Conference Volunteers
Teen Team
Our Teen Team oversees programming for our Fiffles aged 13 to 17.
Alanna Landry, RN, CDE, serves as a teen leader in the youth program. Alanna has spent 28 years enjoying her role as an RN,CDE at Markham Stouffville Hospital paediatric diabetes program. She has spent recent years focusing on research studies investigating the transition of youth to adult care, leading quality improvement projects, and is presently co-chair of the provincial diabetes network steering committee to improve care of children and families in Ontario. Alanna has attended FFL conferences in the teen program for 15 years. The Friends for Life conference is the most magical week of the year and reinvigorates her passion to continue to support and educate the families with diabetes she is honored to care for.
Hannah Opdenaker was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in February of 1999 and has been attending the Children With Diabetes Conferences since 2001. She is the Associate Director for a non-profit theater in Philadelphia, where she acts as a grant writer, program director, and occasional performer. Hannah is excited to serve as a Teen Leader at the Friends for Life conferences.
Ernie Prado serves as the Super Guppy Project Engineer in the Aircraft Operations Division at NASA's Johnson Space Center. In this role, he is responsible for maintaining airworthiness of the Guppy, integrating payloads, upgrading systems, assisting Maintenance, supporting sustaining engineering and ensuring mission success. In 2019, the Super Guppy airlifted the Artemis spacecraft between NASA facilities supporting America’s mission to Mars. Previously he worked at the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility (SVMF) where astronauts train prior to spaceflight. At the SVMF, he led projects to create, maintain, and upgrade full-size International Space Station trainers and mockups that astronauts use to prepare for their missions. In addition to his work at NASA, he is involved in manufacturing large-scale 3D Printers. Ernie holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering & Aeronautical Sciences and Engineering from UC Davis. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 15 and has been on an insulin pump since 2011. While wearing an insulin pump and CGM, Ernie has achieved 8Gs in a centrifuge during an Aeromedicine study. In his free time, Ernie enjoys snowboarding, SCUBA diving, crossFit, building Legos, and tinkering.
Tween Team
Our Tween Team oversees programming for our Fiffles aged 9 to 12.
Sarah Johnston has three siblings, two with type 1, and all four siblings are volunteers at Friends For Life! Sarah graduated from Marquette University with a degree in Elementary Education as well as Psychology and now teaches middle school STEM in Milwaukee, WI. Spending a week at Friends for Life each summer is a huge part of her family’s life. Since the age of 10, Sarah spends a week where everyone understands diabetes and all that comes with type 1. Friends for Life is filled with amazing people who bring out the best in one another. Sarah is so excited to be part of the Friends for Life Tween Team this year!
Corey Lackey, hoping to connect with other significant others that are affected by T1D, attended his first Friends for Life conference with his wife Lizzie Lackey (T1) in 2022. He is so grateful for FFL and for it being such a great resource and support for all who are impacted by T1D and is excited to play a bigger part by volunteering in the youth program this year.
Teresa Littlefield, MSN, RN, RNC-MNN, CLC, PMH-C, is mom to Katelyn, diagnosed at age nine, and Jessica. She has been attending conferences since 2006. Teresa currently works with at-risk first-time moms, including those with type 1, and their babies, and is also a clinical nursing instructor at her local university. Teresa volunteers with patients with diabetes in her local community and online as part of the Online Diabetes Support Team of JDRF. She plans to earn her CDE credential in the future. Friend for Life offers a lot of support for parents, too, and she is super excited to be back again this year! If asked why someone should come to FFL, she says, “It’s because these are your people and the only ones who truly understand you, whether you are a person with diabetes or their caregiver.”
Erica Smith was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in January 2004. Erica attended her first Friends for Life conference in 2004 with her family and has only missed one conference since, which she thoroughly regrets. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a Health Education degree. Erica currently resides in Round Rock, TX with her husband and son Weston (born April 2022). She is a Second Grade teacher in the Austin area. Erica says that Friends for Life conferences are the best part of her year and she is very grateful for all the friends she has made at conferences. She is extremely excited to be a leader on the Tween Team!
Lizzie Lackey was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 19 and attended her first Friends for Life conference four months later. She came away filled with so much hope and a sense of belonging that she has only missed one conference in the past 12 years. Friends for Life is her absolute favorite week of the year! During the other 51 weeks of the year, Lizzie is a Vision Therapist in Houston, TX. She loves working with kids of all ages.
Kayla Van Eperen has three siblings - two with type 1 - and is mom to David. She has been attending CWD conferences and Friends for Life Orlando since 2003. Kayla graduated in 2017 from Marquette University with a degree in Elementary Education and Communication Studies. She is a 5th-7th grade Math Teacher in Madison, WI. She is very excited to be part of the CWD Youth Program staff this year because it is a place where everyone just “gets it.” It truly is a great opportunity to work with the elementary-aged children to continue the culture of not being alone at Friends for Life.
Kiddie Kove Team
Our Kiddie Kove Team takes care of our youngest Fiffles -- kids age five and younger.
Chris Freund, BSN, RN, attended her first Friends for Life Conference after her daughter Molly was diagnosed with diabetes in March 2005 at the age of six. She has been a pediatric emergency department nurse for 15+ years and loves working with kids. She is also mom to Andrew, Elizabeth and Benjamin who have grown up with CWD.
Parker Grand is excited to be volunteering at Friends for Life as Children with Diabetes has given him so much support and friendship over the years. Parker has attended every Friends for Life conference since his diagnosis at the age of three in 2002. Parker lives in California where he attends college full-time. He is employed by the California State Parks where he coordinates youth programs, leads guided tours and develops new programs to teach children an appreciation for the history and ecology of the parks. Parker loves working with children of all ages. In his free time, you can find him biking, golfing, and volunteering.
Shelley Grand, mom to Parker, diagnosed in 2002, resides in Southern California. Shelley and her family have been attending Friends for Life Orlando conferences since 2003, and they attribute Parker’s success in managing his type 1 to the knowledge, support and friendship that they have received over the years from attending the FFL conferences. Shelley has been a preschool teacher/director for the past 30 years. She states, “We look forward to attending FFL every year and enjoy being able to give back to a community that has given so much to our family.”
Sports Central Team
Our Sports Central Team brings exercise and fun to all our youth age groups
Zach Geren is husband to Melissa Geren, diagnosed at age four, and he is also Big Papa to Maddax. Zach started attending conferences in 2015 and has enjoyed every FFL since. Each conference, Zach looks forward to welcoming all to Sports Central for a little bit of sweat and a lot of fun. It's hard to miss Zach, as he is frequently in colorful socks and a headband. As an avid sports fan, Zach loves to watch and play almost every sport, especially basketball, tennis, football, and frisbee.
Sunflower Team
Our Sunflower Team brings some extra attention where its needed in our youth program
Heather Hawco-Gray lives in Whitby, Ontario, with her husband and two grown children. She has been learning about type 1 since December 27, 2004, when someone she loves was diagnosed. She attended her first Friends For Life Conference in Toronto in 2011 and, in 2016, she attended her first FFL Orlando Conference. As a mental health professional, she has attended many conferences over her 32 year career but felt this conference was one of the most informative, educational, supportive, and organized. The atmosphere of the conference made her feel very inspired. She met some amazing volunteers and families and left feeling motivated, hopeful, and connected. She decided then to be a part of something great and has been volunteering in both FFL Orlando and FFL Canada ever since. Heather loves being active, participating in "Mud Girl" races, practicing Muay Thai, traveling and spending time with friends and family.
Lauren Salko lives in Park City, Utah with her fellow green band husband Jeremy and is graduate of Saint Anselm College. Lauren is a former professional skier who competed around the world in SkiCross. In her free time, Lauren loves skiing, mountain biking, and doing triathlons. As a person with diabetes, Lauren is very passionate about working with Children with Diabetes and could not be more excited to be a part of the youth programming staff this year!
Smiley Squad
The Smiley Squad staffs registration, First Timers, and serves as Room Captains
After serving as VP of Education and Programs at CWD for 25 years, Laura Billetdeaux recently retired. She and husband Neal, along with Tater the chocolate lab pup, have begun exploring the US and Canada in their Alto camper. In between adventures, they reside in Manchester, Michigan, where Laura loves to garden and make a killer hot sauce.
Helen Finegold attended her first Friends for Life conference in 2018 and has been coming back as a volunteer ever since. She lives and works in New Jersey with her husband Will (dx 2004). Helen looks forward to FFL each year to learn about new technologies and reconnect with friends new and old. Outside of working with Children with Diabetes, Helen enjoys photography, travel, and spending time with her two cats.
Brenda Hitchcock is mom to Marissa (dx’d at 24 months), Kathryn, and Tim. She’s worked side-by-side with her husband Jeff on Children with Diabetes since it began in 1995. Brenda brings a mom’s perspective to diabetes care, assists in preparing links for The Weekly Diabetes email newsletter, and helps out in countless ways at Friends for Life conferences.
Pam Loebner was a California public elementary school teacher who worked in both special education and regular education classrooms for 38 years. Since becoming a CWD mom, Pam has assisted the district nurse with education for families and teachers when newly diagnosed or newly enrolled students arrive. While always working as an advocate for student needs, Pam focuses on being an advocate for equal access to all school activities for children with diabetes. Pam and her family discovered the CWD website 30 minutes after her daughter's diagnosis in June 2002 when Sarah was 9 1/2, and attended their first conference just a month later. "It was like coming home," she says.
Julia Mattingly is proud mom of Hannah and Ethan, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in July of 1998 at 10 months old and started pumping when he was three years old. Julia has attended almost every Friends for Life Orlando conference and most of the regionals as well. Julia coordinates registration at each conference, and you can always find her when you need a smile and hug. Julia loves coordinating registration and being able to meet and talk to everyone who attends. Her favorite Friends for Life memory is from 2000 when she met all of her CWD email moms in Orlando for the first time. She also loves to see the smiles on her children’s faces when they re-connect with their CWD friends each summer. "Coming to Friends for Life has changed our lives. I have friends that 'get it' and what we as moms go through. But mostly, it has helped teach Ethan how to take care of himself, to live his best life on his own and taught us all how to give back to the CWD community."
Tech Team
Our Tech Team oversees the tech and A/V systems that deliver our programming
Rachel Knight has music in her heart but no insulin production in her pancreas. Diagnosed at the age of 10, she never let diabetes stop her. She is currently a music teacher and musical theater director in Menlo Park, CA, and teaches children in Preschool through 5th grade. Most of Rachel's student's think she is part robot and get a kick out of spotting her robots (Omni, Riley, and Dex), asking where they are, and even trying to touch them. Rachel believes that her tendency to over pack is because of her diabetes. She likes to be over prepared and generally has glucose tabs, juice boxes, and overtapes on her person at any time. Rachel lives in the San Francisco Bay Area near her parents, sister, and two nephews. Rachel always looks forward to FFL events and can't wait to work with this years IT Staff.
Will Nowak attended his first Friends for Life event in 2018 and has been returning to volunteer with the IT Team ever since. He is interested in learning about new developments in diabetes technology and participating in clinical trials in that space. Will and his wife Helen live in New Jersey with their two cats. He works as a Site Reliability Engineer and outside of work enjoys rock climbing, travel, and searching for the best Fettuccine Alfredo. Will is looking forward to seeing everyone at the next conference!
Exhibit Hall Team
Our Exhibit Hall Team helps you have a great experience in the Exhibit Hall
Rich Meredith is dad to Jeremy (dx'd May 2000), Bailey, and Chelsea. He has been involved in CWD since the family attended their first conference in 2003. His day job is working in IT, but on the side he makes "big bowls," hand thrown pottery pieces which have been found at diabetes and community art related fund raising auctions. Rich coordinates the load in and load out of all conference materials. He also oversees the exhibit hall, from set-up to tear down and everything in between for the FFL conference. Children with Diabetes has been a huge part of his family’s life, and they have all made lifelong friendships here.
Rob Freund, RN, EMT-P, is a career EMS lieutenant/paramedic for the Baltimore County Fire Department. He has also been in the field of emergency medical care for over 20 years as an ER nurse. He attended his first Friends for Life Orlando conference in 2012 and was greatly impressed with the educational programs offered.
Carolyn Meredith is mom to Chelsea, Jeremy (dx’d May 2000), and Bailey and wife to Rich. Carolyn and her family attended their first Friends for Life conference in 2003 and have been involved with CWD ever since. Carolyn works with Rich managing the storage facility and works with the Support Team as central communications during the conference. For her day job, Carolyn is the Data Management Tech at an elementary school in St. Petersburg, Florida. She enjoys meeting and sharing with other CWD families. “Friends for Life is a place where everyone ‘gets it’ and you can share your own experiences to help others newer to T1D.”
Mary Mills is the proud mom of Ashlyn, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2015 at the age of 19. She attended her first FFL conference in 2016 and quickly found what she refers to as her “tribe.” Mary and her family have been attending FFL every year since and Ashlyn now works full-time for CWD. Professionally, Mary is retired from the State of Florida after 35 years working with high risk youth and families and is excited to use her background to volunteer with the FFL Support Team. In her spare time, Mary enjoys crafting and camping with her family.
Tim Mills has been involved in the T1D world since 2015, when his Daughter Ashlyn (who now works for Children with Diabetes) was diagnosed. He has attended Friends for Life Orlando since 2018, and has found his tribe. Tim lives in Perry, Florida, with his wife Mary. Tim enjoys camping and spending time with family. He graduated from East Carolina University in 1989, and has worked for the State of Florida since 1996.
Jeremy Salko was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in May of 2000 when he was six years old. Jeremy has been attending Friends for Life Orlando conferences since 2003. He received his Associates of Science in Criminal Justice Technology in 2016, a general AA in 2018, BAS in Public Safety Administration in 2020, and is a certified SCUBA diver. His biggest reason to come to Friends for Life Orlando is that it is a “vacation” from diabetes that is all about diabetes.
Indicates volunteer with diabetes
