Barry Massa was born in Cincinnati, but grew up in Indianapolis and Carmel, Indiana. His undergrad and M.B.A. was at Xavier University.

What drew him to the Donate Life mission was a friend of their family, the Hollenkamps, who had a daughter, Aubrey, with heart and lung complications since birth. She required a transplant and received her heart and lung transplant at age 2. A few years after her transplant, Massa saw an ad in the newspaper for Chief Financial Officer at Network for Hope’s legacy organization, LifeCenter Organ Donor Network (LifeCenter), and its affiliated tissue bank, U.S. Tissue and Cell. He called Jerry Hollenkamp and inquired about LifeCenter. Jerry told him, “You should apply. You’re exactly what they need.” 

Massa has been in the field of organ and tissue donation for more than 20 years. He started as the CFO of both LIfeCenter and U.S. Tissue and Cell. In 2008, he became the Executive Director of LifeCenter. He said he could not have dreamt of working in an organ procurement organization, but it was by far the best professional decision he ever made.

Julie Bergin is a native of Louisville, Kentucky. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Bellarmine University and a Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Cincinnati.

Bergin’s journey into the mission of organ donation was sparked by a sense of purpose and empathy. As a nurse, she witnessed the devastating impact the loss of a loved one could have on families and was able to observe the legacy found by those choosing organ and tissue donation during such a time. She felt called to make a difference and ensure that every gift finds the right recipient. In the past five years, donation and transplantation also touched Bergin’s personal life when a close friend required an emergency liver transplant due to a medication interaction. Witnessing the gift of donation only reinforced her commitment to the mission.

Bergin has spent 18 years at Network for Hope’s legacy organization, Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA), in a variety of roles, from frontline clinical staff to executive leadership. Under KODA, she was the President and CEO for seven years and served on a number of committees supporting the industry over the years.

Matthew Niles grew up in Pennsylvania. He went to The Center for Executive Education at the Fox School of Business at Temple University; the Aresty Institute of Executive Education at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania; and Mansfield University of Pennsylvania.

As a former emergency room and critical care nurse, Niles has had the opportunity to care for donors and their families at the bedside. Inspired by the power of organ, tissue, and eye donation, he’s chosen to make it his life’s work. As a donor family, transplant recipient friend, and friend of someone whose gift of an organ transplant did not come in time, Niles is passionate about the Donate Life mission and doing all we can to honor donors and their families, and work to eliminate the national transplant waitlist.

Under Network for Hope’s legacy organization, LifeCenter Organ Donor Network, Niles was the Chief Operating Officer, and previous to that, he was the Director of Clinical Services at the Washington Regional Transplant Community. Overall, Niles has been in healthcare for 25 years.

Joel Chase is from Miamisburg, Ohio, and is a proud alum of Wright State University, where he received his bachelor’s degree, and Louisiana State University Shreveport, where he received his Master of Business Administration.

Chase’s passion lies in utilizing his education and experiences to positively impact others. His personal and professional aspiration is to perpetually learn and employ his skills for the betterment of society.

At Network for Hope’s Legacy organization, LifeCenter Organ Donor Network, Chase was the Organ Donation Director. He’s been in the field of organ donation and transplantation for more than 16 years.

Bobby Schrichten is from Felicity, Ohio, and went to Felicity-Franklin High School.

Schrichten was drawn to the life-saving mission because it’s his passion to help all that he comes in contact with, and to help them realize the importance of registering as an organ, tissue, and eye donor. He is an advocate for the recipients waiting, and is a tireless supporter and advocate of Network for Hope’s donors and their families. Schrichten also wants to continue to seek opportunities to engage with underrepresented communities, and to promote a working environment where all staff, volunteers, and visitors feel like they belong.

Schrichten has been in the organ procurement field for more than 19 years. He most recently served as the Authorization and Support Services Director at Network for Hope’s legacy organization, LifeCenter Organ Donor Network.

Brian Roe is originally from the Tidewater area of Virginia. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Chowan University in Murfreesboro, North Carolina, and earned his Master of Science Degree in Strategic Leadership from Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota. He is also a Certified Tissue Bank Specialist.

Roe is a donor family member. His father, Dale Evans Roe, gave the gift of tissue and eye upon his passing in 2009.

Roe has been in the field of organ and tissue donation for 24 years. He previously served as the Chief Clinical Officer at Network for Hope’s legacy organization, Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates. He also had positions at LifeGift, Community Tissue Services, Donate Life Indiana, and LifeNet Health. He has a longstanding affiliation with the American Association of Tissue Banks and served as the Chair of Recovery and Donor Eligibility Council and Board of Governors from 2018-2019. Roe has additionally served on various United Network for Organ Sharing committees, including the Transplant Administrators Committee, and has been active with the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations. As the Executive Vice President and Chief Partnership Office for Network for Hope, Roe is responsible for identifying, developing, and managing relationships with key stakeholders, including donor hospitals, transplant programs, tissue processors, strategic vendors, and community organizations.

***Bio still to come***

Patricia (Tish) Geftos received her Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Louisville and a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Seton Hall University.

Prior to joining Network for Hope’s legacy organization, Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates, Geftos spent 18 years in the behavioral healthcare industry. During that time, she was recognized for her expertise in trauma and quality by the Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities, and was frequently being asked to consult and participate on a variety of statewide projects and change initiatives.

Geftos values opportunities to inspire and mentor others, and enjoys collaborating with employees and community partners to achieve positive change and success in the life-saving mission of donation.

Geftos has devoted her career to furthering the missions of various nonprofit healthcare organizations. She has over 24 years of experience as a leader, with much of that time serving as an expert in improvement and performance excellence. As Executive Vice President and Chief Performance Excellence Officer for Network for Hope, Geftos provides oversight on compliance, data, and improvement, as well as coordinating the organization’s business continuity efforts. She has established Network for Hope’s overarching quality infrastructure and engaged both governance and operations leadership in creating a culture that supports compliance and continuous improvement while striving for excellence.

Tracie Shelton’s hometown is in Independence, Kentucky. She has a bachelor’s degree from Mount Saint Joseph University and a Master of Nurse Executive Leadership from Northern Kentucky University. She’s a recipient of the 2018 Mount Saint Joseph Alumni Leadership Award. She is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality.

Working at a mission-driven organization aligns with Shelton’s professional and personal goals. When not working, she and her husband have a nonprofit, Spear Head Missions, with a focus on being the extension of God’s hand to others.

As a Nurse Executive, Shelton has more than 15 years of experience in healthcare and related fields. Under Network for Hope’s legacy organization, LifeCenter Organ Donor Network, Shelton served as the Chief Administration and Process Improvement Officer.

Angela Watkins is Network for Hope’s Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer. She is a strategic leader with over 20 years in the Human Resources field, with deep experience providing strategic guidance to the HR function and operational departments to support the overall goals of the organization. Watkins has extensive experience developing and enhancing organizational culture and has served the donation and transplantation community in various capacities during her career, including serving on the AOPO Human Resources Council (2016–20). As Chief Strategy Officer, she is responsible for the execution of strategic initiatives and evaluating areas for opportunity and growth in alignment with Network for Hope’s organizational goals as well as the alignment of culture, communication, and employee engagement to shape Network for Hope’s organizational values to ensure the success of our mission. Watkins is from Louisville, KY and received her BS from the University of Louisville. She carries certifications from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, PHR from the HRCI, as well as her OSHA-10 certification, and SHRM-CP from SHRM.

Andi Johnson is a seasoned communications professional, with a wealth of experience in both the public and private sectors. Her extensive background in managing external communications demonstrates her commitment to important causes. She is a certified facilitator in Crucial Conversations and Crucial Accountability, which underscores her commitment to effective communication and conflict resolution. She has a diverse skill set and a broad understanding of communications strategies.

Outside of her professional life, Andi enjoys golfing and traveling. She is also involved in various local organizations, such as Women’s Alliance, Adopt-a-Class, and Girlfriend’s Inc., all of which illustrate her commitment to community engagement and networking.

Johnson has been involved in organ procurement for 20 years, reflecting her dedication and passion for helping to change lives through donation and transplantation. Under Network for Hope’s legacy organization, LifeCenter Organ Donor Network, Johnson was the Director of Community Relations for 19 years.

Ryan Etienne is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Network for Hope. He is responsible for the Organization’s Finance, Materials Management, Sterilization, and Facility programs. Etienne has been a CFO in the field of organ and tissue donation for eight years and has previously held leadership positions with Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates. He also has previous experience in public accounting, primarily auditing healthcare and not-for-profit entities. Etienne is Chair of the Board for Kentucky Hospital Insurance Company and is a member of the Kentucky Society of Certified Public Accounts, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Financial Executives International, and Healthcare Financial Management Association. He is originally from Magnet, Indiana and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky. He is a donor family, as his father, Frederick Etienne, provided the gift of tissue and cornea upon his passing in 2024.