OUR TEAM

Ben serves as CEO and Executive Director of Imerman Angels and has been an active member of the Board of Directors for more than three years.  He is also a 3-time cancer survivor and very active in local and national cancer organizations.

Most recently, Ben served as founder and Managing Director for Prospero Capital Management, LLC and as CFO of IQ7 Technology, Inc. Prior to those roles, he served as Partner and Portfolio Manager for Omega Advisors in NYC. Ben also has had a progressive career in roles with increasing responsibility at Orbis Investment (London/Bermuda), Goldman Sachs (NYC), and Oppenheimer & Co (NYC).

In addition to his professional successes, Ben has been actively involved in philanthropy throughout Chicago and nationally, serving in various board and volunteer capacities at Imerman Angels; PAWS Chicago (President, Development Board); Lurie Cancer Center (Northwestern); H Foundation (cancer research); Board 39 (young adult cancer survivors); Mercy for Animals; Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs; Harvard Business School, Class Treasurer; Above and Beyond (addiction center); City Homes of Orleans; and Mott Children’s Hospital.

Ben earned a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School(graduating as a Baker Scholar) and Juris Doctor (JD) from Harvard Law School. He received his AB undergraduate degree from Princeton University where he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in economics.

Stan serves as Director of Operations for Imerman Angels. He has supported the organization since learning of the mission in 2013. The resource that Imerman Angels provides is near and dear to Stan’s heart because of his personal experiences with loved ones who have battled cancer.

Stan possesses 30 years of experience in sales and sales Management, with a successful track record in the medical testing arena, leading teams to meet and exceed sales goals in compliant and ethical matters. In doing so, he cultivated many relationships within the medical community and witnessed the powerful impact that caring physicians and support staff make on patients’ lives.

Stan has honed his operations skills as an active member of the Board of Directors of his condominium association, leading three multi-million dollar projects that came in under budget and on time. He has been a project manager for other operations projects as well, which involved contract negotiation, structure and leading teams of diverse personnel to work together for a common goal and outcome.

In addition to the aforementioned roles, Stan founded and operated a successful coffee shop/café in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.

Stan is originally from upstate New York, where he received his Business Degree through the State University of New York system. He lives in Lincoln Park with his wife and two dogs.

Dave comes to Imerman Angels after heading the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Charity Program where he worked with the over 150 not-for-profit organizations that fielded teams for this event raising over $15 million dollars for these charities each year.   He has been involved in the event planning arena through his work at the Chicago Marathon as well as through consulting on other Chicago area events including numerous 5Ks, 10Ks and half marathons as well as stair climbs and golf tournaments.  As an endurance athlete himself and a proud “middle of the packer”, Dave will be managing Team Imerman Angels. Dave is excited to be working with the many Team Imerman Angels athletes as they look to reach their goals and help Imerman Angels in connecting more and more individuals.

Dave graduated from Marquette University with a B.A. in History and Political Science and is an avid college basketball fan cheering on his Golden Eagles each winter (and, hopefully, into the spring). Dave also received his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School and an LL.M. in healthcare law from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.  Dave and his family live in Chicago’s Smith Park neighborhood.

Jackie has been a caregiver to several loved ones with cancer including her mother, who lost her battle with lung cancer in 2004. These experiences fuel her passion for the Imerman Angels’ mission. Jackie has been with Imerman Angels since 2012. In her current role as Program and Outreach Manager, she oversees the Mentor Angel training process, the matches made between Mentor Angels and support seekers and the organization’s outreach efforts. Jackie was responsible for the creation of the outreach initiative at Imerman Angels. This program has helped strengthen partnerships with other cancer organizations and cancer centers to better serve more people who have been impacted by cancer. Additionally, she established the global Ambassador initiative, made up of volunteers who dedicate their time to spreading awareness about the Imerman Angels mission and pursuing partnership opportunities to ensure that no one faces cancer alone.

Jackie graduated from Northeastern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She has worked in the fields of animal training, customer service and education. Her diverse background has proven to be beneficial for her role with Imerman Angels.

Samuel joined Imerman Angels in the Spring of 2016 as a consultant before being brought on full-time as the Marketing and Communications Manager in early 2017. He was previously at the James R. Jordan Foundation, an organization founded and run by Michael Jordan’s mother that provides programs and scholarships to under-served students and families from under-resourced communities in Chicago. During his time there, Sam managed marketing and public relations as well as assisted with the foundation’s development efforts and grant writing.

Prior to that, Sam spent five years living in South Korea, first teaching English then working in a civilian job on a US Army base. He developed a taste for Korean food and culture while there and can often be found at the various Korean restaurants around Chicago.

Sam has extensive experience in marketing and creative consulting. He is always searching for the next “BIG idea” and devotes his time to leading Imerman Angels in its marketing and communication efforts.

Sam is a firm believer in maintaining a healthy work/life balance. A die-hard Cubs fan, which finally paid off in 2016, he tries to catch as many games a year as possible. He is also a big fan of Penn State Football which his uncle, a Penn State Alumnus, introduced him to at a very young age. Not long after Sam came to Imerman Angels, his uncle who resides in Washington D.C. was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. This experience has impacted him in a big way and is a driving force behind everything he does, including running his first marathon for Team Imerman Angels at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in 2016.

Samuel’s other hobbies include soccer, attending concerts and music festivals, and the Chicago Lyric Opera.

Christina is from Venezuela and moved straight from Caracas to Chicago in January 2013 while looking for new life experiences. In 2007, she majored in Business Administration and received a diploma in Marketing from the Universidad Metropolitana in Caracas. Prior to Imerman Angels, she has experience working for Consumer Package Goods Companies in their accounting and marketing departments.

Christina has been touched by cancer multiple times as the caregiver to her mother and grandmother who both are survivors of breast cancer. She joins Imerman Angels as a bilingual Cancer Support Specialist and looks forward to helping us expand our reach into the hispanic community.

Being from South America, Christina loves to go to the beach and enjoy the beautiful weather.

Megan joined Imerman Angels as a cancer support specialist in April of 2013 and became the official volunteer coordinator in February of 2017.   She maintains an active role in the matching program and also coordinates volunteers.  Her strong will and determination to assist those in need of support stems from her long association with childhood cancer.  Megan was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma at birth that metastasized and recurred 3 times. She has now been cancer free for 24 years.

Megan is a 2012 graduate of DePaul University and holds a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Human Services Psychology.  She has participated in a number of charity events, such as Wings of Mercy and Make A Wish Foundation.  Megan is an active advocate for volunteering, mentoring teens and young children who are facing cancer struggles at summer camps.  She has also interned as a volunteer coordinator and assisted physician services at Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Her positive energy and perseverance to achieve the best quality of life is ever present.  In addition, Megan has a strong compassion for animals and has a husky/beagle mixed breed dog named Blue, who serves in official capacity as the mascot for Imerman Angels.

Ambreen is no stranger to cancer. She was diagnosed with late staged Hodgkin’s Lymphoma when she was 19 years old. Since entering remission in 2011, she has been an active volunteer with Imerman Angels and recently joined the team at a full-time capacity as a Cancer Support Specialist.

She has experienced cancer from both sides, not only as a survivor, but also as a caregiver to her father who passed away from liver cancer in 2015. Though her experiences have been difficult, she sees them as stepping stones that have enabled her to reach out and help others struggling through the same thing.

Ambreen studied Biology at Loyola University Chicago and is passionate about making healthcare more accessible to underserved populations. It is this passion that inspired her to spend a summer in Honduras where she worked in a medical camp providing free healthcare to those who normally have access to none. Born and raised in Chicago, she loves spending time on the lake. She enjoys biking, hiking and spending as much time outdoors as humanly possible. When she isn’t out seeking adventure, she can be found curled up on the couch with her cat and a good book.

Cristian plays a vital role in helping further the Imerman Angels mission in his role as a Cancer Support Specialist – matching cancer fighters, survivors and caregivers with Mentor Angels. Cristian was drawn to the mission and, sparked by a passion to help others, he took on an internship with Imerman Angels from May 2016 to February 2017. This ultimately led to Cristian joining the Programs team on a full time basis in February. While he had not been personally affected by cancer when he first came to Imerman Angels, the mission hit home when Cristian’s cousin was diagnosed with liver cancer a couple of months later. Cristian is proud to help those facing cancer on behalf of his cousin.

As a Bi-lingual Cancer Support Specialist, Cristian is helping Imerman Angels offer one-on-one cancer support to a wider segment of the population who can be helped by our mission. Cristian is also heading up our Male Outreach Program. A program which offer men the opportunity to seek and give support. Men are more likely to get cancer than women yet support for men is only requested by less than 25% of those affected. Cristian is helping change those numbers.

The Bachelor of Arts degree Cristian earned from Roosevelt University in December, 2016 is a tremendous asset for his role at Imerman Angels. Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Cristian now calls The Windy City home. In his free time, Cristian enjoys playing soccer, running, and enjoying the fun and festive Chicago summers.

Blue is a husky/beagle mixed breed dog and is a companion and service dog to Megan Alexander, cancer support specialist at Imerman Angels.  Blue is the official mascot for Imerman Angels and her main duty is to inspire joy and happiness throughout the organization.  While employees are busy with their duties, Blue is there to lend comfort and unconditional love.

Always ready for a hug or a treat, Blue is a constant reminder of how animals can bring out the best in everyone.   Her beautiful blue eyes and vibrant personality bring a quick smile to all who meet her.  Blue is very gentle and respectful of anyone, especially with a disability, and is strongly capable and protective in her role as a guide dog.

In her free time, Blue is very active in the Chicago area; playing at the dog beach, running alongside Megan on the bike paths on Lake Michigan, and making friends in her neighborhood.

Two of Blue’s favorite things are leftover chicken and squeaky toys.