Board of Directors

co-CEO and Board Director, True

In 2012, Brad Stadler co-founded True with the mission to disrupt outdated practices in the executive search industry. Since then, True has become the leader in efficient, forward-thinking talent management. The firm has grown quickly, becoming the 7th largest in North America (by revenue) with 14 offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Brad helps set and oversee True’s strategic direction; drive innovation and growth initiatives; and ensure the firm is operationally aligned with its short and long term business goals. As co-CEO Brad has also co-founded a collection of companies within the True platform including talent management technology Thrive, leadership assessment flagship Synthesis, and AboveBoard, a startup that focuses on both connecting underrepresented executives with top companies, and on helping companies recruit and hire more diverse leadership teams. Brad serves as a non-executive Board Director for AboveBoard.

Prior to founding True, Brad co-founded and built IronHill Partners alongside Joe Riggione, a national retained search firm acquired by Heidrick & Struggles (NASDAQ: HSII) in 2008. In October 2020, Brad joined the Board of Directors of The College Diabetes Network.

Originally from Venezuela and diagnosed with diabetes in 2002, Manny is a passionate advocate for the diabetes community. With nearly 30 years of experience, he has built social impact teams that foster belonging and purpose.

Previously, Manny was VP of Customer Success and People at Thrivable and VP of People and Culture at Tidepool. At Livongo, he contributed to the company’s growth in various executive roles through three acquisitions and an IPO. He co-founded the Diabetes Hands Foundation, a leading voice in diabetes advocacy that touched the lives of millions.

Manny serves on the Life For a Child board and is involved with the American Diabetes Association. In 2019, he received the International Diabetes Federation’s Award for “Living with Diabetes.” He has been featured in major media outlets and has spoken at numerous international conferences.

Abby is a seasoned CPG executive and entrepreneur. She is the COO of Blue Zones Kitchen.

Previously, Abby was the CEO of Territory Foods, VP at Amazon, and a brand leader at Kraft Foods and Mondelez International.

Abby earned her BA from Yale University and her MBA from NYU Stern.

CEO of Chronicles Health

Marie is a senior healthcare executive with over 25 years of experience in product innovation and development, commercial strategy and operational management in the fields of chronic disease management, medical devices and diagnostics, and digital health. Much of Marie’s career has been focused on driving product innovation in diabetes. In 2021, Marie co-founded Chronicles Health with a vision of creating a closed loop system in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). She is currently serving as CEO of Chronicles.

Previously, Marie served as Vice President, Connected Care and Insulin Product Development and Site Head, Cambridge Innovation Center at Eli Lilly. Prior to joining Lilly, Marie spent 15 years at Health Advances as a managing director responsible for building and leading the drug delivery, diabetes and connected care practices and overseeing operations for the overall business. During this time, Marie also co-founded the T1D Exchange, the largest US type 1 diabetes registry funded by the Helmsley Charitable Trust. Prior to Health Advances, Marie held technical roles at ArQule and Gel Sciences.

Marie earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Vermont. Marie’s career has in large part been motivated by her own 40-year journey with type 1 diabetes. Marie and her husband, Matt, have two children, Addie and Hannah.

President, Frasier Capital LLC

Phillip Cagnassola is the founder of Frasier Capital LLC, a private investment firm committed to building great companies through organic growth and operational transformation. He is a proven investor and active in the diabetes community. Previously, he was a senior partner at a leading middle-marketing private equity firm where he acquired, developed, and sold several companies by identifying strategic niche markets capable of being leveraged through the infusion of human and financial capital. Phillip was also the CFO and manager of business planning for two companies that identified unusual problems and applied tools of the digital age to unlock extraordinary value for consumers and business. Most notably, one of those companies, Walker Digital, used its “name your own price” innovation to found priceline.com. Phillip began his career at Ernst & Young and is a graduate of Fairfield University where he currently serves as its Investor-In-Residence. He is a current or past director of several companies including MEGTEC Holdings, Davis-Standard LLC, The Fitzpatrick Company, and Paramount Aviation.

Lucas Escobar has served as Director of U.S. Consumer Marketing at Insulet Corporation since 2020. At Insulet, he leads the U.S. Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) practice and oversees strategy across media, creative, and public relations. Lucas has also spearheaded culture-shaping initiatives that bring diabetes and diabetes technology into the mainstream conversation. Notably, he collaborated with Marvel Entertainment to introduce Dyasonic, a hero living with type 1 diabetes, created to inspire and represent the diabetes community.

Before joining Insulet, Lucas spent over a decade working at national advertising agencies, where he helped build some of the world’s most recognized brands. He was a Brand Director at The Many, where he helped launch brands within Nestlé’s emerging brand portfolio. Previously, he served as Associate Director at Hill Holliday, contributing to some of Dunkin’s most iconic campaigns under the “America Runs on Dunkin’” platform. Earlier in his career, Lucas led campaigns across telecommunications, hospitality, consumer packaged goods, and healthcare industries. His work has been recognized by multiple major global creative, media, and PR awards.

Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of eight, Lucas brings a deep passion for advancing representation of diabetes in pop culture. He is committed to elevating the voices of people with diabetes and showcasing the role of technology in improving lives.

Lucas holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Bentley University.

Donna Hill is a seasoned executive leader with over 30 years of legal experience advising global healthcare and other corporations in corporate law, compliance, and strategic risk management. Currently, as the officer leading the legal team of Draeger in North America, and previously as a senior leader for Siemens Healthineers and Cardinal Health, she has been a key participant in shaping policies and strategies in mergers and acquisitions, healthcare fraud & abuse compliance, and business development. Donna launched into the corporate sector after her tenure as a partner with Morgan, Lewis & Bockius. Her expertise extends to nonprofit governance, where she has provided pro bono education to boards on fiduciary responsibilities and best practices.

Beyond her legal career, Donna is a dedicated advocate for public health and social impact, leveraging her deep knowledge of operations and compliance to strengthen nonprofit organizations. She has been instrumental in strategic planning and fundraising efforts, ensuring sustainable growth for mission-driven organizations. As a board member of The Diabetes Link, she brings a combination of legal and business acumen and a passion for advocacy, helping to expand resources and support for young adults navigating life with diabetes.

Donna received her L.L.M. in Health Law and Policy from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, her J.D from Temple University Beasley School of Law, and her B.F.A. from Ithaca College.

Robin Kelly is an active community leader with extensive experience planning and managing large-scale charitable events. She is committed to supporting young adults living with Type 1 Diabetes. Her daughter, Paige, was diagnosed at age 18, eight days before beginning her freshman year at college. Robin has first-hand experience interacting with young adults who have Type 1 Diabetes and their parents.

Robin brings a strong background in logistics, volunteer coordination, and donor engagement, along with professional skills honed through years of organizing travel, health, and social programs. An accomplished cook and recreational athlete, she is deeply involved in her community and is committed to strengthening community connections through thoughtful, well-organized nonprofit initiatives.

Robin was an international marketing executive in telecommunications before retiring to raise her two daughters. She received a BS from Georgetown University and an MBA from Babson College.

Patty is a senior executive known for integrating science and business. Her 26-year career at Eli Lilly and Company spanned finance, business development, investor relations, alliance management, product development and commercialization, and concluded as Chief Operating Officer of Lilly Diabetes. In that role, she integrated strategy, operations, risk management, communications and governance, and directed a global launch readiness program that introduced six products in 18 months, adding $2B in annual revenue. She also led Lilly Diabetes’ vision for global diabetes leadership, repositioning the portfolio from insulins to a full range of diabetes medicines, including Jardiance®, Basaglar®, Trulicity® and tirzepatide (Mounjaro®/Zepbound®).

Earlier, as Lilly’s first Chief Alliance Officer, Patty built the processes behind more than 100 biotech partnerships and commercial alliances. Additionally, she led the Osteoporosis Product Team, which developed and commercialized Lilly’s $1.25B women’s health portfolio.

Patty went on to serve as President and CEO of BioCrossroads, championing Indiana’s life sciences sector through corporate and academic collaboration, seed fund investments and new enterprise development. She later served as interim CEO of Flame Biosciences, leading its 2023 merger with Leap Therapeutics.

Her board experience spans private and public biotech, including a successful IPO. She currently serves on the boards of Cypherpunk Technologies (Nasdaq: CYPH) and AN2 Therapeutics (Nasdaq: ANTX), and previously served on the board of CareSource, one of the nation’s largest Medicaid managed care companies, from 2015 to 2023. She is also a strategic advisor to Olio Labs, DM Clinical and Skeletalis Bio.

Patty holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive).

Life Sciences Attorney & Consultant

Serafina Raskin is a life sciences attorney and consultant helping companies advance their technologies clinically and commercially. Serafina is passionate about supporting people living with type 1 diabetes—including her own son Max (diagnosed at age 7) and her husband Ed (diagnosed at age 38), as well as advancing the role of women and other underrepresented groups in the life sciences.

From 2015 to 2021, Serafina was cofounder, general counsel, corporate secretary, and head of human resources at Beta Bionics, an automated glucose control company. While at Beta Bionics, she managed all aspects of the company’s technology licensing, pharmaceutical partnerships, intellectual property, corporate governance, and corporate financing matters. Prior to co-founding Beta Bionics, Serafina was in private law practice as a managing partner of a boutique law practice focused on serving health care industry clients with ranging from small physician groups to large in-patient hospital facilities with thousands of employees.

Serafina received a J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of Law and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine.

CEO and Co-Founder, New York Stem Cell Foundation

Susan was the Co-Founder and CEO of NYSCF, a non-profit organization established in 2005 to accelerate cures through stem cell research.

A longtime health-care advocate, Ms. Solomon was a founding member and current President of NYAMR (New Yorkers for the Advancement of Medical Research), was on the Executive and Nominating Committee for the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, was a member of the Board of Directors of the Regional Plan Association of NY, and she was a member of the Board of Directors of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, New York Chapter. Ms. Solomon was also a member of the Strategic Planning Committee of the Empire State Stem Cell Board and was on the Board of Directors for the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine. In March 2008, Ms. Solomon received a New York State Women of Excellence Award from the Governor of New York. In September 2008, she received the Triumph Award from the Brooke Ellison Foundation for her work in establishing NYSCF and in December 2012, she received the Stem Cell Action Leadership Award from the Genetics Policy Institute.

Prior to founding NYSCF, Ms. Solomon, an attorney and entrepreneur, spent much of her career building businesses. She established and ran Solomon Partners LLC to provide strategic management consulting to corporations, cultural institutions, foundations and non-profit organizations, and was the founding Chief Executive Officer of Sothebys.com. She has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lancit Media Productions, an Emmy award-winning children’s television production company, and as the President of Sony Worldwide Networks. Ms. Solomon had also held executive positions at MacAndrews and Forbes Holdings and MMG Patricof and Co., and began her career as an attorney with Debevoise & Plimpton.

She received her BA from New York University and her JD from Rutgers University School of Law. She had three sons and was married to Paul Goldberger, the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer on architecture.