Board and Staff
We have a multidisciplinary staff with expertise about ALS and experience working with those living with ALS, their caregivers and their families. Our team is a dedicated group of professionals who have had an amazing impact on the lives of countless families in Massachusetts, New England, across the country and abroad.
Our Staff
Ron Hoffman
Founder/Executive Director
Ron Hoffman
Founder/Executive Director
Ron Hoffman co-founded the Gordon T. Heald ALS fund along with Elizabeth Heald following the death of her husband Gordon on October 30, 1998. In time Ron’s work led to the creation of the nonprofit organization Compassionate Care ALS. He has served as founder and director working with thousands of individuals, families and communities living with Lou Gehrig’s Disease in the US and around the world. He facilitates and guides intimate discussions for those engaged in the complexities of living with and dying with this catastrophic illness. Ron’s work helps examine the myriad of choices and possibilities that people confront including the process of death and dying and the questions that arise as together they create space for dialogue around their decisions.
Ron has been mentored by many great teachers in preparation for his unique path in the world, including Roshi Joan Halifax of the Upaya Institute, the late Steven Foster, his wife Meredith Little and Dr. Scott Eberle of the School of Lost Borders, Jeffrey Duvall, co-founder of the Men’s Council Project, Tom Daly, Phd. of the Living Arts Foundation and Julie Brown Yau, Phd. of Embodied Wisdom who was instrumental in the co-creation of the Cultivating Compassion Education Series. Ron leads in-services and trainings for hospice workers and health care professionals. He also lectures regularly to nursing students at UMASS Boston. Ron has served two terms as a board member of the Hospice and Palliative Care Federation of Massachusetts. He is a former board member of Men’s Leadership Alliance of Boulder, Colorado. Ron is the author of Sacred Bullet, Transforming Trauma to Grace While Tending the Terminally Ill, a book that sheds light on living with grace in the face of mortality. Ron serves in many ways as a resource for individuals and organizations around the country. Originally born in Richmond, Virginia, he currently lives in West Falmouth, Massachusetts.
Dr. Suzana Makowski
Medical Director
Dr. Suzana Makowski
Medical Director
Dr. Suzana Makowski formally joined the CCALS team in January 2023 after years of collaboration with Ron Hoffman as a physician and CCALS board member.
She brings to CCALS experience and compassion as a physician-leader and medical educator.
She continues to hold a volunteer Associate Professorship at UMass Chan School of Medicine, teaching, and mentoring students. There she was honored by the Center for Mindfulness and Department of Medicine with the Makowski Annual Lecture “to foster knowledge, skills and scholarship in mindfulness, being with suffering and resiliency” as well as the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award from the Gold Humanism Foundation, and numerous teaching awards. She teaches healthcare communication and palliative care nationally and internationally. She has served on national committees aimed at improving access and quality of palliative and complex care for patients and families living with serious illness.
Suzana received her AB from Bowdoin College, her MD at University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Masters in Medical Management from Marshall School of Business, Internal Medicine training at Baystate Medical Center, fellowship in Integrative Medicine at University of Michigan, and fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice and Palliative Care. She is board certified in Hospice and Palliative Care and is a Certified Physician Executive (CPE). She completed the teacher training program in Mindfulness through the Center for Mindfulness at UMass and attended Upaya Zen Center’s Being with Dying program.
She was born in Brazil, and grew up in England, the Philippines, Peru, and has lived in Germany and Austria, she brings a multicultural perspective to CCALS.
Julie Yau, Ph.D., SEP
Trauma & Spiritual Care Liaison
Julie Yau, Ph.D., SEP
Trauma & Spiritual Care Liaison
Dr. Yau is an expert in the field of healing complex trauma. She specializes in the resolution of relational, complex, and intergenerational trauma. She is a master NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) practitioner, and an authorized teacher of the Shri Vidya tradition. Using a unified approach, Julie’s work addresses the challenging psychobiological dynamics of trauma, and includes the latest neuroscientific findings, contemplative, and somatic psychologies. Julie supports those living with ALS and who are actively dying by addressing the multi-layered impact of a terminal illness diagnosis and the complexities that emerge, she also assists individuals to open to deeper dimensions within the body/mind.
Julie studied and practiced Tibetan Buddhism extensively with Rohab Rinpoche, Dan P. Brown, and Maa Uma-Parvathi Natha. Other teachers she studied in-depth with include Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, Allan B. Wallace, and Roshi Joan Halifax.
Erin Lajeunesse MSW, LICSW
Senior Family Care Liaison
Erin Lajeunesse MSW, LICSW
Senior Family Care Liaison
Erin joined the CCALS team in January 2012 bringing with her over fourteen years of social work experience. In addition to her significant professional track record in the social services sector, Erin has worked in end-of-life care as a hospice volunteer and as a Reiki energy healing professional. In her role as Senior Client Care Liaison, Erin regularly makes home visits and helps assess the needs of each of our families. Erin is a S.H.I.N.E.(Serving Health Insurance Needs of the Elderly) Certified Counselor. With this certification, she is qualified to advise on Medicare/Medicaid applications and help our families expedite the approval process. Erin holds a B.A. from University of Rhode Island, a M.S.W. from Boston University, and is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW).
Chris Curtin
Senior Family Care Liaison
Director, Southern New England & Northern Atlantic States
Chris Curtin
Senior Family Care Liaison
Director, Southern New England & Northern Atlantic States
Chris began his journey with ALS when his close childhood friend Claire Collier was diagnosed with ALS back in 2004. Chris was quick to jump in and help Claire as one of her caregivers and advocates. He quickly learned first hand what it is like to care for an ALS patient. Through Claire’s strength and determination to live each day to its fullest, Chris was inspired and realized what a gift life is.
In 2010 Chris founded the MAC Angels Foundation, along with Claire’s close family and friends, as the founding Board President. In 2015, he joined the MAC Angels staff as the Director of Services and has worked with over 500 families to date. In February 2019, Chris joined forces with Compassionate Care ALS as the Senior Family Care Liaison of Southern New England and Northern Atlantic States. Chris brings over 20 plus years of caregiving experience and is determined to help support families in their journey with ALS.
Kristine Copley
Communication Director
Kristine Copley
Communication Director
Kristine is our resident “Tech Girl” when it comes to communication equipment. She keeps up to date on speech technology tools and computer access strategies, and provides advice, implementation, training and ongoing technical support to our families. Prior to CCALS, Kristine worked for DynaVox (now TobiiDynavox), the hardware manufacturer of eye-gaze controlled speech devices and had been in high tech sales for 20+ years. She has a bachelor’s in finance from URI and is a Massachusetts-certified CNA. She has also been an ALS caregiver since 2014.
Travis Schneider
Equipment Program Director
Travis Schneider
Equipment Program Director
Travis started working at CCALS in December 2011 and became a full-time member of the team in May 2012. As the Equipment and Van Program Coordinator, Travis plays a vital role in ensuring that CCALS delivers our families what they need, when they need it. Travis spends the majority of his time managing our durable goods inventory, repairing equipment, ordering new equipment and delivering equipment to our families. Prior to joining, Travis has 14 years of experience in restaurant and hospitality management which has allowed him to refine his project management and client relationship skills. He holds a B.A. in Hospitality Management from Johnson & Wales University.
Eileen Garry
Senior Family Care Liaison
Eileen Garry
Senior Family Care Liaison
Eileen Garry is a retired United States Army Sergeant who worked for more than 25 years as a laboratory scientist and an allied healthcare professional in medical device and diagnostic industries. Her career path shifted into social services after being the caregiver for her mother, Claire, who passed from ALS in 2009. Eileen has always had a passion for making a positive difference in people’s lives and she brings this by “showing up and being present” for every ALS family she meets.
Her social services experience includes supporting the elderly and disabled as a Care Manager at Ethos Senior Services and the ALS Association. Eileen is trained and certified by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs as a SHINE Counselor. In this role, she is able to advise in many areas of health insurance including Medicare, Medicaid, prescription drug and other programs.
Eileen holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Northeastern University.
Shannon Carey
Family Care Liaison
Shannon Carey
Family Care Liaison
Shannon is a highly qualified professional with over 27 years in the Electrical, Environmental, and Civil Engineering fields. She is certified in AutoCAD and spent 14 years focused on Environmental Engineering. She has helped design groundwater purification systems and coastal anti-erosion projects around Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. She previously managed a Computer Graphics department and was the Public Meeting Coordinator for Jacobs Engineering and AFCEE (Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence). She most recently served as a Receptionist and Assistant to the Business Director at Atria Woodbriar Terrace in Falmouth.Shannon has known Ron Hoffman since 2001, when her husband was first diagnosed with ALS and has previously served on the Board of Directors of CCALS.
Brenda Fox, M.Div.
Grief and Bereavement Care Liaison
Brenda Fox, M.Div.
Grief and Bereavement Care Liaison
Brenda has over 30 years of experience combining her passions and expertise in spiritual care and the complexities related to death and dying. Since 2011 she served as hospice Chaplain, volunteer coordinator and grief counselor at Hospice of the Estes Valley in Colorado. She has coordinated care and facilitated gatherings for survivors of torture, clergy, hospice families and volunteers. Her methodology focuses on deep listening, building resilience, expanding narratives of resourcefulness and the rich human capacity to meet unthinkable circumstances with greater strength, grace and wisdom than we thought possible.
Brenda was introduced to Ron Hoffman and CCALS in 2010 when her father was living and dying with ALS. The care and support provided, even at a distance, made it possible for her father to die well and leave behind a beautiful legacy of courage. She joins the team now to provide grief support, spiritual care and bereavement resources for our families.
Michael Hodgkins
Care Liaison
Michael Hodgkins
Care Liaison
Michael has been in service for over 35 years. His passion for elders, family, men’s work, recovery and the Red Sox’s has been a blessing to many! Michael’s deep compassion, listening skills, sense of humor and wide open heart have allowed him to help many in their final hours. Working as a chef and manager in the food services / hospitality industry as well as a contractor further honed his people skills. Michael is a founding member of the Berkshire Men’s Council and has helped organize and facilitate men’s retreats for 30 years.
His passion for self-development and recovery is evidenced by the many people he has sponsored. After watching and sometimes helping his wife work with the elderly she invited him to help. In the spring of 2015 he became a caregiver for terminally ill men. In 2019 Ron Hoffman, the executive director of CCALS, called him and asked him to work with a client and that started his journey with helping people with ALS. After that first client he knew that was to be his life’s focus.
Michael lives in northwestern Connecticut with his beloved wife, Nancy. He has three daughters. He is a proud veteran of the US Navy.
Laurie Raymond
Care Liaison
Laurie Raymond
Care Liaison
Laurie became intimately familiar with ALS as her husband’s caregiver during their seven-year journey. During this time Laurie experienced the value of support for families living with ALS. It’s with gratitude for those that helped her and her family that has brought her to CCALS. Having lived in 4 very different states, Laurie is a resident of NJ, where 2 of her 3 sons and granddaughter live. Her hometown of Los Angeles is never far from her heart, as it’s where the rest of her family resides.
Luke Duvall
Community Care Liaison, Colorado
Luke Duvall
Community Care Liaison, Colorado
Luke began his experience with CCALS as an intern in February of 2017. As an intern, he served CCALS families and the team, gaining invaluable experiences and a dedication to providing compassionate and quality care in the face of complex realities.
Luke left the organization and began his collegiate studies at Colorado State University in 2018, where he graduated with dual concentrations in corporate finance, investment analysis, and a certificate in entrepreneurship.
After graduating from college, Luke rejoined the CCALS team as a Care Liaison. He now focuses on expanding the CCALS community by helping to establish a new office in Colorado and extend the reach of the team's support for all those navigating the journey of ALS. Luke lives in Colorado with his two puppies.
Jason Chorches
Heald Center / Equipment Care Liaison
Jason Chorches
Heald Center / Equipment Care Liaison
Jason Chorches is a retired Lieutenant from the Barnstable Sheriff’s Office with 20 years of service. After retirement, he spent a few years working in community health as an Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Outreach Coordinator and worked with Boston Medical Center on a Substance Use Disorder Study.
In his free time, Jason is active in the Falmouth Community as a volunteer with David’s Old Silver Swim and East Falmouth Elementary, as well as working at the Falmouth Road Race as a Organizing Committee Captain. He is active outdoors, and can almost always be found on his standup paddle board on Waquoit Bay and the surrounding waterways. He is excited to be joining the CCALS team.
Brenda Cvitan
Care Coordinator / Assistant Retreat Center Coordinator
Brenda Cvitan
Care Coordinator / Assistant Retreat Center Coordinator
Brenda has worked in end of life care as a Certified Hospice Nursing Assistant since 2001. Throughout her experience she has worked with thousands of hospice patients and families with a high dedication to compassionate and quality care. Brenda’s commitment to providing individual care that is unique to each individual and family makes her a great addition to the CCALS team.
As the Retreat Center Coordinator, she loves working with CCALS families to help them navigate through this complex journey. Brenda’s favorite part of working with CCALS is meeting with families and listening to their stories. We are grateful to have Brenda’s experience and dedication on our team.
Martha Miller
DME Care Coordinator
Martha Miller
DME Care Coordinator
Before joining the CCALS team, Martha worked in a secretarial position in the medical field for nine years. She first came to know Ron and Erin in 2010 when her husband, Mark, was diagnosed with ALS. CCALS was an integral part of their lives during the six years Mark lived with ALS.
In her free time, you can find Martha behind the camera, taking pictures during get togethers and scenic photos. Most of these photos are probably taken during summer or fall, her favorite seasons.
Ellen Diciccio
Care Coordinator, Southern New England & Northern Atlantic States
Ellen Diciccio
Care Coordinator, Southern New England & Northern Atlantic States
Helping PALS for over a decade, Ellen is fully devoted to the singular mission of supporting families with ALS and easing their journey. "I am consistently inspired by our families who remain positive in the face of such adversity."
Ellen graduated from the University of Dallas with a BA in Business and a minor in Economics. Initially focusing on marketing and management, she eventually designed, owned and operated her own cafe in the Uptown area of Dallas, until moving with her husband and three children to New York. Ellen loves Labrador Retrievers and is a huge fan of the Dallas Cowboys!
Martha Dutton
Care Coordinator – New Hampshire
Martha Dutton
Care Coordinator – New Hampshire
Martha joined the CCALS team in September 2021 inspired by her role as a direct caregiver for a person living in the advanced stages of ALS. In a letter, her client referred to Martha as “open-minded and eager to improve approaches to the delivery of care…a talented and natural therapist, I trust her immensely “. It was Martha’s honor and privilege to dedicate herself in this service. Supporting families with ALS is a continuation of this profound experience. Martha is a NH native. She is a Certified Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant. As a COTA, she trained in conducting home assessments for patients, clients, and families. She worked per diem in a LTC facility, inpatient and out patient therapy services. She earned a BS in Human Services, Springfield College. She worked in Special Education and as a Job Coach/Developer. Her past life involved raising goats, chickens, ducks, and bunnies. She is currently down to 2 cats 2 dogs and 1 teenage son, August (“Augie”).
Carol Somerville, MS, LCSW
Government Affairs Liaison, Northeast Region
Carol Somerville, MS, LCSW
Government Affairs Liaison, Northeast Region
In January 2021, Carol joined the Southern New England and Northern States CCALS team. A career Social Worker, she has decades of experience in healthcare, gerontology, and coping with ALS. Her Masters in Social Work is from Columbia University along with a Master’s in Health Care Management and Administration from NYC’s New School for Social Research.
More than 30 years of practice has led Carol to engage with ALS patients and families with a personal touch and respect for the difficult and varied feelings and experiences of everyone involved. Through her, comes emotional support and the ability to secure needed resources: ongoing involvement has developed her understanding of ALS and the healthcare system.
Those who work with Carol are empowered through her commitment to patient rights and self-determination. She focuses on promoting quality of life for the whole family without shying away from difficult conversations and decisions. Hope has many forms, and she will work with everyone involved in each case to find the best path possible.
Christopher Cooley
Co-office Manager
Christopher Cooley
Co-office Manager
Christopher Cooley has a background working in administration for Hope Hospice in Hyannis, MA. He has also worked in the legal field. He was his father's personal caregiver until his passing in 2009. He lives in Marstons Mills with his wife and pets and is very excited to be working at Compassionate Care ALS.
Our Board
Jim Bruce
President
Elia Perez Tessicini
Vice President
Elia Perez Tessicini
Vice President
Elia Tessicini serves as Director of Global Payments for American Express where she has worked since 2002. During her tenure at American Express she has led high-performance teams and acted as a champion for multiple company initiatives. Prior to American Express, Elia worked in consulting and sales roles. She holds an MBA from Boston College and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Spanish from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Elia resides in South Hamilton, Massachusetts with her eight-year old daughter Alessandra. Outside of work she enjoys cooking, swimming, and spending time with her family.
Michael McLaughlin
Treasurer
Michael McLaughlin
Treasurer
Michael McLaughlin is Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel at Henley Enterprises. Formerly he was a Partner at the Boston boutique law firm of Lerner & Holmes PC. He joined the firm in 2005 where his practice focuses on complex real estate and general business transactions throughout the United States serving a wide variety of national and local clients. Prior to joining Lerner & Holmes PC, Michael was an associate in the Real Estate Department at Goodwin Procter LLP in its Boston office. Upon graduating from law school, Michael worked as a Law Clerk to the Justices of the Superior Court of Massachusetts. Michael received his Bachelor of Arts from Boston College, Cum Laude, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School. Michael has been involved with numerous charities during his legal career including The Trust For Public Land and Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston. He became involved with CCALS following a close friend’s diagnosis with ALS. Michael lives in Lincoln, Massachusetts with his wife and their three sons.
Ron Hoffman
Clerk
Ron Hoffman
Clerk
Ron Hoffman co-founded the Gordon T. Heald ALS fund along with Elizabeth Heald following the death of her husband Gordon on October 30, 1998. In time Ron’s work led to the creation of the nonprofit organization Compassionate Care ALS. He has served as founder and director working with thousands of individuals, families and communities living with Lou Gehrig’s Disease in the US and around the world. He facilitates and guides intimate discussions for those engaged in the complexities of living with and dying with this catastrophic illness. Ron’s work helps examine the myriad of choices and possibilities that people confront including the process of death and dying and the questions that arise as together they create space for dialogue around their decisions.
Ron has been mentored by many great teachers in preparation for his unique path in the world, including Roshi Joan Halifax of the Upaya Institute, the late Steven Foster, his wife Meredith Little and Dr. Scott Eberle of the School of Lost Borders, Jeffrey Duvall, co-founder of the Men’s Council Project, Tom Daly, Phd. of the Living Arts Foundation and Julie Brown Yau, Phd. of Embodied Wisdom who was instrumental in the co-creation of the Cultivating Compassion Education Series. Ron leads in-services and trainings for hospice workers and health care professionals. He also lectures regularly to nursing students at UMASS Boston. Ron has served two terms as a board member of the Hospice and Palliative Care Federation of Massachusetts. He is a former board member of Men’s Leadership Alliance of Boulder, Colorado. Ron is the author of Sacred Bullet, Transforming Trauma to Grace While Tending the Terminally Ill, a book that sheds light on living with grace in the face of mortality. Ron serves in many ways as a resource for individuals and organizations around the country. Originally born in Richmond, Virginia, he currently lives in West Falmouth, Massachusetts.
Luke Baxter
Luke Baxter
Luke Baxter was introduced to CCALS when his Aunt was diagnosed with ALS. After she passed Luke was so moved by the guidance and wisdom offered by Ron Hoffman and CCALS, he joined the staff as a Care Coordinator. He has been active with CCALS ever since, currently serving as a board member. Luke is a Managing Partner at Dakota Wealth Management in Peabody, MA where he oversees Systems and Technology firm wide.
Thomas B. Bettle
Thomas B. Bettle
Tom Bettle is a past board president of CCALS and has worked for more than three decades at G. Green Construction. He is currently the Chief Financial Officer. He is an integral part of the management team and has established a strong financial structure of the company of 130 employees. In addition to his role at G. Green, he is a former President of the Massachusetts for the Chapter for the Construction Financial Management Association and continues to be an active member. He holds a BS in Business Administration/Accounting from Bryant College and an Executive MBA from Suffolk University. He was friends with former CCALS board member Doug Oakley who passed with ALS.
Brian Bossman
Adrienne Martin
Adrienne Martin
Adrienne Martin’s husband, John was diagnosed with ALS in October of 2016 and passed with ALS in October of 2018. She previously ran her own business as an acupuncturist and health and wellness advocate. She ran a physical business as well as website, blog, youtube channel and social media presence.
Patty Oakley
Michael Reilly
Michael Reilly
Michael P. Reilly is a financial professional at Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc. located in Braintree, Massachusetts. Michael P. Reilly holds an industry securities registration subject to FINRA oversight having passed securities examinations which include Series 6, Series 63, Series 65.
Darlene Salatto Rose
Darlene Salatto Rose
Darlene currently resides in East Hampton, NY and has been on an extended sabbatical since leaving her Senior VP of Design position at Robert Abbey, Inc. after her husband’s death from ALS in March 2010. She has enjoyed a long, successful career as a design professional in both the apparel and home furnishing industries. Eighteen of those years were spent working side by side with her husband Jeffrey. Darlene enjoys exploring her various interests and passions that include volunteering her time to local charities on the east end of Long Island, Yoga and Meditation, Traveling, Gardening and Cooking.
Guide Council (Board of Advisors)
Jan Cellucci
Jan Cellucci
Jan Cellucci has worked in and advocated for a wide range of libraries in the United States and Canada since 1974. In her professional career she has held positions as an assistant public library director, an elected public library trustee, a school library director, a university preservation-conservation manager, an associate university librarian and a national library commissioner. She is the former first lady of Massachusetts and has been an advocate for ALS care since her husband, Paul, died with ALS.
Lisa Genova
Lisa Genova
Lisa Genova graduated valedictorian, summa cum laude from Bates College with a degree in Biopsychology and holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University. She is a New York Times best-selling author whose novel Still Alice was adapted into the Academy Award-winning motion picture starring Julianne Moore and Alec Baldwin. Genova’s new novel Every Note Played focuses on dealing with the impact of an ALS diagnosis. She is intimately aware of the work of CCALS.
Anne Trupiano
Anne Trupiano
Anne was the Vice President of Claims/Administration and co-owner of TRU-Services in Beverly. Ms. Trupiano attended Quinsigamond College in Worcester, Massachusetts. In 1979, she began her insurance career at State Mutual Life Assurance Company of America (now Allmerica Financial) in Worcester as an Underwriter, and was later promoted to Manager of the Evidence of Insurability/Group Insurance Division.
In 1990, Ms. Trupiano joined American Specialty Underwriters where she expanded her role in the claims area over the next six years, and was appointed Claims Manager in 1993. She joined ASU Services LLC (which later became TRU Services LLC) full time as Vice President/Claims in 1999.
Jerry Trupiano
Jerry Trupiano
Jerry was the President and co-owner of TRU-Services in Beverly, MA. Mr. Trupiano received his B.S. in Business Administration from Nichols College in 1984 and began his career at State Mutual Life Assurance Company. Over the next two decades he managed and directed underwriting efforts at various companies including Medical Reinsurance Underwriters Inc., Health Reinsurance Management, Inc., and R.E. Moulton, Inc. In October 1997, Mr. Trupiano was appointed President of ASU Services LLC, a newly formed subsidiary of ASU International Inc, and went on to form TRU Services LLC in 2001. He has been involved with CCALS since 2001, when his mother Pat had ALS.
Elizabeth P. Heald
Elizabeth P. Heald
Elizabeth P. Heald is the cofounder of the Gordon T. Heald ALS Fund. Betsy’s lifelong commitment to quality education started with five years of elementary teaching and includes 21 years of service on the board of The Winsor School, with seven years as board president. While Betsy calls herself a “professional volunteer,” she helped her husband Gordon run Wicker Tree Catering and after his death, she ran the business. In addition to her commitment to helping families challenged by ALS, Betsy has continued Gordon’s legacy as an advocate for the environment and conservation by following in his shoes as a board member for the Salt Pond Areas Bird Sanctuary in Falmouth.
