Our Team
Grant Nick
Summer Intern
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.
Anne Elizabeth (Liz) is a vibrant business professional with fifteen years of experience in strategic operations and non-profit development. She has a successful track record of achieving earned and contributed revenue growth by fostering relationships with individual donors, influencers, and stakeholders through the design and execution of a comprehensive fundraising plan. Liz also has extensive experience in planning, coordination and execution of high impact special events.
A graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, Liz holds a B.A. in Behavioral and Social Sciences, and earned the Executive Philanthropy and Resource Development Certificate from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She is a Level III certified grant writer, and has completed several courses in project management, board leadership, and strategic analysis planning. She is a current board member and serves as the Membership Chair for the New Jersey Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Liz lives in New Jersey with her family and golden retriever. She enjoys attending cultural arts programs and participating in outdoor activities.
Danielle brings more than 15 years of experience across nonprofit and private practice settings, with a deep focus on grief, trauma, and family-centered care. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Certified Grief Educator trained under David Kessler, and has dedicated her career to supporting children, adolescents, and families navigating complex emotional experiences.
What makes Danielle’s leadership especially meaningful within our community is not only her professional background, but her lived experience. Danielle is a bereaved parent. Following the sudden passing of her daughter, Lydia, at 21 months old, Danielle turned to the SUDC Foundation for support, joining our newly bereaved parents group and later becoming a Peer Connections Friend volunteer.
In the years since, Danielle has transformed her grief into purpose. She founded a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting bereaved parents, developed programs that connect newly bereaved families with those further along in their grief journey, and has worked to strengthen support systems within hospitals and communities. Her work reflects a deep understanding of what families need in the earliest and most fragile moments following loss.
Danielle’s ability to integrate professional training with lived experience allows her to meet families with both insight and empathy. As she has shared, when a child dies, families often experience a profound loss of control but creating space for parents to share their child’s story can be one of the first steps toward grounding and healing.
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.
Meet Brittany Mooney, 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.
Vivian is a dedicated and compassionate senior attending high school in San Francisco, CA. As an SUDC sibling who lost her brother Jacob in 2012 at the age of 2, Vivian helped spearhead 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 captain of her school’s debate team and a talented athlete who enjoys running track.
Grant Nink holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is currently pursuing his Master of Science in Genetic Counseling at Southern California University of Health Sciences.
His experience spans both clinical and compassionate care settings. Grant currently serves as a Genetic Counseling Assistant at GeneDx, supporting test utilization management, hold resolution, and accessioning for a range of genetic tests. He previously worked with Grace Hospice, providing presence and communication to patients and families during end-of-life care, and has volunteered with Crisis Text Line since 2021. He has also supported community outreach efforts through Mel Trotter Ministries.
Across his clinical, volunteer, and community experiences, Grant brings a thoughtful, family-centered approach. His work spans genetic counseling, quality assurance, hospice care, crisis intervention, and community service—reflecting a strong commitment to improving care processes while providing compassionate support to individuals and families.
Outside of his professional work, Grant enjoys playing the viola and spending time with his wife, Hannah, their daughter Lillia, and their dog, Beren.
Giang is a graduate student in the Master of Science in Genetic Counseling program at Southern California University of Health Sciences, where she also earned a Master of Science in Human Genetics and Genomics. Her professional interests are shaped by her experience working with low-income populations and housing insecurity, which has fostered a grounded commitment to understanding how diverse patient populations engage with healthcare systems. She is particularly focused on identifying and implementing practical, solution-oriented strategies to minimize disparities and improve access to high-quality, informative, and patient-centered care. Giang is currently based in Chico, California. Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, she enjoys hiking, ballet, Pilates, and spending time with her cat, Binks.
