Susan Resko received her Masters from J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University.  Susan served as CABF’s development director for five years before accepting the position of CABF’s executive director. Prior to joining CABF, Susan was a vice president at a major financial institution. She also volunteers on other non-profit boards and fundraising organizations. Susan and her husband have three children.

Liz has been Development Director since July 2008, but her involvement with CABF goes back much further.  She was a member of CABF’s Board of Directors for six years, and was Treasurer for most of that time.  Her earlier career was in banking.  She worked at Citibank for 15 years, where she was a Vice President who dealt primarily with large corporations. She earned her BA from Wellesley College and has an MBA in Finance from Columbia University.  Liz has two adult sons, one of whom was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age eleven.

Nanci is a licensed social worker with a masters degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.  She has been with CABF for over 7 years, first as a volunteer and now in her current position coordinating the online support programming and volunteers.   Prior to CABF Nanci has working in the elementary school setting with autistic children.  She also has over 10 years of management experience in the health insurance industry.  Nanci and her husband have three teenage daughters, two of whom were diagnosed with bipolar disorder at ages 9 and 10.

Shira Raider formerly provided support to the management and staff of ACORN Housing, a nationwide non-profit counseling agency for low and moderate income families. As a part of the CABF staff, she fulfills her particular interest in grassroots empowerment through connecting parents and caregivers of children to the resources that allow them to take control of their family’s health and well-being. 

Chris Seale is the podcast coordinator for CABF, working closely with volunteers to produce Flipswitch the Bipolar and Depression Connection, CABF's podcast for teens and young adults. Originally from the South, he has advanced degrees in psychology, philosophy and sociology and is on the road to seeking his doctorate in clinical psychology. Chris enjoys talking with his podcast co-hosts about the questions concerning mood disorders that don't necessarily have firm answers but are important nevertheless.  

With an education in psychology and child development, joining CABF in 2007 convinced Denisse that it was the right path for her to follow.  She now works directly with parents to find the best resources and answers any questions that parents may have regarding the website. “Working with families with children with bipolar disorder has added tremendous value to me as a person and I can say with conviction that working for a non-profit organization such as CABF has been an immensely enriching experience.” 

CABF VOLUNTEERS

Lolli Ross, MS, CAS
Family Response Team Leader

Lolli has been passionately involved in the disability rights movement for the past 30 years to help create communities where everyone’s unique gifts are valued. She has been actively involved in the development of a variety of parent support and advocacy programs in CT and applied her experience in cyberspace initiating the Family Response Team when CABF went live in 2000. Witnessing the power of parent to parent support has kept Lolli strongly tied to the Family Response Team as each parent who connects is reassured they are not alone and there is hope in the challenges they may face.

"CABF has been a lifeline of information, resources and support for my family and countless others. I am proud to be a part of this vital foundation."

Julia Small
 Assistant Family Response Team Leader

Lolli has been passionately involved in the disability rights movement for the past 30 years to help create communities where everyone’s unique gifts are valued. She has been actively involved in the development of a variety of parent support and advocacy programs in CT and applied her experience in cyberspace initiating the Family Response Team when CABF went live in 2000. Witnessing the power of parent to pare

Shortly after my son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 4, feeling very alone, scared, and in need of seeking support, knowledge, and resources I found CABF. CABF quickly became my second home, where I formed very supportive friendships with other parents facing the same issues. I have been passionately involved as a volunteer forum moderator for the last 10 years trying to offer others the same support and knowledge that I was greeted with when I came to CABF. I have a lot of experience with a wide variety of medications, hospitalizations, therapy, respite services, the special education process, the Katie Beckett program, and co-morbid disorders.

Brenda is a registered nurse with a background in critical care and home health care. After having 4 children she spent several years volunteering at a local free medical clinic.   Her oldest child has BP and Tourette’s Syndrome, and the second oldest has BP and Asperger’s Syndrome.  Early in the course of seeking answers she found CABF and joined a support group which she describes as having been “my lifeline for the past several years.”  Brenda began volunteering a few years ago, first as a support group moderator, and later adding moderation of the forums to her job duties.  Brenda told CABF “I love being able to help other parents and family members who are struggling through diagnosis and treatment difficulties.  I feel like it’s the least I can do to repay all the wonderful support, encouragement and knowledge I have received from others over the years”.

I came to CABF 9 years ago when my daughters were 12 years old and newly diagnosed. I would post on the forums and spend time in the chat rooms where I found the support I needed to face each day. A year later I joined a support group that was so helpful but as the chat rooms became less active I missed them very much. I used to start and end my days in there because I could cry and laugh with people who understood what it was like to travel on this very difficult road. I have become very passionate about keeping the chat rooms active and supportive because I know first hand how helpful they can be. Now that my daughters are 21 and doing very well I want nothing more then to give back to CABF and to support and help others gain the strength that I have found since I first came here.

Julie Joyce
Assistant Chat Team Leader

Brenda is a registered nurse with a background in critical care and home health care. After having 4 children she spent several years volunteering at a local free medical clinic.   Her oldest child has BP and Tourette’s Syndrome, and the second oldest has BP and Asperger’s Syndrome.  Early in the course of seeking answers she found CABF and joined a support group which she describes as having been “my lifeline for the past several years.”  Brenda began volunteering a few years ago, first as a support group moderator, and later adding moderation of the forums to her job duties. 

Carrie Miannan
Support Groups Team Leader

I came to CABF 9 years ago when my daughters were 12 years old and newly diagnosed. I would post on the forums and spend time in the chat rooms where I found the support I needed to face each day. A year later I joined a support group that was so helpful but as the chat rooms became less active I missed them very much. I used to start and end my days in there because I could cry and laugh with people who understood what it was like to travel on this very difficult road.

Cindy Morphew
Assistant Support Groups Team Leader

Cindy Morphew has been a CABF member for 5 years. She has two adult children – a daughter, and a son with bipolar or a related mood disorder who is currently working part-time and attending community college part-time.  Cindy’s family also includes two dogs (Beau and Zoey) and two cats (Dundee and Clive). Cindy works as a marketing director at a software company in Ann Arbor, Michigan and despite her location is a loyal  Michigan State Spartan fan.