Board of Directors - Synovial Sarcoma Foundation

Nathan Imperiale

Chairman of the Board

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Nathan Imperiale

Chairman of the Board

Nathan Imperiale’s connection to synovial sarcoma is deeply personal: his husband, Eddie Cohen, is currently battling the disease. Professionally, Nathan is Co-CEO of NJI, a global marketing and communications agency where he leads creative strategy for Fortune 100 companies, heads of state, and international institutions. He previously served as Director of Digital Media for the United States Congress and worked in the White House Office of Communications. Nathan lives in Washington, DC, with Eddie and their three wonderful children.

Email:Nathan@synovialsarcoma.org

Chas Spence

Founder & Executive Director

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Chas Spence

Founder & Executive Director

Chas Spence founded the Synovial Sarcoma Foundation Facebook Community following his 16 year old son Callan’s diagnosis of Synovial Sarcoma in 2022. The Community has collected data on over 300 Synovial Sarcoma cases from around the world. In 2023, Chas and his wife Laura partnered with CHOP & HUP and committed $600K and raised over $2M to launch: 1) The National Synovial Sarcoma Tumor Board, 2) The National Synovial Sarcoma Registry & Biorepository, and 3) Fund the Pediatric Tumor Glow Trial for Sarcoma Patients. Chas is a former management consultant and current business owner and strategic investor in the FinTech, Fitness and Real Estate sectors. Chas lives in Austin, TX with Laura and their 3 kids-Callan (20), Cecilia (18), and Max (14)

Email:Chas@synovialsarcoma.org

Laura Spence

Founder & Board Member

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Laura Spence

Founder & Board Member

Laura Spence serves as the primary caretaker for her son, Callan Spence, and his +3-year journey with Synovial Sarcoma. Laura was by Callan’s side during the dozens of medical procedures required to manage the disease. Laura interviewed over five hospitals from around the country before selecting their care team with CHOP. Laura graduated with a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Texas and was a licensed therapist in Texas and worked for Dallas Children’s Hospital. Laura has served as a Board Member at several non-profits, including Eastside Alliance, & The University of Texas Fine Arts Department.

Email:Laura@synovialsarcoma.org

Ted Laetsch, MD

Board Member

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Ted Laetsch, MD

Board Member

Dr. Theodore Laetsch is a pediatric oncologist and leads both the Developmental Therapeutics Program (DVL) and the Very Rare Malignant Tumors Program (VRMTP) at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, as well as holding national leadership roles in each of these areas within the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). In the DVL program, Dr. Laetsch conducts early phase clinical trials of new treatments for children with difficult to treat cancers. Dr. Laetsch leads the pediatric development of TRK inhibitors for children with NTRK gene fusions, and now leads a COG nationwide clinical trial studying the ability to use TRK inhibitors instead of chemotherapy for children with one of these gene fusions. As the chair of the Rare Tumors Committee for the Children’s Oncology Group. Dr. Laetsch is a member of the cellular therapy / chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell team at the Children’s Hospital. Prior to joining the Children’s Hospital in 2020, Dr. Laetsch led the pediatric CAR T-cell program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Email:Laetscht@chop.edu

Josh Shultz

Board Member

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Josh Shultz

Board Member

Josh Shultz is the Co-Chief Executive Officer of NJI, a prominent global marketing and communications agency with headquarters in Washington, DC. In his role, he manages the executive team and specializes in business transformation and international expansion. His experience in corporate marketing, public affairs, and non-profit communications brings a proven knowledge of digital strategy, creative vision, and management with an emphasis on brand awareness. Josh has been a lifelong volunteer and has served on over a dozen non-profits in various capacities.

Email:Josh@synovialsarcoma.org

Yedidya [Eddie] Cohen

Board Member & Patient

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Yedidya [Eddie] Cohen

Board Member & Patient

Eddie Cohen was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma in 2023. He serves as a Senior Attorney at the U.S. Department of State, where he advises the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations on legal matters related to disability and reasonable accommodations. Previously, he served in the Department’s Office of the Legal Adviser for Human Rights and Refugees and spent more than a decade as an attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice. Eddie lives in Washington, DC, with his husband Nathan and their three children.

Email:Eddie@synovialsarcoma.org

Louisa Imperiale, PhD

Board Member

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Louisa Imperiale, PhD

Board Member

Louisa Imperiale is a veteran political and nonprofit leader. She is the Chief Advancement Officer at Issue One, a leading political reform group in Washington, D.C. She holds an MBA and a PhD in Media, Technology, and Democracy. Her dissertation research centered on the deregulation of campaign finance since Watergate and its interplay with the political-media complex. Louisa lives in Washington, D.C., with her two children and enjoys the District’s rich history and many cultural institutions.

Email:Louisa@synovialsarcoma.org

Jennifer Smith

Board Member

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Jennifer Smith

Board Member

Jennifer Smith is a dedicated patient advocate whose son, Seth, was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma after years of misdiagnoses. As his primary caregiver, she has supported him through extensive treatments including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and clinical trials. Their journey, shared at followingsethsynovialsarcoma.com, has fueled advocacy efforts that have helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for synovial sarcoma research. A former attorney, Jennifer now co-owns Ex Voto Chocolates and Confections with her daughter in California and brings deep personal experience and determination to the Foundation’s work.

David Satterfield

Board Member

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David Satterfield

Board Member

David Satterfield is a Senior Associate at HDL, a professional accounting and compliance firm located in Alexandria, VA. He has worked with hundreds of clients to form and operate various political and 501(c) non-profit organizations. His 20 years of experience working with the IRS and state regulators on both corporate and non-profit compliance adds a layer of accountability for organizations as they get started and as they grow in complexity. David lives in Washington, DC with his partner, and has been friends with Nathan and Eddie for 8 years.Josh has been a lifelong volunteer and has served on over a dozen non-profits in various capacities.

Lucia Manzinello Belluco

Board Member, Europe

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Lucia Manzinello Belluco

Board Member, Europe

Lucia Manzinello Belluco is a biomedical laboratory technician in Italy with more than 20 years of experience in histopathology and diagnostic laboratory medicine. She has supported pathology teams through high-volume tissue preparation, complex staining and immunohistochemistry procedures, and laboratory quality systems essential to accurate diagnosis. Lucia’s commitment to synovial sarcoma advocacy grew from her daughter Teresa’s battle with synovial sarcoma. In 2024, Lucia and her husband Roberto redirected $173,000 originally raised for Teresa’s care to support synovial sarcoma research and key Foundation initiatives.

Email:Lucia@synovialsarcoma.org

Roberto Belluco

Board Member, Europe

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Roberto Belluco

Board Member, Europe

Roberto Belluco joined the Synovial Sarcoma Foundation Board following his daughter Teresa’s diagnosis with synovial sarcoma as a teenager. Roberto and his wife Lucia sought treatment options across Europe and the United States, including care at MD Anderson Cancer Center. After Teresa’s passing in 2024, they redirected $173,000 originally raised for her care to support synovial sarcoma research and key Foundation initiatives. Roberto now works alongside Lucia to strengthen international collaboration within the synovial sarcoma community.

Email:Roberto@synovialsarcoma.org

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