Team
John M. Clymer
Title Executive Director
John Clymer is executive director of the National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention, an independent, nonprofit catalyst for collaboration. Additionally, he is an adjunct assistant professor at Loma Linda University School of Public Health, guest lecturer at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and member of the U.S. Community Preventive Services Task Force.
Under his leadership as president of Partnership for Prevention from 2001-2008, the organization won passage of landmark Medicare policy changes; established the National Commission on Prevention Priorities; was recognized by Harvard Business Review for a Breakthrough Idea on workforce health; and quadrupled its income.
Clymer is the TEDMED thought leader for Great Challenges: Making Prevention Popular and Profitable and has served as a subject matter expert at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos. He has conducted numerous Congressional briefings, appeared on NBC Nightly News, Fox News, CNBC, public radio, and in print media such as The New York Times, and authored book chapters, articles and commentaries on prevention.
Jen Childress
Title Director of Programs
Jen Childress, MS, MCHES – Director of Programs, manages the National Forum’s Value & Access and Move with the Mayor initiatives. Jen brings 20 years’ experience in the field of health promotion. She co-created & launched HealthLead®, a comprehensive workplace & academic health promotion program accreditation initiative designed to assist organizations and universities in enhancing their health & wellness management policies.
Jen has over a decade of leadership in both the private and non-profit sectors organizing events & convening stakeholders, including recruiting & educating lay-leaders, senior leaders, & community champions. In 2016, she was named one of the National Top Ten Business Women of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) for her contributions to business, community & the association.
Jen holds a a Bachelors degree in Government from Claremont McKenna College and a Masters degree in Health Promotion Management from American University. She holds certificates in Personal Fitness Training, Coaching & Health Education. She has authored content published in peer-reviewed articles & textbooks. Jen resides in Mesa, AZ, where she enjoys trail running, working out, reading, and volunteering at a local horse rescue.
Julie Harvill
Title Director of Operations
Julie Harvill, MPA, MPH is the Director of Operations for the National Forum. In this capacity, she oversees and manages the daily operations of the organization. Working with the management team, she contributes to the development and implementation of organizational strategies, programs, policies and practices in support of the National Forum’s vision, mission, 2021 goal and strategic priorities. She provides strategic, logistical and administrative support to the Forum’s Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Corporate Operations and Finance Committees. She directs the Annual Meeting and Mid-Year Meetings, and other special work groups.
Harvill, a native of Illinois received a bachelor’s in psychology and social service from Bradley University in 1985, a master’s in public administration from Sangamon State University in 1993 and a master’s in public health from the University of Illinois at Springfield in 2001. She was formerly the administrator of the Illinois Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention program. Harvill was President of the Chronic Disease Directors in 2004-2005. She was the Co-chair of the Cardiovascular Health Council in 1998, President of the Illinois Society for Public Health Education in 1995 and Executive Council Member of the Illinois Public Health Association from 1992–1995. She was co-chair of the National Chronic Disease Conference in 2004 and chair of the Great Lakes Regional Cardiovascular Conference in 2003. Harvill received the Community Service Award from the Illinois Department of Public Health in 1997, the Outstanding Leadership Award from the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors in 2006 and the National Forum Chair Recognition Award for her leadership and actions to increase effectiveness of the organization in 2010. Harvill resides in Glenarm, Illinois with her husband Rick. They have two daughters Cassandra and Ciera.
Sunny Hsu
Title Finance Officer
Sunny Hsu is an experienced Financial Officer at National Forum, responsible for managing grant-funded programs. With nearly 20 years of experience in financial management and office administration, Sunny has become a seasoned grant management professional with a proven track record of managing grants from federal, state, and private sources. She excels in budget development, compliance, and reporting, and is highly skilled in managing complex grant-funded programs while collaborating with diverse stakeholders.
Prior to joining National Forum, Sunny served at three major research universities, including the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Iowa State University, and Texas Tech University Health Science Center. She is passionate about grant management and is committed to achieving excellence in her work. Her expertise and experience have been invaluable to the organizations she has served.
Sunny is a team player who enjoys collaborating with others. She resides in Lubbock, TX, and is an avid tennis player, jogger, and hiker. In her leisure time, Sunny loves going on cruises and ballroom dancing.
Stacy Rezendes
Title Operations Consultant
Stacy Rezendes is the Operation Consultant for the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention. In this capacity, she provides support for educational and organizational programs, maintains records of program actions, copy editing, tracks timelines and milestones, coordinates Office 365, and responds to member needs.
Before working with the National Forum, she was a surgical coordinator for a very busy practice for eleven years and has served as a physician’s personal assistant. She brings a huge skill set to the organization.
She was born and raised in Wisconsin but has lived in several states, most recently moving from Virginia to Texas. She is passionate about healthy, flavorful cooking and tries to be physically active every day.
Chelanna O'Brien
Title Community Engagement Coordinator
Chelanna O’Brien is a Community Manager for the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention. In this capacity, she provides program support, including planning and implementation goals, recruitment, outreach and onboarding, and team support as needed.
Chelanna is a proud resident of New Mexico and holds a degree in Professional Writing from the University of New Mexico. She has worked extensively with non-profit organizations, public policy, and advocacy at the state and national levels.
Jasmine Manglinong
Title Community Engagement Coordinator
Jasmine was born and raised in California, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from California State University, Fullerton. She brings 11 years of experience in the health insurance industry. In her work, she led training, support, and consultations on Medicare for community partners, doctors’ offices, and individuals within the senior and Medicaid demographics. She has taught hundreds of people with Medicare and Medicaid in cities all over the West Coast how to take full advantage of their healthcare resources.
When she’s not in the office, Jasmine enjoys playing flag football, serving as a volunteer career mentor, and engaging in self-care.
Michelle Snyder
Title Community Engagement Coordinator
Michelle Snyder is a Community Engagement Coordinator for the National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention, an independent, nonprofit catalyst for collaboration.
Michelle brings experience in health education, health promotion, marketing, and event management in her role at National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention. She has served in leadership roles in the nonprofit and humanitarian sectors. She received her master’s degree in public health with a specialization in community health education and her bachelor’s degree in workforce education specializing in education, training, and development both from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Il.
She has traveled extensively for her work including teaching/training in Haiti, Honduras, Malawi, and Tanzania. She currently resides in southern Illinois.
John Bartkus, PMP, CPF
Title Program Management Consultant
John Bartkus is a program management consultant specializing in enterprise performance improvement and project/program management. His 25+ years in project management cross a variety of industries and disciplines working with companies such as British Airways, SITA, Freese & Nichols, Jacobs Engineering, Carter & Burgess, Carstens & Cahoon, DFW Airport, WFAA, AbleTo, ForeFront Telecare, and the American Heart Association.
John is a Project Management Institute (PMI) Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF) with the International Association of Facilitators. His formal education includes a Bachelor’s in Applied Technology and Performance Improvement (BAAS-ATPI), and he is a former president of the Fort Worth Chapter of the Project Management Institute and was named PMI Chapter Leader of the Year (globally) in 2013.
John has supported the National Forum with project management for the annual convening – as well as production services to make it engaging and broaden the reach/impact.
Shantel Gilbert
Title Community Engagement Coordinator
Shantel Gilbert is a Community Engagement Coordinator for the National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention and is a Doctoral Candidate in Industrial & Organizational Psychology and the founder of PLI Consulting. She holds a Master of Science in Industrial Psychology from the University of Phoenix, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Marketing from Georgia State University, and is a certified travel agent.
Shantel brings experience in providing leadership, partnership strategies, redevelopment, cutting-edge research, and essential best practices International Affairs, Special Projects, and Trade Missions with countries outside the United States with a focus on Africa, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Asia.
She has worked with the US Engagement Specialist for the African Renaissance and Diaspora Network (ARDN), served as the Executive Director of BYC (Build your City County and Country), the Project Coordinator and Chief of Staff for the Minority Whip of the Georgia State Senate, and as Chief of Staff to the African American Mayors Association.
Emma Waugh, MPH
Title Program Evaluator
Emma Waugh is the Program Evaluator for the National Forum. In this capacity, she oversees data analysis and develops, monitors, and evaluates the collection and quality improvement needs for the organization’s portfolio of programs.
Emma received an undergraduate degree in Global Health and Nutrition from Cornell University and a Master’s in Public Health from Emory University. Her work has focused on improving the health of communities through innovative programs to expand access to healthy foods and physical activity. She has worked to implement and evaluate child nutrition programs in the U.S., with Native American communities, and globally. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and participating in triathlons with her husband.
Keena Seward, AuD, MA
Title Health Policy Researcher and Program Coordinator
Dr. Keena James Seward is a Health Policy Researcher and Program Coordinator for the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention. Her work with the National Forum focuses on advocacy for Community Health Workers and the Million Hearts® Flu Vaccination Campaign. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from Hampton University. She also holds a master’s degree from Lehman College and a clinical doctorate from the University of Maryland. She is a licensed audiologist and speech-language pathologist and has worked in a variety of clinical and academic settings. She has also engaged in advocacy work with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the National Black Association for Speech, Language & Hearing.
In addition to advocating for health policy, she is passionate about homeschooling and traveling with her son.
Brady Duplan
Title Accounting Consultant
Brady Duplan is a consultant with expertise in both the private and public grant space. In this capacity, he is ensuring all programmatic funding and expenditures are within compliance according to contract provisions, GAAP, and Federal Uniform Grant Guidance. He has managed the spend down of a $30M grant portfolio at another large non-profit. He is currently a Senior Financial Analyst for a major health care system in the US and has also been the Director of Finance and Operations for a small urgent care network.
Brady holds a BS in Finance from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and an MBA from the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University. He lives in New Orleans with his wife and two daughters.
Nivene Elkoshairi
Title Senior Grants Strategy Consultant
Ms. Elkoshairi has 30 years’ experience in diverse fields including grants strategy, proposal writing, business planning, advertising and communications, and specialized training in grants management and other essential fundraising competencies. With a master’s degree in Economics, she has a personal interest in challenging the myriad barriers to equitable development and health facing communities worldwide. Combined with strong budgetary and financial skills, Ms. Elkoshairi ensures all services reflect clients’ multifaceted needs.