Melissa Nye, RN, CNBN
Chair and Co-Founder
Melissa Nye is a 25+ year in women’s healthcare breast care and cancer navigation. Served as Chair of the Navigation Committee (NCBC) National Consortium of Breast Centers, creating standards of Navigation. In 2016, she collaborated in Haiti and again in 2017 in Palestine. Melissa accepted an invitation to Malawi Africa to teach, support and transition the navigation program. Melissa is the recipient of Breast Friend’s Compassion award and the NCBC Inspiration award.
Sharon Henifin CLC, CNBA
Vice- Chair and Co-Founder
Sharon, a 26 year breast cancer survivor uses her experience to demonstrate compassion, thoughtfulness and caring to those women whose lives have been touched by this disease. She co-founded Breast Friends in 2000, a non-profit organization where she created many innovative programs serving women experiencing cancer. She has facilitated workshops and retreats around Positive Self Worth and Thriving Beyond Cancer. Sharon enjoyed co-hosting this Voice America internet radio show for three years to educate and inspire people on the subject of cancer. Sharon, a Certified Professional Life Coach helps women to live their best lives. She is the author of “Thriving Beyond Cancer, Hope, Understanding and Validation for the Cancer Survivor” available on Amazon. Her latest passion is Breast Advocates International, a nonprofit to “educate women advocates to encourage early detection of breast cancer to reduce mortality in underserved communities.” In her spare time, Sharon loves to travel and take photos, both here in the states and in other countries.
Colby Black
Director of Finance
With 18 years of experience, Colby started her own bookkeeping business. With generations of breast cancer in her family, and seeing the impact that can be made globally through watching her sister Melissa’s career and volunteer work over the last 25+ years, she considers this a blessing to further our mission of educating and supporting women. She’s the proud mom of an Eagle Scout, and has volunteered 12 years with Boy Scouts of America. She also served for several years on the School District PTA Board.
Beverly Vote
Director
Beverly was diagnosed at 38 with breast cancer. From the need to help others, the Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine was created. She received the Yoplait Champion award, Transformation Leader Award and 2014’s Pink Angel Honoree. Author of How We Became Breast Cancer Thrivers, co-author of Faces of Inspiration, and a contributing writer for Chicken Soup for the Breast Cancer Survivor’s Soul, and others. Beverly’s personal life mission statement is to help change the culture and consciousness about breast cancer.
Andrew Lawhon, Attorney
Director
Andrew was born and raised in San Francisco, California and attended Gonzaga University, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and his Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga University School of Law, where he served as the publishing editor for the Gonzaga Journal of International Law. He is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Washington Defenders Association. He and his wife have five children and live in Vancouver.
Kate Lawhon
Director
Kate is the Executive Director of Aquinas Learning Program in Vancouver, WA. The mission of Aquinas Learning is a Catholic classical curriculum, which encourages students to behold, wonder, and contemplate, what is TRUE, GOOD, and BEAUTIFUL, in order to cultivate wisdom and virtue. She and her husband Andrew are busy raising their five children.