married as a result of the Newsgroup, Charlie and Stephanie Cale were thrilled to be asked to oversee the newsgroup that made their meeting possible. As Stephanie states, "This is a wonderful way for those either with a PWS or someone who cares about a person with a PWS to network with others, thereby breaking the isolation that many people feel in coping with their situation."
Charlie agrees:
"It's a good place to talk and feel safe about this whole PWS issue we deal with. It's wonderful that you are all here and we value ALL of you!"
When not posing thought-provoking questions to the list Charlie likes to spend his time writing mystery novels, delving into researching family genealogy and rollerblading. Stephanie currently divides her off-line time (when there is such a thing) between playing with their cats and cooking in the couple's home in Austin, Texas. |
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 Jay Franco, Dir. of Angel Kiss Mentoring: I have lived in the Seattle area for most of my life. For more than 20 years I taught in the public schools at all grade levels from K through 12. Today I am involved with a software development company. I am married and have two adult aged children.
I was born with a PWS covering most of my left cheek, extending from the lower eyelid to and including the upper lip. Being a person with a port wine stain in the days before Birthmarks.com and its community was rather lonely and difficult. Growing up I didn't know anyone with a birthmark.
As an adolescent I longed for some kind of help with my PWS. After visiting doctors I learned their was no treatment available. I was taken to a plastic surgeon who offered to cover the PSW with skin grafts. This was the only treatment available for those with a port wine stain birthmark. As a 16 year old I made a decision to proceed with skin grafts. Since 1989 I have been treated with lasers for the PWS not covered by skin grafts. I have also had undergone more than a dozen surgical procedures to address hemangioma and skin graft related issues.
I am most appreciative of the Birthmarks.com community. The Angel Kiss Mentoring Program has had many important accomplishments and I feel very strongly about its importance and potential.
Please feel comfortable e-mailing me at AngelKiss@Birthmarks.com for assistance or if you have any questions. All questions are important. |
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 Chet Leighton Amborn, Information Technologist: Chet is an independent consultant who designs and develops software for web-based publishing to communities. Over the past three years Chet has created a content management system (CMS) for non-profit organizations to use in publishing on-line newsletters and training information. Chet asked Michael to help with some of the programming for the CMS when it was first developed. One thing led to another, and we decided that the CMS software was a perfect technology for the next generation of Birthmarks.com. Chet is amazed by the Birthmarks.com community, and is excited about being able to contribute as its information technologist. |
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 Glenda Ethington, Contributing Editor: Glenda Ethington is cofounder of the Sturge-Weber Syndrome Community (SWSC), a worldwide organization for individuals and families living with Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS). Her grandson, Glen, has SWS/PWS and she was inspired by his courage to form the Internet support group. The group is now a Branch of the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation. Glenda also serves as a volunteer for other organizations associated with vascular birthmarks. She has a background in print journalism and photography, and currently resides in Kentucky. |
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 Catharine Fennell, Contributing Marketing Director: Catharine started her career working in the corrective cosmetic industry seeking to combine her professional skills with her personal passion—to help individuals with birthmarks, like herself, find and access effective coverage alternatives. Catharine is thrilled to be part of the Birthmarks.com community. Her main goal in this role is to build awareness of Birthmarks.com as a resource and to destigmatize “birthmarks” by educating the public and enlisting physicians’, corporations and industry in support of this cause.
Catharine is a marketing strategist by trade heading up her own marketing consulting boutique, Market Smarter.ca which specializes in helping companies of all shapes and sizes to market smarter. Previously, Catharine worked on the client side, heading up marketing for two technology-based organizations.
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