Our Team
Having a fierce dedication to live in a kinder and wiser world, Tina crossed over to the non-profit community after 20+ years in the for profit world after she experienced the power of effective advocacy and compassionate support particularly for human beings experiencing severe life stressors and trauma. Tina's passion and dedication to be the voice for families and disenfranchised communities stems from her own daughter's battle with mental illness and addiction issues. With over 15+ years of high impact, non-profit experience; Tina has held senior positions as the Executive Director at Twin County Recovery Services, Inc., The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America as their Director of External Relations, The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) as their Community Education and Outreach Manager, NAMI-NYS and the Executive Director for NAMI Mid-Hudson.
Holding a B.A. in Mathematics and Community Studies from Charter Oaks State College and the Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University; Tina is an inclusive community coalition builder that empowers vibrant, diverse communities. In 2016, she was appointed as a member to the Statewide Multicultural Advisory Committee (SMAC) with the New York State Office of Mental Health, New York. In 2016, Tina was awarded the Dutchess County, NYS Public Health Partnership Award; and in 2019, she was awarded The New York State Office of Mental Health Excellence In Suicide Prevention: Creating and Strengthening Suicide Safe Communities Award. Tina has spent over a decade focused on suicide prevention and is currently an appointed member on the New York State’s Suicide Prevention Advisory Task Force.
Tina is inspired daily by the remarkable courage and resiliency exhibited by the families and individuals she has had the privilege to meet and support. In her free time, Tina volunteers her time as a certified instructor in mental health and suicide prevention trainings particularly to schools, families, and first responders. Tina loves spending time cooking or visiting museums with her highly energetic four generation family who are extreme foodies and art aficionados.
Elizabeth is a vibrant business professional with twelve years of experience in strategic operations and non-profit development. She brings a successful track record of achieving earned and contributed revenue growth by fostering relationships with individuals, foundations, and corporations through the coordination and execution of a comprehensive fundraising plan. Elizabeth also has extensive experience in providing complete special event planning and marketing support through various media platforms.
A graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, Elizabeth holds a B.A. in Behavioral and Social Sciences. She recently completed the Executive Philanthropy and Resource Development Certificate program at Fairleigh Dickinson University, is a Level III Certified Grant Writer and has taken coursework in Corporate Sponsorship and Sustainability Analysis Planning. She has participated in several National Points of Light Foundation Conferences.
Elizabeth lives in New Jersey with her husband, children and yellow Labrador; she enjoys the arts and spending time outdoors with family and friends.
Amanda Brindle is a compassionate Licensed Social Worker (LSW) specializing in supporting families navigating sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC). She holds a Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from Rutgers University, where she graduated cum laude.
Amanda's professional background includes significant collaborations and training with the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), enhancing her expertise in trauma-informed care. At the SUDC Foundation, Amanda manages the SUDC Foundation family support services and works closely with families to deliver trauma-informed, empathetic, person-centered care at all times.
Amanda lives in Roseland, NJ, with her family.
Heather earned her undergraduate degree from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. At Quinnipiac, Heather’s concentration was in Biomedical Sciences with minors in Chemistry and Psychology. She continued her education and earned a Master of Science in Forensic Science from Pace University in New York City. Her thesis was presented at the 35th Annual North Eastern Association of Forensic Scientists Meeting in 2009. Heather also attended the Lorenzo Di Medici University in Florence, Italy.
Prior to joining SUDC, Heather worked for the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory as a Forensic Scientist for six years. At AFDIL, she participated in many missions. One of which, was to identify the remains of soldiers from past wars. While there, Heather gained vast knowledge and experience in working with DNA and genetic analysis. Heather is a resident of New Jersey and is married with a son.
With over 20 years of experience in market research, data analysis, client relationship management, and non-profit fundraising, Teri Kandel brings a diverse skill set to the SUDC Foundation as a Development Associate. She has excelled in roles such as Research Analyst at a marketing firm and Fundraising Coordinator for the Cranford Historical Society, showcasing her expertise in event management, campaign development, and community engagement.
Her background in data analysis and customer support at Yahoo! HotJobs reinforces her analytical strengths. Teri’s ability to turn data into actionable insights and build strong client relationships has been a key to her success in both the corporate and non-profit sectors. An active volunteer, Teri shines in leadership roles, particularly in fundraising and community coordination. Her passion for making a positive impact extends beyond her professional life as she actively contributes to various community initiatives. Based in Cranford, NJ, with her husband and two sons, Teri is an avid traveler and dedicated runner, having completed several marathons and ultra-marathons.
With over 20 years of experience in healthcare management, Ghazala brings a diverse skill set including marketing, patient and community education, and effective advocacy. She also possesses a wealth of knowledge, compassion, and expertise to our team.
Throughout her previous roles, Ghazala has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, success in bridging communities, and supporting families in hospice. Ghazala's ability to organize and coordinate marketing events, nurture relationships with community organizations and healthcare professionals, and spearhead initiatives to educate and advocate for community well-being, will be invaluable to the Foundation. Ghazala will oversee the SUDC Ambassador Program and looks forward to working with our Ambassadors to promote the Foundation's mission and establish strong relationships within diverse communities.
Ghazala holds a BA in Sociology, along with being a Professional Licensed Nurse. She is also multilingual in English, Arabic, Urdu, Punjabi, and Hindi.
She lives in Plainfield, New Jersey with her husband and daughter who is soon to be college bound.
Meet Brittany Thompson, a seasoned marketing expert with a flair for strategic innovation and a genuine passion for the field. Throughout her career, Brittany has been instrumental in executing dynamic marketing initiatives that have propelled brand awareness, amplified customer engagement, and driven revenue growth. With a comprehensive skill set spanning digital marketing, content creation, brand development, and campaign management, Brittany brings a wealth of expertise to the table.
What truly sets Brittany apart is her unwavering dedication to her craft. Marketing isn't just a career path for her; it's a lifelong passion and pursuit. Always at the forefront of industry trends, Brittany thrives on exploring new ideas and pushing the boundaries of innovation in the ever-evolving landscape of marketing.
Whether she's crafting compelling campaigns or fine-tuning digital strategies, Brittany approaches each project with a blend of professionalism and passion that is truly unmatched. With her at the helm, you can trust that your marketing efforts will be in expert hands, driving success and innovation every step of the way.
Michelle has excellent organizational and people skills. She is an essential part of the Support Services team as a behind-the-scenes coordinator. Prior to being a full-time mother to three children, she worked as an account executive for a large telecommunications company. Michelle and Chelsea Hilbert (cofounder of The SUDC Program in 2001) were neighbors in Charlotte, NC when Chelsea’s son died. Michelle and her husband, Etienne, were a great source of support and information. In fact, Michelle researched information about metabolic disorders and assisted Chelsea’s family with finding metabolic testing when their second child was born. Michelle and her family live in Southern California.
Marissa is an experienced business professional with over ten years of expertise in business operations and client relations. Her career has been shaped by her unwavering commitment to engaging individuals in meaningful conversations and helping them achieve their full potential and goals. Driven by this passion, Marissa has pursued a master's degree in social work at Rutgers University, where she is eager to develop her skills in empowering individuals and communities. Marissa is a graduate of Fordham University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. Her academic background has equipped her with a deep understanding of human behavior and motivation, which she applies to her work with clients and colleagues alike.
In her personal life, Marissa is devoted to her family, including her husband, three children, and Australian Shepherd, Oslo. She is a former ballerina who has maintained her love of the arts and music, and she enjoys spending quality time with loved ones.
Vivian is a dedicated and compassionate rising junior attending high school in San Francisco, CA. As an SUDC sibling who lost her brother Jacob in 2012 at the age of 2, Vivian is taking an active role in launching the Teen Ambassadors program, where she hopes to empower and unite teenagers who have experienced similar losses.
In addition, Vivian is deeply committed to her San Francisco community where she is a dedicated volunteer at the Compass Family Shelter. Outside of her volunteer work, Vivian is a talented athlete who enjoys playing volleyball and participating in track.