Melissa Coats, ND, FABNO
Naturopathic Specialists
Melissa Coats is a licensed naturopathic physician and is board certified in naturopathic oncology. Dr. Coats graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia, with a bachelor’s degree in Biology; she then went on to get her Masters in Bioethics from Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona. Subsequently, Dr. Coats earned her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (SCNM) in Tempe, Arizona.
While at SCNM she was very active in promoting naturopathic medicine with the Naturopathic Public Awareness Campaign (NPAC) now known as N-ACT, which supports legislation of naturopathic doctors licensure in all 50 States. Dr. Coats received SCNM’s 2008 Outstanding Leadership Award for her active participation in College events, programs and activities, commitment to the profession as a whole, support of the College community, and commitment to advancing the profession of naturopathic medicine.
She is a member of the Arizona Naturopathic Medical Association, American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, and the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Dr. Coats is a past president of SCNM’s Alumni Association. She is also serving as board development director for the Boys and Girls Club of the East Valley, Ladmo Branch and is a member of the education committee for the Arizona Naturopathic Medical Association. In 2017 and 2019- Dr. Coats was named one of Phoenix Magazine’s Top Doctors for Naturopathic Medicine.
Dr. Coats offers general naturopathic medicine for all ages with a focus on Oncology, Autoimmune disease as well as Mental Wellness. Dr. Coats takes the approach with every patient that no matter what stage in life you are it should be at the best level possible, and by taking an active interest in your health many illnesses can be avoided. She is passionate about not only caring for her patients, but their caregivers as well.
Andrea Evans
Publisher, Frontdoors Media, Cancer Survivor
Andrea is dedicated to celebrating the people and groups who give generously and work to build the future of our community. Frontdoors content is delivered through several platforms, including Frontdoors Magazine, The Knock newsletter and FrontdoorsTV. Prior to the acquisition of Frontdoors, Andrea was the Principal of Event Planning for Evans Communications.
She launched her event consulting business in September 2003, following a successful career as the event planner for two of the Valley’s largest nonprofit agencies. She has served as a political fundraising expert as well, with a distinguished list of clients on the local, statewide and national level.
Andrea is a proud Arizona State University alumni and a graduate of Valley Leadership Institute. She volunteers with a number of nonprofit organizations that help women, children and the arts in our community. Andrea is married to Tom Evans and mom to Thomas, Ellie and their rescue kitty, Sally.
Caroline Harbeck Farkas
Owner and Designated Broker
Blondie Wolfe and Associates
Caroline graduated with an electrical engineering degree and started her career life as an engineer working in the California Aerospace Industry. She decided early on her true passion was investing in real estate and helping others to do the same.
Having enjoyed over 30 years in real estate investing, renovating, selling, flipping and renting homes, Caroline currently works in both the Arizona and California markets. She was very lucky to find her husband of more than 15 years, Tommy, who shares her passion – they make a great team!
Caroline’s second dearest passion (and Tommy’s too!) is to support local charities. She has spent over 30 years volunteering her time and providing financial assistance supporting those organizations she finds special. A 2nd Act is indeed a special organization and close to her and her husband’s hearts. Tommy’s first wife, Ginger, was a breast cancer survivor who was overcome several years later with an aggressive liver cancer and passed away.
Caroline and Tommy spend as much time as possible with their families and friends. They know the most important thing in life is to be with the ones you love; they know how precious and sometimes fleeting those moment are.
Janine Gauthier Mullady, PhD
President and CEO of Life Reset Solutions
Dr. Gauthier Mullady is a licensed clinical health psychologist specializing in psychosocial oncology and works clinically with patients and families to learn how to cope with the psychosocial issues in cancer. Her organization, Life Reset Solutions, is a Behavioral Medicine Practice focused on working with patients and families who are in the midst of a health crisis.
Dr. Gauthier Mullady served as the director of clinical services for the Cancer Integrative Medicine Program and Director of Psychosocial Oncology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago for 10 years. She completed a National Cancer Institute Cancer Prevention and Control post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Texas, where she worked collaboratively with MD Anderson’s Cancer Center.
Her research interests include Integrative Medicine, emotional distress in cancer care; mind-body medicine, health related quality of life, spirituality, spiritual issues in cancer and coping in cancer patients. Dr. Gauthier Mullady delivers lectures on psychosocial aspects of oncology as well as Integrative Medicine in oncology and survivorship in cancer. She lives on the North Shore of Chicago with her husband, Patrick, and two step children.
David Martens
Retired Firefighter, Computer Consultant
After a six year stint in the business world, David knew his passion really rested in the field of helping others. Following that passion, he began his 30 year career as a professional firefighter. During that time he served as a company officer and Deputy Chief, responsible for leading the department’s Safety and Education Bureau.
David’s firefighting schedule left him with days off in between shifts. Always having been intrigued in technology, he launched a second, and parallel, career as a computer consultant. His clients varied, as did the work he performed, from trouble shooting equipment malfunctions (and sometimes those of the operators!), to creating robust databases to enable his clients to manage their varied businesses.
A father of three, he shared his love of sports with his children. But the one sport that has stuck is hockey. His schedule includes playing on two different leagues, sneaking in open skates whenever possible.
David married Judy Pearson in 2010, less than one year before her diagnosis of Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Together, they navigated the treatment and all the challenges it brought. Supporting Judy as she wrote about survivorship, began to connect with survivors across the country, and eventually launching A2ndAct.org has been a terrific way for them to heal together.
Debi McBee
Vice President, Wells Fargo
Project Management Manager
Debi has spent 40 years in the financial industry, the last 32 at Wells Fargo Bank. Her passion is helping people grow and succeed in their careers, and she’s been recognized for her leadership skills. Although she spends her days in corporate America, her nights and weekends are often spent planning events. What a joy for Debi to have the opportunity to share this love with the women of A 2nd Act as the Events Coordinator. More on that later!
With husband, David, Debi has three sons: Nick, Chris and Zach. In 1998, just a year after her initial diagnosis of stage 2 cervical cancer, followed by a hysterectomy, Debi was told the cancer had had metastasized throughout her pelvis. She had just a 20% chance of survival. An entirely new journey began, and Debi knew she would have to rely on God – along with a terrific support group of family, friends and neighbors – to help her through.
Victorious over cancer, Debi dedicated all of her energy on her family and raising her sons. It was her 2nd act for a long time. She was their Boy Scout leader, youth group leader and volunteer at school. Now that they’re grown, Debi has dedicated her time to things she put aside for so long. She is learning how to quilt, successfully finishing two of them. She also volunteers as a cook for a homeless mission. But the 2nd Act Debi has come to be very proud of is her ability to help fellow cancer survivors in their journey with the organization. She creates a sense of fellowship in her event-planning for A 2nd Act, as well as serving on the board of directors. Debi McBee is the epitome of an ever-evolving survivor’s 2nd Act!
Judy Pearson
Founder of A 2nd Act
Judy is a story teller, a proud graduate of Michigan State University, and a Triple Negative Breast Cancer survivor. As an award-winning writer, she has millions of published words to her credit. This includes four books, her latest being From Shadows to Life: A Biography of the Survivorship Movement. And like any good writer, Judy has another in the works!
In 2012, Judy co-founded the Women’s Survivors Alliance and was honored in Washington D.C. by the American Association of Cancer Research and featured in their National Cancer Research Progress Report.
Using what she’s learned from cancer experts around the world, along with thousands of women survivors, Judy has become a leading expert on life after a cancer diagnosis, the history of cancer survivorship, and the value of creating a 2nd Act after any life challenge. Judy’s survivorship and work led her to found A2ndAct.org. The organization’s mission is a beautiful melange of cutting edge research on the health benefits of volunteering, and women survivors sharing their inspiring stories of their 2nd Acts. It is, as she says, the best pay-it-forward organization ever.
Judy is a member of the Society of Integrative Oncology and co-secretary of their Patient Advocacy Task Force. She is a member of the American Psychosocial Oncology Society, a founding board member of Arizona Women for the Arts, a past board member of the Michigan State University Alumni Association, a member of the American Association for University Women, and a member Women of Central Phoenix, Women of Scottsdale and West Valley Women. In 2015, Judy was named one of Chicago’s Most Inspirational Women, and in 2018, was selected as an Arizona Healthcare Hero and a finalist in the Arizona Healthcare Leadership Awards.
