Our staff and board have a strong commitment to serving the many constituents of our organization. But first and foremost, they focus their energies on those who take advantage of our programs and services.
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Randall G. Curtis,MBA PresidentRandall G. Curtis, MBA Past Board Member. Bleeding disorders advocate for the last 40 years. Person born with hemophilia.
Randall Curtis has a Bachelor of Science in genetics and an MBA in computer information systems. He has been developing data collection systems for blood disorders since 1984. Now that he has retired from public service, he devotes his time to collecting data on the Hematology Utilization Group Studies (HUGS), the Patient Reported Outcomes, Burdens and Experiences (PROBE) study and the Cost of Hemophilia Socioeconomic Survey (CHESS) projects. Mr. Curtis also serves on the board of directors for the Center for Inherited Bleeding Disorders, is the past president of the Hemophilia Council of California and has served on the HFNC Board of Directors off and on since 1979. His policy work includes the American Thrombosis & Hemostasis Network (ATHN), the National Hemophilia Foundation MASAC Pain Group and the Pacific Sickle Cell Regional Collaborative Policy Working Group.
Randy and Jackie have two sons and four grandchildren. Now that Randy and Jackie are empty nesters, they are trying to visit all of the National Parks.
January 2022 -
Dawn Pollard, Vice PresidentVice President of the Board of Directors, Former Board President with over 30 years in biotech HR. Sibling of two brothers with hemophilia and diagnosed carrier.
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Anita Bawa, TreasurerAnita Bawa, Executive Director and Quality Site Head at Allogene - Over 25 years’ experience in blood banking, biotech manufacturing, cell and gene therapy and previously worked on Factor VIII products.
Anita received her BA in Business from St. Mary’s College, followed by an MBA from the University of San Francisco and which she earned while working full time. Anita has diverse industry experience spanning a 20+ year career. She has held roles of increasing responsibility in Manufacturing, Quality Control Laboratory, and Quality Operations at Blood Bank, Genentech, Bayer and Sutro Biopharma and has lead organizations up to 200 people.
Anita joined Allogene in September 2019. In her role as Quality Site Head, Anita has done an exceptional job developing the Quality Team and providing leadership and direction to establish core processes across quality operations, site quality systems and validation, microbiology and environmental monitoring and raw material qualification.
Anita is recognized and appreciated as a decisive and pragmatic leader. She has strong technical background in biotech and GMP operations. She is goal oriented and get things done.
Anita is married and have two children (grown up) and enjoy traveling, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
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Derek Sim, SecretarySecretary - Scientist involved in drug development for hematological disorders for the last 20 years, including experience in developing hemophilia therapies.
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Kerri Borgese, BSN, RN, IBCLC, Board MemberKerri is originally from the Philadelphia suburbs, went to nursing school at Villanova University and has been living in the Bay area since 2019. She has been living with type III Von Willebrand’s disease and has been active in the bleeding disorder community. She has worked as a patient advocate and as a nurse at Camp Hemotion. She is passionate about women’s health and currently works as a labor and delivery nurse. In her free time she enjoys open water swimming, running and the great outdoors!
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Mark Helm, Board MemberActive in Fresno area hemophilia auxiliary activities for 25 years, pharmacy owner for 33 years and currently a farmer/rancher in Sanger, CA. I am a person with hemophilia as well as father of a 30 year old son with hemophilia.
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Leslie Ferber, Board Member -
Elaine Lai, Board Member -
April Steger serves as Executive Director of the Northern California Bleeding Disorders Foundation, providing strategic and operational leadership to advance the organization’s mission and strengthen its impact across the region. She oversees financial management, organizational planning, governance support, legal and regulatory compliance, human resources, and day-to-day operations, while working closely with the Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, and community partners. Her leadership is grounded in collaboration, accountability, and a deep commitment to ensuring individuals and families affected by bleeding disorders have access to education, advocacy, and support.
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Ashley Gregory serves as Associate Director of Education & Advocacy for the Northern California Bleeding Disorders Foundation. As a woman with a bleeding disorder and the parent of children with bleeding disorders, Ashley brings both lived experience and deep professional commitment to her work. She has been actively involved in the community since 2014, participating in national and local events, building relationships with stakeholders, gathering insight from families and providers, and helping shape relevant education and advocacy efforts. Her dedication to the community was recognized when she was named Volunteer of the Year in both 2015 and 2016, and she officially joined HFNC, now NorCalBDF, in spring 2019.
In her role, Ashley leads the development and delivery of education and advocacy initiatives that support individuals and families across all stages of life. She helps identify community needs, design meaningful programs, and connect members with information, tools, and resources that strengthen self-advocacy, informed decision-making, and engagement in care. She also works to elevate the voices of community members by supporting advocacy efforts, encouraging participation in policy and awareness initiatives, and helping families navigate issues that affect access, treatment, and quality of life.
Ashley plays an important role in fostering relationships throughout the bleeding disorders community, working closely with patients, caregivers, healthcare partners, volunteers, and national and local stakeholders to ensure NorCalBDF’s programs remain responsive, inclusive, and impactful. She is passionate about listening to the community, understanding the unique needs of each family, and helping create opportunities for connection, education, and empowerment. Ashley wants to get to know you, your family, and your needs, and encourages you to share what is on your mind.
In her spare time, Ashley can be found in her seaside town creating culinary delights, walking by the ocean, listening to podcasts, watching sunsets, and enjoying time with her adult children, her hairless cat, Kit, and her staffy pitbull, Bear.
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Pedro Preciado serves as Community Outreach Coordinator for the Northern California Bleeding Disorders Foundation. A proud member of the bleeding disorders community who lives with Moderate Hemophilia A, Pedro brings both personal experience and professional dedication to his work. The son of hardworking Mexican immigrant parents and a graduate of California State University, East Bay, with a degree in Psychology, he first connected with NorCalBDF by sharing his own journey and the challenges of living with Hemophilia A.
In his role, Pedro helps develop and strengthen programs that support children, teens, and families across the bleeding disorders community. He plays a key role in planning, coordinating, and supporting Family Camp and Camp Hemotion, helping create safe, encouraging environments where young people can build confidence, develop connections, and thrive. He also focuses on outreach and relationship-building with community members, helping ensure families feel welcomed, informed, and supported through Foundation programs and events.
Pedro is especially committed to serving Spanish-speaking members of the community by providing culturally responsive outreach, sharing tailored resources, and creating opportunities for connection and belonging. He helps foster engagement through education, encouragement, and cultural programming, which brings families together in celebration, joy, and unity. Pedro habla español y está comprometido a conectar con la comunidad hispanohablante para ofrecer apoyo, recursos, y una voz de empoderamiento.
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Charlette Viney is an institutional fundraising professional who believes that the right resources in the right hands can truly change lives. She comes to NorCalBDF with nearly a decade of experience working alongside health and social impact organizations, building institutional partnerships and funding relationships that allow communities to access the care and support they need. What drives Charlette is simple: she wants the organizations doing the most important work to have the funding and partnerships they need to keep doing it.
In her spare time, she enjoys mentoring girls through Girls Inc., fitness and wellness, spending time with friends and family, and adventures with her pup, Bela. She can't wait to meet you!
