Board of Directors
The Binkeez for Comfort Board® of Directors provide guidance by contributing to and oversight of the organization's culture, strategic focus, effectiveness and impact.
Galina Shtivelman
Board of Advisors
Galina is a senior finance professional with over 10 years of finance and management experience, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance, and earned an MBA from Assumption College. Currently in her role as a Campus Controller she oversees Finance, Human Resources and Administrative Operations at a Continuing Care Retirement Community in Lincoln, MA that provides premier living solutions and healthcare services to seniors. In the past she’s held finance roles in technology, publishing and public accounting industries. Being in the healthcare industry she often works to support seniors who are facing declining health.
Galina has always been a supporter of Binkeez due to her personal connection with Susan Posterro, in the past they served together as Board Members of a national children’s non-profit. When an opportunity presented itself to join the Binkeez Board she gladly accepted as she believes in the mission of the organization and the importance of giving back. She is a proud supporter of Boston Children’s Hospital and Hearing Health Foundation.
Galina along with her husband Misha reside in the Metro West and are parents to three young children, a son and two daughters.
Galina is a senior finance professional with over 10 years of finance and management experience, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance, and earned an MBA from Assumption College. Currently in her role as a Campus Controller she oversees Finance, Human Resources and Administrative Operations at a Continuing Care Retirement Community in Lincoln, MA that provides premier living solutions and healthcare services to seniors. In the past she’s held finance roles in technology, publishing and public accounting industries. Being in the healthcare industry she often works to support seniors who are facing declining health.
Galina has always been a supporter of Binkeez due to her personal connection with Susan Posterro, in the past they served together as Board Members of a national children’s non-profit. When an opportunity presented itself to join the Binkeez Board she gladly accepted as she believes in the mission of the organization and the importance of giving back. She is a proud supporter of Boston Children’s Hospital and Hearing Health Foundation.
Galina along with her husband Misha reside in the Metro West and are parents to three young children, a son and two daughters.
Christmas Gamez
Board of Advisors
I am overjoyed to join the Binkeez organization! Sue and I have had a deep, almost visceral, connection since 2011 when she learned of my son’s congenital heart condition. She offered more than just free service and support for our family at the time but what I would come to experience as an outpouring of love for almost a solid decade. Every action that comes from Sue and Binkeez for Comfort comes from a place of pure humility and love so offering support through this organization makes my heart swell. Through persistent actions of love, generosity, and humility, we are able provide a legacy for each other and our loved ones who have taught us so much and fought the hard battles.
It truly is about love.
Christina Gamez is a Registered Nursing living in the Philadelphia area. She has experience in various specialty areas of nursing, served in the US Navy for 15 years and has endured the loss of the child. She is married and has 2 living children, ages 11 and 6.
Kevin Posterro
Board of Advisors
Binkeez for Comfort® makes a real difference in the lives of those it touches by providing much needed comfort to suffering children. I am incredibly proud to be part of an amazing organization that humbly helps to improve the quality of life of children who are sick and in pain.
John McAtee
Board of Advisors
John has worked as a mathematics and languages teacher, operations research analyst, International marketing manager, engineering manager, director of internet engineering and independent consultant. He has published a calculus text and has a patent in industrial process control and is an FLMI fellow. His hobbies are reading, riding motorcycles, digital photography and working with CNC machines.
Carolyn Geoffrion
Board of Advisors
Carolyn has worked in the health care industry for 20 years with full understanding of the care and needs patients have. During her free time, she enjoys time with her daughter Alexa, working out, going to the beach and reading.
Dawn Pierkarski
Board of Advisors
Dawn is a mother of two beautiful girls and happily married to her husband Matt and she is fortunate that she is able to stay home to take care of her family. And because of the graces she has been given she feels it is her duty to pay it forward and to give herself to others. She met Susan even before Binkeez had started and when Susan asked her to be a part of it she knew it was where she needed to be. From day one the organization has had one mission that of providing comfort and love which has never changed. People ask her “how do you do it?” And her answer to that is, "because I can". The smile on the kids faces and joy a Binkeez brings is something money can’t buy. It makes her heart happy to continue to be part of this mission and to give what she can.
Mary Beth Thomsen
Board of Advisors
Mary Beth is a marketing professional, freelance writer, and author from Richmond, Virginia with a devout passion for spreading light. She has over 20 years of experience supporting corporate brands and national non-profits with their marketing strategy and communications, including the American Diabetes Association, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and the Amputee Coalition. She has a special interest in working with healthcare and wellness companies. Mary Beth also enjoys contributing to philanthropic missions as a volunteer, contributing her time and talent to help others, particularly children. She is married with a 3-year-old daughter, and has one more on the way.
Susan Posterro
(non-voting member)
Susan is an activist, philanthropist, author, Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Binkeez for Comfort®. Since departing from her over 20 year career, the journey walking alongside terminally and critically ill children has taught her so much about love and strength while forever changing her perspective and heart.
Advisory Board Members
Rachael Burrows
Board of Advisors
Rachael bravely lives each day with Cerebral Palsy. However what defines Rachael is she is T34 Canadian Paralympian, London 2012, 6 time Canadian Team member, Motivational Speaker and Ottawa Lions TFC member.
Lori Keller
Board of Advisors
I choose to volunteer at Binkeez because I saw and felt, with my own eyes and heart, the impact that a Binkeez blanket has in the life of a sick child. My daughter was diagnosed with kidney cancer (Wilm's tumor) when she was 2 years old. After her kidney removal surgery and 6 months of chemo, we celebrated the news that she was cancer free, but she was very tired and weak from treatment. She received her Binkeez while she was recovering from chemo and from the first touch, there was magic. I know that she could feel the love and comfort that is infused by the people who sew them. Her Binkeez went with her everywhere, every clinic appointment, every dr. appointment (of any kind), but also it was a picnic blanket for a tea party with her stuffed animals, a super hero cape, a mermaid tail, a fort to escape from fear and a million other things that brought her joy, happiness, love, peace and comfort during the scariest times of her young life. Now, 8 years later, that little girl has grown into a young lady, and her Binkeez is still on her bed every night, and I volunteer at Binkeez so other kids who are fighting battles instead of playing outside, know that there is a light in all this darkness.
Sarah Bucciero
Board of Advisors
Ms. Bucciero, who has guided the Angels Among Us program at BFC, will continue in that capacity. Ms. Bucciero commented, “It is an honor and privilege to work with an organization singularly dedicated to putting the children and families first.”
Ms. Bucciero, mother of Mason, Carter and Porter, has been affiliated with our founder and before BFC’s inception as a 501c3. Carter passed at age 3 after bravely fighting Grade 3 Malignant Astrocytoma Glioma. Ms. Bucciero’s dream to perpetuate Carter’s legacy began with our St. Jude BFC program, which began in 2013. She has raised more than $150,000 for St. Jude and helps BFC facilitate the St. Jude Binkeez program each year. We are privileged to welcome Sarah onto the Board, effective immediately.
On angel named Carter and a Momma's forever love.