OUR LEADERSHIP

Chris is a 2017 graduate of Otterbein University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Health Education. Chris currently works for Community Outreach Specialist at CompDrug. He was previously a health educator at the Licking County Health Department with experience in Radon Education and Tobacco Prevention. He is also the assistant track and field coach at Otterbein University coaching the pole vault. Chris has been volunteering with The Crawford Crew since 2016 when he was The Crawford Crew’s first intern. Chris lives in Pataskala, Ohio with his wife Riley and their chocolate lab, Hank.

Dana is a graduate of The Ohio State University and has been in the Workers’ Compensation industry for 20 years. She is currently a Director of Corporate Strategy at Optum, part of UnitedHealth Group. She is an avid tennis player and spends her time as a volunteer at St. Paul Catholic School. Prior to joining The Crawford Crew Board of Directors, she was an active participant and volunteer in events such as Raise a Racket and Paint the ‘Ville Teal. Dana lives in Westerville with her husband Matt, daughters Emerson and Taylor, and yellow lab, Jack.

Arturo is a management consultant with over 20 years of extensive experience in Project Delivery and Operations Management. He is currently Vice President of Advisory Services for Avaap USA and serves a number of large companies in central Ohio. He is an active member of the Westerville Sunrise Rotary club and has been a supporter of The Crawford Crew’s Raise a Racket event for a number of years. Arturo lives in Westerville with his wife Rachel. They have two daughters, Ariana, who is an undergraduate at The Ohio State University, and Olivia, a 3-season student athlete at St. Francis DeSales High School. Arturo enjoys time with friends on the tennis court and treasures vacationing with Rachel and the girls back home in Puerto Rico.

Lori is a 1993 and 1997 graduate of The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, as well as Master of Science in Nursing. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Nursing Education and Administration from William Carey University. Lori is an assistant professor at Mount Carmel College of Nursing and works as an APRN-clinical research specialist in the Comprehensive Cancer Center at OSU. Lori is committed to raising awareness of cervical cancer and all HPV-induced cancers. Through educational, community, and fundraising efforts, she hopes that one day HPV-related cancers will become nonexistent.

Lifetime Board Member: Elizabeth “Libby” Whitaker, M.D. (1966-2021)

Our sweet Libby passed away on February 8, 2021 after a brave six-year battle against breast cancer.  Libby was one of the first volunteers/board members with The Crawford Crew and was the Crawford family pediatrician and a friend since 1997. She was a partner at Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine in Columbus, where she cared for thousands of children and their families for thirty years. Libby helped train and mentor pediatric residents throughout her career. She was also licensed in Florida, where she provided care for underprivileged children and their families at a clinic in Naples, FL.

Libby graduated from Zanesville High School followed by The University of Akron and earned her medical degree from Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine. She completed her pediatric residency at Columbus Children’s Hospital, OH, where she was selected as Chief Resident.

Libby was generous with her time and her knowledge. In 2016, she led the launch of  The Crawford Crew’s Jr. Board known now as the Jr. Ambassadors. The Jr. Ambassadors are responsible for planning and hosting our annual summer 5k fundraiser. Libby’s “hello” and her bright smile always lit up the room. Her kindness, compassion, and love was felt by everyone that ever met her. Over the 11 years with The Crawford Crew, Libby recruited her family, her staff, and many friends to join her in support of our mission. We could always count on Libby whether it be to fill a volunteer role or to provide us with critical medical information to pass on to our supporters. Her amazing husband Todd, and their 3 children live in Worthington. The Whitaker family will always be part of our Crawford Crew family. Please continue to keep Libby and her family in your thoughts and prayers. We miss her so very much.

Click here to read Libby’s obituary.

Dr. Bonita Ward is a retired forensic pathologist, health advocate and coach, and a mom. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. After leaving Kenyon, her quest for answers lead her into medical research at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD just across the street from NIH. Continuing in research, Dr. Ward returned to Ohio initially to work on a PhD in experimental pathology, but instead applied to and was admitted to the OSU College of Medicine and Public Health class of 1994. She completed her medical training at OSU Medical Center specializing in anatomic and clinical pathology with sub specialty in forensics. After working for several years in the Franklin and Hamilton County Coroners Office, she now uses her passion for health to help adults and children achieve health goals and live a healthy lifestyle. She coaches by example and experiences lived through her own struggles with weight and health issues. Dr. Ward is an avid fitness and health person. She has earned training in CrossFit coaching of adults and children. Dr. Ward is married to Dr. Eric Ward. They have two sons, Marcus, a United States Air Force pilot and Spencer, a second year medical student at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

David has over twenty years of experience in the insurance and investment business and is currently the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Columbus Operations of Kansas City Life Insurance Company. He is an HPV tonsillar cancer survivor and is very adamant in getting children vaccinated. In his spare time, he cooks quite a bit of BBQ and enjoys golf and skiing with his family. David lives in Westerville with his wife Jen and his son Jake.

Ann is a private practice OB/GYN in Columbus, Ohio. She is a graduate of the University of Dayton, and The Ohio State University College of Medicine. She completed her OB/GYN residency at The Ohio State University Hospitals and joined Professionals for Women’s Heath in 1989. Ann is a founding member of the practice, which has grown to 5 physicians, 7 certified Nurse Midwives, and 5 Nurse practitioners. She and her practice are dedicated to offering obstetric and gynecologic care to women through all stages of their lives. Ann is also one of the original volunteers with The Crawford Crew. She has been by Diane’s side since diagnosing her cancer. As a 10+ year member of The Crawford Crew, she is considered a lifer and has passionately brought her husband John, and their 3 children into the family to support our mission.

Meredith has 25 years of experience in the insurance business and is currently a Director of Sales and Service with a focus on the Public and Labor business segments. Meredith has dedicated time to supporting her community with service to the community schools, volunteering at the Mid-Ohio Food Bank and the Lifecare Alliance Meals on Wheels Program. Meredith attended Hanover College and has a passion for ice skating, as she skated with the Dayton Ice-Ette figure skating club in her younger years. She lives in Westerville, Ohio, with her husband Joe and their golden doodle, Shipley.

Diane (Di) is the Founder and Executive Director of The Crawford Crew. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Western Michigan University. In her 25+ years working in corporate business and as a consultant, she held roles in manufacturing logistics, marketing communications, PR and customer relations. Di enjoys a challenge whether it be on the tennis court or in the board room. She loves hanging out with her family and friends and watching her kids participate in their activities. Diane lives in Westerville with her husband Andy, their three children, Jocelyn, Nathan and Rollie, and their sheltie Striker plus too many saltwater fish to name.
In addition to her work in the daily operations of The Crawford Crew, Diane also spends time as a Steering Committee advocate on the Gynecologic Cancers Steering Committee (GCSC) Cervical Cancer Task Force (CTF) which includes a seat on the NCI’s Patient Advocate Steering Committee (PASC). She is a member of The Ohio Partners for Cancer Control (OPCC) and sits on the HPV Vaccination Committee, as well as the Cervical Cancer Workgroup for the 2030 Ohio Comprehensive Cancer Plan. In addition, Diane enjoys public speaking at schools and events on topics including survivorship, cervical cancer, HPV-related cancer prevention, non-profit entrepreneurship and the value of community service for youth.