Board of Directors
2010
Teardrops to Rainbows Operating Board of Directors
Lois A. Lyons - Founder and President
Lois Lyons, Founder and President of Teardrops to Rainbows, began working with children and families who were coping with cancer while volunteering at Camp Rainbow, one of many Pediatric Oncology Camps of America, in 1994. Lois served as a counselor for 10 girls who had, or had previously had, cancer. Following a one-week camping experience, Lois found herself truly impassioned towards this cause, and to doing her part to help make life a bit brighter for children who are coping with cancer. After returning from camp, Lois became involved as a pediatric oncology volunteer at Fairfax Hospital in Northern Virginia. From 1998-2001, Lois was an active participant with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, ultimately running eight marathons and riding in one cycling century, while working to raise thousands of dollars in support of the mission. It has long been one of Lois’ dreams to help children and families facing cancer in a bigger way. Through the support of many great friends, Teardrops to Rainbows is the realization of this dream. Lois received her degree's, from The University of Maryland, College Park , and has worked for many years as a recruiting professional at Booz Allen, EDS, AMS, Touchstone Consulting, George Group, and since 2006, at Excella Consulting.
Matt Swayhoover - Treasurer
Matt Swayhoover, Treasurer, brings to Teardrops to Rainbows over 12 years of experience in volunteer and professional leadership roles within the non-profit sector. From 1989-1994 Matt worked at the National Office of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America in various fundraising capacities including Director of Development. In this capacity he was responsible for higher-level giving programs including grant writing and major gift solicitation strategies. Matt’s interest in volunteerism, non-profits and fundraising date back to the 1980s when he spent seven years as an active member of Long Island’s West Sayville-Oakdale Volunteer Fire Department. Matt earned a B.B.A. in Business from Hofstra University and an M.S. in Technology Management from George Mason University . An alumnus of American Management Systems (AMS), Mattis currently the Director of Technology Transfer and Workforce Development at the Systems and Software Consortium in Herndon, VA.
Jennifer Yang - Vice President Jennifer Yang brings many years of volunteerism, event planning, and professional program management experience to Teardrops to Rainbows. Prior to joining Teardrops to Rainbows, Jennifer volunteered with other organizations dedicated to children with cancer. She participated in organizing several successful fundraisers and served as a representative for these organizations at various events. Her community work extends beyond helping children. Jennifer created, launched, and taught an adult educational program on web design that was delivered free to the community through theFairfax library system. Over the four years of this program, she received two volunteer awards from Fairfax . Jennifer earned an S.B. degree in Biology with a minor in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and she recently received her M.A. degree at Johns Hopkins University. Formerly with American Management Systems and the Touchstone Consulting Group of SRA, Jennifer currently is a managing director at BRMi, a start-up consulting company based in the Washington, DC-area.
Michael Heller - Board Member
Past/Founding Board Members:
Dr. David M. Sahley, PT, DPT, COMT - Founder & Vice President
David Sahley, Founder & Vice President, brought Teardrops to Rainbows his long and close ties to the Northern Virginia business and social communities. Dave was personally connected to a variety of local business owners who proved to be instrumental in many of the Teardrops to Rainbows fundraising initiatives. Dave is a local business owner who holds his Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree from Marymount University in Northern Virginia. Dave founded and incorporated Dynamics Physical Therapy in 2001, became a partner in a multi-clinic partnership, Virginia Physical Therapy in 2003, and now owns and operates three clinics in Herndon and Gainesville, under the Dynamics PT name.
Brian J. Leske, a Founding Board Member, General Counsel and Advisor, brought Teardrops to Rainbows many years of legal and public policy experience, as well as a deep commitment to community service and to helping make life better for other people. An accomplished triathlete (and Hawaiian IRONMAN Finisher), Mr. Leske regularly works with amputees who are interested in competing in sporting events. He also contributes his time to several legal public interest organizations in Washington, D.C. Until moving from the area, Mr. Leske served as the organization's General Counsel. He has previously served as a federal prosecutor, chief legal counsel to a governor, and legal policy director of a presidential campaign. Mr. Leske is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the Georgetown University Law Center.
Kirsten Huber - Founding Board Member
Teardrops to Rainbows Advisors:
Ken Bartee
Peter DiGiammarino
Leif Ulstrup
Meg Crossett
