Jessica Carey, MBA volunteers with the Tween Program. She is the proud mother of James, who was diagnosed with T1D in February of 2021. With a background in performing arts and education, Jessica has taught middle and high school theatre in three states, directed many theatre productions, and planned large scale summer learning experiences for students across the country. Currently, Jessica works as the Head of Customer Success for a software company in Washington, D.C., which allows her the flexibility to assist with her son’s diabetes care. In her spare time Jessica loves reading, crafts, and is a very devoted baseball mom.

Chelsea Carr has grown up around diabetes; her brother Jeremy was diagnosed in 2000. She attended her first Friends for Life conference with her family in 2003 and has been to many CWD conferences since that time. It was through the FFL conferences that she first met her husband, Martyn. They welcomed a son, Owynn, in May 2021. Chelsea now lives in Glasgow and works as a data analyst for Vodafone UK. She is also an aerialist and spends all of her free time hanging from the rafters on a trapeze in various venues around the UK!

Kira Dobson, FNP-BC, CDCES, CPT, BC-ADM, is a first time volunteer this year. She is mother to Kairi (green bracelet tween) and Jacob (orange bracelet teen). While she was already a nurse practitioner in Internal Medicine, once her daughter, Kairi, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2018, she pivoted her career to focus primarily on diabetes management and education. She has spearheaded projects in her community to advance the use of technology in management for type 1 and type 2 in primary care. During their first FFL, she realized the importance of having a support network within the type 1 community for all members of the family. "Even with fifteen years of healthcare experience, nothing prepared me or our family for that impact and emotional toll that Kairi’s type 1 and celiac diagnoses would play on our lives. During our first FFL, I think we were all able to finally breathe a sigh of relief knowing we weren’t alone. The first thought that comes to mind when I think of Friends for Life is that it's life changing." She looks forward to working with your tweens at this year’s conference and reconnecting with her Friends for Life.

Avery Green was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was three years old. She has been attending Friends for Life Orlando since 2017. Avery looks forward to Friends for Life Orlando every year to see her best friends that she has made over the years. She will be a junior at James Madison University in the fall of 2025, studying Health Sciences, and will be chair of her sorority's new membership committee! This will be Avery's third year as a volunteer and she can't wait!

Dennis Holterman, 25, has lived with type 1 diabetes for 15 years. Dennis has been coming to Friends For Life since 2013. Currently, he attends Southeast Missouri State University achieving his BA in Performing Arts. After graduation, Dennis plans to move to Los Angeles and become a successful actor, and then use his influence to spread awareness about diabetes. Dennis says, “Friends for Life is a home for people with diabetes to feel accepted and like they fit in. That’s why FFL means so much to me."

Stacey Huber, MSNeD, RN, CDCES, has lived with type 1 diabetes since 1997. Throughout her teen years, after attending diabetes camp for many years, she realized that her passion was in helping people living with diabetes, especially children. She went on to get her nursing degree and fell in love with teaching all things in healthcare. This led to becoming a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and working with children and adults alike. Additionally, the same diabetes camp she grew up going to as a kid, she then had the pleasure of working at as the nurse in the medical cabin for many years. Stacey has a husband and two kids she enjoys spending time with outside while exploring the city of Cincinnati where she resides.

Angela Kaminski an educator from Flagstaff, Arizona, is passionate about helping students succeed. With a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education, she serves as the Director of a small K-12 school and works as a reading interventionist. Her journey with type 1 diabetes began in 2018 when her youngest son was diagnosed, leading her to attend Friends for Life Orlando in 2021—a life-changing experience for her family. She now loves giving back by volunteering with the organization. Outside of work and advocacy, Angela enjoys hiking, camping, playing badminton, board games, and spending time around a campfire with family and friends.

Ashley Kirby is a student at the Texas Tech University Health Science Center, studying Medical Laboratory Science. She was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2013 and attended her first FFL conference in 2016. She has met many incredible people throughout her years at FFL, many of whom influenced her decision to pursue a career in medical research. Ashley loves to dance and has been doing ballet since before she can remember. When she isn't dancing or studying, Ashley enjoys crochet, embroidery, and baking. She is very excited to volunteer with the tweens this year and hopes to leave a positive impact, just as the volunteers in the tween and teen program did for her when she was growing up.

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.

Jennifer McCormick, RN, BSN, CDCES, CPT, is a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as an adult, and has found passion and purpose in helping others with diabetes navigate the diagnosis and achieve their goals but related to and unrelated to diabetes.

Terrence Nevill lives in Coopersburg, PA with his wife Melissa. He has two children: Carly and Gavin. He also has four grandchildren: Grayson, Palmer, Rory, and Bodie. Terrence was an eighth grade science teacher for 35 years. Terrence has been a high school soccer coach for over 30 years. He has attended all but one FFL conference since his first in 2014.

Andrea Rudolph is a first time volunteer. She has a son Oliver, who was diagnosed at two years old and now a teen. They first attended FFL in 2021, the year after COVID. She was so impressed with how much Oliver thrived at the conference. We have gone every year since. Her husband, Dave, volunteered with the tween teen last year. She loves soccer and traveling with her family, especially to Disney!

Shelby Smith, MBA, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age six in 2003. This will be her 19th Friends for Life Orlando conference. She is a marketing professional with experience in content creation, brand development, PR/communications, web design, and social media management. FFL is her favorite part of the year, and she has made the best friendships from these conferences. In her spare time, Shelby's favorite activities include traveling, going to concerts, and playing with her golden retriever, Scruffy. She looks forward to spending her favorite part of the year with the Tween Team!

Jim Stone attended his first Friends for Life Conference in 2004. His son, Andrew, was diagnosed with type 1 in 1998 at 20 months of age. Jim, wife Julia, and Andrew have all been involved in diabetes advocacy since Andrew’s diagnosis, focusing on diabetes accommodations in school. Jim is a retired Army officer and Public Works manager. He and his wife live in Rolla, Missouri. He has been a Boy Scout leader for many years and enjoys working with the tweens.

Sean Swenarton is a second-time volunteer at FFL from Tinton Falls, New Jersey. He is a Rising Senior at Rutgers University, where he studies Sport Management with a concentration in Sport Marketing and Revenue. He is interning at Monumental Sports and Entertainment, where he does Business Operations. He is looking forward to another great year of volunteering!

Claudia Velez, MSN, RN, CPN, is a bilingual and bicultural pediatric nurse in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is mama to Olivia and wife to Manuel. She has a best friend with type 1 diabetes. After attending Friends for Life Indianapolis in 2022, Claudia worked with the Tween group at Friends for Life Orlando in 2023. She is passionate about working with children, providing support, and empowering families in the community. She is looking forward to learning more about diabetes.