Sharon Klein
Executive Director
An Executive Director with more than 16 years of non-profit fundraising experience, Sharon is extremely passionate about finding cures for rare diseases. She has held numerous leadership roles in executive alignment and collaboration, fundraising, management, and patient advocacy and programs.
Serving more than 12 years at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Sharon led philanthropy and patient initiatives for the Massachusetts and Rhode Island chapters, where she served first as the Director of Development and then later as Executive Director for both Chapters. Sharon is most proud of her accomplishments at LLS, where under her leadership, the Chapters raised more than $6 million annually, to fund research and patient programs.
In 2018, Sharon decided to switch gears from working at a national nonprofit to a startup organization. Her curiosity about science led her to a senior leadership role at the Institute for Protein Innovation (IPI), a group focused on creating synthetic antibodies and developing new therapies for people with rare diseases. Having been the only non-scientist at IPI, she harnessed the opportunity to teach the lab team about fundraising, and how the work in the lab could be translated into a story that would motivate donors.
Sharon is married and has teenage twins, Ava and Gavin, who are the center of her universe. She loves the arts and when not attending a music concert or track meet, she enjoys taking flamenco dance lessons or going to see a musical or dance show with her daughter.
Lisa Leger
Director of Fundraising and Innovation
Lisa has over a decade of non-profit development experience. She loves donor-centered work and creating fundraising partnerships that build meaningful long-term relationships. When not working you can find her at an art museum with friends or at the beach with her husband and 12-year-old greyhound Flash.
Jenny McDonald
Gift and Data Coordinator
Jenny arrived at Neurofibromatosis Northeast in summer 2018 to restart her 15-year donor relations career, which began in higher education. At NF Northeast she gratefully records and acknowledges the generosity of the NF community. The tributes that arrive in the mail and through cyberspace each day are a testament to the dedication of so many to finding a cure for NF. Making sure those fighters know how much NF Northeast appreciates their efforts is an honor and a privilege. Outside of the office, Jenny volunteers in her children’s elementary school library and moonlights as a troop leader to 10 rambunctious Girl Scouts. Unsurprisingly, Thanks-A-Lots are her favorite Girl Scout cookie.
Catherine Mooney
Digital Marketing Manager
Catherine joined the NF Northeast team in November of 2021 and is responsible for the strategic direction of digital marketing efforts, including social media, website management, and brand identity. Catherine graduated from Northeastern University in 2019 after multiple internships in marketing & PR, the last of which was at Samuel Adams where she fell in love with craft beer. Working with NF Northeast is the culmination of years of work within the NF community, having fundraised and advocated for NF since 2007 when her cousin was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 2. Outside of work she enjoys visiting local breweries, reading outside, and going on hikes with friends.
Anne Patterson
Director of Patient and Clinic Outreach
Anne brings a wealth of experience to NF Northeast including previous work with medical professionals and government agencies. Her focus has been working with disadvantaged youth and the disabled in the nonprofit sector. She served as an Employment Specialist at the Research Foundation of the State University of New York as well as Maine Medical Center. Born and raised in Rochester, Anne currently resides in Western New York. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband Dan, their 3 teenage daughters, and their 2 labradoodles (they are the laziest office “staff” in the world!). She loves everything outdoors – skiing, gardening, cycling, paddle-boarding and hiking!
Christi Shannon
Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director
Christi Shannon joined NF Northeast in 2021 as Assistant to the Executive Director/Office Manager. Christi's initial experience in the nonprofit world began with her work for Easter Seals/United Cerebral Palsy in North Carolina. At UCP, Christi both served as a job coach and taught basic living skills courses to adults with developmental disabilities. Most recently, Christi worked part-time as an event coordinator where she organized and coordinated all events for a non-profit facilities management organization. She and her husband of 15 years, David, have also been working hard at home raising their three boys Cole, Casey, and Tate. Christi is a proud graduate of Syracuse University and truly enjoying her role with NF Northeast.
Kimberley Trainor
Bookkeeper
Kimberley joined the team in August of 2021 as Bookkeeper. For over 20 years she has worked in the financial and technical industry. Kimberley lives in Burlington with her husband Chris and when she isn’t working, you can find her traveling the world and enjoying hiking, biking & other outdoor activities.
