2021 Summer Soiree Honorees
Thank you to our distinguished volunteers who serve on the American Cancer Society 2021 Huntsville Summer Soiree Committee. Their tireless efforts and unwavering dedication to finishing the fight against cancer are instrumental to the continued success of our event.
Interested in joining our committee? Become a committee member today by contacting Brian Anderson at 256.836.5206 or Brian.Anderson@cancer.org
Kristin Anthony
Kristin received her MBA at The University of Alabama Huntsville and is currently the President of the PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome Foundation. Kristin's PTEN journey began after she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2009. She researched her medical issues and later learned that she has a rare yet under-diagnosed hereditary cancer syndrome, PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS). Kristin quickly realized that many physicians in her community had very little knowledge of PHTS and that getting a diagnosis was difficult; coupled with a lack of educational information, Kristin met a significant unmet need of the PHTS Community and started the PHTS Foundation in 2013. Serving as the PHTS Foundation leader, Mrs. Anthony assembled a world-class leadership team to help develop programming focused on meeting the PTEN patient community's needs and advancing research. As a result, the PTEN Foundation team, in collaboration with PTEN Italia, recently launched a successful IRB-approved patient-powered registry. In addition, the team is now collaborating locally to build out a patient biorepository to advance research.
Kristin was twice nominated a Global Genes Champion of Hope by her peers, and the Governor of Alabama appointed her to serve on Alabama's Inaugural Rare Disease Advisory Council. In addition, Ms. Anthony is a Wego Health Patient Leader Hero Finalist. Kristin consistently advocates for PTEN families and all in the rare disease community, lobbying for policies that will benefit affected patients and families. Kristin is the co-chair of the Rare Disease Clinical Research Network Coalition of Patient Advocacy Groups, serves on Vanderbilt University's Impact Study Advisory Board, Every Life Foundation's Community Congress, and the HL7 Patient Empowerment Group. Professional memberships include the National Organization of Rare Disorders, Global Genes, Alabama Association of Non- Profits, ASCO, NORD's Rare Cancer Coalition, Eurordis, and The Junior League of Huntsville.
As a five-time cancer survivor and member of the PHTS Foundation team, Kristin works tirelessly to raise funds for PHTS research, educate the public about the PHTS and the lack of necessary research funding for this rare genetic hereditary cancer syndrome.
Ashlyn Seeley Everett, M.D. Radiation Oncologist
Ashlyn Seeley Everett, M.D. is a radiation oncologist with Alliance Cancer Care.
Dr. Everett, a native of Huntsville, graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in biomedical sciences from Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, and received her medical doctorate from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama. She completed her internship at Brookwood Baptist Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama, and her residency in radiation oncology at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, Alabama, where she served as Chief Resident.
During her residency, Dr. Everett was actively involved in patient and resident education, and research regarding proton therapy, breast cancer, melanoma, and intracranial and extracranial radiosurgery treatments for primary and metastatic malignancies. She has presented her research at local and national meetings and authored several publications in medical journals.
She is a member of several professional societies including the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), the American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Board of Radiology (ABR), the Madison County Medical Association, the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, and the Alabama Cancer Congress. She has served in leadership roles in both ACRO and the Alabama Cancer Congress and served on the Housestaff Council during her residency.
Dr. Everett treats all types of cancers and is committed to providing individualized treatments for each patient, using advanced technologies and comprehensive, multidisciplinary care. She chose to specialize in radiation oncology because of the unique opportunity to provide support, counseling, and guidance to patients and their families during their cancer treatment journey.
In her spare time, Dr. Everett enjoys cooking, sewing, reading, wakeboarding, ballroom dancing, playing piano, and scuba diving. She lives in Huntsville with her husband, Bob, and their daughter.
Dynetics, Inc.
Dynetics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leidos, provides responsive, cost-effective engineering, scientific, IT solutions to the national security, cybersecurity, space, and critical infrastructure sectors. Our portfolio features highly specialized technical services and a range of software and hardware products, including components, subsystems, and complex end-to-end systems. The company of more than 3,000 employees is based in Huntsville, Ala., and has offices throughout the U.S.
Gary Huckaby
Gary C. Huckaby, Jr., Ph.D., is a nationally recognized author, consultant and professional speaker working with wide a variety of corporations ranging from small family-owned businesses to Fortune 500 companies throughout the United States and abroad.
He received his Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Mississippi, his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alabama. As a founding partner and President of Huckaby Consulting Group, Inc. he has been the recipient of the “National Durrance Award” given to the most outstanding academic advisor, the “Delta Leadership Award”, the Small Business Administration “Excellence in Consulting” Award—Mississippi, 1995, Junior Achievement “Instructor of the Year”— 2001 for the State of Alabama and the “Commanders Leadership Award” from Redstone Arsenal 2007. Huckaby Consulting Group, Inc. provides Keynote speeches, Leadership Training, Executive Coaching and since 1990, have been providing nationwide Employee Assistance Program management at a concierge type level. He also works with both amateur and professional athletes in a variety of sports including, several division one football programs including the University of Alabama, Nick Saban’s football camps Auburn and Louisiana State University (LSU), along with NASCAR, USTA, PGA and the NFL.
He has published numerous articles in both professional journals and trade magazines and authored two books, “Lead Like a Lizard” and “Build a Bridge and Get Over It.” He has shared the stage with names such as Zig Ziglar, Ken Blanchard, Kevin Elko, First Lady Barbara Bush, Katie Couric, Dave Ramsey, Joe Montana, and Senator Trent Lott. Beyond the motivational and leadership talks he also speaks frequently on Violence in the Workplace, Drug Usage in the Workplace, Ethics, Harassment, Dealing with Change, Building High Performance Teams, Time Management, and all forms of Business Communication.
In the past twenty-five years he has built an impressive resume’ including, teaching at both the elementary and collegiate level, owning a construction company, hosting a daily talk radio show, and taking an interim role as President of an international manufacturing company. He also is an Assistant Professor of Management at Athens State University.
His hobbies include golf, hunting, and fishing, coaching softball, welding, scuba diving, house boating, carpentry and flying. He also serves on multiple advisory boards in the Huntsville community. Gary and his wife Stacey have two daughters attending the University of Alabama and reside in Huntsville, Alabama.
Cathy Lee
Cathy Akin Lee grew up in Huntsville, the daughter of Ruby and the late Dr. Joe Akin. Cathy attended Huntsville High School and married her high school sweetheart, Dr. David Lee. Cathy graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation. She worked as a teacher with autistic children at Allen Cott schools and later as the Red Cross Share coordinator while her husband was in Optometry school in Birmingham. Cathy and David moved back to Huntsville in 1988. Their first son Parker was born that year and Cathy settled into raising a family. They have three kids, that are all back in Huntsville. Parker (wife Ryan) is owner of Old Town Plumbing. Their middle son, Hunter (wife Lorin) is a Chiropractor at Invision Chiropractic. Their youngest daughter Jordan recently moved back and works Physician Relations at SportsMED. Cathy enjoys playing tennis, spending time with her kids and grandkids, traveling and loves planting flowers and working in the yard.
Fortunately, for Cathy, her first bout with cancer was caught early before there was any lymph node involvement. She was diagnosed with ER PR positive breast cancer from an annual mammogram that found a lump. After a bilateral mastectomy, 6 rounds of chemotherapy and 5 years of Tamoxifen she felt it was all behind her. However, 14 years later another lump was found in residual breast tissue. She never thought she would have to worry about breast cancer again considering she had a mastectomy. The second time was new cancer with a different genotype. Cathy along with her doctors decided the best option was to undergo 6 more rounds of chemotherapy followed by 35 radiation treatments. She has started back on endocrine treatment that will continue for the next 10 years.
Cathy feels it is important to stay strong and never doubt the ability of the mind over body. Both of her bouts with breast cancer followed a stressful time in her life. Don't sweat the small things and live every day to the fullest. Cathy realizes how fortunate she is that her cancers were caught early. She has never questioned why me but has always believed that God has a plan for us all. She does not let her day be consumed by worry and looking in the past but continues to look ahead and move forward.
Chanda Davis
Chanda Davis holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Alabama Huntsville, a Master of Art in Biology Education, and an Education Specialist degree from Alabama A&M University.
Chanda was a former science teacher for Huntsville City Schools where she taught for 17 years. She was awarded the Presidential Math and Science Teaching Award presented by President Barak Obama. She also is a National Board Certified Teacher and was Alabama Science Teacher of the Year, Huntsville City Schools Teacher of the Year, PTA Teacher of the Year and a National Finalist for Shells Oil Companies’ Science Teacher Award.
She is currently the founder, owner, and Qualifying Broker of Chanda Davis Real Estate, established in 2018, Valley Metro Property Management, established in 2019, and Superior School of Real Estate by Chanda, launched in 2017. She currently manages over 95 of the top selling agents in Huntsville/Madison County. Chanda is also an apprentice auctioneer for Cole Auctions.
Chanda is an active participant of the community. She supports the charity Kids to Love. She has a special love for foster and under-privileged children and battered women. Aside from volunteering with other non-profit organizations and feeding the homeless, she provides real estate scholarships and sponsors new agents starting in the career of real estate. She is a continuous supporter for Williams Elementary, Jemison High School, the National Association of REALTIST, local sports teams, and many civic organizations in the community. Chanda serves as an Ambassador for the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce.
Chanda is the proud mother of three daughters, Cierra (currently serving in the US Army), Cianna (currently a registered nurse), and Cilyah (currently an aspiring REALTOR/volleyball coach). She’s the grandmother of two amazing granddaughters, Cailyn and Caidyn. She’s married to Mr. Telly Lanier, recently retired as a mental health professional.
Chanda is dedicated to supporting in the fight of cancer through donating to various organizations, especially St. Jude. Her fight began in the classroom through service projects geared to making a difference for students fighting cancer and other genetic disorders. Chanda was adopted at the age of 4, but later in life had the wonderful privilege of reuniting with her biological mother. That connection was suddenly taken away through the devastation of lung cancer. This tragedy ignited a stronger desire to join the fight against cancer.
Chad Geurin
Melissa Kronk
I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend & a cancer survivor. I’m proud of each & every title because they all have made me the person that I have become. But never did I think that the words “CANCER SURVIVOR” would be 1 of my titles & how much it would change me. It has led me on an amazing journey that introduced me to many different, wonderful people & doctors that I would have never come across if not being diagnosed with cancer.
When I turned 40 I started to get my mammograms yearly. Not because of family breast cancer history, but because I was blessed with a wonderful husband, 2 beautiful, healthy children & thought “well, my insurance covers mammograms so let’s get it going!” In 2019 my family physician & friend Dr. Sunitha Ghanta called advising me that I was 3 months overdue on my mammogram. Within just a few days I was diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) in my right breast. When initially diagnosed I laid my faith into the wonderful hands of Dr. Sunitha Ghanta & Dr. MK Ghanta which led me to the rest of my core cancer doctors, Dr. Audree Tadros, Dr. Jack Gleason, Dr. Daniel Schreeder along with so many other amazing physicians & medical staff that helped me along the way.
I was born & raised in Pittsburgh PA. I moved to Huntsville when I 1st got married to Kirk Kronk who was employed by PPG’s Aerospace Division. My expectation was to only live in Huntsville for 1 year & then move back to Pittsburgh which so happens to be PPG’s corporate headquarters & to reunite with both of our families. Well, 18 years later here we are raising our children in this great town we still call home. Our daughter Lauren Francesca, 15 is a sophomore at Randolph School & loves athletics which include volleyball, pole vaulting, javelin & discus. Our son Collin Frederick 12, is in 7th grade at Randolph/Greengate Division & has the love for baseball behind home plate as a catcher for Randolph & Mayfair Park. My husband Kirk retired 4 years ago from PPG after being employed with them for 37 ½ years & the timing could not have been more perfect! Our grand plan was for us to both enjoy our children while they’re still young. Little did we know how our life would change in just a few short years after him retiring. His retirement turned out to be more of a blessing, not only for our family time together but to navigate this journey that cancer put us on. As a team we tackled it head on trying not to disrupt our children’s lives as we met with doctors, surgeries & treatments.
A few passions of mine besides my beautiful family are Greengate School for dyslexic children, Felines & Canines Hunter Stephenson Rescue Center, gardening, travel, cooking, entertaining & spending time with my loving friends that make my life better!
If you remember anything at all, it is to please get your mammogram yearly & do your self-examinations…..it could save your life!
John Waples
Dr. John Waples earned his Medical Degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine, where he also completed his internship, residency and fellowship. While at the University of Florida he was a Clinical Fellow in Medical Oncology with specialization in Bone Marrow Transplant. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine and is board certified in Medical Oncology. He has been certified with FACT as a certified bone marrow transplant physician.
Dr. Waples also maintains an active research effort. He has written multiple study protocols which are for the benefit of patients in the North Alabama area. His research studies have been opened by multiple cancer centers across the nation to further oncology advancements.
Dr. Waples and his wife have four children. He enjoys cheering on the Florida Gators, and as an avid hunter, he holds the record in Tennessee for the highest-ranked turkey ever taken according to the National Wildlife Turkey Federation, with the turkey holding the #8 spot nationally.
