Board of Directors

SUPPORTING PATIENTS.FUNDING CARE.PROVIDING HOPE.

Scott J. Clifford, Board Chair

Managing Partner, Lipsey & Clifford, P.C.

Scott, a graduate of Bridgewater State College and New England School of Law, practices in the area of civil and corporate litigation at Lipsey and Clifford, P.C. A member of many professional associations and corporations, Scott is on the Board of the Directors of the Hanover Chamber of Commerce and is a member of multiple Bar Associations including the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys, the Massachusetts Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Scott’s legal expertise is important as the advisor to the Ellie Fund Board on non-profit legal matters.

Tom Jacob, Vice Chair

Commercial Real Estate Investor

Tom has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and Master’s In Health Administration from Tulane University. He spent over 20 years in healthcare management including almost fifteen years as the Assistant Administrator of Dedham Medical Associates. Currently he invests in commercial real estate properties. In his hometown of Needham, MA, Tom sits on the Finance Committee and is a town meeting member. He also served for six years on the town’s Park & Recreation Commission. He is involved with several charitable organizations including The Men’s Collaborative to Cure Women’s Cancers where he is Co-Chair of their annual charity golf event.

Marcia Boyle

Director, Barton Road After School Program, Babson College

Marcia, a Wake Forest University graduate, was an advisor for Junior Achievement, a volunteer for the Marilyn Monroe Family Center for Abused Women in London, an active fundraiser for the American Cancer Society during the development of the Hope Lodge and a volunteer for school and community organizations in Wellesley. Currently, she is the Director of the Barton Road After School Program at Babson College. Marcia’s dedication and enthusiasm have helped to raise awareness and support for the Ellie Fund where she continues her passion to help families as they struggle with the diagnosis of breast cancer.

Thanda Fields Brassard

Vice President & Trust Counsel; General Counsel, Fiduciary Trust of New England

Thanda, a graduate of Boston College and Boston College Law School, has 12 years of experience at Fiduciary Trust Company where she focuses on advising individuals and families on their estate and tax planning matters. Thanda also has significant experience in estate settlement and trust administration. Thanda’s support of the Ellie Fund began in 2015 after she was diagnosed with breast cancer and received assistance from the Ellie Fund during her treatment. Her personal experience with the Ellie Fund’s support services brings a unique and valuable perspective to the Board

Gail Fine

Former Executive Director, Ellie Fund

Gail, who received B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, taught in Wellesley for several years before joining the faculty at Simmons College. Gail became involved with the Ellie Fund in 2006 as a member of the event committee for the first annual Fashion Show. Driven by the Ellie Fund’s mission, Gail joined the small staff of three as the Patient Services Coordinator. At the forefront of the Ellie Fund’s expansion, Gail helped to increase both the types of support services we provide as well as the number of patients we serve. She became the Director of Patient Services in 2011 and the Executive Director in March of 2015. After retiring as Executive Director in June 2018, Gail joined the Board of Directors, continuing her unwavering commitment to the Ellie Fund’s mission. Gail has also served on the Board of Advisors and the Patient Experience Committee for BID Needham since 2014.

Cynthia Levine Kropp

Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997, working, and raising 4-year old twins, Cynthia knew from the moment she was diagnosed, that one day, she would give back. She wanted to do whatever she could to help the next patient facing a breast cancer diagnosis, especially those with young children. As a mother who also worked full-time as a travel industry executive, Cynthia admits she was overwhelmed, challenged, and in uncharted waters. As she went through treatment, she set her sights on recovery milestones. For years, Cynthia looked for the right way to give back and help breast cancer patients. After more than 30 years in the workforce and launching two wonderful adult children, she decided to put her effort and resources into the Ellie Fund. She is passionate about patient care and knows how important it is to support patients through their recovery so they can focus on living their best life and taking care of their families.

Ronald Lanoue, Treasurer

Director, Business Tax Services, KPMG

Ron, a licensed CPA and graduate of Williams College and Northeastern Graduate School of Professional Accounting, is a senior manager in KPMG’s Boston tax practice. He has over 20 years experience, drawing on a broad base of knowledge of corporate and other business taxation. Ron has in-depth experience in U.S. federal, state, local and international taxation, including tax compliance, audit management, tax accounting/ASC and tax planning. Ron’s professional expertise is invaluable in his role as the Ellie Fund’s treasurer.

Jeff Popkin, Founder

Founder and CEO, BostonEventGuide.com

Jeff, along with his brother Eliot, founded the Ellie Fund in 1995 to honor their mother Eleanor Popkin’s courageous battle against breast cancer and the giving spirit for which she was known. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts Boston, Jeff is the Founder and CEO of Boston Event Guide, a full-service marketing and promotions company in Boston. As former Board Chair and now special counsel, ambassador and key stakeholder, Jeff is responsible for ensuring that the history and legacy of the Ellie Fund remain at the forefront of its mission.

Heather Shanahan

Heather became an active supporter of the Ellie Fund after witnessing how the organization helped the family of her friend, Kelley Tuthill, cope with Kelley’s breast cancer diagnosis. When Heather’s father was diagnosed with cancer, she gained first-hand appreciation for the needs of families who have to balance everyday demands with the challenges of treatment. Impressed by the breadth, depth and uniqueness of the services offered by the Ellie Fund, Heather has remained a steadfast supporter. Heather received a B.S. in psychology from Merrimack College. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, Heather worked at Mintz Levin for 13 years where she wore many hats, most recently as Director of Attorney Development.

Jeannie Shanahan

President, Twin Star Consulting, LLC.

Jeannie Shanahan is a risk expert with extensive experience in credit, enterprise risk management, governance, and crisis and business continuity planning. A finance professional by training, Jeannie served as Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, Chief Governance Officer, and Credit Risk Director at some of the country’s largest institutions, including State Street Global advisors, Omgeo LLC, Fidelity Investments, and Northern Trust. She is passionate about leading cultural and organizational transformation and mentoring younger executives. Jeannie received an MBA from Boston College and a B.S. in Mathematics and Computer Science from Simmons College in Boston. She joined Ellie Fund’s board after witnessing three of her family members struggled with breast cancer. Jeannie’s risk management and crisis management expertise are important as the advisor to the Ellie Fund Board on strategy matters.

Amy Comander, MD

Hematologist-Oncologist, Mass General Hospital Cancer Center at Newton-Wellesley and Waltham

Dr. Amy Comander is a hematologist-oncologist who specializes in the care of women with breast cancer. She received her undergraduate degree and a master’s degree in Biology at Harvard University. She received her medical degree at Yale University School of Medicine. She completed her Internal Medicine residency training and Hematology-Oncology fellowship training at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Her interests include finding new treatments for breast cancer and helping her patients achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle after a breast cancer diagnosis.

Advisory Board

Tabitha Adeli
Special Projects

Robin Jones
Communications Consultant

Dr. Elsie Levin
Medical Advisor

Luba Levin
Special Projects

Ben Rawitz
Strategic Partnerships