Board of Directors

Wendi Bukowitz, Strategic Planning and Innovation Consultant
Founder and Managing Director of RGsquared
 Lost father to Esophageal Cancer

“My father suffered from persistent heartburn over the course of his lifetime.  The joke in our family was that we should have held stock in Tums and Rolaids.  But it turns out that it was a very sad joke.  If ECAN had existed and we had known about the link between this type of persistent heartburn and cancer, perhaps my father would be here today.  ECAN needs to succeed so that no one dies from this disease.  I hope that this happens in my lifetime.”

Wendi Bukowitz, Founder and Managing Director of RGsquared, is a strategy and innovation consultant who helps leadership teams transform great ideas into sustainable growth.  Her extensive background includes strategy, innovation, knowledge management, and marketing.  She has worked for and with organizations ranging across services and manufacturing industries as well as the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors.  A gifted strategist, Wendi has consulted to diverse organizations striving to imagine the future.  As a corporate pioneer in the field of innovation, she founded the Innovation team at Watson Wyatt (now Towers Watson) and established the New Product Development team at Mellon (Human Resources Sector).  As co-author of The Knowledge Management Fieldbook, an authoritative guide to developing a knowledge management strategy, and founding member of the editorial board of the Journal of Intellectual Capital, Wendi is recognized as a leader in the field of knowledge management. Wendi has been published in prestigious journals such as the International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management, Research Technology Management, and Journal of Intellectual Capital.  She has participated in groundbreaking international programs to advance the field of intangibles research serving as Rapporteur for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Symposium on Measuring and Reporting Intellectual Capital and as lead researcher on the Strategic and Organizational Issues subgroup for the Brookings Institution’s Working Group on Understanding Intangible Sources of Value.  Wendi holds an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a BA from Duke University.

Back to the top

Scott A. Feeser, M.D.
Internal Medicine
Johns Hopkins Community Physicians

“I support ECAN and its mission to help prevent esophageal cancer because I've seen the devastating effects of esophageal cancer both among my friends and my patients. As a primary care doctor, much of my time is devoted to helping patients either prevent disease by living healthfully or detect deadly diseases early enough to be cured. Because treatments for advanced esophageal cancer are rarely curative, early detection is essential. ECAN can help make early detection more the norm than it is currently.”

Scott Feeser, MD, a primary care doctor since 1993, is currently the Office Medical Director at Johns Hopkins Community Physicians (JHCP) at Water's Edge, and is also the Director of Patient-Centered Medical Home for JHCP.

Dr. Feeser earned his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at Duke University, graduating summa cum laude in 1982. He then obtained a Master's in mechanical engineering at University of California, Berkeley in 1983 and subsequently worked for 3 years at the RCA David Sarnoff Reasearch Laboratory developing robotics automation.

Dr. Feeser returned to Duke for medical school, graduating in 1990, and completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. He has worked with Johns Hopkins since finishing residency. Dr. Feeser lives with his wife and 2 children in Baltimore.

Back to the top

Philip O. Katz, M.D.
Clinical Professor of Medicine
Jefferson Medical College
Chairman of the Division of Gastroenterology
Albert Einstein Medical Center

"Esophageal cancer is potentially a preventable disease.   Heightened awareness of the patient risks so that appropriate screening and surveillance can be done is crucial in saving lives.  ECAN is dedicated to prevention and finding a cure for this disease."

Philip O. Katz, M.D. is Clinical Professor of Medicine at Jefferson Medical College and Chairman of the Division of Gastroenterology at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  He is also Associate Program Director of the Department of Medicine at Albert Einstein Medical Center.

Dr. Katz received his medical degree from the Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  He served his residency and chief residency in internal medicine, followed by a fellowship in gastroenterology at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine.  He completed a faculty development fellowship at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.  He is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology.

Dr. Katz is the current Past President of the American College of Gastroenterology (2009-2010) and is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. 

A recognized national authority on esophageal disease, Dr. Katz’s research interests include all aspects of gastroesophageal reflux disease, including nocturnal recovery of gastric acid secretion during proton pump inhibitor therapy and esophageal pain perception.  Dr. Katz is a practicing clinician with active teaching and editorial positions.  In addition to lecturing on many gastroenterology-related topics, Dr. Katz is an editorial reviewer for Annals of Internal Medicine, American Journal of Gastroenterology, Gastroenterology, and Digestive Diseases and Sciences.  He has contributed to the publication of over 150 peer-reviewed papers, as well as numerous abstracts, books, book chapters, and monographs.

Dr. Katz leads ECAN's Physicians' Working Group.

Back to the top

Ronan J. Kelly, M.D., M.B.A.
Assistant Professor of Medical Oncolocy
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine

Dr. Kelly is a thoracic oncologist at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins and is leading translational research efforts in esophageal, gastro-esophageal and gastric cancer.

His research involves utilizing epigenetic changes as biomarkers to better predict which chemotherapies patients should receive in both the operable and metastatic setting.  In addition he is evaluating novel targeted agents and is incorporating immunotherapeutic and epigenetic modifying agents in upper GI tumors.

Dr. Kelly chairs the Johns Hopkins esophageal and gastric cancer working groups and is a prominent member of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Groups gastro-esophageal cancer taskforce. In addition to academic research in upper GI tumors Dr. Kelly is actively involved in designing pathways and implementing strategic developments to decrease cancer costs while improving efficacy both nationally and internationally.

Back to the top

John J. Miller
Real Estate Professional
Esophageal Cancer survivor

“The incidence of esophageal cancer is rapidly growing in the United States.  As a three-year survivor of esophageal cancer, I am a fervent believer and advocate of increased awareness and early detection of this dangerous disease.”

Mr. Miller’s professional career spanned more than 40 years in the engineering, information technology and strategic planning fields.  After graduating from the US Merchant Marine Academy with a BS, Marine Engineering, Mr. Miller spent several years as an engineering officer aboard various American-flag merchant vessels.

Coming ‘ashore,’ he served as the Training Director for the Washington Engineering Services Company (WESCO), the Director of Custom Business Application Development for LEASCO (a major computer company), senior system analyst for Operations Research, Inc. (ORI), and then he spent over 31 years in the Federal Government, primarily with the Department of Justice. 

During his tenure as a federal employee, Mr. Miller served as the Director, Automated Systems Development (Office of Information Management); Director of Special Studies (Office of Information Systems); and the Director of Strategic and Tactical Planning (Technology Information Technology).

Back to the top

Jeannette M. Mills
Vice President of Customer Operations and Chief Customer Officer
Baltimore Gas and Electric

“Esophageal Cancer can have a devastating effect, not only on the people afflicted with the disease, but also on the families and friends who fight the battle with them. Like so many others, my family has personally experienced the life-altering impact of esophageal cancer. However I remain encouraged that the very valuable work of ECAN will help prevent others from being stricken with or succumbing to this horrible disease.“

As Baltimore Gas and Electric’s Chief Customer Officer and Vice President of Customer Operations, Jeannette Mills functions as executive level management responsible for the overall processes, systems, and planning that support internal and external customer interfaces. She has worked at BGE for 23 years and earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). In 2006, she received a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Loyola University.

Jeannette is a graduate of the 2009 Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) Leadership and 2005 Leadership Howard County programs. In 2009, Jeannette was named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women and received the Black Engineer of the Year (BEYA) Pioneer Award. Savoy Magazine recognized Jeannette in 2008 as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America for her dedication to work and commitment to the community. The Baltimore Business Journal selected her as a “40 under 40” in 2006. Jeannette also serves on the boards of Medifast, Inc. (NYSE:MED), Greater Baltimore Committee, Voices for Children Howard County’s Court Appointed Special Advocate Program, The Baltimore Polytechnic Institute Foundation and the Advisory Board of The Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering for Virginia Tech.

Jeannette lives in Howard County, Maryland with her two children. She lost her husband Dave to Esophageal Cancer in September 2009.

 Back to the top

Anthony W. Ravosa, Jr.
President, The Vince Group
Lost father to Esophageal Cancer

In January 1996, Anthony W. Ravosa, Jr. founded the Boston-based Vince Group (with satellite offices located in Hartford, CT), a consulting firm that specializes in public affairs, government relations, grassroots advocacy and strategic “business development.” 

Prior to founding the Vince Group, Mr. Ravosa served as the Government Affairs Liaison for the Maritime Department of the Massachusetts Port Authority (MASSPORT) where he coordinated, developed and monitored major legislation impacting the Port of Boston.  Mr. Ravosa also served in a similar capacity with Governor William Weld’s Commission on Commonwealth Port Development in 1994.

In 1992, Mr. Ravosa campaigned unsuccessfully as the Republican nominee for U.S. Congress in Massachusetts’ Second District.  For seven years, from 1989-1995, Mr. Ravosa served as a member of the Springfield (MA) City Council.  Mr. Ravosa chaired the Council’s Public Health and Safety Committee, and served on the Finance and State/Federal Relations Committees.

Mr. Ravosa and his wife Alysson reside in South Glastonbury, Connecticut with their three sons, Anthony III, Nicholas and Christopher.

Back to the top

Yvonne Romero, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota

Back to the top

Mark L. Schwartzman
President
Glen Burnie Transmissions

Back to the top

Karen M. Singer
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Corporate Office Properties Trust

“There is a lot of work to be done to educate the public to achieve an earlier diagnosis, additional testing for patients and additional dedicated research funds to find a cure or cessation to this disease.  I could not think of a better organization than ECAN to dedicate my resources and am happy to serve on the ECAN Board to help achieve those goals.”

Karen M. Singer is Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Corporate Office Properties Trust.  She is responsible for all legal matters and supervises the Company’s legal department.  Ms. Singer has been involved with the creation of all leases, sales contracts, financing documents and other legal instruments involving the company since 1996 when she joined the company as Assistant General Counsel.  Ms. Singer was promoted to Associate General Counsel in 1999 and then to General Counsel in 2004.

Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Singer was with the law firm of Weinberg & Green (now known as Saul, Ewing).  Ms. Singer graduated cum laude with a BS in Economics from the Wharton School and obtained her law degree from the University of Virginia, where she graduated Order of the Coif and was a member of the Phi Delta Phi Honor Society.  She is a member of the Maryland State and the American Bar Associations. 

Ms. Singer participates in several civic organizations such as CREW-Baltimore and is a member of the Board of Directors of Art With A Heart, Inc., Maryland Zoological Association, Inc. and Esophageal Cancer Action Network.

Back to the top

Howard Zuckerman
Retired Senior Financial Executive

“My primary interest in joining the Board of ECAN is to support the important work of this organization and to use my business and financial management skills and experience to help expand the reach and success of ECAN."

Howard F. Zuckerman retired in 2003 from a more than 33 year career in corporate financial management with ever increasing positions of responsibility as a Controller and then Chief Financial Officer of major divisions of public companies, as well as independent private and public companies.  He began his career as a CPA with Arthur Andersen and earned his undergraduate degree in economics from Cornell University in 1965 and an MBA degree in finance and accounting from the University of Chicago in 1967.
Since retiring, he has been active in volunteer work with several non-profit organizations in the Washington, DC and Baltimore areas. For example, he served on the Board of the Pan American Development Foundation for 5 years and was the Chairman of its Audit Committee for 4 years. Further, he was a Board Trustee and Treasurer of the National Alliance for Mental Illness (Montgomery County) during 2011 and is currently serving as the CFO of the Patterson Park Public Charter School in Baltimore.
Howard resides in Pikesville, Maryland. He has three sons, two of whom live in suburban Baltimore, and six grandchildren. His other interests include golf, travel, politics and spending time with his family. He is fluent in Spanish as a result of a three and one-half year assignment with a wireless telecommunications company in Mexico City.

Back to the top

Mindy Mintz Mordecai - President and CEO
Widow of Esophageal Cancer patient 

“This effort is borne out of my frustration that a disease that could have been cured if found at an early stage stole our family’s happily ever after.  Few things are more important to me than working to make sure other families do not suffer the pain esophageal cancer has caused my own family.”

ECAN’s founder, President and Chief Executive Officer Mindy Mintz Mordecai is an experienced, award-winning media professional and attorney with a proven track record for leadership of nonprofit organizations that achieve positive change on issues of public importance.  Ms. Mordecai is passionate about the work of ECAN in large part because she lost her husband of 14 years to Esophageal Cancer in 2008.

Prior to launching this organization, she had been an award winning television reporter and anchor for two decades, working for the past ten years as a reporter and host for Maryland Public Television where her work has received several Emmy nominations.  Ms. Mordecai consistently garnered top journalistic honors while reporting and anchoring at commercial television stations in the Midwest prior to moving to Baltimore to report and anchor for WBAL-TV in 1986.  Ms. Mordecai also worked in public radio for several years, selected in 1998 as Baltimore City Paper’s Best Radio Talk Show Host.

In 1989, she graduated with honor from the University of Maryland School of Law and upon graduation became a litigator at Smith, Somerville & Case in Baltimore.  In 1991, Ms. Mordecai was recruited to develop and lead an education advocacy project for Advocates for Children and Youth where her work resulted in better educational opportunities for Baltimore City Public School students.  She later served as director of Public Safety Policy for the Greater Baltimore Committee where she spearheaded an effort to increase public funding of drug treatment and raised more than $2,000,000 from corporate and foundation sources to establish a community court in downtown Baltimore.  Ms. Mordecai is the mother of two teenage daughters and resides in Baltimore County, Maryland.

Back to the top

Adam Bass, MD - Medical Research Consultant
Gastrointestinal Cancer Center
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Co-Chair, Gastric Project
The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)
of the National Cancer Institute

      "The announcement that TCGA will be sponsoring a project to characterize the genome of esophageal adenocarcinoma is of profound importance.  In the recent years, many of the most successful new therapies for cancer have directly followed better understanding of the critical genetic mutations that are commonly found in specific tumor types. 
        In esophageal cancer, however, we have woefully inadequate understanding of the patterns of genomic alterations.  This new project has immense potential to open new areas of biological inquiry into esophageal cancer development and to identify new therapeutic targets for this deadly disease.  
         I commend ECAN for their tireless advocacy that helped make this project a reality."

 Dr. Adam Bass is a graduate of Amherst College and Duke University School of Medicine and did his clinical training in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and in medical oncology at the Dana-Farber/Partners Cancer Center.  Following his clinical training, Dr. Bass performed post-doctoral research training in cancer genomics. 

He is currently a physician in the Gastrointestinal Cancer Center at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute where he also runs an independent laboratory research program focused on understanding the genomic aberrations responsible for the development of esophageal cancer and other gastrointestinal tumors.  Through this work, he hopes to establish a foundation for the development of therapeutic strategies where individual patients’ tumors can be treated based upon the specific genetic alterations in their cancer.

Dr. Bass is co-chair of the Gastric Cancer project of  The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) of the National Cancer Institute.

  Back to the top