COCA Board of Directors

Ryan Campbell

President
Ryan currently serves as the President on the COCA Board of Directors and has spent a decade working as the Camp Director of Happiness Is Camping (HIC). Ryan was awarded the COCA Region 1 Camp Spirit Award in 2019, the President’s Award in 2020, and the Spirit of COCA Award in 2024. Prior to joining the Board, Ryan was the part-time Program Manager for COCA. He holds a master’s degree in Camp Administration and Leadership from Gratz College, was the cofounder of the North Jersey Youth Camps Coalition, and served on the ACA NY & NJ’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee.

Michele Vernon, MSW

Vice President
Michele Vernon is the Senior Vice President for Camping and Related Services for the Sunrise Association in New York. She began with the organization 2006 as the founding Director of Sunrise Day Camp in Long Island setting the model for this day camp program for children with cancer and their siblings. She now supervises the development and management of 8 Association full summer day camps and year round camp programs in the US and in Israel. Her professional career has included extensive work in the Jewish community through the JCC movement, camping, Jewish education and fundraising. Prior to coming to Sunrise she served as Assistant Executive Director in 3 Jewish Community Centers in the northeast, and as the founding director of a Family Parenting Center. Her camping career has included resident camp director at Camp Tel Yehudah, Barryville, NY and Camp Wise, in Cleveland, as well as having supervised three day camps in the New York and New Jersey. Michele holds an MSW degree from Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work in New York.

Jason Kirkland

Treasurer
Jason Kirkland of Tupelo, MS has been part of Camp Rising Sun MS since its founding in 1988, first as a sibling-camper and for nearly 30 years as an Overnight Cabin Leader. He holds a B.B.A. from Mississippi State University and worked in Los Angeles for 13 years as a Production Accountant with Warner Brothers Television on shows including The Rookie, All American, Young Sheldon, and The Pitt, while continuing to return each summer to volunteer at camp. In 2021, Jason joined the Camp Rising Sun Board of Directors, where he serves as Director of Public Affairs, Marketing, Advertising, and Social Media, and contributes to several committees and outreach efforts. He received the COCA Camp Spirit Award in 2023 and also serves on the Finance Committee for the Children’s Oncology Camping Association (COCA). Outside of camp, Jason enjoys running, spending time with family, and training his three golden retrievers, who are certified therapy dogs volunteering in healthcare and community settings. He hopes to build a long-term career in the nonprofit sector supporting oncology patients and their families.

Jennifer Benton

Secretary
Jennifer Benton is a graduate of Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota and is the Program Director for Mak-A-Dream in Montana. She began volunteering with Camp in 1995. The very next year she joined the staff full time. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Ovarian Cancer Survivors Foundation based in Helena, Montana.

Dina Dattilio

Region 1 Director
A Vermont native, Dina volunteered for CampTa-Kum-Ta for 8+ years before becoming Camp’s Program Manager in January 2016. She also served many years on CampTa-Kum-Ta’s Board of Directors and currently sits on a variety of camp’s leadership teams. She is a Life Is Good Playmaker and strongly believes in healing through play! Prior to coming to Camp Ta-Kum-Ta she served as Chair of the Chittenden Relay for Life in Vermont.

Jamie Ekstrom, M.Ed.

Region 4 Director
Jamie first attended Camp Sunshine as a teen camper and is now the Program Director in charge of family programs including Family Camp, Sibling Camp and other family outings. Jamie got his professional start in Camp at Camp Twin Lakes, the camp facility used by Camp Sunshine. There he directed Summer Camp and other weekend programs for many special needs populations, including children with Autism, Sickle Cell disease, and children who have a wounded veteran parent, among others. Jamie got his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Georgia College and State University and his Master’s in Recreation Management from the University of Georgia. Jamie met his wife Sophie working at camp and they have two children.

Gillian Anderson

Region 8 Director
Gillian started her pediatric oncology camping career in 2021. Her first summer as Program Director was heavily influenced by the global pandemic. It was a unique challenge to foster connection in an environment so heightened by the need to uphold physical distancing and masking for such a vulnerable population. Camp Goodtimes was able to serve over 60 families without any exposures! Since then, she has been so grateful to continue to develop and implement both virtual and in-person year-round and summer programming to bring the community together in an meaningful way.

Mark Lowry

Conference Chair
Mark Lowry is a 33 year pediatric cancer survivor, who, as he puts it, “grew up at camp.” He now serves as the Field Management Director for Camp Quality USA, supporting all their camps and programs across the country. Mark brings a depth of experience in leadership development, fundraising, volunteer training & staff development, along with a background in higher education. Over the course of his career, Mark’s approach to life, which has been influenced by his cancer journey, is viewing each day as one full of possibilities to positively impact the world around him. One way in which he does this is through song, understanding that through music comes connection, joy, and laughter.

Becky Felak

Development Chair
Becky currently sits on a hybrid committee comprised of board members and staff working on our strategic plan. Outside of that she creates monthly board reports highlighting programming and fundraising achievements, and have presented to the board on various program/event topics, have participated in DEI conversations, and help with new board member orientation. With her time with The Goodtimes Project she has most significantly added two weekend retreat/camp programs. Sibling Ski Camp is a special weekend away for youth whose sibling has been/was diagnosed with cancer. The camp is designed to bolster participant’s self‐confidence, build a network of support, and provide an outlet to address emotions, all while having fun in the snow. This program was added to complement the Kayak Adventure Camp, which is a week‐long kayak camping trip for young adult pediatric cancer survivors. This program has seen growth and success in building community within the sibling population and giving them dedicated time and space to acknowledge their journeys. The You and Me Retreat provides an opportunity for one parent and one child from a family to (re)build connection in a fun and meaningful way, while also connecting with other parent/child pairs. This program was created to offer some dedicated one‐on‐one time to strengthen family bonds and encourage intentional connection. So often during the cancer journey a family can be splintered, with one parent spending time at the hospital while the other spends time with the sibling(s). The You and Me Retreat balances meaningful workshops with fun, campy activities, which allow parents and children to embrace one another and strengthen their relationship.

Erin Ulmer

Director Member-At-Large
Erin fell in love with camp as a counselor during college, and her work in nonprofit fundraising and then as an elementary school teacher led her back to camp in 2014 when she became the first Executive Director of Camp Rise Above (CRA) in Charleston, SC. With year-round programs that serve hundreds of campers and families from all over the state, CRA has established itself as a leader in providing safe, inclusive spaces for everyone in the community. Serving children and adults with more than 30 diagnoses, CRA believes that everyone deserves a place to belong. Formerly representing Region 4 on the COCA Board of Directors, Erin enjoys connecting with other camps to increase collaboration, form friendships, and learn from one another.

Lynne Royer-Willoughby, RN, MSN, NP

Eduction and Research Chair
Lynne has been the Medical Center Director for Special Days Camp, MI since 1992. Lynne’s parents started Special Days Camp. Her dad was the medical director and as Lynne says, her mom did “everything else”! Lynne grew up in camp, helped as a counselor for years and even ran arts & crafts for a year or two. Her involvement has come full circle with her daughter now volunteering her time at Special Days Camp. Since 2014, Lynne has been the Clinical Informaticist for Careevolution in Ann Arbor, MI. She has over 30 years of experience with pediatric hematology/oncology patients and helping to improve the medical programs. Lynne has affiliated teaching appointments, precepting and lecturer experience with the following higher education institutions: Indiana University, University of Indianapolis, Johns Hopkins University, Anderson University, PurdueUniversity, SPEA-Indiana University, Walden University, Wharton School of Business, and Baker College.

Brandon Briery, PhD

Gold Ribbon Accreditation Program Chair
Dr. Brandon G. Briery is a Clinical Child & Pediatric Psychologist, published researcher, author, and international speaker. Involved in camps for children with special needs since 1992, he has been employed by Camp CAMP (Children’s Association for Maximum Potential) in Texas since 2007. Brandon has worked with non-profit organizations as a volunteer, employee, manager, or strategic consultant for more than three decades. He also spins some mean tunes as CAMP DJ. He has been an active member of COCA and the COCA Board of Directors for most of the past 20 years.

Michael "Knuckles" Vasquez, ASW

Social Media & Marketing Chair
Michael Vasquez, also known by his camp name “Knuckles,” has dedicated the past 9 years to Oncology Camping. He began his journey as a Counselor-In-Training with Okizu in Northern California and instantly fell in love with everything about camp. Since then, Knuckles has remained committed to working with Okizu in various roles and currently holds the position of Family Services Associate. In this role, he assists with camper enrollment, recruitment, and retention Additionally, apart from his work with Okizu, he enjoys dedicating his time as a volunteer at various grief camps across California. Outside of camp life, Knuckles is pursuing a Masters Degree in Social Work at CSU, Chico. He hopes to use his education to continue growing within the world of camps in some capacity for many more years ahead! #OkizuStrong

Joanne Bean, MBA, BSN, RN

Special Appointee
Joanne M. Bean, MBA, BSN, RN, is President and Chief Executive Officer of Camp Sunshine, where she leads the organization’s strategic vision, operations, and philanthropy to serve children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. A seasoned nonprofit executive and healthcare professional, Joanne brings more than 30 years of experience building mission-driven organizations, securing transformational funding, and forging partnerships across healthcare, business, and government. Throughout her career, she has raised significant philanthropic support, launched innovative programs, and strengthened community engagement for nationally recognized institutions including Saint Joseph’s College, The Jackson Laboratory, and the American Diabetes Association. Known for her collaborative leadership style and ability to translate complex healthcare and scientific initiatives into compelling stories, Joanne inspires donors, staff, and stakeholders to advance meaningful impact. She holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and is a registered nurse.