Cancer Support Community South Bay

Jillian Van Leuven, MPA
Executive Director
Jillian is thrilled to join Cancer Support Community South Bay as their Executive Director. She has 20+ years experience working in the nonprofit sector with a proven track record of facilitating progressive organizational growth through the development of new service lines, mentoring and developing staff and creating a robust stakeholder community. Her passion for CSC South Bay’s mission and vision is unparalleled. Recently, losing her best friend to Lymphoma has ignited the spark to support cancer patients and their loved ones as they manage living life with a cancer diagnosis so that no one faces cancer alone.

Jillian obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from San Francisco State University and her Master’s degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in Nonprofit Management from California State University, Northridge. She enjoys being active with husband and two boys and is a devoted pet parent to her sweet kitty Jax. 

Nancy Lomibao, MS, LMFT
LMFT# 36645
Program Director/Chief Clinical Officer
Nancy has been at Cancer Support Community South Bay since May 2014. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and earned her M.S. Degree in Marriage Family & Child Counseling in 1996 from California State University Dominguez Hills.  She enjoys working with adults, teens, children and couples.

Theresa Plakos
Public Relations Director
Theresa joined Cancer Support Community South Bay in 2010 after a good friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her passion for her work was further fueled by the loss of her father and stepfather to lung cancer. She started as the Public Relations-Outreach Manager and assumed the position of Public Relations Director in 2015. Theresa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State University Long Beach. She enjoys working with the local media as well as the medical and non-medical communities throughout the South Bay and surrounding areas to spread the word about Cancer Support Community’s many free programs, services and fundraising events.

Pam Martis
Director of Operations & Finance
Pam joined Cancer Support Community South Bay in November 2014 using her financial experience to manage all organizational accounting and finances. Pam also has a love for raising funds through silent auctions and solicits over 500 items a year for our fundraising events.

Carla Bick
Data Analyst and Reporting Specialist
Carla joined Cancer Support Community South Bay in April 2021. She served as our Cancer Support Navigator for the last 3 ½ years and most recently took a new role as Data Analyst and Reporting Specialist. Originally from the East coast she moved with her family to Redondo Beach in 2018 where she lived until September 2024. She currently resides and works remotely from Sarasota, Florida.  Carla holds a Master’s Degree in social work from New York University she has 25+ years of work experience in both the not-for-profit and corporate industries.

Goli Eslami
Event & Volunteer Manager
Goli joined the team in 2023. She is passionate about supporting Cancer Support Community South Bay’s mission as she lost her own mother to a short battle with lung cancer two years ago. For the past 5 years, Goli has served on the Board of Directors for Vistas for Children, a nonprofit supporting kids in need in the South Bay area. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and is a certified health coach.

Norma Gonzalez
Bilingual Cancer Support Navigator
Norma joined Cancer Support Community South Bay in 2022 and has a lot of fun managing the Kids Community events and outreach efforts. She previously worked in a mental health service agency doing outreach and managing data entry for their home visitation program. She enjoys knitting, true crime podcasts, and taking her niece out to parks on the weekend. Norma earned her B.A. degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Law and Society from UC Davis in 2018.

Karla Haynes, MS, LMFT
LMFT# 100393
Bilingual Associate Clinical Supervisor
Karla Haynes is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, with a Masters in Science from Cal State Dominguez Hills. Karla has dedicated her career to serving her community in various clinical and management roles. She is passionate about helping people find purpose through life’s changes, helping them to make the most of opportunities and improve their quality of life. She enjoys learning about different cultures and generations, and believes each person holds a beautiful life history. Karla is fluent in Spanish and will be helping to increase Cancer Support Community South Bay’s services for Spanish-speakers. She has lived in the South Bay area for over 25 years and has been happily married for 23 years, with 2 children. She enjoys outdoor activities, traveling, and connecting with her friends and family.

Melody Lomboy-Lowe
Development Coordinator
Melody, a Southern California native, has shown remarkable resilience since being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at age six. Her journey as a cancer warrior began early, advocating nationally for cancer charities and raising funds for research. Melody has authored multiple books for the cancer and grief community through the Luna Peak Foundation that she is the co-founder of.

A graduate of UC Irvine with degrees in Sociology and Art History, Melody excelled as a collegiate swimmer on scholarship. Inspired by her cancer experience, she remains deeply involved in her community, volunteering for non-profits, practicing yoga, swimming, and prioritizing family.

Vinian Bjazevich Meyer
Participant Engagement & Operations Manager
Vinian first learned about Cancer Support Community South Bay when her brother was diagnosed with lung cancer. She received her Nonprofit Management Certificate from Loyola Marymount University and enjoys supporting many South Bay organizations. She previously worked at Sony Pictures Entertainment in Client Operations and has experience working in the nonprofit sector. Vinian is local to the South Bay and lives in the Hollywood Riviera with her husband and two children. She enjoys strolling through the village with her husband and golden retriever, spending time at the beach, and attending fun events in the South Bay.

Kelsey Schaible
Marketing and Communications Manager
Kelsey brings over 13 years of corporate graphic design and marketing experience to her role as Marketing and Communications Manager.
Born and raised in Severna Park, Maryland, Kelsey received her BA in Communication with a focus on Digital Media from Loyola University Maryland. Kelsey values the humanness behind design and communication. She believes great design evokes emotion and leaves a lasting impression.

Cristina Scott
Outreach and Kids Community Manager
Cristina joined Cancer Support Community South Bay in October 2024 as a graduate Marriage and Family Therapy intern from Pepperdine University, where she is set to graduate with an MA in Clinical Psychology in September 2025. She simultaneously transitioned into the role of Outreach and Kids Community Manager, where she enjoys connecting with families, planning monthly Kids Community events, and witnessing the positive impact of CSC’s services. Cristina also sees clients individually and co-facilitates support groups. Her dedication to the cancer community is deeply personal, as her father battles chronic blood cancer, and both a close friend and aunt are breast cancer survivors.

Rebecca Sul
Program Manager
Rebecca joined Cancer Support Community South Bay in 2021 and manages all programmatic scheduling, online registration, and participant support. She is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and previously supported over 450 students experiencing homelessness in Orange County with free academic support and school supplies. She also volunteers as a Sexual Assault Advocate through Waymakers and Virtual Lodging /Reunification Team Lead for the Red Cross in Orange County.

Kari Wendt, M.A., APCC 11021
Facilitator
Kari joined Cancer Support Community South Bay in January of 2020 as a graduate intern. She earned her MA in clinical mental health counseling from Northwestern University in 2021 and is now an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor. A naturally optimistic person, Kari’s clinical approach includes helping clients to accept their current reality while tuning in to their individual hopes and strengths.