Linda has worked in the medical field over 30 years. She started as a radiologic technologist ( RT ) and later specialized in mammography and sonography. She was a Breast Health Educator for the American Cancer Society, lecturing on breast cancer awareness, the importance of mammography, and how to perform breast self exams. She chaired the Fairfax Coalition for Every Woman's Life and was chair of Education/Detection for the Fairfax Virginia Board of the American Cancer Society.

In March of 2009, Linda was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer and went through the AIBH program. Linda has been married for 38 years to her husband Jim. She enjoys good food and wine, good friends and making people smile.

Linda joined AIBH in 2009 and is currently serving as AIBH Board President.

Claudia was diagnosed with breast cancer in December of 2009. With the help of friends she met though her breast cancer experience, she made a decision to become involved with AIBH and the wonderful services the organization provides. She looks forward to helping women recently diagnosed with breast cancer by working to promote the organization within the community.

Claudia moved from Michigan to Arizona after college. She studied Fine Arts and Earth Science and to this day wonders how she ended up in the home furnishings industry instead of becoming a geologist! She began importing from Mexico in the late 80's, selling her imports to retail stores and hotels across the country. During that time she was also licensed by Warner Bros., helping them design and develop merchandise for the retail stores they were in the process of opening. In 1996, an evolution occurred and Fiesta Furnishings was born, followed by Brix Home in 2005.

Claudia has been very active in the home furnishings industry and is the current 2010 President of The Western Home Furnishings Association, which serves over 2200 furniture stores in the western states. She has been involved in projects with Habitat for Humanity, Serenity Hospice, Sojourner's Center and Bridging Arizona Furniture Bank. A few years ago her stores participated in the Extreme Home Makeover Edition on the Navajo Reservation in northern Arizona.

Claudia enjoys traveling....the more exotic the better! She also enjoys cooking, reading, business in general, hiking and spending time with friends and family (along with good food and wine!).

Ann Edelstein is a native of Philadelphia, PA. She moved to Scottsdale in 1980 after working in the medical field as a medical technologist (MT) and as a sales and technical representative for Nuclear Diagnostics, Inc. in Michigan and Arizona. Ann is married to an Internal Medicine physician who practices in the Valley. After raising her two sons, whom she is grateful live in the area; Ann decided to make a career change and currently works as a realtor working in the residential market since 2005.

Although not a breast cancer survivor herself, Ann has experienced the heartache that comes with family and friends diagnosed and lost to cancer. "My hope is that no one given the diagnosis should feel alone and scared, lost and confused, and without hope. This comes with knowing that AIBH is here to help guide a woman to the first step she must take, getting a second opinion." Ann hopes that through her contacts in the medical and real estate communities, she can help increase awareness of the Institute's programs.

Ann enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking (Italian), traveling when possible, reading, working and spending time with her two year old granddaughter, Zoe.

Ann joined the board in February, 2011, and currently serving as Board Secretary.

Shirley Mattson, a native of St. Paul, Minnesota, moved to Scottsdale from Burnsville, MN. Shirley graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BS in Interior Design. Loving the arts, she managed a fine arts gallery and then began her own art consulting business for many years. Moving into the marketing arena for a telecommunications company, she traveled throughout the US managing trade shows and events. A career change brought Shirley to Scottsdale where she is now a Realtor working with residential and commercial clients.

Once settled here in Scottsdale, she started meeting new friends, including the Gypsy Riders, a philanthropic women's motorcycle riding group. Through the fundraising and donations by Gypsy's to AIBH Shirley found out first hand how caring and giving the people at AIBH are.

Several people in Shirley's life were touch by breast cancer. Her aunt passed away many years ago in West Virginia, and recently, one of the Gypsy's was diagnosed with breast cancer and passed away in July, 2008. With the commitment to help others and a strong sense of community outreach, Shirley sees the strength and passion within AIBH to help many others.

Shirley joined the AIBH board in January, 2009. She has two grown daughters, one here in Scottsdale and the other is still back in Minneapolis, who she hopes will someday move here as well.

Shirley is currently serving as AIBH Board Treasurer.

Wendy Farrelli was born and raised in Northern California. She graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara with a degree in Ergonomics and Kinesiology and received her graduate degree in Exercise Physiology form Colorado State University. She put herself through school by working in the food and beverage industry. Although she came to Scottsdale for a job opportunity as Athletic Director for a health club, it was soon after that she and husband Tom started Farrelli's Catering, which they still run 16 years later. In the summer of 2001, they achieved a life long dream of opening a full service restaurant that shows movies on a big screen, Farrelli's Cinema Supper Club. They continue to operate both companies.

Wendy is very active in the community and believes that it is important to donate her time to worthwhile causes. From 1990 to 1993, she served on the board for the Women Entrepreneurs Conference as the Speaker Chairperson. As an event coordinator, she has organized many fundraisers and charitable events and handled all of the food and beverage service as well. Though Wendy has not been directly affected by breast cancer, she has had several good friends go through the ordeal and strongly feels that AIBH is an unbelievable resource that more people need to know about. She joined the board in 2004 to help with PR, fundraising and to get the word out about the Institute. Wendy and her 3 wonderful boys reside in Scottsdale and she enjoys cooking, dancing and spending time with friends.

Wendy joined the board in 2004 and was the Marketing Chair from 2005 to 2008. Wendy served as AIBH Board President from 2008 to 2010.

Born and raised in Milan Italy, Cristina moved to Scottsdale Arizona in 1995 after marrying a native Californian.

Prior to moving to the states permanently, Cristina received a degree in Education as well as studied dance in New York City. Once settled here, she had two beautiful children, taught Art Masterpiece and designed and opened a jewelry and accessories store.

Having survived Valley Fever and two different types of cancer, as well as lovingly helping friends battle cancer, she understands the importance of gaining knowledge about treatment options and the value of a second opinion. Cristina felt strongly about joining AIBH, spreading the word and raising awareness.

Jennifer, who goes by Jenny, is co-owner of Yeager North, a marketing and design firm that focuses on technology marketing. For nearly 20 years, she has developed and implemented successful marketing programs for industry-leading technology companies and their channel partners. Jenny works with clients to establish professional and appealing visuals to support their marketing objectives. Her broad experience and expert capabilities include traditional print and web/interactive media.

Jenny is very passionate about doing what she can to support AIBH and the breast cancer cause. She went through a very difficult time when her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer 14 years ago. Jenny knows the challenges that a diagnosis can bring to a family and understands how difficult it is to stand by and feel helpless. She supported her mom in every way she could throughout her treatment, but the memory of it has stayed with her. Breast cancer has also affected her grandmother, who died from the disease 2 years before Jenny was born, her grandmother's daughter and Jenny's mom's cousin. Knowing that one of the most important steps in the entire treatment process is making the right treatment decision, Jenny was thrilled when she learned of AIBH. Realizing that she could make a difference to all women in Arizona diagnosed with breast cancer, Jenny joined the board in December of 2011 to do what she can to spread the word and support the cause.

Jenny is married to Dave Barchas and they have a four year old daughter, Ashley, who keeps them very busy. We are all extremely excited to have Jenny on our team and know she will bring a very creative side to all that we do!

Jennifer Owen moved to Arizona for the second time in the spring of 2003 to take a job in the Natural Gas industry with Arizona Public Service. Having lived here before and after graduating from the University of Oregon, she knew this is where she wanted to call home.

Jennifer has been actively involved in helping others throughout her life. During college, she worked for a non-profit agency facilitating an extensive volunteer program that sent college students in to schools and the community. During her first job in the Natural Gas industry, Jennifer worked with Corporate Communications and focused her efforts on corporate donations to support local charities. With her career now focused on Marketing, she remains committed to volunteer efforts.

Through family and friends, Jennifer has been affected by breast cancer and feels that it is important to be actively involved in something that affects so many millions of women. She lives in Scottsdale with her amazing son and husband and enjoys all of the outdoor activities that Arizona has to offer.

Jennifer joined AIBH in April of 2007 so she could do her part for the cause!

Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Julie Robinson considers the Midwest a good place to be "from." Graduating from Indiana University, Bloomington with a degree in Telecommunications and Marketing, an early career in fashion retailing lead her from Indianapolis, to Minneapolis, and eventually to the San Francisco Bay Area, where she put her flair for marketing and special events to good use as an Account Executive promoting the Clinique brand, for Estee Lauder Inc.

An opportunity to own their own business brought Julie's family to Arizona in 1991. First as VP of Publicity and Events and now President of Jani-King Southwest, the #1 Commercial Cleaning Franchise Company, she works with individuals and families pursuing the "American Dream" of owning their own business, and her Franchise Owners keep over 1200 business throughout Arizona clean and healthy environments every day. An active community volunteer, Julie has donated her marketing and event planning skills, creativity, and hands-on enthusiasm to several Valley non-profits over the past 15 years, including Boys and Girls Club, HomeBase Youth Services, Banner of Hope, and New School for the Arts and Academics.

While not a breast cancer survivor herself, Julie remains deeply affected by the experience of watching her best friend go through treatment, and become an effective and knowledgeable advocate for her own care, at a time where there was no organization to turn to for help. Committed to spreading the word about AIBH, Julie hopes to help other women discover much needed information and options at such a critical time in their lives.

Julie joined the board in 2005, served as President of AIBH from January 2007 to January 2009 and continues to serve on the board as a very active board member. She lives in Scottsdale, with her three children, and enjoys music, dancing, reading and spending time with close friends.

After a successful career with Nortel Technologies, Jill decided to try something new and entered into the Real Estate industry via Title and Escrow as a marketing representative. This is a fun, fast paced and creative job that Jill loves. American Title is an amazing company to work for and she couldn't be happier.

Jill decided to join the Board of Directors at AIBH because she wanted to interact with women that give back to the community, as Jill strives to do in her daily life. Through working with the AIBH Board, she has had the pleasure to meet and interact with the most amazing women! She is also very interested in volunteering for a wonderful organization that she truly believes in and can support. She also feel that our responsibility to each other is to offer talents and energy where we can.

Jill is married to Ron, who not only has filled her life with love, but also gave her a family of 4 grown children and 8 beautiful grandchildren that she is crazy in love with! She loves to cook and travel and read everything she can get her hands on. Jill joined the board in 2011.