Branden Lombardi (President)

Branden started The Branden Lombardi Foundation while undergoing his second cycle of chemotherapy treatment for Osteogenic Sarcoma or bone cancer. Through personal experience as a cancer patient, he feels that more needs to be done to improve the quality of life for cancer patients undergoing treatment currently. Branden uses this as his motivation for The Branden Lombardi Foundation, which has adopted its founder’s mission of “Improving the quality of life for cancer patients today.”

Valerie Lombardi (Executive Director)

Valerie has taken a very active role as the treasurer of The Branden Lombardi Foundation. Not only has she spent the past five years at Branden’s side while he has undergone his numerous surgeries and treatments for cancer, but she has used her extensive background as a member and treasurer of several boards to guide the financial aspect of the Branden Lombardi Foundation. A graduate of San Francisco State University with a degree in Education, she has served as Treasurer for the Chestnut Branch of Children’s Hospital of Oakland, the PTO of Pleasanton Middle School, the PTO of Kyrene De Los Cerritos Elementary School, and most recently as Treasurer for the Mountain Pointe Little League in Phoenix, Arizona.

Christopher Kotterman (Secretary)

Chris has been involved with the Branden Lombardi Foundation since its inception. His ideas and experience are valuable assets to the Foundation. Chris is currently a policy advisor for the Democratic Caucus of the Arizona State Senate, advising policymakers on issues that relate to education.

When not performing his official duties witth the foundation, Chris also volunteers with the Phoenix Fire Department, helping members of the community cope with traumatic events.

Chris graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Political Science, and holds a Master of Journalism from the University of Maryland, Collge Park. He is also a certified Emergency Medical Technician.

Bruce Lombardi (Director)

Bruce brings over twenty years of fundraising experience to The Branden Lombardi Foundation. After graduating from California State University Sacramento with a degree in Criminal Justice, Bruce began working with fundraising giant Princeton Industries Focusing on educational fundraising with local schools and other organizations such as little league baseball, youth soccer and youth cheerleading groups. For the past eighteen years he has run his own fundraising company, the Marathon Company, LLC which has become a leader in fundraising throughout the southwest.

Steve Kelly (Director)

Steve began his involvement with the Branden Lombardi Foundation before becoming a member of the Board of Directors through his 15-year relationship with Branden and while assisting Branden with his golf tournament. A graduate of Southern Methodist University, Steve brings his over 28 years of experience at the Hewlett-Packard Company and other technology firms where he held various sales leadership positions.

Sue Sadecki (Director)

Sue Sadecki, MS Ed., is Bachelor’s and Master’s prepared from the University of Kansas. She has 17 years’ experience in the administrative management, business development and strategic planning of health management, prevention and wellness services.

From 1999 to 2002, Sue managed the prevention and wellness programs of both the commercial and medicaid product lines for UnitedHealthcare in Arizona developing and designing population health management programs to strategically align interventions to insure measurable quality outcomes.

In 2004 Sue joined Sun Health as the director of the Community Education and Wellness Centers in Sun City, Arizona. Her responsibilities include the administrative management of seven nonprofit community-based wellness centers.

Sue’s passion is the development and alignment of individuals’ core talents and strengths empowering them to find their voice and inspire others.

Daniel Strange (Director)

Daniel has been involved with the foundation from its beginnings as well. Daniel graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in Sociology and from Dallas Theological Seminary with a Master’s of Theology. He currently works as a Pastor to High School Students in Castro Valley, CA.

George Uema (Director)

George has participated in the Chip in to Fight Cancer golf tournaments for over seven years. Seeing the passion of Branden and the BLF, he was moved to take a more active role as a board member.  He also serves on the Ironwood Financial advisory council, has been a board member for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the East Valley and TCH – The Centers for Habilitation, advisory board member for The Radden Companies, and the “65 Roses” (Cystic Fibrosis) Foundation golf charity title sponsor for five years where he received their inaugural individual contributors award.

He brings over 30 years of sales through senior management experience, including 20 years with Hewlett-Packard where he managed the team responsible for their 2nd largest account in the world. George graduated from the University of Wisconsin, received a Global Leadership Certification from the American Graduate School of International Management – Thunderbird, is married with two children and two grandchildren, involved with his church, enjoys mentoring/coaching, golf…when he can, and as a 3rd-degree judo black belt at the age of 20, was an instructor, on the black belt board of examiners, certified national referee, Junior Olympic coach, went undefeated as the 9-time Wisconsin Men’s Judo Champion.