THE ROAD CREW - gone running.

Christian S. McEvoy - Runner

Christian, a 2004 graduate of Fairfield University, combined his academic success with athletics and was a three-year Division I Varsity swimmer. His accomplishments are all the more impressive considering his starting point. When Christian swam his first race as a sophomore at Fairfield, it was also his first competitive swim race ever! In three years, Christian went from not being able to complete a race to becoming a recognized leader on his team and a competitive athlete in his conference.

Matthew Pierson - Operations Coordinator

Matt, a native of Fairfield, Connecticut, graduated from Fairfield Prep in 2001.  While a student at Fairfield Prep, Matt was introduce to the Jesuit concept of “being a man for others” and began his involvement in community service projects, including a weekly commitment to Project Learn, an after school program in Bridgeport, CT during his senior year. 

Leslie Estelle - Project gone running. Coordinator

Leslie Estelle is a Coast to Coast Road Crew member with a camera in hand and vision for a film.  She joins the crew from her recent position in the Global Communications Department at The Estee Lauder Companies where she worked with the Origins and Prescriptives brands.   

Kristen Coleman - Project gone running.

Kristen, a May 2006 graduate of Fairfield University, is a professional documentary film maker.  She is a talented cinematographer, director, and producer.  Majoring in Communications and New Media Production, she developed a talent for integrating technology and art seamlessly.  In fact, it earned her a membership in the Communication Honor Society-Lamda Pi Eta.

Working with our public relations team members at Coast to Coast: A Run for Survivorship will ensure that your company gets the maximum recognition for helping us.  Click here to meet our Public Relations Team members. 

Jeremy Howard - Final Marathon Director

Jane F. Barrett - Communications and Legal Coordinator

Ernie Pierson - Financial Advisor

Ernie Pierson knows how to grow money.  In a former life, he was a fast track CPA and then the CFO of McClinch Equipment.  After the sale of the company in 1998, Ernie began teaching Financial Management and Accounting at Sacred Heart University while he continued consulting on the side.  When he is not in the classroom, Ernie can be found on the golf course, the Vermont ski slopes, or simply gone running.  Most important to Ernie is his family.  He is very proud of his three children; Matthew, Eliza, and John.  Spending time with them and his wife, Sally, is his favorite pastime.  So, his excitement working on the Coast to Coast Run Team is natural.  He enjoys working side by side with his son, Matthew, and his commitment to the cause is deepened becuase his father is a cancer survivor.

Robert Ford, Jr. - State Coordinator

Bob has been a teacher at Fairfield Prep in Fairfield CT since graduating from Fairfield University in 1977. A swimmer in high school, Bob swam and played football at Fairfield University. He took up running after graduating to satisfy the need for physical activity and competition. Since then he has run over 50,000 miles, done 11 marathons, competed in dozens of triathlons and most recently has taken up mountain bike racing. If it is an endurance sport, Bob is interested!

Kristen Mancini - State Coordinator

Sean McGowan - Media Consultant

Sean, a 2002 graduate of Fairfield University, is currently the Head Coach of the Fairfield YMCA FlyFins Swim Team and the Assistant Coach of the Fairfield University Men's and Women's Swimming programs. Sean has known Christian since Christian joined the Fairfield University Swim Team during the fall of 2001. They swam together for a year at Fairfield and then Sean became Christian's coach for two years. Sean has a very personal motive for his involvement with the Coast to Coast Run Team. In June 2005, his mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and is now a 6 month survivor. This has strengthened Sean's commitment to making Coast to Coast: A Run for Survivorship a success.

Krysti Lozinski - Survivorship Coordinator

Krysti, a 2001 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, has been a dedicated supporter of cancer patients and survivors for many years. As an English major at Holy Cross, Krysti combined her flair for writing with her dream of having a positive and direct impact on the daily lives of cancer patients by developing Write to a Cure. Through this organization, students wrote weekly letters to cancer patients with the hope that giving patients something to look forward to would better enable them to pull through the hardships of treatment. In addition to writing to patients, Write to a Cure members also used their pens to provoke change, sending letters detailing cancer funding needs to state government representatives.

John Chenier - Event Coordinator

Throughout his life, John has taken to heart the Jesuit ideal of being "a person for others," a value that Fairfield University reinforced. After graduating from college, he spent his first two years as an AmeriCorps Volunteer on Staten Island. During this time, he worked as a resident counselor at an academically focused group home for inner-city at-risk youth. John daily dealt with the chaos, challenges and joys that come with raising a house full of teenagers. He also developed training and recruiting programs for other volunteers. Additionally, he was responsible for updating parents, other educators, program administrators, and donors on the progress of the students.

Jeanne M. Grasso - State Coordinator & Legal Consultant

Jeanne is a partner in Blank Rome LLP's Washington, D.C. office, practicing in the areas of maritime and environmental law. She counsels vessel owners/operators, cargo owners, and onshore and offshore facilities, predominantly in the petroleum and chemical industries, on domestic and international matters relating to compliance and defense of enforcement actions. Prior to joining Blank Rome, Jeanne worked in the Office of Congressional Affairs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and on the staff of the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. Jeanne's interest in supporting the Coast to Coast: Run for Survivorship stems from the admiration and respect she has for those friends and family who have battled cancer and the desire to help those who have won the battle.

Colleen Ford - Researcher & High School Outreach Consultant

Colleen is a 16 year old junior at St. Josephs High School in Fairfield, Connecticut. She is an honors student, and proud bookworm, who is enthusiastic about most of her courses and participates in a number of school clubs, including the literary magazine, French Club and singing groups. Colleen loves volunteering at a children's day camp during the summer. She also enjoys yearly trips to the Adirondacks with her father, and her jobs as a babysitter and usher. Although the youngest on the Coast to Coast team, Colleen is excited to be a part of it. She met Christian through her father Bob Ford and was eager to help when she heard about Christian's plans to run across the country. Colleen is especially looking forward to exploring Utah where she and her Dad will join Christian on part of his run this summer.

Jeanne Chenier - Researcher

Jeanne, the mother of four children, was introduced to Coast to Coast: A Run for Survivorship, by her oldest son, John. She loves working with children. Having spent her career as a pre-school Special Education teacher in Massachusetts, Jeanne has first-hand experience helping children survive challenges in their daily lives. She and her family are also members of the cancer survivor family. Although Jeanne lost her mother to cancer in 1993, both her father and father-in-law are cancer survivors.

Matt Chenier - State Coordinator

Matt Chenier, father of four including John, is thrilled to be on the team. Matt has spent his career in education and coaching; he intimately understands the power of youth. He is energized by the team and excited to be helping the cancer survivor community. Matt, serving as a State Coordinator, will combine is expertise and his personal connections to cancer survivors to facilitate youth involvement across the country.

Kim Dolan - State Coordinator

Kim Dolan was thrilled to help her "crazy friend, Christian," when he told her about his plans. Kim captained the Fairfield University Swim Team during her senior year in 2003. She has coached swimming at every level, including NCAA Division I. After receiving a Master's Degree, she began teaching middle school science in Westport, CT. Kim, a marathoner, loves to run early in the morning before a day of teaching. She is looking forward to reaching out to other educators to get them involved in Coast to Coast: A Run for Survivorship.

Sam Dour - Media Consultant

Sam, a native of Massachusetts, graduated from Fairfield University in 2003. Since then, she has been working as a media consultant in Boston. Sam met Christian and John on the Fairfield University Swim Team which she captained during her senior year. She has turned her athletic goals to running; she has completed marathons and countless road races. Sam's constant positive attitude teamed with her professional expertise and passion for running will make Coast to Coast: A Run for Survivorship a success.

Other Key Advisors

Thomas Cheplo, J.D., Attorney
Andrew Dyer, J.D., Attorney
James J. Mayzik, S.J., Fairfield University
Rick Hutchinson, M.A.
Dr. Kenneth Miller, MD, Director of Connecticut Challenge Yale Cancer Center Adult Survivorship Clinic
Mark Ligas, PhD, Fairfield University Marketing Dept.
Ricardo Court, Yale Fellow, PhD
Kevin Johnson, Fairfield Prep, J.D., M.A.
Mike McGlauglin, Nutritionist, CPT
Katy Benjamin, M.A., PhD
Christopher Thomas, Bank of America
Ian Ray, Dooney and Burke
Scott Capozza, Physical Therapist
Evan Vosburgh, MD
Casey Timmeny, Director of Experimental Projects, Fairfield University Media Center

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