Meet the team

A man smiling and raising his arms, wearing a black hoodie with a logo, an accreditation badge hanging around his neck, and gray sweatpants, at an outdoor event.

Ryan Shazier

Any professional football player, let alone a linebacker, must learn resilience to succeed in the game. For Ryan Shazier, the ability to bounce back and thrive comes naturally.

Despite unexpected challenges throughout his life, Ryan has met his goals, silenced his doubters and served as an inspiration to fans across the world. Now, he is turning that motivation toward increasing funding, resources and support for spinal cord injury (SCI) patients.

Board of Directors

Ryan D. Shazier
President/ Chairman

Christine Zaremski-Young
Vice Chair

Melissa Armstrong
Secretary

Violet Graham
Treasurer

Amy Bernstein
Leon Ford
Scott Hawkins
Shane Heinle
Gregg Huber
William E. Kassling
David O. Okonkwo, MD, PhD
Art Rooney II
Vernon J. Shazier, M.Div.
Meg Throckmorton
Michael P. Tomlin
Alexander Yu, MD

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    Leah Friedman

    Executive Director

    Leah serves as Executive Director of the Fund and is responsible for implementing all aspects of the organization's strategic direction and day-to-day operations. She has extensive nonprofit leadership experience both on a local and national scale, including work with the United States Tennis Association.

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    Carolyn Slayton

    Program Director

    Carolyn Slayton, the Fund’s Program Director, oversees the fulfillment of larger organizational goals to provide direct support to individuals with SCI, their families, and caregivers. She brings 7 years of experience in nonprofit programming and event planning.

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    Chris Fletcher

    Director of Organizational Advancement

    Chris Fletcher serves as Director of Organizational Advancement for the Ryan Shazier Fund for Spinal Rehabilitation and is responsible for all aspects of fundraising and outreach. He brings more than 20 years of experience in fund development, publishing, web-based content and marketing.

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    McKenzie LaFevers

    Programs and Outreach Coordinator

    McKenzie joined the Ryan Shazier Fund in April of 2025. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Point Park University and went on to spend 4 years as a chiropractic assistant and marketing coordinator. Being in a clinical setting, she gained insight into the challenges that SCI individuals face and developed a passion for advocacy and amplifying underrepresented voices.

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    Kristy Rakes

    Executive Assistant

    Graduating from Point Park University in 2004, Kristy received a Bachelor’s degree in Sports, Arts & Entertainment Management. After more than a decade in the sports and ticketing industry, she transitioned to the non-profit sector by joining the Ryan Shazier Fund in May of 2025. She looks forward to applying her skills and passion toward making a meaningful impact in the lives of others.

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    Leanne Nagle

    Communications Administrator

    Leanne Nagle has spent 20 years working in the non-profit sector, most recently specializing in communications, social media management, and content creation. As the Communications Administrator, her focus is to facilitate the communication, marketing, and advertising efforts of the Ryan Shazier Fund for Spinal Rehabilitation.

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  • A smiling older woman with short dark hair, wearing glasses, a pink top, and small earrings, standing against a pink background.

    Cathy Cuff-Coffman

    Content Writer

    Cathy Coffman serves as the content writer for the Ryan Shazier Fund for Spinal Rehabilitation. She has more than 30 years’ experience in trade, consumer and private company publication. Additionally, Coffman is a spinal cord injury warrior, obtaining a C3-7 vertebrae fracture and cord compression in March 2020.

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