Staff and Board
Susan Brennan Chief Executive Officer
Susan Brennan began her affiliation with the PADRE Foundation in August 1996 when her son Christopher was diagnosed at the age of 15 months. They very quickly joined the PADRE family and got plugged into the T1d community. She attended her first PADRE fashion show in 1997, joined the Fashion show committee in 2000, and joined the PADRE Board of Directors in 2007. She became President of the Board in 2008, and stayed in that position for 8 years. She has worked as a Print Sourcing Specialist for the Disneyland Resort for 30+ years, but PADRE has remained her true passion for supporting children and families with Type 1 diabetes.
Mary Mailman Director
Mary Mailman first learned about the PADRE Foundation when her daughter, Julia, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2009 at age 8. Quickly realizing they needed help and support, they turned to the PADRE Foundation. Since then, Mary and her husband, Michael, as well as Julia and her older brothers, Nick and Riley, have been involved in numerous events and fundraisers with the PADRE Foundation. Mary graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Business Administration Management in 1987. Previously Mary worked in hotel management, promotional products and workmen compensation.
Mandi Farmer Event Coordinator
Mandi Farmer joined PADRE Foundation in 2022, bringing valuable experience and passion for the Type 1 diabetes (T1D) community. Her journey began in 2011 when her nephew Mikey was diagnosed with T1D at three years old. Inspired by this, Mandi became a dedicated advocate, working to raise awareness and provide resources for those affected by diabetes. She focuses on educating families, empowering individuals, understanding the community's challenges, offering essential support and focuses on inclusion for all. Through PADRE, she aims to make a meaningful impact on the lives of many affected by Type 1 diabetes.
Board of Directors
Daena Ho - Treasurer
Daena has over 20 years of experience in the Treasury field, specializing in Cash Liquidity, forecasting, and managing banking relationships. She currently serves as Assistant Treasurer at Cotality, a property data analytics company. Since joining the Board in October 2024, Daena is committed to making a meaningful impact on the lives of young children affected by the condition. Her dedication to community engagement and advocacy fuels her ongoing support for PADRE’s essential programs and outreach initiatives. Daena holds a BA in Business Administration from the University of California, Riverside.
Susie Zachman - Secretary
Susie Zachman joined PADRE’s board in July 2022. Susie was a global business leader with 16 years of experience in legal, finance and human resources, functions and operational management. Susie returned to school and as a part of her masters degree, she researched and designed a nutrition education program for parents of young children. This program was the foundation for Better Beginnings (www.beginbetter.org), a non-profit that she founded in 2015. Susie has a Masters of Science with a concentration in Nutrition Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She completed her dietetic internship through Columbia and became a registered dietitian nutritionist. She also has a BA in Economics / Business from the University of California, Los Angeles, a JD from the University of California, Berkeley and completed the Advanced Management Program of Harvard Business School.
Katie Hernandez was introduced to the PADRE Foundation in March 2017 when her daughter, Ella, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes just one week after her 9th birthday. Their family was referred to PADRE through Ella’s endocrinologist and the classes were instrumental in learning about how to best support Ella. Katie, Ella’s dad Rich, and Ella’s brother Zack are all involved with supporting PADRE. She first attended the fashion show in 2018 and joined the board in 2022. Katie is the Language Arts Curriculum Specialist in the Anaheim Elementary School District. She is passionate about supporting children with whatever their needs may be.
Anders is a senior finance and business executive with 12 years of experience as Group CFO & VP Global Finance and 7 years of experience as an external audit professional. He has a comprehensive practical and theoretical knowledge in accounting, finance, tax, and law, as well as strong managerial experience in finance, operation and corporate strategy at startups and international corporations. In addition, he has M&A experience, and he was nominated to CFO of the year 2020 by Orange County Business Journal.
Ashley Moore
Ashley was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in adolescence and brings over a decade of lived experience to her advocacy work. Her journey fuels her commitment to raising awareness and expanding meaningful resources for those living with TID. She holds a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration and currently works for a hospital system, where she negotiates and executes managed care agreements. Ashley is honored to serve as a board member for the PADRE Foundation and is dedicated to advancing its mission with compassion, purpose, and a deep understanding of the communities it supports.
Scott is President of Workhouse Sports, a division of Workhouse Media, Inc., a multi-platform talent and content management company with a primary focus in representing premium, audio-first, television and visual storytellers. Prior to Workhouse, Scott served in a variety of roles and industries, including 7 years in investment banking and venture capital and more than 25 years as a media executive in audio, television, print, gaming, and digital, most recently as Vice President of Audio at ESPN. McCarthy earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Colorado College and studied at The London School of Economics and University of Chicago. Scott has an adult son who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes as a teenager.
Erica Beach
Erica Beach was introduced to the Type 1 community in 2011 when her nephew Gavin was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just 18 months old. That diagnosis changed their entire family forever. Today, Gavin is a thriving teen who manages his Type 1 with strength and resilience, supported by his family and by organizations like PADRE. Her true introduction to PADRE was when a close friend invited her to the annual fashion show in May 2025. She was inspired by the children, moved by the mission of education, and deeply impressed by the support PADRE and its partners provides the T1 community. She joined the Board of Directors shortly after in late 2025.
Erica has over 25 years experience as a marketing executive in financial services and her MBA from Pepperdine University. She is passionate about serving her community, especially children, and has served in many volunteer roles for local non-profits like CHOC and The Raise Foundation. She is motivated by the passionate employees and volunteers who power PADRE and by the impact they make throughout Orange County and she is honored to play even a small part in advancing their mission and supporting families affected by Type 1.
PADRE Advisors
Medical Advisors
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