MJ DeCoteau, MA Executive Director
MJ DeCoteau was 18 years old when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and 22 when the disease claimed her mom’s life. She knew she should be taking steps to find out more about her own risk factors. Yet, when she picked up breast health pamphlets at her doctor’s office, they seemed scary and overwhelming. Troubled by the fact that although breast cancer awareness is strong, far too many smart young women and men still do not know the facts about the disease, MJ was inspired to gather together passionate, energetic and creative people to help found Rethink Breast Cancer.
MJ has a Masters Degree in Literary and Cultural Studies and a background in PR and print media. Over the years, she has developed and managed several new and successful fundraising and awareness campaigns for breast cancer, including bringing the world famous Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign to Canada. Together with Alison Gordon, MJ’s had to learn about running a business on the fly. Through her work with the cause she has developed a network of friends that have been affected directly and indirectly by breast cancer. She is eager to find creative forms of engaging young people with the breast cancer cause.
As Executive Director, MJ is responsible for the overall direction, management, fundraising strategy and creative vision of the charity. In 2004, MJ was featured in Maclean’s Magazine’s Honour Roll, as one of 10 Canadians who made a difference. In 2006, she was profiled by Chatelaine Magazine for an article featuring Ten Women They’d Like to See Run the Country.
Alison Gordon, MA VP, Strategy, Marketing and Communications
While doing a PhD in cultural studies/sociology, Alison shifted gears and started a career at Zig Inc. where she worked with one of the country's top creative advertising teams as a Strategic Planner. She became passionate about the breast cancer cause while working on and providing the strategy for a groundbreaking, award winning breast self-exam awareness campaign.
As a founding board member of Rethink Breast Cancer, as well as Director of Marketing and Communications, Alison has been integral to the vision and growth of the charity. Using marketing savvy to engage a younger generation of women and men in the cause, Alison, along with Rethink's Executive Director Mary-Jo DeCoteau, has been recognized for "thinking differently" in their approach to education and fundraising - including being named Marketing Magazine's top ten marketers. Alison has partnered with some of Canada's top companies such as Gap, Revlon, Roots, and LG Electronics to create innovative cause marketing programs. Alison brings a keen interest in women's health issues and the desire to find fresh, progressive ways to communicate about them.
Maura Young ACMA, Director, Finance and Administration
Maura joins Rethink after working in management accounting roles in manufacturing, retail, financial services and IT consulting companies in the UK and Canada for 17 years. Most recently she was a Finance Manager in Accenture responsible for project accounting and worked closely with Senior Executives and consultants on large scale external project implementations.
Breast Cancer awareness has always been a passion and a cause for her with a mother and aunt who passed away from the disease and she herself being a survivor of just over two years. She first became involved with Rethink a survivor and then a volunteer.
Maura is Irish and lived in the UK for 8 years before moving to Canada 10 years ago. She holds the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants designation from the UK.
Katie Gillespie, Senior Project Manager
Katie joined Rethink Breast Cancer with a passion for the breast cancer cause, and years of experience in project management. Prior to joining the Rethink Team, Katie spent six years in an account management role at john st. Advertising, working on accounts ranging from packaged goods to entertainment to pharmaceuticals, and successfully project managed numerous multi-media campaigns.
Katie’s introduction to Rethink came through the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign by being a Fashion Targets Friday Champion while still at john st. She spent time volunteering for other charitable organizations and learned a great deal about the challenges of running successful fundraising and marketing campaigns. Katie is inspired by the potential charitable organizations have to make a positive impact on the lives of the people they support. Katie is excited to focus her efforts towards Rethink’s mission and will use her strengths in management to help Rethink take their already successful fundraising initiatives and support programs to the next level.
Katie has a Bachelor’s degree in Human Kinetics from The University of British Columbia and has worked internationally as an outdoor educator, white water canoeing and caving guide, and organic goat cheese farmer.
Lindsay Grange, Manager, Events and Volunteer Relations
After graduating with an art history degree from Dalhousie University, Lindsay returned to Toronto and continued her education by taking a post graduate diploma in corporate communications. In 2002, she began her career in fundraising and events at the MS Society of Canada. During that time, Lindsay planned a number of fundraising events including the Toronto Super Cities Walk for MS. Lindsay also spent a year at the Canadian Cancer Society managing the fundraising department in the Central Toronto Area. In addition, Lindsay has a certificate in jewellery design from George Brown College and worked as a private label production coordinator at a Toronto boutique.
Lindsay has always had a passion for the not for profit world and has been volunteering for the past ten years. Lindsay was been involved with a number of charities including the Aids Committee of Toronto, Camp Oochigeas and the MS Society of Canada.
Lindsay comes to Rethink Breast Cancer with a number of years experience in fundraising, a passion for the cause and a love for fashion and design. As Project Manager, Fundraising, Lindsay looks forward to planning unique events that will help raise funds and increase awareness of the Rethink Breast Cancer mission.
Shayna Segal, Coordinator, Events and Volunteer Relations
For the past eight years Shayna has worked as a professional stunt woman on such films and television shows as X-Men 3, Mean Girls, Jumper and Flashpoint. She is also a circus arts performer and instructor, specializing in the aerial silks. She holds an Honors Kinesiology degree from the University of Western Ontario as well as a diploma in Sports Administration.
After losing her mother to a four year battle with breast cancer, Shayna co-created two highly regarded fundraising galas, Breast Friends Forever and The Breast Darn Show Period, which were designed as a tribute to women with breast cancer.
Shayna is honoured to unite her skills in event coordination with her dedication to breast cancer awareness and women's health, to her role as Coordinator of Events and Volunteer Relations at Rethink.
Tyler Stacey-Holmes, Communications & Social Media, Project Manager
Tyler started off his many incarnations as a classically trained pianist and music teacher/director. After spending several years competing, performing, and entertaining international audiences, Tyler ‘retired’ from music and began to pursue a career in business. Tyler’s tenacity to succeed propelled him through the ranks of a national retail chain in just 4 short years, achieving the status of “Youngest General Manager of Operations” in the company’s 25 year history.
Tyler’s combined passion for helping others and his irresistible enthusiasm led him to a career as the Operations Manager for CauseForce, Inc. at which time Tyler maintained the fundraising-ability of the Toronto Weekend to End Breast Cancer ($13 million) and helped catapult the inaugural Ontario Ride to Conquer Cancer into one of the top-grossing fundraising events ever in Canada ($14 million).
Tyler is thrilled to have found his way to Rethink, and to have become “one of the girls”. Tyler’s incredible charisma and flair for fundraising and networking will help expand support and awareness for our national Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign.
Farheen Beg, Programs Manager
For 15 years, Farheen has coordinated innovative programs for numerous non-profit organizations to support and empower children, youth, women and diverse communities. Locally and nationally, she has coordinated research, advocacy and education projects regarding violence against women, youth leadership development and quality services for young children and families. She has also developed and managed professional development conferences for service providers working with immigrants and refugees.
Farheen is excited to apply her skills and experiences in new ways as Programs Manager with Rethink Breast Cancer. She became personally committed to women’s health when her mother was diagnosed and passed away after an 8-year struggle with breast cancer and its metastases. Farheen is passionate about innovative education programs and equipping young people and underserved communities with accessible information and tools to improve their lives.
In her free time, Farheen is also a singer and songwriter influenced by jazz, soul, electronic and world music. She creates and shares her music at various clubs and community events throughout Toronto.
Michelle Rothstein, Associate Director, Breast Fest Film Festival
Michelle Rothstein joins Rethink and Breast Fest after sitting on the Breast Fest Advisory Committee for 2 years. She has an extensive background working with a number of festivals in Toronto and New York City, including TIFF, Hot Docs, The Toronto Jewish Film Festival and the IFP. After her many years in festivals, Michelle worked a number of years in television production before applying her experience as a festivals’ educational programmer to a career in content development and architecture for the Internet. In more recent years, Michelle translated her art of curating speakers to curating design objects through her company Modern Objects of Beauty of which she was a co-owner.
Michelle lost a dear friend and fellow film lover to breast cancer in 2000. Drawn to Breast Fest as the perfect way in which to honour her friend, she hopes to enlighten, educate and increase awareness via her favourite medium, film.
Nikki Byrne, Manager, Campaigns, Development & Communications
After studying Anthropology at McGill University , Nikki spent a year and half traveling the globe. Finally settling down in Toronto she spent three years in commercial production and a year in marketing before realizing that she would prefer to apply her skills to serve a greater good. Nikki loves the challenge of getting people under 40 involved in philanthropy. Before joining the Rethink staff, Nikki spent a lot of time organizing fundraising events for several local charities and was involved with Rethink as a volunteer for many years. She is also passionate about women’s health issues and is excited to be helping Rethink expand support for the cause by reaching women like her, who do not necessarily have an immediate family connection to breast cancer but need to know the facts.
Nikki comes to Rethink having completed a Fundraising and Volunteer Management program at George Brown. She brings a detail oriented, project management mind to the Rethink table, helping the charity bring to life (on time and on budget) it’s innovative and creative campaigns and programs.
Tanya Baker, Office Manager & Donor Relations Coordinator
Tanya joins Rethink after spending the last four years at home with her two children. Tanya graduated with a Bachelor of Education degree from Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia. Soon after emmigrating to Canada from Australia, Tanya embarked on a career in the travel industry. During this time, Tanya worked in all facets of travel marketing and project management and worked closely with major clients including CIBC, launching their Aventura travel rewards program, and the Canadian Association of Retired Persons.
Tanya has a family history of breast cancer and is thrilled to be a part of an organization who’s approach to breast cancer is as progressive and refreshing as Rethink’s is.
