Meet the Team

Chris Evans | president
Chris joined the Colon Cancer Coalition in 2011 as CFO.  A CPA she has worked in public accounting, airline and manufacturing and consulting. She started working for non profits as a way of giving back and has grown a passion around serving colorectal cancer patients and getting people screened. A graduate of Marquette University, she currently is a director on the boards of two other nonprofit organizations in the Twin Cities (Minnesota) area.  In her spare time you will find Chris attending Minnesota United (MLS) soccer games, watching hockey, gardening, and generally enjoying family time with her four boys.  Email Chris

Amy Sawdy | cfo
Amy joined the Colon Cancer Coalition in 2021. She is a CPA and a graduate of UW-River Falls with a degree in accounting. Her previous work history includes tax, audit and small business accounting at public accounting firms, specializing in auditing nonprofit organizations. Amy is passionate about making a difference and helping others through her work. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, being outside in nature, working out in her home gym, and listening to podcasts & audiobooks. Amy, her husband, two dogs and cat live in Vadnais Heights. Email Amy

Erin Peterson | sr. director of mission & partnerships
Erin started with the Colon Cancer Coalition in early 2011 after years in a Minneapolis-based marketing and public relations agency. Her varied background included working with both consumer brands and non-profit organizations. At the Coalition, Erin has developed a passion for colorectal cancer prevention and screening, focusing on erasing health disparities and working towards a solution for early-onset colorectal cancer. She also volunteers and sits as Vice Chair for the Minnesota Cancer Alliance. Outside of the office, Erin can be found with her two teenagers enjoying the marching band, baseball, softball and dance, or enjoying the Minnesota summers on the lake. She looks forward to exploring and experiencing new cultures and corners across the globe. Email Erin

Jackie Evans | director of national events
Jackie is an award-winning event planner with experience in non-profits, community relations, and corporate event planning. She is a familiar face at the Colon Cancer Coalition, having previously worked as an Event Manager assisting local event directors with Get Your Year In Gear races from 2014-16. In between, she spent the last five years planning large-scale corporate in-person and virtual events around the world. When she is not holding a clipboard at events, Jackie can be found entertaining family or friends, coaching cheerleading, or rocking out at a concert. Jackie, her husband, and two dogs live in St. Louis Park. Email Jackie

Tessa Wild | director of marketing & communications
Tessa found herself at the Colon Cancer Coalition in early 2015, after discovering her calling to the non-profit world. Minnesota born and raised, Tessa was thrilled to have found such a passionate group of people who are determined to make a positive change in the world. After starting as a Graphic Designer, Tessa has found her passion in brand awareness and wants everyone to feel comfortable telling their friends and family the importance of on time screening! In her spare time she enjoys reading a good book, playing with her pets Ash and Ollie, and working on projects in her home with her fiance in St. Paul. Email Tessa

Amanda Schulman | event manager
Amanda joined the Colon Cancer Coalition in December of 2022.  She has been involved with numerous volunteer and local events for almost 10 years.  With a passionate focus on local organizations, Amanda has worked with the Twin Cities Take Steps for Crohn’s and Colitis walk and has contributed to the local brewery community partnering with numerous Minnesota based non-profit organizations. In her free time she loves being the best dog mother to a 2 year Corgi named Stanley, and exploring local wineries and breweries with her husband.  She also enjoys crafting and baking cupcakes in her free time. Email Amanda

Cadence Paramore | communications & social media specialist
Cadence joined the Colon Cancer Coalition in January 2023. She is passionate about helping others and generating meaningful change, both of which led to her interest in working for a nonprofit. She is a recent graduate from Gustavus Adolphus College where she majored in English and minored in Film & Media Studies. In her spare time she enjoys writing, drawing, baking, playing video games, and cuddling her cat, Kiko.  Email Cadence

Dana Grady | project specialist
Dana joined the Colon Cancer Coalition in December 2021. She is an experienced event planner with years of work in local Twin Cities community events and national corporate events. Always having a passion for events and supporting the community, the Colon Cancer Coalition is a great way to utilize her passion. Dana is a graduate from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and has loved exploring the Twin Cities after growing up in Wisconsin. In her free time, Dana enjoys spending time with her husband and dog, being outside (in all seasons), being with friends and family and cooking. Email Dana

Hannah Hendricks | event manager
Hannah is an experienced event and meeting planner with 15 years of work ranging from large-scale activations with national and local clients to corporate meeting planning for Fortune 500 companies. Coming out of the pandemic Hannah realized she wanted to pivot her focus to the nonprofit sector where she will be able to utilize her skills and experience to help benefit our communities.  When she’s not working, Hannah enjoys spending time renovating her house with her husband, traveling, watching F1 races, camping at their lake and spending time with family. Email Hannah

Karlie Trottier | event manager
Karlie joined the Colon Cancer Coalition in June 2024. After graduating from the University of Minnesota, Karlie worked in corporate marketing. She decided to make the transition into the nonprofit events space due to her drive to make a meaningful impact and her passion for community outreach. In her spare time, Karlie can usually be found hanging out with her pup, Breezy, and/or in the company of her family and friends, while spending as much time outside as possible.
Email Karlie

Lauren Burke | event manager
Lauren Burke Joined The Colon Cancer Coalition in June of 2023. She is a recent graduate from Iowa State University where she majored in Public Relations and Event Management. In past roles she has worked in private events and is excited to take her experience to the nonprofit space. In her free time she enjoys reading, Playing with her Golden retriever, watching baseball, and trying new restaurants with friends.
Email Lauren

Mariah Kerr | event manager
Mariah began with the Colon Cancer Coalition early spring of 2017. She found her passion throughout her studies and as an intern with many non-profit organizations, leading her into a career that will make a difference. Mariah is a graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato with a degree in Sports Management. In her spare time, she enjoys the outdoors, working out, and trying new foods. Email Mariah

Nicole Nordos | administrative coordinator
Nicole joined the Colon Cancer Coalition staff in September 2022, but has been volunteering for the events since 2017.  She is very enthusiastic about helping people and spent her adult life trying to be of service to others.  She started her career as a dental hygienist but spent the last 5 years working as a technician at a trauma-responsive treatment center for women.  She prides herself on being a good mother to her 2 sassy corgis and 2 lazy kitties.  She spends her free time binge watching anime, reading manga, playing video games and traveling whenever possible. Email Nicole

Sagar Barad | digital communications strategist
Sagar (SAH-ger) is a Graphic Design Major at North Hennepin Community College. He is a quick, creative learner and an empathetic
person. His experiences include Graphic Design, Web Design, Marketing & communications. Besides being a design student, Sagar practices Jiu-Jitsu, a modern-day Brazilian martial arts form, spends time Bike-riding and wandering around nature and trails, and recently started learning Bass Guitar. Must play those riffs! Email Sagar

Spencer Donkers | marketing & graphic design specialist
Spencer began working with the Colon Cancer Coalition in June of 2022. After obtaining a degree in Graphic Communications from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, he found that the Colon Cancer Coalition was the perfect place for him to combine his love for art and design with the opportunity to serve a higher cause. In his free time, Spencer enjoys relaxing, playing guitar or video games, and just hanging out with friends. Email Spencer

Stacy Zwerdling | sr. event & community engagement manager
Stacy got involved in nonprofit work after planning a fundraising event for another organization. With this experience, Stacy found a strong desire to work for a nonprofit in the area of events. She brings her volunteer event planning experience to her to her job overseeing and assisting volunteer Get Your Rear in Gear event directors. “Knowing what a local event organizer experiences during the planning process, makes me excited to assist them carry out the best event possible,” she says. Stacy also enjoys time with her family, her two boys, volunteering with Bowling for Brains, and spending as much time as possible at the family cabin. Email Stacy

Sarah DeBord | forever our north star
A California girl at heart, Sarah spent eight years working in Hollywood as a location manager for film shoots. After a stint as a stay-at-home-mom, she went back to work and bringing with her a passion for the cause following her own stage IV colon cancer diagnosis in 2011. When not out redefining people’s perceptions about colon cancer, Sarah could be found hanging out with her two sons, and looking at the extended forecast in hopes that flip flop weather was on the radar. Sarah departed this world on July 22, 2020, after an 8.5 year battle with metastatic colorectal cancer. She endured over 170 rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. She dedicated 5.5 years of her life to educating others about the disease that would ultimately take her life. Her wish was that other young parents would never endure the same fate. She is dearly missed.